Daily Press from Newport News, Virginia • Page 3

SECOND FRONT PAGE ft NEWPORT NEWS-HAMPTON, THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1W8 So Longer Faces Pollution Law Threat Yard tStaft photo bv Herb Barnes) I The 'There's an old saying about a spring are often even fancier and burg are proof. Even with the young man's fancy in the spring, these fresh blooms along Duke of nippy nights, they mean spring but the flowers that bloom in the Gloucester Street in Williams- (at last) is here Restaurant Tax Amended By Hampton City shipbuilding budget. One drain emptying into the river accounted for 10 of the violations in the EPA citation. In its request for amendments, the yard said that drain would be in violation almost every time a certain piece of equipment was used. The drain serves a test boiler cooled by river water.

It has dumped a maximum of 2.5 million gallons per day into the river, averaging 527,000 gallons per day. The old rules outlawed discharges from the boiler exceeding 144,000 gallons per day and set a temperature limit of no more than five degrees above the temperature of the river. Under the revised guidelines, a maximum temperature of 110 degrees would be allowed, far hotter than river temperature. The drain was cited by the federal agency as discharging water at 133 degrees, 124 degrees, 115 degrees and 108 degrees. The yard has installed equipment it believes will keep the temperature under the new limit.

A biologist at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science said the 110-degree limit will kill any organism pumped through the cooling system from the river, but compared to electric plants dumping millions of gallons per second, the shipyard discharge would not be likely to have a measurable effect on the river itself. in 1975, so it did so hurriedly and without regard to practical details. The results, said the spokesman, were pollution control guidelines that did not fit the industry. W. E.

Lanford, an engineer in the Tidewater office of the state water board, agreed the EPA standards were too stringent. He said the rule changes were drafted to address the shortcomings of the original permit, rather than to "accomodate polluters." Two EPA research teams have probed shipyard operations around the country, but no final report has been published to guide the agency in setting standards practical to the industry. Lanford said the guidelines are only in preliminary form now and did not exist at all in 1975. In proposing changes in the pollution standards, the state board recommended the federal watchdog agency postpone enforcement proceedings started against the shipyard last September. Changing the rules would eliminate the problem, according to the state agency.

EPA cited the shipyard last September for 23 specific infractions of its pollution standards between April, 1976, and July, 1977. Although action was delayed at the request of the state board, a conviction under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act might have cost the shipyard its share of the Navy By ERNIE GATES Staff Reporter Newport News Shipbuilding is no longer in hot water for dumping hot water into the James River. The federal Environmental Protection Agency gave its okay Wednesday to changes in the ground rules by which the yard dumps millions of gallons of hot water into the river daily. The new rules will allow the yard to dump water as hot as 110 degrees into the river. Before the change, such a discharge carried the threat of action by the environmental agency, with a possibility of the yard being ruled ineligible for government contracts.

The shipyard depends on Navy shipbuilding contracts for the bulk of its business. The federal agency, in a letter to the Virginia State Water Control Board, concurs with the state board's proposals to make dumping requirements less stringent for the yard. The state agency drew up a list of amendments to the shipyard's discharge permit in response to repeated water pollution violations over the past three years. The shipyard requested the amendments last July, arguing it was unable to comply with the "inappropriate and unreasonable" restrictions ordered by EPA in 1975. A shipyard spokesman said the federal agency was under pressure from the courts to issue permits By AL CHRISTOPHER Staff Reporter Hampton City Council amended the city's 3 percent restaurant tax Wednesday over the objections of an attorney whose client is suing to have the levy 'declared unconstitutional.

"There is absolutely no way to return the money to the people who paid it" in the event the year-old tax is ruled invalid, John Robins Jr. said. Most of the changes in the tax or-dinance are clarifications and defini- tions to clear up confusion on the part of restaurant owners who have com- plained the ordinance is too vague, City A. Paul Burton told council, Robins, who represents restaurant owner Owen Bellamy, said he favored, of the changes but still found some provisions of the law objec-v tionable. He asked council not to change p.

the present law until the ty of the meals levy is decided. Burton said the new ordinance does not change the tax rate and a pending civil suit has no bearing on council's authority to change it. He defended the tax, saying, "1 feel the outcome of the case will eventually conclude that it is valid." General Dixon Receives Oldest Aviation Award etc. ouncil Council also approved sale of a small building, formerly used as a bank drive-in, to Jere and Dean Mills. They plan to open a sidewalk cafe in the Queen Street building.

