Page 8-Tuesday, May 15, 1979-The Michigan Daily% Three Mile instrument unreliable, (Continued from Page 1)-. Carl Michelson, a nuclear engineer for the Tennessee Valley Authority and an NRC consultant, wrote in January 1978 that "the pressurizer level is not considered a reliable guide as to core cooling conditions." Furthermore, he said in a 29-page report, reliance on the instrument "may convince the operator to trip-shut down-the HPI emergency cooling system pump and watch for a subsequent loss of pressure level." That, say government and industry sources, is exactly what happened March 28 at the Three Mile Island reac- tor. MICHELSON SAID in a telephone in- terview from his home in Oak Ridge, Tenn., that his report was sent to Bab- cock & Wilcox on April 27, 1978, but he did not get a reply until early this year. The existence of the Michelson report was mentioned during NRC hearings last month. However, those hearings did not indicate that Babcock & Wilcox and some NRC officials were made aware of the findings in early 1978 but chose not to alert reactor operators at that time. Babcock & Wilcox in a Jan. 23 letter from James McFarland, senior project manager, said the company agreed the pressurizer level is "not a relible in- dication" of water level in the core. But the company said the use of the in- strument along with other available in- struments "will provide sufficient guidance for operator action." NO FURTHER action was taken on the matter. The pressurizer, located inside the reactor's containment building, is designed to control the pressure of the coolant within the reactor itself. High pressure must be maintained to keep the water from boiling at the high tem- peratures. A source who has seen transcripts of NRC staff interviews with plant operators on duty at the time of the ac- cident, said the workers were under the impression that a high reading on the pressurizer level indicator meant high levels of water in the reactor core. JESSE EBERSOLE, who before his retirement in 1976 was Michelson's boss as TVA's chief nuclear engineer, said in a telephone interview that if the report's findings had been made available to Babcock & Wilcox plant operators, "I doubt that it (the core damage) ever would have happened" at Three Mile Island. There was no immediate comment from Babcock & Wilcox. Frank Ingram, an NRC spokesman, .said he was unaware that the commission had the Michelson report before the Three Mile Island accidents, but that he would investigate the report. Also, in Oklahoma City, the tape- recorded voice of the late Karen Silk- wood, again alleging that the Kerr- McGee Corp. employed workers who "don't know what radiation is," echoed through a hushed federal cour- troom yesterday. GERRY SPENCE, lawyer for the Silkwood estate, played a recorded conversation between Silkwood and an Oil Workers union official as Spence delivered his closing arguments in the report said $11.5 million plutonium contamintion trial. The case is expected to go to the jury today. In the tape, Silkwood also said workers at the company's nuclear fuel plant near Crescent, Okla., were ap- proving all fuel rod welds "no matter what they look like." BUT BILL PAUL, chief counsel for Kerr-McGee, argued that Silkwood was "used brutally during her lifetime" by union officials who sent her undercover to document her allegations that Kerr- McGee was falsifying quality reports on critical nuclear reactor fuel rod welds. And Paul told the jury of three men and three women that circumstantial evidence proves Silkwood stole plutonium and contaminated herself. Silkwood's survivors are suing Kerr- McGee for $11.5 million, contending that the company was negligent in her plutonium contamination. She was working as a lab technician at the Crescent plant when she died in a single-car crash in 1974 at the age of 28. AM objects to Kennedy's sponsor in the House, Rep. Henry dustry, but the health care industry as a Waxman, (D-Calif.), chairman of the whole." Dole, a candidate for the House Commerce subcommittee on Republican presidential nomination, health, agreed it will be a long, tough said the Kennedy bill would ultimately congressional fight, especially against constrain the availability of health care those members who want to cover only services in the nation because it works the expenses of catastrophic illness. from a "limited health budget." BUT THE PLAN came under im- HEW SECRETARY Joseph Califano, mediate fire from the American Jr. said he welcomed the introduction Medical Association, which said the of Kennedy's bill, but insisted that a "inevitable result" of Kennedy's more limited approach to national proposal would be "rationing of health health insurance - like the ad- care services, new federal regulations, ministration's plan - is needed to win and huge new costs." passage. Dr. James Sammons, AMA executive Califano noted that there have been vice president, said, "The AMA con- "decades of failure" in past efforts to tinues to believe that consumer choice, achieve national health insurance and private insurance and limited gover- he pointedly noted that Kennedy has co- nment regulation should be at the heart sponsored other national health plans in of our health care system." past sessions that went nowhere. In a separate statement, Sen. Bob But Califano told reporters at a news Dole, (R-Kan.), called Kennedy's idea conference that apart from the "basic "a first step toward federal regimen- difference in approach," the Carter tation of not only the insurance in- administration and Kennedy "are ad- national hea dressing the same problems and we have many of the same goals." ACCORDING TO cost estimates figured by Kennedy's staff, the new plan would be more expensive in its early years than the present health care system. But they said four years after congressional passage the nation would spend less on health care that if no legislation were enacted. The Kennedy-Waxman bill would slap strong cost controls on hospitals and physicians. There would be full coverage for inpatient hospital ser- vices, physicians' services in and out of hospital, X-rays, and laboratory tests. It would also pay for catastrophic illnesses. Medicare would be upgraded for the elderly and cover hearing aids and prescription drugs for them. Coverage for the poor also would be expanded, but states would contribute only what they are presently spending on Medicaid. Certain items would not be included in the health plan, such as dental care and cosmetic surgery. TO PAY FOR the health care plan, employers would pay a premium on a percentage related to their total wages. Unless other arrangements are made between labor and management, em- ployees would pay up to 35 per cent of the premium costs. Premiums for the unemployed would be paid first by the former employer and later, if the person found no job, by the federal government. The self- employed also would be guaranteed coverage. The program would be ad- lth care plan ministered by a National Insurance Board, which would contract with each state to help run the health insurance plan.. Kennedy aides said benefits would begin in the third year after the bill is enacted and the first two years would be used to establish the administrative mechanisms to get the plan rolling. Patti Smith TONIGHT at SECOND CHANCE Also, Wed., May 16 for more info 994-5360 o F Kenneav World War III predicted by conference speakers . ontined fom Page' is to maintain military superiority," he "The SALT agreements are partial said, and temporary," he continued. "Each "I don't think you'll find more than a super power can point to SALT to give handful of crazies who want war - but the illusion they can work it out an awful lot want preparation for war," peacefully." Singer continued. "Sometimes they (people) do or don't Workshop leader Randy Schwartz, a see the threat of a world war," said member of the Arbor Alliance, Clark. "A year ago people did think you disagreed with Singer, saying, "The were a little nutty -now they don't," SALT talks are a way to prepare for she added. war. '" .