. Alcohol Awaren7 VOL. XIII, NO. I l l 1/ an independent student newspaper serving notre dame and saint mary’s WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1979 Gas bubble no longer poses threat to public HARRISBURG, Pa. (Ap) - Federal officials said yesterday that a troublesome gas bubble no longer poses any significant danger of explosion at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant, advancing efforts to Bring the disable reactor to cold shutdown. Declaring “the bubble has been eliminated for all practical purposes,’ Harold Denton of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission tola reporters, ‘ T think the danger point is considerably down from where it was a few days ago.” “I would say there is no more bubble at the top of the core... We no longer consider a hydrogen explosion a significant problem,” he said. .“The site remains stable...the bubble poses no further significant safety problem.” Meanwhile, speculation arose that the cripple reactor might , have to be junked, but one NRC official said he doubted that. While Denton, President Carter’s special representative at the scene, held the briefing, tension was casing in the weeklong crisis caused by the worst nuclear mishap in U.S. history. Civil defense official estimated that between 80,000 and 250,000 of the region's 950,000 people had temorarily pulled out, but thousands were returning yesterday and some scnools were reopened. Askea when the emergency would be over at Three Mile Island, Denton said, ‘‘We are right now developing and looking at plans of the most effective way to bring this reactor to a cold shutdown.” He declined to predict exactly when that might be accomplished. Asked about concerns that some safety instruments have failed because of intense radiation in the reactor, Denton said some sensors were lost but most are redundant “and we have other means of getting the information.” George Rooney ponde-s his fate, then partakes in a 'little afternoon delight' with a dip in the Whatever success authorities have in achieving a cold lake...andeven comes out smiting. [Photos by Cate Magennis] shutdown, Denton said the plant’s crippled No. 2 unit was not likely to be back in operation for “a considerable period of time.” Denton said the temperature in the nuclear core remained stable at 280 degrees Fahrenheit. Robert Berncro, and NBC decontamination expert, arrived from Lucey discusses recent nuclear Washington to assess ways of eventually cleaning up the radiation in the facility - a task he said would take “many, many months, maybe a year or two.” reactor crisis at Three Mile Island However Bernero was skeptical of suggestions on Capitol Hill that the reactor was so contaminated byradiationthat itwould have to be abandoned. “I doubt that it cannot be used again...I don’t within the reactor complex as error or some mechanical foul- by Michael Onufrak know,” he said. the reasons for the lengthy up” which caused the malfunc­ Staff Reporter He was responding to a comment by Sen. Gary Hart, D-Colo., time it will take before techni­ tion. He added that stories chairman of the Senate Public Works subcommitee on nuclear John W. Lucey, associate cians can safely examine the coming out of Harrisburg are professor of aerospace and reactor. still vague and often in conflict. [Continued on page 6] mechanical engineering, spoke Lucey stated that it is not yet before a crowa of approximate­ “clear if it was an operator’s [Continued on page 6] ly fifty people in the En­ gineering building last night on the subject of nuclear reactors and the crisis which occurred at Three Mile Island, near Harris­ Chicago elec burg, PA, last week. Luceys talk was part of a meeting of the Notre Dame CHICAGO (AP) - Jane Byrne la ted her. “ In the words of percent of the Democratic vote publicly charged that Bilandic branch of the American Society captured the Chicago mayoralty Abraham Lincoln, “It hurts too and 71 percent of the indepen­ helped “grease the way for of Mechanical Engineers. yesterday and captivated its much to laugh, but I’m too big dent vote. approval of taxicab fare citizenry in doing so - winning a to cry, ” Johnson said. ‘ ‘ I have Mrs. Byrne narrowly increase. record percentage of the vote in no regrets, it was a great defeated Mayor Michael Observer being elected the city’s first experience.” Bilandic, who had support from After her primary . victory, woman mayor. Johnson, an investment party regulars, in the Feb. 27 Mrs. Byrne sought to heal party “ It has been a great night for banker had never held elective primary. For her it was wounds. “We’re going to have insight Chicago,” she told more than