Home

Search

Browse

About IPO

Staff

Links

Nuclear waste storage

The U.S. Department of Energy is considering acquiring the General Electric nuclear waste storage operation at Morris, III., for storage of more radioactive nuclear waste from around the nation. The GE operation has already received 310 metric tons of the high level waste from nuclear reactors in California, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Illinois. Under the energy department's plan, the storage capacity for nuclear waste would be expanded from the present 700 metric tons to 2,800 metric tons.

But there is strong opposition from Illinois Attorney General William J. Scott who said March 7 that he will "use every resource" at his command to oppose the federal expansion of the Morris depository. He called the present operation at Morris "insane" because of its location within 100 miles of Chicago and 8 million people. Scott is already in litigation against efforts by GE to expand the Morris storage facilities for the private commercial storage of radioactive wastes.

In more than two decades of administering nuclear energy programs the federal government has not developed a long-range feasible plan for safe disposal of radioactive waste, some of which will be radioactive for 50,000 years. The federal energy department considers temporary storage a stopgap necessity while long-range solutions are being worked out.

The Morris site is one of three being considered for intermediate storage.

Illinois 'clean' coal project

Construction of an $8.3 million demonstration project began April 2 at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Chicago. The project will attempt to find an environmentally acceptable way of burning Illinois high sulfur coal. A contract signed last October brought together the state of Illinois, Combustion Engineering Inc. and the federal government to share in financing the construction.

The project will produce the largest demonstration to date of a "fluidized-bed boiler" combustion system; test units have been successful. The demonstration facility

28 / May 1979 / illinois Issues

will burn coal in a mixture with limestone and strong air flow.

The Illinois Institute of Natural Resources will oversee the project, the first to use Coal and Energy Development Bond Funds of the state. Of the total $8.3 million cost, the bond funds of the state will pay $700,000, the U.S. Department of Energy will pay $5.868 million, Combustion Engineering will pay $1.06 million and the U.S. Navy will pay $.367 million. The project will heat buildings at the Naval Training Center, and the Navy says 15,000 tons of Illinois coal will be burned yearly in the boiler, and it is possible the system may be enlarged to meet future needs.

Floods and loans

Nine Illinois counties were declared disaster areas by the U.S. Small Business Administration in March due to spring flooding, and 23 other counties were made eligible for loans. Homeowners, farmers and small businessmen in the 32 counties are eligible for federal loans at 7 3/8% percent interest to cover flood damage which occurred between March 1 and 16 along the Illinois, Fox, Kishwaukee, Rock, Pecatonica and Mississippi rivers. Loans may be financed over 30 years. Homeowners may borrow up to $50,000 for house repairs or $10,000 for contents. Up to$55,000 may be borrowed for combined real and personal properly. Owners of businesses may borrow up to $500,000 for uninsured losses from structural or equipment damages. The deadline to file for physical damages is May 29; forms may be requested by calling toll-free: (800) 972-3177.

U of I tuition increase

The University of Illinois Board of Trustees voted on March 21 to increase student tuition and fees approximately 8 percent, including a tuition hike of $48 a year for Illinois resident undergraduates. Illinois resident graduate students would pay $64 more per year for tuition, while out-of-state students would pay $144 more a year as undergraduates and $192 a year as graduates.

If enacted into law, the recommended increases would be the second tuition hike in the last seven years. Tuition rose $90 a year in the fall of 1977 to the current level of $586 per year for Illinois undergraduates. If the higher charges are ap-undergraduates, $634; out-of-state undergraduates,$1,902; in-state graduates, $680; out-of-state graduates, $2,040; Illinois medical students, $1.440; out-of-state medical students, $4,320; in-state dentistry students, $1,035; out-of-state dentistry students, $3,105; in-state veterinary medicine students, $860; and out-of-state veterinary medicine students, $2,580.

Fees subject to an increase include those for student services, health services and housing. The increases would vary from campus to campus.

A number of students and student groups oppose the increases, which the board says are needed to keep up with inflation.

Campaign disclosure rules

The State Board of Elections in March proposed new campaign finance disclosure regulations for public comment. The board's public disclosure staff drafted the new rules, which are similar to those drafted in 1974 but later abandoned by the board when Gov. Dan Walker questioned their constitutionality.

The proposed regulations include: (I) a ban on multiple fund raising committees which circumvent the Campaign Financing Act, (2) separation of bank accounts for personal funds and for campaign contributions, (3) a $1,000 limit on the amount an individual could collect without registering as a political committee, and (4) regular mandatory reports by elected officials of gifts, honorariums or political donations they receive, regardless of whether they plan to seek reelection.

