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Show ' HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH Volume 88 Number 2 50 cents '' :"A" v '' v v ,j ,.w Radiation compensation fully funded after Congressional action The United States Senate approved the Department of Defense Authorization conference report, which contains a provision that uranium miner, miller and transporter Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) claims will now be fully funded. The House of Representatives also approved the conference report, and the measure will now go to the President. The proposal was pushed by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch to free additional funds to pay downwinders approved RECA (R-Uta- Miners clear silt out of the Blanding water tunnel as part of a recent restoration project. Courtesy photo Tunnel good for another 100 years A project completed this sum- where the tunnels met, as their h) claims and to ensure equal treatment of all workers who processed and developed our atomic weapons program. The Department of Justice (DOJ), which oversees the RECA program, recently testi- fied before Hatchs Judiciary Committee regarding the longterm financial solvency of the program. Both DOJ officials and In addition, Monticello native Rita Torres testified before the committee, recounting local stories of eligible RECA claimants whose families did not receive payment until after the death of the claimant. Weve been fighting to make sure RECA claimants do not receive IOUs because the program ran out of funds, Sen. Hatch said. This transfer is good for everyone. These uranium workers will now receive the same benefits that other atomic weapons program workers receive, and RECA has more money to pay downwinders who have suffered from exposure. - See page 2 Smelling skunks? - See page 3 Flu shot recommendations - See page 5 Foundation receives -- grant See page 6 Roasting chili - See Caveman, page 7 Bucks, Broncos both claim grid wins - See pages 8-1- 0 La Sal to drill new -well Seepage 12 along with full medical benefits. This is a good first step, but everyone harmed by nuclear down-winder- s, n Felony court report Under current law, uranium d. Hearing October 13, 2004 workers received $150,000, s testing including mer has shored up the one mile original projections were should receive equal comlong tunnel that brings water slightly off. pensation, Hatch said. I tried from the Indian Creek drainage The tunnel, designed to bring the Government Accountability to get downwinders included as in the Abajo Mountains to the water to parched White Mesa Office (GAO) have told Congress well, but the conferees rejected of of and the community Blanding. community Blanding, the RECA trust fund will run it. The fight is not over, and I The tunnel is good for an- was started and stopped a out of money and claimants will will not rest until all RECA other 100 years, said Bob couple of times. However, the be issued IOUs unless addi- claimants receive the coverage Musselman, foreman of the project was eventually com- tional funding is found. they deserve. project. Musselman and a group pleted and brings water to the of eight workers spent 70 days community We had an awful lot to clean in the summer shoring up the tunnel, which is more than 50 up. There were a lot of cave-insaid Musselman, who joked, years old and is one of the rewill markable stories in the estab- when asked about the engineerA public hearing will be held If you have a project you lishment of the community of ing firm that designed the Blanding. project, I pay no attention to by the City of Monticello, would like to see accomplished, Since the completion of the the engineers. They only get you Wednesday, October 13, 2004, at please come to the public hear6 p.m. at the San Juan County ing and express your ideas. original project in 1951, there in trouble. A full range of options for use Commission room to hear citiMusselman said that the enhad been some caving in of maof for the funds is expected to be and views zen suggestions terial along the tunnel. gineers estimated that approxiMusselman and his crew re- mately 2,700 tons of rock would potential projects within the discussed, including the possible moved the rubble in the caved-i- n need to be shipped out of the community that may be funded construction of a skate park, use areas and placed steel sets to tunnel. However he added that with a Community Develop- of the funds to enhance or exshore up the walls. Then the after the steel sets were secured ment Block Grant. Eligible pand the Visitor Center Tracrubble was packed outside of the to the tunnel in caved-i- areas, projects will be discussed at the tor Museum project, or for a host steel sets. In addition, the work- he simply put the rocks back on hearing as well as the expected of other possible projects. ers took nearly 700 tons of silt top of the steel sets. In total, funds available. workers took out approximately out of the tunnel. Musselman was joined by 10 tons of rock. Musselman said that he used Ralph Kuntz and local residents railroad ties, made from reShane Musselman, Bobbi Gregory, Jared Gregory, Erwin cycled plastic manufactured by Ramsay, Todd Eldredge, Garen RTI Industries in Monticello, to Palmer, and Shad Webb. secure many areas that had caved in. He added that the reMusselman marveled at the engineering that was needed in cycled plastic is excellent for the order to complete the original situation, Wood rots and deteriorates over time, causing all project. For a bunch of farmsorts of problems, but this plasers, Musselman joked, the engineering was excellent. He tic will provide a lifetime of roof says that the tunnel drops just support. Musselman said he nine feet along the one mile hopes to use the recycled timcourse. He says that you can see bers in future mining jobs, saythe history inthe walls along the ing it is ideal for water tunnels tunnel. You can tell where they and railroad tunnels. met and how they met. DifferShoring up of the tunnel is ent groups working in different part of ongoing water system directions used different mining improvement projects in local Railroad ties manufactured by RTI in Monticello provide support beams in the Blanding water tunnel. Officials state that the ties, made from communities. techniques. recycled plastic, are excellent for use in these situations. Courtesy photo The tunnel takes a sharp turn year-roun- SINCE 1915 discuss grant options Applications for young people who would like to staff Timber-lin- e 2005 are now available. The Utah National Parks Council is working with local scout-er- s to sponsor the leadership course for Boy Scouts aged 12 to 14. Timberline is led by adult Scoutmasters and a youth staff. Staff members should be Timberline alumni and should have a commitment to Scouting. Additionally, staff should be willing to attend six staff training sessions beginning in January, help with YLC, and help set up Blue Mountain Scout Camp. Application forms are available from local Scout leaders and are due by November 11. for details. Call Beginning October 12 and running for approximately two weeks, a pave over project will be completed on US Highway 191 from mile post 95 to 99, approximately 25 miles north of Monticello. This will be daytime work only. Expect delays of approximately 15 minutes. |