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Show Sunday, February 18, 1990 THE HERALD, Provo, Utah, - Page A5 Utah Tooeie plant's emissions, already nation's leader, rise 50 percent - TOOELE (AP) A western Utah magnesium plant identified by the federal Environmental Protection Agency as the nation's top source of toxic air pollution has reported a 50 percent increase in its chlorine emissions. Magnesium Corporation of America, formerly Amax Magnesium, reported last year that its Tooele County plant released 34,055 tons of chlorine into the air during 1987 the largest air release of a toxic chemical by any American company in that year. However, updated figures submitted to the EPA show the plant's chlorine emissions in 1988 were approximately 51,000 tons, or half again as much as the 1987 figure. National emissions figures for 1988 will not be available from the so it's unEPA until known whether the magnesium plant has retained its designation as America's largest source of toxic air pollution. But Susan Hazen, national program coordinator for EPA's Toxic Releases Inventory, said it wouldn't surprise her if Magnesium Corp. does retain its dubious distinction. "It's just an educated guess, but I would say if they were the highest last year and increased their emissions by 50 percent, there's a strong likelihood they'll be the highest or mid-Apr- il among the highest this year," she said. Lee R. Brown, vice president of Magnesium Corp., said there's no evidence that chlorine from the Tooele County plant present a risk to public health or the environment. Brown said the company is not required to report its 1989 chlorine emissions until later this year, but he predicted the 1989 total will be about the same as the 1988 figure. The large increase in chlorine emissions between 1987 and 1988 was a result of increased magnesium production at the plant on the western shores of the Great Salt Lake, 42 miles west of Salt Lake City. "Chlorine generation is directly proportional to magnesium production. The 1988 increase is primarily attributable to the continuing startup of production facilities which were idled in 1986 and 1987 when the Great Salt Lake flooded the solar evaporation ponds and destroyed the raw material resources of the operation," Brown said. 0 The company produced about tons of magnesium in 1987; 32,000 tons in 1988; and 36,000 tons 24,-00- in 1989. He said the pollution associated with this increased magnesium pro- duction could have been much greater if the company had not ?n spent "millions of dollars" on pollution control equipment during the last several years. The company is building a "chlorine burner" to achieve additional air quality improvements. When fully operational this summer, the burner will reduce chlorine emissions by "at least 40 percent," Brown said. Burnell Cordner, director of the Utah Bureau of Air Quality, said he's not sure whether a reduction in chlorine emissions will be adequate. Air quality officials plan to install monitoring stations around the plant after the chlorine burner is installed to determine whether chlorine levels are low enough. If not, additional controls will be required. Cordner said Magnesium Corp. had promised to have its new chlorine burner installed by Dec. 15, 1989. Failure to meet that deadline places the company in violation of state air quality regulations, he said. Cordner said a tentative agreement calls for Magnesium Corp. to have its chlorine burner in operation by April 15 and pay an undisclosed cash settlement, part of which would be deferred if the company installs more pollution control equipment. h J IMfdf' ywwtlee Senate favors bill regulating waste - SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The Utah Senate has approved legislation requiring all commercial waste disposal proposals to have the approval of the governor, the Legislature and local governments. Senate Bill 255, hailed as a measure to keep Utah from becoming a hazardous waste dumping ground, would apply to waste disposal operation applications filed after Jan. 1, 1990 and not completed by Dec. 31. Under the bill, tentatively approved on a 25-- 2 vote Friday, existing facilities also cannot increase their treatment, storage or disposal of hazardous wastes without the consent of the governor and Legislature. Further, the legislation establishes highly structured procedures for the state Department of Health to handle applications for commercial waste disposal facilities, develop siting criteria and set fees adequate to ensure that legal requirements are being met. "One of the major problems fac- - Parolee dies while awaiting transplant - An SALT IKE CITY (AP) inmate paroled in order to seek a liver transplant died Saturday morning at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center, doctors said. Hospital spokesman John Dwan said Billy Candelaria, 25, died of liver failure at 4:25 a.m. Candelaria was paroled Thursday by the Utah Board of Pardons so he could apply for Medicaid assistance in seeking a implant. He had been listed in critical condition Friday. However, while Candelaria 's parole was intended to clear the way for a possible transplant, hospital officials said the inmate's hirtory of drun abuse and crime disqualified him from receiving one. The inmate's family had contended that Candelaria"s liver failure could have been prevented by better medical treatment at Utah State Prison. However, Department of life-savi- Corrections officials maintained that he was treated according to prison policy and protocol. Corrections declined to discuss specifics oi" Candelaria's treatment at the Point of the Mountain prison, citinu confidentiality of inmates' medu al records. state is how do we handle all kinds of waste solid, hazardous, medical, radioactive generated in our state and around us," said sponsoring Sen. Stephen Rees, ing the It's particularly