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