European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 5, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday May 5, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 5 arc of d nuke Plant hush pay by the Washington Post Washington the nuclear regulatory commission was aware of an did not object to a confidential agreement in which a nuclear Plant con tractor bought a whistle Blower s silence on safety issues for $35.000, according to Agency documents. The agreement is being investigated by a Senate subcommittee which has uncovered a second Deal Between another potential whistle Blower and a contractor working on the same Plant the co Manchu Peak nuclear station near Glen Rose. Texas. Last week the arc sen notices to nuclear Plant operators warn ing them that such agreements arc not acceptable and potentially illegal. But in an order issued last december the five member commission said it did not Sec a violation of Federal Law or arc regulations in a january 1987 settlement Between Brown & Root builder of Comanche Peak and Joseph j. Mack Lal a former electrical Foreman who raised numerous safety questions about the two reactors under construction there. The settlement forbade Macktal from voluntarily testifying at licensing hear Ings for Comanche Peak and required him to resist subpoenas for his testimony. In return. Macktal was paid $15,000and his attorneys received $20.000. Macktal now is seeking to have the agreement invalidated contending it assigned by his lawyers against his will. Comanche Peak is owned by Texas utilities electric co., which expects to Complete the first reactor next year. The nuclear station has been dogged for year by allegations of faulty design and construction. The settlement was expected to be the focus of a hearing thursday by the sen ate environment and Public works sub committee on nuclear regulation which also has documented a $30,000 payment to an employee from Gibbs & Hill inc., another Comanche Peak contractor. Critics contend the agreements amount to Hugh Money to keep insiders from testifying about potential safety problems that could prevent nuclear plants from receiving licenses to operate. These settlement agreements could prove to have undermined the nuclear regulatory process said sen. John b. Breaux d-la., subcommittee chairman. President Bush charges after the Ball As retired Tennis pro Bjorn Borg backs him up wednesday during a doubles stitch winning team on the while House Tennis court. The two won the set on a tiebreaker 7-3 against former Davis cup team member Ove Bunston and Wail him wad Meis Ter. The swedish ambassador to the United Stales. Iowa repairs estimated at $ 15 million probe continuing into cause of blast by Norman Black a military writer Washington the Navy believes it can repair the damaged gun tur ret on the battleship Iowa for Between $15 million and $20 million with the Low or figure More Likely defense sources said wednesday. The sources speaking one Day after Pentagon officials announced it was technically feasible to repair the Turret after last month s fatal explosion stressed the Dollar estimate was preliminary and that no decision had been made to authorize the work. An assessment team has provided the preliminary estimate but the investigation is continuing said one defense offi Cial. The Navy declined comment on the Issue wednesday. Dan Howard the defense depart ment s chief spokesman said tuesday a 35-Mcmbcr team of specialists had deter mined that materials and expertise were available to make repairs. The answer to that Basic question had not been Clear in the immediate aftermath of the april 19 explosion be cause of the vessel s age. The Iowa was commissioned in 1943 during world War ii and no vessel of its Type has been built since that War. Forty seven sailors died in the explosion inside the no. 2 gun Turret. One defense official said the $15 Mil lion estimate and the fact that repairs arc technically feasible would make it easier for the Navy to make the decision to repair the ship. Some private naval experts because of the a verify of the explosion had predicted last week repairs could Cost As much As $ 100 million. The Iowa s skipper capt. Fred p. Moosally has said the vessel would be ready for Bailie even if the damaged tur ret was never repaired. The huge battleship still has two of her turrets each Wilh Ihrck 16-Inch guns. Ins critics urge More publicity on 2nd round of amnesty plan Washington a the immigration and naturalization service is gearing up for the second phase of the illegal alien amnesty program amid charges thai it is not doing enough to inform eligible aliens of their obligation to file further applications if they want to slay in the uni cd states legally. There is a big concern that people will unwittingly lose their Chance for permanent residency because icy Don t know they have to take the next step said a thur c. Helton an atom by for the lawyers commit tee for human rights. But ins officials say 60 percent of those already Eligi ble to apply for permanent residency the second step necessary in the amnesty process have done so and they expect 97 percent to do so Fay the end of the program. In a related matter ins commissioner Alan Nelson credited sanctions against employers who hire illegal aliens with what he called a significant drop in arrests along the  Border. In the year before the immigration Law was enacted ins and . Border patrol agents arrested 1.6 million illegal aliens trying to Cross the soul Horn Border. The arc so rate is about one third lower this year than last when 940,670 people were stopped at the Border. The trend continues to demonstrate that the Law is work ing Nelson said wednesday. So far the ins has issued 4.016 citations to companies alleged to have hired illegal aliens and has assessed More than $7 million in fines he said. The ins has received 3.1 million applications for am Nesty under the general legalization and the special Agri cultural worker provisions of the 1986 immigration re form and control act. So far it has approved nearly 1.8 million applications for temporary residency while denying about 70.000. Legalized aliens become eligible to apply for Perma nent resident Stalus 18 months after their temporary Resi Dency is approved by the ins. The aliens then have a year to submit their applications and could become subject to deportation if they do not file the necessary papers on Lime. Nelson told reporters wednesday the process is being simplified to allow those with temporary resident permits to submit their applications at any time rather Thun wait ing 18 months. Sands of time in the stars and stripes 40 years ago today. May 5, 1949 meeting at the United nations Headquarters in new York representatives from the United states Britain the soviet Union and France announced they had agreed to lift the Berlin blockade and couple blockade measures. 30 years ago today. May 5, 1959 the 1959 pulitzer prize for fiction was awarded to Robert Lewis Taylor for his work the travels of Jamic Mcpace tors and the drama award went to Archibald Macleish for his play  20 years ago today. May 5, 1969 the presidents of the University of notre Dame and is. Mary s College announced the two colleges would begin taking Steps to become co Educ Lional beginning in september. 10 years ago today. May 5, 1979 Margaret Thatcher Leader of Brit Ain s conservative party won a Clear Cut general elec Tion Victory and was named by Queen Elizabeth ii to be Britain s first woman prime minister