Fairbanks Daily News-Miner from Fairbanks, Alaska • Page 1

Berger inquiry closes on familiar note Special Correspondent f- N.W.T.-After 20 months of hearings, Valley Pipeline Inquiry closed Friday as it a flurry of conflicting statements by con- natives and petroleum-industry spokesmen Conservationists represented by the Canadian Arctic (C "dead." It has become too costly" onmenlal conflicts and too dependent i unprovcn gas reserves In the Mackenzie Delta their a TM hompson said. Thompson teaches nM of Brlllsh Columbia and was formerly commission ard Sim ar 3 StatC public utilitics Xv'--Jijin" uiiuiurauKui for Indians in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon and Arctic Slope Eskimos uniformly called for a land claims settlement before a pipeline project is considered. All Ihree groups support programs that would limit the Influence non-natives have by establishing autonomous governments similar to provinces or states. AD three also called for more extensive jurisdiction over land than any Canadian provloce currenlly holds. The three groups also called for 10-year residence requirement before non-native could vole, hunt or fish in the new native territory.

Several of the native spokesmen called Ihe projected impact of the pipeline "genoqtdial" to native life and culture. Ronald Veale, speaking for the Council of Yukon Indians (CYI) argued that a pipeline would end life as it presently exists In Ihe traditional village of Old Crow. Veale implied lhal Indians there might react violently if a pipeline were built without a claims settlement. "A person must understand who and what the people of Old Crow are before they can appreciate bolh Ihe intensity of this feeling and the meaning behind it," he said. However, the North Slope producers argued that Natives requiring settlement of their claims prior to construction were engaging in "nothing more than a power play," and "holding Ihe country up to ransom." Speaking for the producing companies, Calgary lawyer John Bishop Ballem said there is no legal difference between Native land claims and the claims of any olher property owner whose land is crossed by a public project.

Ballem said the producers support the Arctic Gas project because it would carry Alaskan as well as Canadian gas splitting costs and encouraging further exploration in the Mackenzie Delta. Asked whether this was not a tacit ad- mission that there was not enough gas In the delta to justify a pipeline through Canada, Ballem said "I don't think that's what 1 said." Arctic Gas, he said, "Is a bird in the hand, while other proposals are mere ptarmigans in the tundra." Arctic Gas proposes a line east from Prudhoe Bay to the Mackenzie Delta and then south through the Mackenzie Valley lo central Canada and the U.S. Midwest Competing is a plan by Foothills Pipeline Ltd. to build an all-Canadian line down the Mackenzie Valley lo carry only Delta gas and serve just Canadian markets. The Alcan Highway route though frequently mentioned during the hearings, was not officially considered.

Commissioner Thomas Berger, a justice in the British Columbia Supreme Courl, said he expects to have two volumes of reports and recommendations based on his inquiry ready for the Canadian government earlv next year, Vol. LXXIV "A merka 's Farthest North Daily Newspaper" 25c Per Copy FAIRBANKS, NOVEMBER 20,1976 52 Pages No. 275 Candidates face maximum fines By ERIN VAN BRONKHORST Staff Writer Some heavy fines for late financial reports arc bringing forth screams of anguish from political candidates around the state. The Alaska Public Offices Commission, which levied tlje fines, was scheduled lo meet today to consider whether to show some mercy. State law requires candidates to file reports of their contributions and expenditures at various intervals.

The maximum tines are $10 per day for each day of lateness in filing some forms. For others, the maximum is $50 per day. And the APOC policy has been to enforce the maximum. "We have received upwards of 100 letters, complaints, affidavits, anger, ire and disgust," said APOC Executive Director Wilda Hudson. Many are questioning why the maximum is necessary, why stiff penalties are needed for those who raised and spent very little, and why the fines are so high for 24-hour reports, she said.

The 24-hour reports are forms required when a candidate spends or Pipeliners hustling to close Thompson Pass ByTONYEBERSOLE Staff Writer Construction In most portions of the trans-Alaska pipeline project is winding down this month as work gradually gets finished. But at Thompson pass they're going ahead full bore with less than 600 feet to go. That's not much distance, but with five feet of new snow on the side of the pass, and with backfill work being done with cement buckets pulled along a 45- riegree angle slope, it can be understood why engineers don't expect to complete work before the end of the month. Work has been going like this all summer at the pass-- a steep, rocky, 4,100 foot-long section of the pipeline which plunges vertically from an elevation of about 2,800 feel above sea level at the top, to about 1,000 feet above sea level at the bottom. The ditch along the side of the pass was blasted out with dynamite.

Soil was cleared away by bulldozers fastened on winches. Equipment and pipe was dragged up the side of the pass with a special tramway. Winds along the side of the pass are consistently 25 to 30 miles an hour. With all this rigging and adverse weather, the final welding joint was made on Oct. 20.

