Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 12

A12 Star-Tribune Wednesday, July 19, 2000 ALLERGIES: Researcher warns findings are preliminary Continued from Al idea that the female sex hormone estrogen may play a role in allergies. Puberty is triggered in girls by an increase in estrogen and experts have noted that girls are reaching puberty earlier these days. Previous studies have sug gested that women with high estrogen concentrations may be more likely to suffer allergies and that conditions In the womb might influence the development of allergies later In life. Lindsay Forbes, an asthma and public health researcher at Guy's llospital in London, said the find ings were Intriguing, but warned they were preliminary. "It may be causal, It may not be.

There may be some environmental factor that is common to both allergies and early menar-che," she said. "But it's one of the possibilities." She said if the connection turns out to be real, while nothing can be done to change the onset of menstrual periods, other estrogen-related Influences such as hormone replacement therapy and the contraceptive pill can be controlled. The findings are encouraging for further research investigating a possible link between estrogen and allergies, she said. Xu noted Indirect evidence suggesting the hormone might have a role. Dr.

Fernando Martinez, director of the Respiratory Sciences Center at the University of Arizona, said while the findings were plausible they do not take into ac count the fact that first-born children are more likely to develop asthma and allergies. The study does not distinguish between first born and later-born children. Allergies and asthma are more prevalent In young boys than girls, but by puberty, the opposite Is true. Casper BUDGET: Surplus projected at $2. 7 trillion over next decade cepting tax fairness.

These growing surpluses must be applied to debt reduction and tax relief." The Senate-passed "marriage penalty" bill would cut taxes for approximately 45 million couples, including about 25 million two-earner households In which couples pay more than they would if single. It also would cut taxes for millions of other couples who actually receive a marriage "bonus" because one spouse earns the most income. THE BILL WOULD: Gradually enlarge the 15 percent and 28 percent income tax brackets for married couples so they are roughly twice the size of those for single people. The House bill only widens the 15 percent bracket. In 2001, boost a couple's standard Income tax deduction so it is equal to those of two single people.

In 2000 dollars, that's an increase from $7350 to $8,800. Raise by $2,500 the income cap for couples who want to claim the earned Income tax credit. Ensure that certain personal credits, including the $500 per-child tax credit, don't ensnare taxpayers in the complex alternative minimum tax. Clinton has called for marriage penalty relief that Is less costly and targeted at middle-and low-income couples. A Senate Democratic alternative giving married couples a simple choice of filing tax returns as singles or jointly was defeated Monday night.

Democrats heaped scorn on the Republican bill and other GOP tax cuts, saying they risked squandering the surplus to benefit primarily upper-income people while ignoring such spending priorities as providing prescription drugs under Medicare and smaller classroom sizes. "It's very clear that the Republicans in Congress have decided to put aside their responsibilities and to play politics," said White House spokesman Joe Lockhart. Citing research from the labor-funded Citizens for Tax Justice, Democrats said almost 58 percent of major GOP tax cuts passed or pending this year would go to families with incomes in the top 5 percent, over $130,000 a year. "They are more interested in taking care of their wealthy friends than working families," said House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo. "I don't think the American people are dumb.

They don't want the (surplus) money to go to tax cuts for the wealthy." Republicans countered that the marriage tax cut and the gradual repeal of Inheritance taxes passed last week by the Senate, if combined, would consume only about 10 percent of the projected budget surplus. "This is a small amount of taxpayers' money that we can return to them," Lott said. GOP leaders hope to finish the marriage penalty bill this week and get it to Clinton before the Republican National Convention starts July 31 to demonstrate stark differences with Democrats on tax cuts. GOP aides say the marriage penalty bill will likely be sent to Clinton first, followed by the estate tax repeal. wildlife in high levels Selenium dangerous to Selenium is dangerous to wildlife in high levels, which means it must be considered if the eventual cleanup decision maintains the lake as wildlife habitat, Meredith said.

