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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 1987)
Editorial Unsafe N Reactor should be shut down Controversy is heating up in Congress over the status of Hanford's N Reactor, a 23-year-old nuclear facility used to produce about a third of the nation’s vveapons-grade plutonium. The debate is between those who want to per manently shut down the reactor, which has been closed since January for repairs, and those who assert that its renewed operation is vital to national security interests Those arguing that the N Reactor should be allowed to resume operation, however, have failed to consider two salient points: 1) Safety violations have plagued operations at Hanford and 2) alternative sources of plutonium can be used to satisfy demand. According to a report published in The Oregonian last Thursday, a congressional draft released Oct. 20 cited pratices by the U.S. Department of Energy, including the un safe operating conditions of Hanford's N Reactor. The report included the following safety problems: •Some workers have been exposed unnecessarily to radiation and to extrema hazards. •Soma inspectors who checked tho N Koactor for safety violations were not certified for the job. •The Energy Department ignored a policy of minimiz ing worker exposure to radiation in order to increase pro duction of weapons-grade plutonium at Hanford. Furthermore, a report by the National Academy of Sciences that reviewed the hydrogen mitigation system at the N Reactor states that plans for preventing a hydrogen buildup may be improperly based on conservative accident scenarios. Regardless of whether or not shutting down Hanford's N Reactor would affect national security interests, the reac tor should be shut down permanently if the Department of Energy's Hanford operations continue to neglect safety pro blems and enviromental affects. Evidence, however, shows that the strategic plutonuim reserves that proponents of restarting the N Reactor are con cerned with could be attained by other means. A second recent study, for example, conducted by Senator Mark Hatfield's staff and also reported in The Oregonian, showed Hanford's N Reactor could be retired without hampering the defense capacity of the U.S. Hatfield's report asserted correctly that recycled plutonium from obsolete weapons and plutonium recovered from waste products could be substitued for the amount of plutonium otherwise produced at the Hanford reactor. Because operations at Hanford's N Reactor violated safety procedures and because plutonium could be attained by other means, Hanford's N Reactor should be shut down permanently. If. however, the future supply of weapons-grade plutonium becomes inadequate to ensure national security, the Congress should approve the Energy Department's re quest to construct a modern, safer nuclear reactor in a loca tion where environmental concerns are less immediate than at Hanford’s site. The construction of a new reactor also would placate those who oppose shutting down Hanford’s N Reactor because such action would displace workers. Hanford’s employees could Ire transferred to the new plant, where safer conditions hopefully would exist. But whether or not a new reactor is built, the unsafe N Reactor at Hanford should be not be permitted to resume operating. WHEN POLLED ABOUT THE QUESTION OF advertising CONDOMS ON TELEVISION... 2610PP05ED IT... 661 OF RESPONDENTS FAVORED THE IDEA. AND 81 SAID THAI REGARDLESS OP ADS, REAGAN SHOULD CONTINUE TO FUND TVC CONDOMS IN NICARAGUA. ! Letters Duck spirit I was a graduate student at the University from 1982*85. My three years in Kugene were easi ly the most enjoyable of my life Kooting for the Ducks in foot ball during those years was very much a bittersweet experience. We had a whammy on Arizona, tied the Irish, and clobbered OSU. But lost to UOP one year, too. Now that I'm at UCLA. Oregon once again has a super team On Saturday. I went to the Kose Howl, sat in the Bruin stu dent section, and hoped as hard as I could for an Oregon victory Alas, it wasn't to he Heat, smog and fumbles doomed the Ducks Hut the game was not lost through lack of effort, and that is what makes Oregon teams so special Often outmau ned. frequently out-scored, but never short on spirit. It was really great of the University to send the band down with the team What a Herculean undertaking this must have been, but what a wonderful show of support for such a major game Seeing that hand march into the Kose Bowl made me so Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Dally Emerald la published Monday through Friday e»cept during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Oaily Emerald Publishing Co. at the University of Oregon. Eugene. Oregon. 