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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 1992)
ELECTION 92 POLITICS Streetwise \\ That do you think of VY Ballot Measure 3, which would impose term limits on Oregon's state and national legislators: “There's enough prob lems going on with the bureaucracy right now. We need some one to com plete the job." - Jacquelirw* Landon junior, english “If the govern- | ment officer has worked so j long, even if he's not so good, maybe he should | stay It's com- I plicated. - Tsuyoshi Fujita senior, business “I think it's a pretty good I idea. If we get stuck with a bad (legisla tor) he won't be there so long. But that also has a if bad side if he s a good one. - Kata Schwarzler freshman, architecture “They've been in there too long. They're too opinionat ed. and they don't get any thing done." - Bryan Parkar freshman, business "If you have someone up there, maybe a senator, with out-dated ideas (term limits are good).* Ann Paterson junior, english Trojan’s future once again up to voters By Lisa Kneefel Emerald Reporter Oregon voter* will decide the fate of the ailing Trojan nuclear power plan! Nov 3 via Ballot Measure* 5 and 6. but they may not understand the difference betwoen the two measures. Both propose a ban on operation of the 16-vearold nuclear power plant until studies detar mini! whether Trojan can withstand a possible earthquake And both call for a l>an on operation until a permanent waste storage site is avail able Measure f». howev er. includes u provi sion thiit costs of decommissioning Tro jun estimated at SfitKi million will !»• alworbod by the principal owners of the plant. Portland General Electric PGE announced a plan for a four-year phase-out of Trojan Aug 31 as part of its Least Cost Energy Plan Nothing legally binds l*CE to the deci sion. hut Sautter said it is unlikely the company will choose to operate beyond the four-year phase-out "A decision to rest ind tile agreement would he nothing short of corporate sui cide." Sautter said. "You can'! mess with the lives of your operators, nor can you chan go your story to your regulators Under Public Utility Commission regu lations. private utilities must submit a least-cost plan every two years that out lines the cost and reliability of the utility and its possible risks to the environment Cracks and corrosion found in Trojan's steam tubes would require replacement of its steam generator In five years, cost ing an estimated $200 million. Equipment problems ceased operation of the plant for most of 1091 After con sidering generator replacement costs and the expiration of the plant's operating li cense in three years. i*CE decided a shut down of the plant would he more cost-ef fective than continued operation The company opled for a four-year phase-out so alternative energy sources can be developed before the plant's clo sure. The Do It Yourself Committee, sponsor of Measure fi. claims four additional vears of operation will place too much stress on the structure and pose risks to the environment. The committee also contends ratepay ers will shoulder the bulk of decommis sioning costs unless Measure 6 Is passed PGE officials said decommissioning costs will remain in rates for the four year period, but the PUC will decide whether inclusion is justified beyond 1996 Backers of Measure 6 want to close Photo by MtctuMt Shindtot Th* ter* ot Oragon'a Troian Nuclaar Powar Plant la up to votar'a naxt waek with Ballot Uaaauraa 5 and 6. Trojan for several other reasons. According to Do It Yourself Committee literature, the steam generators have de teriorated 20 percent, which places stress on the rest of the system. Steve Sautter, a No on 5 and 6 Com mlttoe spokesman, said the plant may be operated safely for an additional four years, despite the deteriorated tubes Sautter is usually a spokesman for PGE. Sautter said replacement of the steam generator is necessary only if the plant continues to operate beyond 109ft "We have all conditions under con trol," Sautter said "If we don't, then we'll shut down the plant ' The Do It Yourself Committee also maintains that Trojan's waste storage pool is not earthquake resistant and the plant lies within a high seismic risk areu Sautter flatly denied that Trojan lies on a fault line and said analysis of the plant's earthquake safety has revealed no problems The fault line the committee is refer ring to could bo the interface of two tectonic plates, said Matthew Mabey, geotechnical earthquake expert ut Ore gon Dept, of Ceology and Minerals. Mabey said the Juan de Fuca and North American plates interface below the Pacific Ocean 'Hie interface extends to approximately SO km below the Tro jan plant. But Muboy also pointed out that Tro jan is the most earthquake-sound struc ture in the state. He said most concerns about earthquake safety in Oregon hinge on building strength, not tremor severity. Another point of contention is the plant's waste-storage pools The Do It Yourself Committee assorts Trojan's waste storage p<xd was original ly designed to hold 200 spent fuel rods (self-contained units of radioactive waste) but now contains S50 rods. But Sautter said the waste storage pool can hold 1,408 rods and currently con tains 5H0 He said the committee is refer ring to a temporary storage poo! plan that was scrap pod. Sautter also disputed claims that Tro jan has the worst safety record in the United States Hu said two full-time Nu clear Regulatory Committee inspectors work at the plant and rate its safety. He said Trojan last received the highest safe ty rating available. I*CE und the backers of Measure 6 also disagree on the need for Trojan's power. Turn to TROJAN. Page 48 Four battle for secretary of state job By Lisa Kneefei Emerald Reporter Incumbent candidate Phil Keisling hopes to finish the job he began during his appointed term as secretary of state. But oppo nent Kandy Miller said he wants to end what he called the "Koberts/Koisltng administration.” Democrat Keisling and Republican Miller are two of four can didates competing for the office. Also making a bid are Sarah D. Lyons of the New Alliance Party and Shaun Savage of the Lib ertarian Party. The secretary of state is the socond-highest office in state gov ernment. The secretary acts as chief elections officer, records the official acts of the legislature and the executive branch, and oversees the State Board of Accountancy and Tax Service lix amlners and tho state archives. Miller said that Keisling and Gov. Barbara Roberts collaborate on policy to carry out “the Roberts agenda.” but Keisling dis misses tho suggestion. "It reflects his own lack of substantive arguments," Keisling said of Miller's charge. The secretary of state's ofTice is indo pendont of tho governor's office, ho said. However, Miller charges that both Keisling and Roberts are insensitive toward Oregonians, and he said they haven't dis played leadership. "I hope to provide the leadership that is so lacking today." Miller said, "because I isn't stand idly by and watch the situa tion continue to deteriorate." Miller said he believes he's the best-qualified candidate be cause he has "real-world management experience." Miller's experience Includes his position as vice president of Moore Mill and Lumbor Co. He holds a law degree from Lewis and ('lark Law School and a master's degree in education from the University. Miller said Kolsllng lacks experience for the offlco. but Keis ling countered his charge. “He's got a titlo, but I really question how much hands-on management experience he's got." Koisiing said. Keisling said he's proud of the work he accomplished during his year-and-a- half term. Prior to his appointment he worked as a state representative, a senior legislative assistant, an editor for the Washington Monthly, and a reporter for Willamette Week. Keisling took some heat earlier this year after some people objected to the inclusion of Ballot Measure 9 on the election ballot. He received somo nasty mail, including a letter that compared him to Hitler. Turn to SECRETARY. Pag* 4B