European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 30, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday August 30, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 5navy Iowa probe called flawed7 Washington apr congressional investigators said it can to be proved that sabotage caused the 1989 explosion aboard the battleship Iowa that killed 47 sailors. An earlier study by the Navy blamed the explosion on a despondent Sailor. But rep. Nicholas Mavroules chairman of the House armed services investigations subcommittee said wednesday that the new general accounting office inquiry shows it was a based on very Flimsy and in some cases flawed Mavroules d-mass., said he hoped the Navy would a concede what the world knows by rescinding its virtual conviction of Clayton in its initial investigation the Navy concluded the explosion a most probably was an intentional act by Hartwig a gunners mate described As despondent Over a failed relationship. But the Navy reopened its inquiry following complaints from Congress and test results that showed Gunpowder used aboard the battleship could ignite prematurely under certain conditions. The Navy had said it found evidence that an ignition device was used to set off the powder but the Gao the investigative Arm of Congress cast doubt on that theory. A there is no explicit physical evidence that the hypothetical chemical ignition device was present in the Center gun of Turret 2�?� at the time of the explosion the Gao report said a it is also concluded that a High a variety of scenarios for this incident have been explored but they remain unproven for Lack of evidence a the general accounting office Speed overran is a possible the Gao did not pinpoint a probable cause of the april 19, 1989, explosion which took place during a training exercise off puerto Rico. A a variety of scenarios for this incident have been explored but they remain unproven for Lack of evidence partially due to the violence of the explosion and fire a the report said. A it May be difficult to Ever fully resolve the Many unknowns and develop a Clear and unambiguous explanation of the events that occurred within the Center gun room of Turret 2.�?� Navy and civilian investigators worked with scientists at Sandia National Laboratory in new Mexico on experiments for the Gao and other investigators. Navy Secretary 11. Lawrence Garrett Iii ordered a renewed technical investigation after tests ordered by Congress showed some of the bags of Gunpowder used in the 16-Inch guns could ignite under extreme pressure without any detonating device. The Gao described that As a a previously unrecognized safety a the Sandia report reflects that Laboratory s assessment of technical issues surrounding this explosion a said it. Dane la Jove a Navy spokesman. A its conclusions Don t necessarily reflect those reached by the he said the Navy expects to Complete its new report a in the next several Hartwigs sister Kathy Kubicina said the Gao report Quot is what we be wanted the Navy to acknowledge All along a that it could have been an a i done to think we Are Ever going to be 100 percent sure what happened that morning but in a 1,000 percent sure my brother was not at fault a she said. Rep. Mary Rose Oakar a Olio who represents Hartwigs Hometown of Cleveland called on the Navy to apologize to his family. A if the Navy had not been in such a hurry to sweep this tragedy from Public View a thorough investigation could have been concluded Long ago and a Fine and decent family could have been spared the Heartbreak and humiliation of defending a dead son and brother against slanderous innuendo a she Balking in spill Case . Says Washington a the government decided Exxon is not serious about reaching a settlement for damages caused by the nations largest Oil spill and is consolidating forces to prosecute the company. A a we re going to isolate them one Way or another a said an official familiar with the Case. On wednesday Alaska and the Federal government reached a new agreement on How to Divide any monetary awards that May come out of their prosecution of Exxon on civil and criminal charges arising from the 1989 spill. In the stars and stripes the pact which will allow continued cooperation in prosecuting Exxon for the u million gallon Oil spill in Prince William sound makes Alaska and the Federal government co trustees for any Money recovered from the company. Last Spring Exxon corp. And Exxon shipping co. Agreed to plead guilty to Misdemeanour charges and pay a $1 billion civil and criminal settlement. However the judge in the Case threw out the criminal plea bargain saying the proposed $100 million Fine let the company off too easily. The Alaska House of representatives then rejected the entire settlement and Exxon later withdrew its guilty pleas. The two sides were supposed to have been trying to negotiate a new settlement but the official described it As basically a one sided conversation. A a there a never been a negotiating session a said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity. A a we re Exxon spokesman Les Rogers