State officials noted that Soda Lake is especially susceptible to selenium, because there is no outlet for water pumped into the lake each day. Citing 10 years of testing for selenium at Soda Lake, BP Amoco says there's no reason to suspect a selenium problem. State and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials, however, say Wildlife Service Amoco is going to have to deal with it," Anderson said. BP Amoco's Deschamp quipped, "Well if it's a problem, we'll shut the pump off." He maintained that selenium is only a natural part of the puzzle that would not merit cleanup, noting that selenium was found at normal levels and thus eliminated from consideration at the main refinery.

Nonetheless, he said the company would still monitor long-term selenium levels if the Soda Lake were maintained for Proposed highway would handle between 300 and 450 trucks daily wildlife habitat. Both DEQ and Amoco eventually agreed to run selenium through the standard process for determining if any chemical is a potential contaminant. That process compares levels found in the investigation to background levels tested in surrounding areas to determine if BP Amoco is responsible for cleanup. "We aren't going to have you look for things over background or have you clean up things to over background," Meredith told BP Amoco officials follow- sewer manhole improvements. Authorized a catering permit to Tin Shack, LLC, doing business as Poplar Wine and Spirits, for a July 27 Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours function at Greiner Motors.

Passed on third reading consent ordinances rezoning lot 31, block 6, University Park Addition from a one-unit residential to a hospital-medical district, enabling the lot's owners to sell it to a developer plan ml 473-1844 MS 106 I Wlu rr vim fitul 4. icmrtliinx diffi-rrtil! THIS IS THE PLACE! Summer Dress Sale's 30 Off ling Selected Spring and Summer Shoes and Handbags 103 E. 2ND ST. CASPER 234-4130 Mon Fn. 9 5 .10 pm Sal.

9 5 pm 7 SALE CONTINUES 10 10 Continued from Al some of the "marriage penalty" cut. The Senate bill delays some key provisions until 2002 at the earliest. Much of the surplus will be set aside to pay down the public debt. But the new numbers also make it easier for Republicans to push for more tax cuts in this election year, including a proposed expansion in tax-deferred contributions to retirement accounts and repeal of a 15)93 tax increase imposed on the Social Security benefits of people with incomes above certain levels. The administration, said House Budget Committee Chairman John Kasich, R-Ohio, "is officially out of excuses for not ac SODA LAKE: Continued from Al contamination from refinery processes while selenium occurs naturally in the North Platte River.

Although Amoco used and pumped that water to the lake, company officials said selenium was not a refinery waste. "If this is a river problem, we can't fix it," said Joe Deschamp, who heads up the refinery cleanup for BP Amoco, noting that the cleanup is geared toward problems caused by the refinery. "Is it a refinery issue or is it a water quality issue?" WEST LOOP: Continued from Al takes the form of a resolution, is to be construed only as a show of council support, according to Casper City Manager Tom Forslund. He noted that WYDOT, and not the council, will make the final decision regarding the plan. "This thing doesn't carry any legal weight at all," he said of the endorsement.

"It's just an expression of support." The West Belt Loop has generated considerable controversy by homeowners west of Casper who believe the proposed highway would hurt the area's quality of life. "Some of the residents that were involved weren't even marked on maps," said landowner Jim Wetzel. "Time after time they had not bothered to talk to any of the landowners." The West Belt Loop was originally proposed in 1997 as a long-term project by the Metropolitan Planning Office as a truck bypass route between highways 20-26 and 220. The farailart appliaact Air Conditioners Swamp Coolers wjwwwrrjj from '199 1 i it- 1518 EjH St 577-7404 1-140-7474601 (teMM If ecu' i FtMt. uner of t' 4 Ttftovttm! Mm-Ffi 3C-5 30 14 costplusappliance com r-j August 22 SfarlHbune Day at State Fair! Redeem the Tuesday, August 22 masthead of the Casper Star-Tribune for FREE entrance Come join in the FUN! Glimpses, at 10 am -12 noon 1 at 1 pm there is not enough information to make such a determination.