Since then workmen have been alternating work between Humphrey has first treatment NEW YORK (AP)-Sen. Hubert Humphrey has left Memorial Hospital after completing his first cycle of drug treatment prescribed to hinder any spread of cancer. The Minnesota Democrat was operated on at Memorial Oct. 7 for removal of a cancerous bladder. The chemotherapy is normal after treatment.

Humphrey said on arrival at the hospital Thursday that he did not Ihink the operation and Its aftermath would affect his chances for election lo the Senate majority leadership he is seeking. backfilling the ditch and clearing away new fallen snow. Two automatic units have been hauled up the pass for the backfill operation. The machines use high pressure air compressors to blow backfill into the ditch on the upper two- thirds of the mountain. The final 600 feet now being installed must be stabilized with concrete, hauled up in buckets by the tramway and dumped.

This week, as heavy snows continue to fall in the mountains, engineers placed a hot water tank at the top of the pass for clearing away snow. The water is heated to 200 degrees and sprayed through fire hoses down the snow covered pipe trench. In other sections of the 800 mile-long pipeline project, Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. reported that the entire project, including pumpingstations and the Valdez terminal, is nearing 90 per cent complete. Alyeska has started its massive demobilization effort of equipment primarily in sections 1,2,3 and 4 of the project.

As of Nov. 7, a total of 13,290 craft and supervisory personnel were working on the project. That number will dip to around 5,000 by Christmas and remain at that level through next year's construction season. Alyeska said the pipeline portion of the project is about 97 per cent complete; the pumping stations about 85 per cent complete; and the Valdez terminal nearly 80 per cent finished. All mainline pipe has been welded in set in place with the exception of some tie-in work and welds that need inspection and repair in Section 5, North of (he Brooks Range.

The pipeline's final weld will not be completed until next year, when hydrostatic testing of the line is finished. CLOUDY Forecast for Fairbanks and vicinity Is fair tonight with Increasing cloudiness Sunday High today near 10 and low Umleht near zero High Sunday near IS. Outlook for Monday Is cloudy. Al 10 a.m. today 11 was clear and Ihe temperature was 3 below.

The winds were calm and the barometer was MM and falling. High Friday was 13 and the overnight low was 5 below. The sun will rise Sunday al 8:7 a.m. and set at 2:27 p.m. for a loUl of 5 hours and 40 minutes ol daylight, a loss of 7 minutes from today.

Record high for this date, set In 1943, Is 40 and the record low, set In 1M2, Is 36 below. At ID a.m. today the carbon monoxide level was 8 ppm. The 8-hour CO level may reach 10 ppm ta the downtown area. The air quality Is la I r.

THOMPSON PASS--Two pipeline workers huddle In an aerial tram used to drag materials up the side of Thompson Pass in the Chugach mountains 20 miles east of Valdez. With winter in the mountains already, workmen have less than 600 feet to backfill on the side of the pass. (Photo byHoUylteckonl) receives a lump sum of more than 5250 in the week before the election. This must be reported within 24 hours, and the fine for not doing so is per day of lateness per transaction. That part of the law is causing some anguish for certain Fairbanks candidates, notably Rep.

Fred Brown, a Democrat who has strongly supported the financial disclosure law. Brown has been assessed a total of $900 in late fines, of which $550 is for 24-hour reports that were late. "They are just assessing the maximum fine for everybody," Brown said Friday. He is hoping different guidelines will be established, he said, adding he believes the fines should be varied according to the ircumstances Brown said his reports were late partly because of the illness of his wife, Helen, who is his campaign treasurer, and partly because he mailed them downtown instead of at the airport and the mail was not picked up early enough. For the General Election, the following Fairbanks candidates have been assessed fines and have not yet paid according to APOC records: Charlie Parr $100, Sam Barnes $900 Bruce Boyd $700, Fred Brown $770.

These candidates paid fines: Glenn Hackney $50, Dick Crenel $350 Jules Wright $60, Don Bennett $10 Bob Fines also have been assessed recently for violations related to the Primary Election. For Fairbanks, the following candidates have unpaid fines for that campaign: Sam Barnes $650 Bruce Boyd $650, Fred Brown $50 Michael Jennings $800, Sally Smith $50 Bob Betlisworth $60, Charles Kegler $260, Thomas Morris $10 John Gustafson $180. These candidates did pay fines for that campaign: Fred Brown $40, Selwyn Carrol $10, John Gustafson $50, Larry Carpenter $50, Steve Cowper $150, John Kohler $270, J. Ellsworth "Mac" McCarthy $100 Bob Bettisworth $30. A happier surprise Last Thursday Dave and Carolyn Taylor of Mile Richardson Highway awoke to find their two snow machines stolen, trailer and all.

