Conferees Approve Collider Bonds; Quotas Cut Back

A Democratic-controlled conference committee approved legislation Wednesday authorizing the $560-million revenue bond issue necessary to finance California’s bid for the $4.4-billion federal super collider project.

Democrats, before approving the legislation, retreated from a provision that would have required affirmative action goals directing 40% of the project’s business activity to firms owned by minorities and women.

As a compromise gesture, Democrats halved their affirmative action goals, asking that 15% of the state-awarded contracts be directed to businesses owned by minorities and 5% to firms owned by women.

However, that was not enough to satisfy Republicans, who said if the quota provision is still in the bill when it comes up for a final vote, they will oppose it.

“We think contracts should be let on the basis of who can do the best work for the least amount of money,” Assembly Republican Leader Pat Nolan of Glendale said.

The legislation, drafted by Assemblyman Sam Farr (D-Carmel), was approved by the conference committee, 4 to 1, with Assemblyman William P. Baker (R-Danville) opposed.

Farr, unable to negotiate with Republicans, said he forced the vote to bring the legislation to the floors of the Assembly and Senate.

The U.S. Department of Energy, which will make the site selection for the super collider, is requiring states to submit their bids by Sept. 2. California’s bid could be challenged if the Legislature does not pass a bill providing the initial financing to get the project going.

“Time is running out. We have to do something,” Farr said.

Shortly after the conference committee acted, the six-member California Collider Commission appointed by Gov. George Deukmejian gave two nine-volume bid proposals its stamp of approval and by voice vote unanimously approved submitting the bids to the Department of Energy.

Two sites are being proposed in California, both in agricultural communities within an hour’s drive of the Capitol.

The massive public works project, which would employ an estimated 25,000 workers at the peak of construction activity, would be an underground oval tunnel 53 miles in diameter. The tunnel would house two rings of magnets that would draw protons together from opposite directions at nearly the speed of light. The colliding subatomic particles would allow scientists to study the basic constituents of matter.

California is in intense competition with other states for the project, which a Collider Commission pamphlet said would be “the world’s largest scientific instrument, 20 times more powerful than any atom smasher now in operation.”

The commission vote came after the panel’s members, including Deukmejian, listened to proponents and opponents of the project.

Most of the opposition centered on plans by the state to purchase at least 7,500 acres of fertile farmland to give to the federal government for the project. One proposed site is east of Stockton. The other would ring the city of Davis just west of Sacramento.

Walnut and cherry grower John Eilers of Escalon warned that the project could turn the Stockton area “into another Silicon Valley.” He said the project may be good for business, but “you don’t put it on such a great natural resource.”

Deukmejian, in comments before the vote, said “agriculture without any question is a very important leading industry . . . but we also have to look forward.”

Submission of the state’s bid depends on the Legislature passing the bond issue. Because the issue does not involve general obligation bonds, it would not have to go to a vote of the people. The bonds would provide the money to purchase the farmland, build sewers and make other improvements necessary for the project.