Council adjourned shortly after those property transactions only to reopen the meeting to permit Councilman Charles Wornom to abstain on both votes. Wornom, who owns a drugstore downtown, initially made the motion to approve or voted affirmatively on both of the development proposals. He said after the meeting he forgot to disqualify himself, which is required because of possible conflict of interest. Council voted to add two members to the five-person Pentran commission which is under fire from, federal authorities for lack of minority representatives. Turner Spencer, a black professor of biology at Thomas Nelson Community College, was appointed to fill one of the two new spots.

Newport News is expected to name the seventh commissioner. Councilman T. Melvin Butler, chairman of the bus commission, and Assistant City Manager Robert J. O'Neill were reappointed to two-year terms. Richard Wingfield, assistant school superintendent for business affairs, said the school system sat in on a presentation by the New Jersey firm several months ago.

"We're not interested this year," he said, explaining the transportation office already keeps extensive records on maintenance, costs and replacement parts. He said although the computer firm does handle some school transportation systems, he doesn't think the schools should use the system yet "with the changes involved in our transportation department. Our operation is different from what the city operates." Speer said the company serves more than 100 businesses and governments, most of them local and some having as many as 20,000 pieces of equipment. He said the city will begin use of the system May 1. City Is Expecting Big Savings From Maintenance Program Flowers That Bloom, Council suspended rules requiring two votes on the change and unanimously passed it.

Other council actions Wednesday night included: A new ordinance regulating charitable solicitation, based on a model state law to become effective in September, was approved, also under emergency rules. The new law requires extensive financial disclosure from groups seeking solicitation permits and becomes effective immediately. Similar ordinances have discouraged solicitations by members of the Unification Church and now are facing court tests'in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Councilman T. Melvin Butler asked that passage be delayed until it could be determined what effect the law might have on other charity solicitors, but voted approval when told "Moon-ies" from southside Hampton Roads "are knocking at our doors." Sale of the downtown Fishman building to Raymond and Martha Bodie was approved.

Bodie plans to rehabilitate the vacant structure and lease commercial space on the first floor and apartments on the second floor. information for the city to use when determining what equipment to buy, repair or replace. The firm will be supplied information from the city each time a repair is made. The information will include such things as the type of repair, make and model of the vehicle repaired and length of time the repair took. The information will be fed into a computer which will supply the city with a comprehensive set of statistics, broken down into categories.

A careful look at the figures should show any trends, such as a certain make or model vehicle needing repair more than others, a mechanic whose repairs do not hold up and whether equipment is being overworked or underutilized. Speer said use of the computer is designed to reduce the cost of operating equipment and the amount of time vehicles are out of service. He used the system while public works director in Iowa City, Iowa, and Norman, and saved money in both places. "Equipment costs can get out of hand if you're not careful," Speer said. Newport News spends about $1.4 million annually to operate and maintain its fleet.

That figure includes the waterworks but does not include the school system. The city has about 800 pieces of equipment, 750 of which are motorized. A representative of the firm will call on the city each month to present the data and go over it with public works officials, spotting trends and areas where the city can save money. The service will cost the city about $1,800 a month. Councilman Harry Atkinson said Monday night the school system should be made to take another look at the possibility of using the service.

He suggested during budget deliberations would be a good time. By P.J. BUDAHN Staff Reporter Gen. Robert J. Dixon, chief of the Tactical Air Command, has won the nation's oldest aviation award for developing a realistic training program which simulates aerial combat.

Dixon, preferring to say the prestigious Collier Trophy had been captured by his command, announced the award Wednesday at a meeting of the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. The Collier Trophy was established in 1911 by the National Aeronautic Association. It is awarded each year to recognize the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics. The first winner of the Collier Trophy was Glen Curtis, developer of Second Language Wins Turpin Quits As Museum Director aircraft artillery firings. Computer-linked instruments document all activities over the massive range.