important, he added, that Utah protect itself from becoming "sitting ducks for waste generated in other states ... We'll make sure there's a cap on future amounts (of waste) from the outside coming in." Formulated by the governor's office, the health department and legislative leadership, SB 255 also requires the state Solid and Hazardous Waste Committee to work with local governments on comprehene sive, plans. The Senate also passed a bill raising the severance tax on copper from 2.4 to 2.6 percent of value, which is expected to raise about $1.9 million in added revenue for next year's state budget. A similar measure has already passed the House, but that version nt long-rang- lacked a Senate amendment which provides for a third of the tax collected on copper to be deposited in a state school fund. The Senate rejected a bill that would have created a uniform tax statewide on automobiles and other personal property. The legislation sponsored by Sen. Dix McMullin, Jordan, received 13 votes, two less than needed. The Senate voted 17-- 6 to approve a bill establishing a checkoff on state income-ta- x forms for college library improvements and acquisith tions. A resolution asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reconsider its decision supporting the "Wasatch Variation" route for a natural-ga- s pipeline from Wyoming to California received Senate approval on its second The resolution promoted by Sen. whose Lane Beattie, district would be crossed by the d route, fell one vote short of passage Thursday when 10 senators were missing. d. FERC-approve- SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -Salt Ixike City's bid to host the 1998 Winter Olympic Games will have at least an even shot with candidates from five other nations, an International Olympic Committee official says. The Utah city's size, the way potential sites of Olympic events are concentrated, and the number of young people and students in the Beehive State are advantages for the American candidate, said Artur Tak-apersonal assistant to IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch. Takac, considered an expert on technical requirements for Olympic events, was in Utah this past week to inspect potential Olympic sites and meet with members of the Salt Lake City Bid Committee for the Olympic Winter Games. He left Friday night after inspecting area downhill ski runs. Salt Ixike City was the last of six cities Takac visited, all of which, he said, were potential sites for the 1998 Winter Games. National Olympic organizations must submit letteis of intent in March saying they will file bids for the 1998 Games, said David Johnson, who oversees international protocol for the Bid Committee. The IOC will choose one of the cities as host in June 1991. c, to hear of vet another death." she said, refei-nito the death last month of another inmate from a bleeding ulcer. "Corrections should be promoting medical care that at the very least meets minimal national standards for prisons rather than a sad history of deliberate tndiffer-ene- e ..." Dwan s.n ! In Candelaria's ras dm tors Mieed that his liver failure w,.s brought on by aleohol and dru; a!..se. h--' We guarantee your satisfaction. And our experience in preparing complete and accurate tax returns will give you peace of mind. Put us to work for you. BLOCK America's Tax Team H&R Advertised Prices Effective Now Thru Tues. Feb. 20, 1990 :6J .'.'est Center St.. Provo 2255 ,V University Ph.. ProvoCpen 24 Mrs. 24 Hrs. 25 .'.'est Center St., Orem-Ope7C0 East State Rd.. American Fork n wmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm rROVO 1 10 S riTSOItON 3 j HJ6 U!atlle. .165 9161 500 W SPRilGVlUE 139 S Main. 489 7243 ore 7 J state 225 oie f :!i:i'S II 511 1 5 J That's because the IOC's charter doesn't allow three nations to bid jointly, he said. Moreover, the IOC awards cities, not nations, with the privilege of being host to Olympic Games. Takac said. Nevertheless, the ICC is pleased with the fact that six cities are bidding for the winter games. That, in addition to six cities seeking to be host of the 1998 Summer Olympics, is "a great promotion for the Olympic movement," he said. "Even to be a candidate city is a privilege, because at that moment, you are the focus of the world." he said. Takac said Salt Like City's "candidature is very serious, but all candidate cities are working verv hard." ACI.U executive director, said she nas .saddened by Candelaria's It's deeply disturbing A Takac said Cortina, Italy; Utah death. 1 Jaca, Spain; Nagano, Japan; Oestcrsund, Sweden, and Sochi, U.S.S.R., also are expected to compete. Of those, only Cortina's plans to bid are uncertain, Takac said. He had been told that the Italian Olympic Committee has considered submitting Cortina as a candidate city, but has taken no firm action, he said. A proposal for Italy, Austria and Yugoslavia to "submit a joint bid is "something for the future," Takac said. Union. r. I says Utah has even shot at Gaines n Panh-Pixle- r t)9 IOC official The prison's medical procedures have cine under fire in the past few years as being inadequate, and is the subject prison medical care lawof recent federal class-actiosuits brought by the Utah chapter Liberties of the American Cnil M u ht le I 'JllZ-- 575 1 Wain....$5 3591 Main 623 U07 WWClir.nSIf "9lB 756 4S12 2336 i i too HfBEII CITY It THUS 10 VW.V K m::iit u IHUI.I It I!' i ..? IFC!H1 AisBinlsQn,i t Copyright RAIN CHECK: We sf've fa fiave stock ol advertised merchandise II are Out ol sroU. a HAIH CHECK you to tiuy the item at fie advertised becomes Mailable on hand sufficient lot any lejson ne be issued enabling p"ce as soon as it 1990 by Albertson's. AVAILABILITY: fjcl Inc. All Rights Reserved vt these advertised iftis ,s to be lead'y availab lot sae at oi beion t'e advertised price m ea.h t'bertsons store, vict-pas soeLitically noted in t'i,s ai rejjuvd l |
