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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 1978)
r Agency gives referral aid Second in a series of con sumer reports. By JANIE NAFSINGER Of the Emerald One of the problems con sumers often have is where to go with a grievance. Eugene’s Better Business Service will hear those grie vances — or, better yet — will probably refer you to another agency designed specifically to help. In fact, a large part of the BBS’ job is referral service, says Pat Driscoll, one of two staffers who run the tiny, non profit public service. “Most people don’t realize there are a lot of sources of help available,” Driscoll says. “We try to make them aware of these other agencies." The Better Business Service is a member of the Better Busi ness Bureau, located in Port land. The local agency, man aged and funded by the Eugene Chamber of Com merce, is in the chamber office in the lobby of the Eugene Hotel. The office is open to the pub lic weekdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., but Driscoll and co worker Ruby Brenne spend many other hours writing let ters and doing paper work. “We like to remain low-key on visits and phone calls,” says Driscoll, explaining other pub lic bodies are available to handle cases more directly. “One young man who came in earlier in the week com plained he had not received back wages from his em ployer,” Driscoll says. His case was referred to the Bureau of Labor. Complaints or questions concerning poor trade or ad vertising practices are directed to the district attorney’s office. City and county housing coun cils handle landlord-tenant disputes; students with com plaints about rental situations may also contact the Oregon Student Public Interest Re search Group (OSPIRG), Dris coll adds. She also points out legal aid services are offered by both Lane County and the Univer sity. “That’s one thing we don’t do — give legal advice,’’ Driscoll says. “If someone wants us to, we’ll read a written opinion is sued by an agency such as OSPIRG, or cite an Oregon House bill. But we don't issue our own opinions.” Many cases with which the BBS deals concern complaints about merchandise or service received at local stores. In such cases, Driscoll or Brenne will write to the store about the complaint. Most cases are cleared up right away, Driscoll says. “Often, the complaint is the re sult of a misunderstanding by the customer.” A toll-free number in Salem is available for questions or complaints about licensed businesses, Driscoll says. Cal lers may contact agencies that regulate people in business. The agencies are listed in the Oregon Blue Book, she says, and the toll-free number is 1-800-452-7813. All complaints directed to the BBS or other agencies must be in writing, Driscoll stresses. The Better Business Service's address is P.O. Box 1107, Eugene, 97440. Board postpones decision on pollution regulations By LORRAINE NELSON Of the Emerald The Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority voted 3-1 Tuesday to postpone a decision on regulation changes that would loosen air pol lution standards for veneer dryers. The board acted at a public hearing Tuesday after several members of the audience urged the board to wait for more informa tion on air pollution in the Eugene-Springfield area. The director of the University Survival Center, Jim Stratton, said the Air Quality Maintenance Area Citizens Advisory Committee will report the results of a study of the particulate make-up of air pollu tion in Eugene-Springfield soon. ‘‘We feel that there should be no action taken of any kind in regards to altering discharge levels until we have received the recommen dations of this advisory commit tee,’’ Stratton said. In moving to postpone any de cision, Lane County Commis sioner Bob Wood, a member of LRAPA, said he thought “logical data" should be collected to make a decision and then “adopt what is good for Lane County. Most of the testimony pointed out that we do C°&e if : WORLD'.-' FINEST vTOFFEE. MEXICAN * SWISS CHOCOLATE RARE A- EXOTIC TEAS - Vlmifli’wfi AuiUlmq -,■*.! T,i>r licit £uqtiit. Orrtjon 9,'401 .L-fi-JO 71 not have data to determine stan dards not only for veneer drying industries but for other industries as well,” Wood added. Current LRAPA standards, adopted in August 1975, require veneer dryers to meet a 10 per cent opacity limit. Opacity refers to the degree to which air pollution reduces the transmission of light. The American Plywood Associ ation would like to have the pollu tion standards relaxed to a 20 per cent opacity limit, a figure that cor responds to state Department of Environmental Quality regulations in other parts of the state. The 10 percent opacity limit is not enforced yet. The regulations state affected companies have until July 1, 1980 to comply with the rule. Enforcement of a 10 percent rule would eliminate about 850 tons of particulate emissions from the air every year, said Marty Douglas, public information direc tor for LRAPA. Douglas said the 20 percent limit, enforced last year, cuts back on particulate emissions by 500 tons. LRAPA will consider the opacity limit question again in February. In other action, LRAPA voted to ban open residential burning in Lane County, in accordance with state regulations that currently prohibit open burning in Lane County after July 1, 1979. After a review of the issue, pos sible geographic exemptions from the rule will be discussed at the LRAPA meeting in February. NOTICE! STUDENT INSURANCE The date to purchase ASUO Student Health Insurance has been extended to October 20, 1978, and may be purchased only at the office of Metzker & Associates, 870 East 13th Ave., Eugene, Or 97401 Coverage will be effective from date of purchase. Weaver stresses ‘spend less’ idea By MARK STEWART Of the Emerald Cutting extravagant govern ment spending is the key issue of the 4th Congressional District race, incumbent Jim Weaver, D-Eugene said Tuesday. “This is the issue today,” Weaver told a group of reporters at the Lane County Courthouse. “Our entire economy could col lapse if inflation is not stopped. We have to start making less do more.” When asked about the nation wide tax revolt, Weaver said the message is just starting to get through to some Congressmen. “But the big spending pattern is still there,” he said. "The Presi dent in his veto of the Public Works bill tried to break the big spending bill. He demonstrated that the votes (to uphold the veto) were there when he gave it lead ership. It took the president with this blockbuster veto to get the message through to Congress.” Weaver said he got the “spend less” message long ago. He was rated one of the top tax-cutters in 1977 by the American Taxpayers Union and said he felt he would be in the top 5 percent again this year. He voted for $7 billion in spending cuts in the last month and said he would have voted for more if there had been more on the floor of the House. When asked which tax-cutting ballot measure he prefers, Weaver said he felt Measure 11 r was superior because it places a lid on spending while Measure 6 does not. Weaver said he opposes build ing thermal power plants in the Northwest because it would cause utility rates to skyrocket. He noted the Bonneville Power Administra tion has already slated a 100 per cent increase in the wholesale rates for next year. “Look what happened to the Tennessee Valley Authority — it started out as a hydropower pro ducer, and now just 18 percent of the power it generates is hydro," he said. “TV A rates are among the highest in the country.” He also said he favors “baseline" utility rates that reward consumers for conserving energy. Weaver said he favors “stronq" conservation program over ther mal generating plants. He said he favors Lane County Ballot Measure 22 which would allow formation of the Emerald Public Utility District by county residents that are currently served by Pacific Power and Light. “I want to see them get their fair share of cheap hydropower,” he said. -% poppi’s Greek Peasant Food “outside seating’ 675 E. 13th 343-0846 8:00 am-10:30 pm closed Tuesday The Suds 1-5 & 30th Ave. Near LCC Factory Thursday night-Eight till late 55 oz. of The Bull Schlitz Malt Liquor-Onlv $2.25 and YOU KEEP THE BUCKET’ No limit on the f number of buckets l \ you can take home \ for ashtrays, \ planters or cnit/winc1 \ spitoons I § I k