"An important feature (of Red Flag) is the unique opportunity to debrief the 'enemy' after each mission," the association spokesman said. "Crews learn exactly what they did, right or wrong. Range instrumentation gives objectivity to the training." Last year, over 8,200 aircrews took part in Red Flag, along with 10,000 ground troops. Participants have come from every branch of the armed forces, plus the Royal Air Force, Canadian forces and the German Air Force. Dixon told the chamber of commerce that programs like Red Flag are necessary because the Soviet Union has "undertaken an offensive military program with a staggering production base." He said Warsaw Pact forces in Europe already outnumber NATO by 2-1 in fighters, 3-1 in divisions, 3-1 in tanks and 2-1 in artillery.

"And in all categories, those numbers are steadily increasing," Dixon said. He said the Soviets are turning out seven tanks a day and four airplanes a day, enough to duplicate the F15 wing at Langley Air Force Base in a month. Soviet aircraft production from 1977 to 1979 is expected to equal all U.S. tactical forces in TAC, Europe and the Pacific, Dixon said. BL00DM0BILE COMING THURSDAY P.M.

Zion Baptist Church 633 20th Street Newport News Sponsored by Zion Baptist Church 'Too can't have one without the other lite without blood" All types of blood urgently needed News. He gives Lavino credit for bringing the new shippers to the port. Booker agrees the project shippers establishing a major point of departure at Newport News would mean a dramatic increase in shipping tonnage, but he points again to the Chessie "nest egg." Booker says stable commodities such as rubber, cocoa beans and copper are the backbone df the general cargo trade in Newport News. Because those commodities are not tied to the political whims of the oil-producing countries that make the greatest use of project shippers, Booker regards copper, rubber and cocoa beans as less risky, if less dramatic. the seaplane.

Other recipients have included the Mercury astronauts. Gen. Curtis E. LeMay and the Apollo moon-landing team. A veteran of 37 years in uniform, Dixon has been TAC commander four and a half years.

He will retire this month. Dixon's Collier Trophy is based on Red Flag. A spokesman for the Aeronautic Association called it "the most realistic peacetime aerial combat training every undertaken." Red Flag is a four-week exercise conducted 10 times a year at Nellis AFB, Nev. Aircraft and ground troops operate under combat conditions. They are confronted with "enemy" fighters and simulated missile and anti- aside until, halfway through the second 100-word list, Lee Bridges of 205 Deerfield a sixth grader at Machen Elementary School, failed to spell "palsy." Chimun won a 12-inch black and white television for her first place finish.

Lee received an AM-FM stereo radio for second place. Both prizes were furnished by WVEC. Jeri Moxley of 1921 Seward Drive, a sixth grader at Cary Elementary School, finished third. missing weapons and display cases. Spencer said he felt the investigation and suspension had a direct affect on Turpin's decision to take the museum job.

"I don't think the opportunity would have presented itself if the suspension had not occurred and Willie hadn't gone to the museum on a part-time basis," Spencer said. Spencer said he felt Turpin was pleased with the opportunity and hoped to work in a position which would "effectively use his talents." Neither Turpin nor Culpepper could be reached for comment. Turpin's successor has not been named. surge in general cargo movement in Newport News, but he is just as quick to praise the marketing efforts of Nacirema's parent company, Lavino Shipping. A Nacirema official says the Lavino marketing force is working on potential cargo shipments that should increase tonnage considerably at the port.

Lavino has been pursuing the trade of giant project shippers such as Bechtel and Morris-Knudson, hoping to route the materials necessary for construction of new cities in the oil-rich Middle East through Newport News. Growth in the port is evident, according to the Nacirema official, in the new shifting lines calling at Newport By DAVID PARSONS Staff Reporter Public works officials in Newport News expect to save thousands of dollars by contracting with a New Jersey firm to oversee maintenance and operation of vehicles and equipment. City council has given its approval to the system and thinks it sounds so good the school system ought to give it a try. School officials don't appear quite as excited as city officials about making use of the outside firm. They have passed up a chance to participate in the system, but Council feels a second look is in order when the budget for 1978-79 is discussed.

