Montana Kaimin, October 10, 1979 Associated Students of the University of Montana
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University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Associated Students of the University of Montana Montana Kaimin, 1898-present (ASUM) 10-10-1979 Montana Kaimin, October 10, 1979 Associated Students of the University of Montana Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy . Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper Recommended Citation Associated Students of the University of Montana, "Montana Kaimin, October 10, 1979" (1979). Montana Kaimin, 1898-present. 6864. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper/6864 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM) at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Montana Kaimin, 1898-present by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Speaker claims synfuel plants dangercrtffs By BOOMER SLOTHOWER coal or oil shale) into liquid fuels. to the Energy Mobilization Board decision is not made within that counties by 1990. The study also Montana Kalmin Reporter Carter’s proposal has been in picking "priority energy time frame the board can make the estimates it would cost $25 billion toned down by Congress. So far, projects,” and allows waiving laws decision. to construct public facilities to The Carter administration’s $20 billion has been approved for that cause undue delays to energy Doherty said the least accommodate the population proposal to build synthetic fuel the construction of 12 demonstra projects. objectionable proposal is the one increase. Plants in eastern Montana could tion synfuel plants, Doherty said. S.B. 1308 allows the board to now in the House Interior The problem with synfuel create “serious problems" for The second aspect of the alter laws that get in the way of Committee, House Resolution plants, according to Doherty, is Montana's environment, Steve synfuel plan involves the creation priority energy projects, Doherty 498$. The resolution would put the that none has been built on the Doherty, staff member of Northern of an Energy Mobilization Board to most restrictions on the board. Plains Resource Council, said speed completion of energy While the proposal would allow yesterday. projects. The Senate approved shortening of the time frame that Doherty, speaking at a Student creation of the board last week. local and state authorities have to Action Center noon forum Creating the board was one aspect make their decision, it would not yesterday in the University Center of a larger Senate energy bill, allow waiving or altering laws. Mall, said there are two aspects to Senate Bill 1308. S.B. 1308 is one The threat to Montana’s the “synfuel fever.” of three energy proposals now environment is based on a The first, he said, is the "moon- being debated in Congress. Department of Energy study that shot type proposal” for funding The worst of these energy found 10 counties in southeastern that Carter has made, which would proposals, according to Doherty, Montana as being suitable for give $120 billion to the oil industry is the resolution being debated in synfuel plants. The study said 36 for production of synfuel. the House Commerce Committee. synfuel plants capable of Synthetic fuel is produced by This resolution, House Resolution producing 1.8 million barrels of refining hydrocarbons (generally 4499, would grant broad authority synthetic fuel a day could be constructed. The study says the impact on the counties — Richland, McCone, Dawson, Wibaux, Custer, Powder STEVE DOHERTY River, Rosebud, Bfg Horn, DAVID ALBERSWERTH Musselshell and Carbon — will said. This bill also includes a include the mining of 9 billion tons scale being discussed now. project decision schedule that of coal over a 25-year period, "It's a $20 billion guess made gives the board the authority to yearly consumption of 468,000 with the taxpayers’ money," he dictate to state and local gov acre feet of water (four times the said. ernments the amount of time yearly flow of the Little Big Horn While the Energy Mobilization they have to reach a decision River), and an increase of 396,000 about an energy project. If the in the population of the 10 • Cont. on p. 8. Environmental conference under way By EILEEN SANSOM the University Center Mall yester the Wilderness Study Act. Montana Kalmin Raportar day. The fair will continue from 9 It is not understood that a.m. to 4 p.m. today. livestock grazing, mining, fire Environmental groups from Stief said he hopes the con supression, hunting and fishing around the state are gathering at ference will encourage students to are all permitted under the act. the University of Montana this “make contact" with one of the Another myth pointed out in the week to increase student groups at the conference and get presentation is that