office. revenge. to show the world that what 1,500 ecstatic supporters in a An Associated Press- Bilandic had fired Mrs. happended here is like a fight in victory speech less than three WMAG-TV poll of 3,000 voters Byrne, a Daley protegee, from a the family where you always Utilizing detailed slides of hours after the polls closed. showed Mrs. Byrne received 93 cabinet-level post after she make up,” she said. the nuclear facilities at “And I hope that everybody Ocomee, S.C., Lucey described here will always remember the basics of how a nuclear what we started in the winter of reactor operates, what can hap­ ‘79- And I hope you’ll never let pen if something goes wrong the spirit stop ever again.” . Daughter reflects inside a reactor, and what Mrs. Byrne, 44, won by a robably happened at Three landslide, surpassing the mark Rlilc Island of more than 77 percent set in by Pam Degnan Johnson by collecting 81 per­ could an aspiring mayoral can­ Lucey s Hides were effective 1975 set in 1975 by her mentor - Staff Reporter cent of the vote to become the didate expect to win, being both for this three-fold purpose the late Richard J Daley, who first woman to be elected mayor unfunded and unstaffed? because the Ocomee reactor was was elected mayor six times. CHICAGO - Spring crept into of Chicago. “I really didn’t think my built by Babcock and Wilcox, With 2,979 of the city’s 3,100 South Bend yesterday. The “It is very satisfying to mother had a chance,” Kathy the same corporation which precincts or 96 percent of the fever struck again-spring know,” Kathy said after learn­ said yesterday. “She faced a lot designed the reactor which vote, in, Mrs. Byrne had fever, that is. Instead of ing of her mother’s victory of opposition when she exposed malfunctioned at Three Mile 671,189 votes, or 82.1 percent, soaking in the rays, Kathy “that my mom has accom­ the corruption in Bilandic’s Island. to Republican Wallace John­ Byrne quietly slipped away plished what she set out to do. I administration. Somehow I ' ‘Nobody knows precisely son’s 131,261. Socialist Work- from Saint Mary’s and drove wasn’t surprised. After all, she thought he would steal the how or why the crisis occurred. ers Party candidate Andrew into Chicago. She wanted to was the people’s choice.” (primary) election away.” It will probably take several Pulley received 14,996 votes. see history in the making. A year ago at this time, Kathy said she decided to months,maybe a year to find the Johnson told reporters in On April 3, Kathy Byrne Kathy firmly believed that the work for the Byrne campaign to answer,” said Lucey, citing conceding that he had spoken watched her mother Jane Byrne name J ane Byrne would fall on radiation and excessive heat with Mrs. Byrne and congratu- wallop her ■'oonent Wallace deaf ears in Chicago. How [Continued on page 9) A News in brief Wednesday, April 4, 1979 - page 2 Whirlpool lays - off 4,600 as Teamster strike hits . Brico [Continued from page J] traditional things and then let tant thing for them is to do what ST. JOSEPH, Mich. (AP)--Whirlpool Corp., one of the your students decide what they they want in life and be happy. nation’s largest manufacturers of home appliances, laid off uage. It is an international want to focus on. You don’t She said she was not a 4,600 workers yesterday as its flow of parts was cut off by the language, it is the most united have to do everything but you preacher, just a realist. An Teamster strike and lockout. Company officials said the total thing in the world.” must know it, you musn’t be artist will do what they want at work force of 16,000 could be laid off by early next week if the Throughout her talk Brico narrow-minded. ’ ’ Scholarship all costs she emphasized, strike continues. Erwin Kreter, manager of communications told stories that were set all and studying is the only way to noting musicians such as for Whirlpool, said 1,000 workers in the St. Joseph division over the world. A great learn an art according to Brico. Wagner who was disowned by were laid off at the end of yesterday afternoon’s shift. influence in her life was study­ “The major thought I have his family for being a musician. ing under Albert Schwitzer in base my life on is one sentence Brico thought it was tragic Africa where she learned both that I try to implant in every­ when parents disuade their Underground cable fire from his humanity as well as body’s heart: T shall not be children from doing what they his music. She mentioned she deflected from my course.’” wanted to do. studied in Denver, San Fran­ Brico said this with such After conducting only four to causes blackouts in Bostoncisco, New York and Austria.