reached by Telephone in Houston said he had no immediate comment on the officials assertions. He also said the company was not aware of wednesdays agreement. The agreement which was being submitted to . District court in Alaska for approval settles a lawsuit Between the Federal and state governments Over who would control the Money they Hope to win from Exxon. The new agreement is similar to one that expired when Exxon a plea bargain fell through. The Oil company faces criminal and civil action As a result of the spill which occurred when the Tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground. The criminal portion of the Case is scheduled to go to trial oct. 7 no court Date has been set for the civil Case.10 years ago aug. 30, 1981 a the United states accused North Korea of a International piracy Quot for a missile attack on a . Spy plane.20 years ago aug. 30, 1971 a More than 5 million South vietnamese voters turned out to choose a new lower House of parliament in spite of efforts by communist forces to disrupt the election.30 years ago aug. 30,1961 a East German police arrested an american Soldier who was patrolling the Border Between West and East Germany and shot an East German refugee trying to swim to Freedom across the Tel Tow canal.40 years ago aug. 30,1951 a actor Robert Walker 32, died of respiratory failure in Hollywood after his psychiatrist gave him a sedative to quiet his Quot emotional Walker had been under psychiatric care for 18 makers drop recycling claims new York apr the major manufacturers of juice Box packs agreed wednesday to Back off claims that their packages Are easy to Recycle settling accusations by 10 states that the companies misled Consumers with false ads. Tetra Pak inc., comb bloc inc. And their and Agency Litas inc., admitted no wrongdoing. But they agreed to pay $75,000 to the states and will permit state officials to screen future juice Box advertisements for questionable environmental claims. The settlement was the latest in a string of similar pacts Between state officials and Large . Manufacturers Over so called a Green marketing claims. The multilayer juice boxes Are at the Center of a widening debate with environmentalists who favor packages made of a single material because there Are no dissimilar materials to be separated before recycling. Maine has banned the boxes amid criticism that the most widely available recycling programs cannot accept the packages layered with aluminium plastic and paper. Wednesdays settlement was prompted by ads that the juice Box companies ran last fall in the new York times the Wall Street journal and Usa today. A drink boxes Are As easy to Recycle As this Page a one and headline read. Environmentalists and the state officials contended the ads misled Consumers into thinking they could easily Recycle the boxes in the communities where they read the ads. A the ads were patently false a new York attorney general Robert Abrams said in an interview. A paper recycling is found All Over the country. Drink Box recycling is found in very limited a Trade group spokesman defended the ails saying the process for recycling the boxes was a simple one and the 10-state agreement merely called for the companies to clarify where Pilot recycling programs were available. A i could put the boxes in my Kitchen in a blender on Puree and i would have paper fiber a said Michael Kelts the spokesman. A and unlike newspaper we done to have to use chemicals to de Ink Kelts described the $75,000 As a voluntary payment to defray the states investigative costs because Quot we enjoyed the process in making our Case to these Quot Hie other states involved in wednesdays settlement with the juice Box makers were California Florida Massachusetts Minnesota Missouri Tennessee Texas Washington and Wisconsin. Plan would Recycle Auto coolant rfcs Washington a the government wednesday proposed mandatory recycling of rfcs from automobile air conditioners taking a step intended to protect the Earth a endangered Ozone layer. Under the environmental Protection Agency a proposal service stations and Auto repair shops would be required to use equipment that recaptures the chlorofluorocarbons used As coolants in Auto air conditioners. The vehicle air conditioner repair Industry is the nations biggest user of rfcs accounting for More than one fifth of total consumption Nipa said. When car air conditioners Are serviced rfcs commonly Are released into the atmosphere contributing to the destruction of the protective Ozone layer. The new regulations would Stop that practice. At ground level Ozone is a pollutant. But in the upper atmosphere a about 10 Miles up a Ozone blocks ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer and harm some plants. The proposal issued wednesday sets rules for mandatory Csc recycling As required under last years clean air act. Beginning Jan. 1, anyone repairing or servicing vehicle air conditioners would have to use Epa approved recycling equipment. The deadline would be delayed a year for Small shops a those that service fewer than 100 air conditioners a year