only the awareness of Montana’s en involved. “young and hardy" use wilderness vironmental concerns. The Wilderness Institute, a UM- areas. But evidence exists that The "Conference on the En based non-advocacy organization, shows people of ail age groups and vironment" will expose students to presented a slide show yesterday varied physical ability use the such diverse groups as the on the Montana Wilderness Study areas. Northern Plains Resource Coun Act. Wall said the diversity of en cil, the Northern Tier Information Slides of each of the nine areas vironmental groups at the con Committee, the National Center being reviewed were shown and ference is good and exposure to for Appropriate Technology and Ken Wall, Wilderness Institute these groups should increase the Environmental Information coordinator of field studies, said it student awareness. Center, Ron Stief, Student Action is "a good time to get involved in The Wilderness Institute gathers Center director said. this issue." facts on environmental issues to SAC is sponsoring the six-day The presentation indicated that conference that will include a there are many misconceptions of • Cont. on p. 8. lecture by Gary Snyder, a Pulitzer Prize-winning environmental poet, whom Stief calls a "profound thinker on the environment.” Aber Day Kegger dead, Snyder will lecture at the Science Complex 131 at 7 p.m. alternatives proposed tonight on “The Environmental History of China." Snyder’s topic is By LINDA CARICABURU basis. I find the event relatively part of the environmental lecture Montana Kalmin Raportar costly . its only benefit being to course “Global Environmental those participants who regard it Problems." The Aber Day Kegger is no as one of the more entertaining groups represented at the con more, but plans are in the making activities available. Because of ference took part in an for some kind of spring quarter this, I am withdrawing all future (Staff photo by Darrel Mast.) environmental-information fair in event to replace it. University Center support of the David Stevens is this year's event." chairman of the Missoula Liquid Because of declining support, PCB contamination a chance find, Assets Corporation (MLAC), Stevens said MLAC “is in a period which formerly put on the kegger. of transition, of shifting gears; He said chances for an Aber Day we’re looking fora new direction." according to federal spokesman Kegger this year are "virtually Stevens sees the new direction dead,” because of lost support as being something different from By EILEEN SANSOM An unused transformer at the The University of Montana Food from both outside and within the previous Aber Day celebrations. “ If Montana Kalmin Reporter Billings plant drained PCB into Service had 34 cases of PCB- university. there are any keggers in the future, the plant drainage system and contaminated eggs which were MLAC ran into difficulties last MLAC won’t be putting them on," The presence of polychlorinated became part of the rendering disposed of Sept. 17, John Pi- year securing a health permit from Steven said. “We just aren’t look biphenyls (PCB) in bone and meat process. In this process, grease is quette, director of residence halls the Missoula City-County Health ing toward a kegger anymore.'" meal distributed by the Pierce extracted from waste water and food service, said yesterday. Board. Objection to issuing the MLAC isn’t looking toward Aber Packing Co. of Billings might used to make bone and meat meal. "None of those eggs got into the permit was led by County Com Day as the focal point of celebra never have been detected, a Alkana said the PCB was at food process," Piquette added. missioner Barbara Evans, who said tion as done previously. Stevens spokesman for the Environmental tached to the fat and grease and The eggs were replaced at no the kegger "endangers the health would like to see Aber Day "go Protection Agency said Friday. became part of the feed that was charge by Continental-Keil, a and safety of the community." back to the low-key holiday it was In a seminar at the University of distributed all over the western major food warehouse in Billings, Much of the university ad 10 years ago." Montana, Ken Alkana, aerosol United States. he said. None of the poultry at the ministrative support for the kegger But Stevens stressed that MLAC waste and toxic substances coor "One little drop caused a rippl food service was contaminated, he was dropped last summer, as cited still sees its goals as producing dinator for the Helena office of ing effect," he noted, since some of added. in a memorandum dated July 27 some type of springtime event. He EPA, said if Rightwood Farms of the PCB-ridden feed was exported Although PCB can no longer be from the University Center Direc said a new event was proposed to Idaho had not tested the feed for its as faraway as Japan.