DEQ's Carl Anderson said the state needs to understand if there are long-term risks involving selenium even if it's not considered in the current cleanup effort. Both DEQ and Amoco said a general water quality problem might be addressed in a separate process, perhaps under provisions of the Clean Water Act. "Whether the state does it through (hazardous waste laws) or the federal government does it through the Fish and reasons. According to Tim Stark, the department's environmental engineer, C-5 is farther from existing subdivisions, would have less effect on ranches in the area and minimize impacts to schools and businesses. But the C-5 route has its drawbacks.

It would be more expensive than the other proposed routes and would be close to some homes scattered in the area. In other business Tuesday, the Council: Approved on a 6-3 vote a resolution to contribute 30 percent of construction costs to Please RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER It's Coming! Watch yonr mailbox for the Casper College fall schedule! Cl5 er Gal! Fill 268-2100 13 A R- F. re mi ege ing the debate over selenium's role in the upcoming investigation. Tuesday's collaborative process meeting was geared toward establishing a work plan for the upcoming investigation into pollution at Soda Lake. Other discussions focused on determining groundwater hydrology underneath the lake, which is necessary to determine whether pollution in the lake could contaminate groundwater.

The meeting continues today at the UW outreach building. ning to construct low-volume office space on the property. The council also approved on third reading rezoning lot 1, Glen Ridge Addition from a one-unit residential to a hospital-medical district. Reappointed Diane Mat-tern and Rebecca Sissman to the Historic Preservation Commission for three-year terms. Wyoming's Internet provider T-l access using 56K in many Wyoming towns.

tiib.com Call for more information, in Casper, 0 235-9132, or in -state, 1-800442- 6916, ext 625 www.trib.com Private Party Auto, Beat, Truck, RV 4 Lines, first word vehicle make in bold type 10 Days 1 vehicle per ad No copy changes JK the county's Fairgrounds Road project, which would be done in concurrence with the city's CY Avenue reconstruction project slated to begin later this year. The money would come out of the city's reserve funds, and cannot exceed $220,000 (see story on A3). Authorized a $70,000 grant application to WYDOT on behalf of the Casper Area Transportation Coalition, which would be used to extend service hours. Authorized a $100,000 contract with Tele Environmental Systems for Bar Nunn interceptor Chicken Fajitas ORTaco Salads 04' XiK'J OFk UE ALREA. Lew Pmc CARPET MIMAHTS Cupor't) Oldt Floor Coveting Storo 200 N.

Forest Dr.234-4959 VC'uh ih.i nn To have and to hold from this day forward. For better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to MASItR JEWELERS- HTann Jewelers till EtJQH loop was considered, among other reasons, to reduce traveling time between the two highways and to reduce truck traffic on existing city streets, including CY Avenue, Wyoming Boulevard and Robertson Road. According to WYDOT, the proposed highway would handle between 300 and 450 trucks daily. WYDOT has recommended one of five proposed routes for the belt loop. The route, nicknamed "C-5," would meet Highway 220 about three miles southwest of Robertson Road, extending north-northeast to the intersection of U.S.

Highway 20-26 and the U.S. Highway 20-26 business alternate route (See map). The C-5 route was recommended by WYDOT over the other four routes for several POBK RIBS SAUERKRAUT KARSJi ft JIM'S RESTAURANT 1S a At. 47J-23OT Rescued' Treasures a "Gently Quality Retail Store kj lion 'thru Sat 9 am 5 pm i 330 n. Dumm 577-7793 Trave I Management qcNcy 1 14 Day Advance Purchase Saturday Night Stay Required 1 Complete travel by Dec 15 LAST CAY TO PURCHASE Jury 21 Other restrictions will apply JUes feres can dirA it'J notice WFUSIDE DOHAKIWN IHEVFNNE A34-K2A2 GM I F.TTF.

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