97403 The Emerald operates Independently ol the University with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and is a member of the Associated Press The Emerald is private properly The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law General Stall Advancing Ch factor Production Manager Clasaiftad Manager Aaaiatant to tha PuWiaftar Susan Thelen Michele Ross Kelli Mason Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales: Teh Boring, Gary DsLossa. Tom Leech. Catherine Lll|a. Rick Marl/. Laura McKinney. Heather Mull. Joann Nelson Julie Paul. Barbara Rogers. Scott Thorkildson. Joan Wtldemnuth Nawa and Editorial CM aplay Advertising and Buainoos Classified Advertising L altar Par fact Graphics Production Circulation 686 SS11 666 3712 IH mi 666SS11 666-4331 666-SS11 Editor Managing Editor Newt Editor Stanley Neleon Scott Matoen Eden God bey Editorial Pag* Editor* Angela Muniz Steven Moenitch Sport* Editor Photo Editor Graphic Design Editor Special issues Editor Entertainment'Sports Segment Editor Night Editor Aaron A no* Shu ShinQ Chon Lorratne Rath Katly Korlekaaa H C Hutto Stephan Maher Aitociilc Editor* Community Higher Education/Administration Studant Qovarnmant Actlvltle* General Aaalgnmant/Entertammant Stephen Meher Michael Drummond Carolyn Lambereon Will Hotbed Reporter*: Baity Clayton. Paula Qraan. Praia da Guzman. Craig Hams. Gary Henley Andrew LaMar. Jail Morgan. In grid Petersen. Cami Swanson. Kalvin Wee Photographers: Snartyn Bforkgren. Maria Corvallis. Andy Crlpa. Dusty Etzat. Darrel Hawllt, John Giustina. Bobbie Lo. Ross Martin, Andre Ranieh. Dan Wheeler. Michael Wilhelm Production: Sandra Daller l Ad Coordinator Kally Alexandra. Ronwln Nicola Ashton. Virginia Baniaga. Laura Carharl. Ellen Cross. Eva Cohan. Stephanie Drynan. Dolores Ferreo. Shannon Gaither, Lisa Haggerty. Stephanie Holland. Oeirdre Kelly. Eliot Knight. Chris Knox. Jung Lea. Bobbie Lo. Ross Martin. James Mason. Angie Muniz, Tod Shepier. Linda Sperling. Lisa Svanevlk. Ingrid White. Mike Wilhelm. Kelly Williams. Serena Williams. X Kang Xle proud And that hand, on an otherwise miserable day, honored the Unviersity Thank ing them is the real reason behind this letter. And just maybe the Bruins will slip a little It might be a bit far-fetched, but if Cal can rise to the occasion, and SC return to its old form on the last Saturday of the season, maybe, just maybe, the Ducks and the band will be back to Pasadena come New Years Day. Robert Hanks Santa Monica. Calif. Fight hunger We would like to express our gratitude to the Oregon Daily Kmerald for recognizing the serious hunger problem in the state of Oregon (ODE. Oct. 21). The problem of hunger is a serious one. and the number of Oregonians requesting emergency food assistance is increasing. The Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG) on campus is working to combat hunger on both the local and international level. As part of "World Food Focus," we sponsored a teleconference to educate people to the pro blem of world hunger Currently, OPSIRG's Cam paign Against Hunger group is gearing up for Oxfam's Fast For A W'orld Harvest and a Break Fast dinner on November 19 This event will give people the chance to fast, for a meal or a day. and donate their food money to Oxfam's programs to alleviate hunger in needy areas We urge people to get involv ed in working against hunger. If you would like to help organize the Fast For A World Harvest or participate in the fast itself, call us at OSPIRG. t>8b-4:t77, or stop by KMU Suite 1. |anet Walters Pat McAuliffe OSPIRG Campaign Against Hunger Distractions While listening to (he lecture by former Senator Gaylord Nelson on Tuesday. Oct. 20. I was reminded of an annoying act common at such events A photographer, presumably from the Knterald. moved about the room taking numerous photographs of the speaker. The body movement and click of the shutter are very distracting I realize that a nice picture of the speaker gesturing with his or her hand dresses up an article a bit. but it doesn't seem that it should take twenty or thirty tries to get that one photo. The photographer at the Nelson lecture took at least that many. I write this in the hope that photographers from the Emerald and elsewhere will make themselves a little less obtrusive. Glenn Thackray Student Letters Policy The Emerald will attempt to print all letters con taining fair comment on topics of interest to the University community. Letters to the editor must be limited to 250 words, typed, signed and the identification of the writer must be verified when the letter is turned in. The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style. Letters to the editor should be turned into the Emerald office. Suite 300. EMU.