Public hearings were held in Chicago on March 15 and April 20, in Springfield on March 20 and in Carbondale on April 3, to consider the proposals.

Capitol bid-rigging settlement

The state won a $700,000 settlement March 14 in a bid-rigging suit against six contracting firms and three individuals alleged to have fixed bids on rehabilitation of the Illinois State Capitol in 1969 and 1970. The claim was settled out of court at the urging of federal district Judge Harold Baker. Most of the defendants were in the plumbing and heating business. Handled by the antitrust division of the Illinois Attorney General's Office, the case was filed four years ago and was settled as jury selection was about to begin in the federal court in Springfield.

Health lawyer ethics

A lawyer who serves on the Statewide Health Coordinating Council (SHCC) may ethically represent health care providers in his private practice, the Illinois Board of Ethics ruled March 13. The SHCC "does not appear to perform direct regulatory duties with respect to health care providers," the board reasoned, in expressing its nonlegal position. The board qualified its opinion, however, by noting that if any document reviewed by SHCC makes "reference to a health provider represented by the appointee or any member of his firm, it may, depending upon the circumstances, be appropriate for the appointee to disqualify himself from any participation in the consideration of such plan or other document."

Tax delinquent businesses

The Illinois Department of Revenue ordered seizure of 13 businesses in seven northern Illinois counties February 22 to recover over $400,000 in unpaid state income and sales taxes. The seizure warrants were issued under authority of state law: covering sales taxes and income taxes. Both statutes permit seizure and sale of real and personal property for the collection of taxes. The assets seized were part of a chain of furniture stores owned by Neale Skorberg of DeKalb, where delinquent taxes ranged from $7 to $68,014 per business.

Teacher dismissal regulations

New administrative procedures have been approved by the State Board of Education -- one dealing with issuance of board rules, the second dealing with regulations for teacher dismissal hearings in Chicago District 299. The new procedures on board rules were drafted to comply with the new Administrative Procedures Act. The new regulations dealing with teacher dismissal hearings in Chicago were needed to help administer a new responsibility of the state board -- conducting the hearings. Prior to recent legislation the Chicago Board of Education was responsible for conducting its own hearings on teacher dismissal.

Food service reminder

Illinois food service establishment managers must be certified by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Required are instruction and training courses, and completion of a department approved exam. Public Health Director Paul Q.

Attorney General Opinions

Effective dates for retroactive pay raises,

S-14I3: Pay raise bills that don't become law prior to their effective date are not retroactive unless it is clearly stated. The attorney general issued his opinion in regard to Public Act 80-1473 which limits counties' liability for the salaries of theirjudges to $500 a month. Despite the statute's July 1, 1978 effective date, the attorney general said the act does not take-effect until Dec. 14, 1978 when the legislature overrode the governor's September veto. The attorney general based his conclusion on a similar situation in the case of People ex. rel. AFSCME v. Walker (1975).

Compatibility of offices,

S-1411: A person may not simultaneously serve as an assistant state's attorney and a city commissioner in the same county. The occupation of both offices would represent a conflict of duties. It is possible a member of the city council could vote upon contracts that might involve the county and require the participation of the assistant state's attorney, especially in light of the broad powers empowered to cities and counties for conducting their activities under the 1970 Constitution and the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act.

Ambulance service,

S-14IO: Ambulance service must be provided by a county whenever none exists to promote the general health and welfare (///. Rev, Star. 1977, ch. 34, sec. 419.1). The county must fulfill its obligation either by approving a tax specifically for the ambulance service or using the general funds of the county.

29 / May 1979 / Illinois Issues

Peterson reminded food service managers in March that they may contact their restaurant association or his department to arrange for the training and examination.

State Fair horse races

Emergency rules have been filed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture on the eligibility requirements for breeders' fund-sponsored races at the Illinois State Fair. "Only one start at a county fair would be required for Illinois conceived and foaled standardbred horses to be eligible for breeders' fund-sponsored races at the 1979 State Fair," according to Neal Gunkel, administrator for the horse racing program. Gunkel said that no county fair starts would be required beginning in 1980, as recommended by the Standardbred Breeders' Advisory Board.

Mobilizing homes permitted

At the height of the flood season in March the Illinois Department of Transportation issued an emergency regulation to allow mobile homeowners to move their mobile homes. Normally an oversize vehicle permit must be obtained for mobile homes exceeding size speicifications. But due to the flood emergency a permit was required only for vehicles moving mobile homes, and no limit was put on the number of homes moved. Normal fees were waived also.

30 / May 1979 / Illinois Issues