Public Works Director. Ralph E. Speer said the Mainstem Corp. will be used as a management tool, providing It's A Sign Of Confusion Why is a billboard the Oyster Point section of Newport News advertising the three Hampton councilmanic candidates running under the Hampton Forward banner? That's what Newport News' four -Republican council candidates would like to know. Incumbent candidate Aubrey Fitzgerald said Wednesday the Oyster Point billboard was supposed to carry advertising for the Republican team but the company evidently got its politics, or communications, crossed.

"I guess they don't know too much about politics around here," Fitzgerald said. Chessie By ERNIE GATES Staff Reporter As he prepares to hand the keys of Newport News Marine Terminal to the officers of Nacirema Operating Clifton Booker, the Chessie System terminal superintendent, looks back on his operation with some pride. "We've built a nice nest egg for the new operator," says Booker, who has run the terminal for the past three years. "Those in the shipping and maritime community recognize we've a good job." At 28,704 tons of general cargo, Booker points out, the terminal enjoyed in March its best month since 1975. He says tonnage has increased consistently For the best speller in Hampton elementary schools English is a second language.

Chimun Paeng of 122 Westover a sixth grader at Tyler Elementary School, won first place Wednesday in a citywide spelling bee for elementary children. The spelling bee at Eaton Junior High drew 21 contestants. Two lists of words prepared by Harry Candler of the Dajly Press were used. Contestants stumbled over the words and fell was effective on the date he notified the city, April 10. This would have been Turpin's last week of suspension.

Investigation into Turpin's administration of the museum began last month when several city officials received an anonymous communication alleging improper activities. During the investigation, handled by the Newport News Police Internal Affairs Division, a number of "administrative irregularities" were discovered which concerned city officials and ultimately were given as the reason for Turpin's suspension. Turpin, however, was cleared of any charge of criminal activity, such as end of May 13, leading to the physical transfer of the freight in the yard. Chessie's employees, members of the Brotherhood of Railway and Airline Clerks, have been notified of the official transfer date, as required by the union severance agreement. Booker wishes his replacements well, pointing out, "We're still the only railroad in town, so we stand to gain if Nacirema succeeds here." He says his firm's relations with Nacirema's designated terminal chief, Robert Ellis, should be excellent.

Ellis and Booker have presided over the details of the transfer. Booker credits his organization with much of the groundwork for the recent Official Says Nacirema Being Left 'Nice Nest Egg' Less than a week after he received a five-week suspension for "improper bookkeeping," Willie Turpin has resigned as director of War Memorial Museum. Turpin notified Shirley E. Culpepper, director of the Department of Human Services, which oversees the museum's operation, Monday that he was resigning to take a job with the Mariner's Museum. Since his suspension from the city-operated museum on March 13, Turpin has been working at the Mariner's Museum on a temporary basis, according to his attorney, Wayne Spencer.

Spencer said Turpin's resignation shipment will be the largest ever loaded in Hampton Roads harbor. Turning to the transition to a new operator, Booker says the turnover is going so smoothly his boss at Chessie's Cleveland headquarters is afraid thing is being overlooked. Two years of rocky negotiations to replace the railroad as marine terminal operator have led many to eye the final turnover warily. "On May 12," says Booker, we'll walk out and leave the keys on the desk." The following Monday, May 15, the terminal will reopen with Nacirema at the controls. A joint inventory by Nacirema and Chessie will take place over the week in the first three months of this year as compared with 1977.

The terminal was hurt by the coal strike, furloughing its coal pier work force almost to the man, but coal movement is picking up again, according to Booker. Although it will be a month or more before the coal piers are working up to normal, says Booker, his inventory is picking up quickly and export shipments are being arranged daily. There are 2,600 rail cars loaded and marked for delivery to the Newport News docks, according to the superintendent. On April 24, the bulk carrier Lake Tahoe will take on 118,000 tons of coal at the pier. At the equivalent of 1,690 rail cars, says Booker, the.