Yesterday, an evan bigger shock awaited them--two brand new machines and a trailer hitched to Taylor's truck. In the week since the snowmobiles disappearance, friends of the Taylors joined together, pooling resources to buy them the same models of the machines that were stolen. REMEMBERED-This portrait, complete with an inscription to her late husband, shows Vide Bartlett in her younger days. Funeral services for Mrs. Bartlett who died of a heart attack early Thursday, will be held at 3 p.m.

Sunday at the Sacred Heart Cathedral on Airport Road. See Page 8 for a profile of Mrs. Barlett written by the biographer of her late husband, Sen. E.L. "Bob" tl'botocotirtesyofClnus-M.

Naskc) Patty Hearst is free on bail SAN FRANCISCO (AP)--Patricia Hearst, her high-rise prison traded for an elegant Nob Hill apartment where armed guards protect her, is home today in the custody of the parents she once denounced. She was freed--with her activities restricted by court order--oti a total of $1.5 million bail Friday, pending appeal of her federal conviction for bank robbery and her scheduled trial in January on stale charges. Hearst, who was kidnaped 33 months ago by radica! terrorists, had been in custody since she was captured Sept 18, 1975, a frightened rebel in dyed red hair, T-shirt, blue jeans and handcuffs. On Friday, speaking briefly to Hospital leaders discuss Teamster' wing design Fairbanks Memorial Hospital (FMH) representatives met with a Teamsters Union architect this week to discuss a proposed rehabilitation and recovery center. Meanwhile, the hospital and union are continuing to negotiate a joint venture aimed at providing Alaska's Interior with a single comprehensive health care facility with FMH at its core.

A sophisticated rehabilitation center would be part of the facility, with the union loaning the hospital's foundation board up to $20 million to build the center. Lawyers apparently are working out details of the agreement, and Foundation Board President Ron Nerland said Thursday "things are looking good" concerning the negotiations. "We should have a joint statement to issue next week," Norland said. UA ruled responsible for AIA Here crash The University of Alaska is "100 per cent responsible" for a 1973 Hercules airplane crash on a ice island in (he Arctic Ocean, a local jury decided Friday. In a surprisingly short time the jury announced they had reached a unanimous verdict at 4 p.m.

Friday The civil liability case went lo the Superior Court jury at approximately 10 a.m. Friday after hearing five weeks of testimony. Their deliberations took about six hours. Alaska international Air claimed the liability In the loss of the Hercules was the University of Alaska's In negligent maintenance of the research Ice Island T-3 landing runway and also a breech of contract. A I A a i Lockheed Corp.

was liable In the manufacturing of a defective center wing. The Jury decided Lockheed had no liability In the incident and AIA was found not lo be contributory, as both the UA and Lockheed counter claimed, in the crash because of improper usage of the Hercules. Howard Staley, attorney for Ihe defense, asked the court to poll the jury They were unanimous in their decison against the University. The case was heard by Judge James Blair of the Fourth District Superior Court In Fairbanks. Tentative plans, as outlined to the foundation board last week, call for Ihe union lo loan Ihe money for the rehab center in return for controlling interest on a proposed finance committee.

The committee would oversee major expenditures lor future capital improvements. Roth (he hospital and the recovery center would be jointly operated. The union also would he given seats on Ihe hospital's seven-member operating board, and on Ihe 25-member foundation board. Earlier this year the Teamsters announced plans to build a $23 million hospital on a site off College Road, but those plans would be scrapped if the joint venture is approved. There had been concern among Ihe local medical community Fairbanks could not adequately support two major hospitals, and that duplication would push up costs to the palient.

The issue had been brewing since last May, when the hospital's governing board rejected a Teamsters offer to finance expansion at the city's only hospital in exchange for controlling Interest on Ihe board. Shortly after the rejection, the Teamsters announced plans lo build their own hospital. Enrlier this week FMH announced the start of a $6 million tund drive to pay for a 29 bed computerized special care unit currently being built. The addition Is about 20 per cent completed and Is expected to be finished next fall, reporters, she was a smiling and fashionable--though nervous--young woman in lipstick and nail polish and a silk blouse, her hair once again its natural brown. "tt would be a lot belter if I were home right now," she lold the reporters.

"I'd like to gel this over with so I can go home She was reunited with her parents at the Federal Building, and her mother, Catherine, said, "All my prayers are answered." Later her father, San Francisco Examiner President Randolph A. Hearst, added: "Of course, we are very pleased. We are going to have dinner here in our apartment. She's out and we're all together and very happy." These were the parents who, more tban two years ago, the newspaper heiress had rejected as "Pig Hearsts." Eventually, they parted with millions negotiating with terrorists, paying for lawyers, pulling up bail-to "get her some measure of freedom. Now 22, Hearst was kidnaped by members of the radical Symbionese Liberation Army on Feb.

4, 1974. Her parents first tried to free iier by setting up a free-food program for the poor, but she joined her captors. folks bctter 6e' all they can In those fines cause they'll be plenty hungery when Ihe politlcans get through wilh their budget next year.".