FEMA OKs More Funds for Repairs at Coliseum : Earthquake: The estimated costs reach $58 million. The planned Sept. 3 reopening is called an important symbol.

Top officials of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum rushed to Washington to inform federal authorities Thursday that earthquake repair costs at the stadium could reach $58 million, and they came away with assurance of continued federal financing.

The $58-million repair estimate--which represents the third increase since the original estimate of $35 million after the Jan. 17 earthquake--was reported to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and to the White House by Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, the Coliseum Commission’s president, and Don C. Webb, director of the stadium’s repair project.

But even before Burke arrived at the White House for a meeting with John Emerson, adviser to President Clinton on earthquake problems, and then dinner with the President, a ranking FEMA official told the Los Angeles emissaries what they wanted to hear.

Dick Krimm, FEMA associate director for response and recovery, said the agency this week is committing an additional $11 million to the Coliseum repair project, bringing the amount obligated so far to $44 million. He indicated that after further review, the rest of the 90% federal share for the project’s costs will be forthcoming.

“We feel it’s very important that, as a symbol of the earthquake recovery, the Coliseum open on time, and we’re going to continue to do everything we can to work with the Coliseum Commission and local government to achieve that result,” Krimm said.

The state is responsible for a 10% share, which Gov. Pete Wilson has committed to paying after the federal contribution is received.

Burke attributed the increase in repair costs in part to building-code upgrades that city inspectors have required, including a sprinkler system in the upper concourse of the stadium and elaborate new electric power facilities.

Krimm said FEMA understands why the cost has increased.

“The trouble with earthquake damage,” he said, “is you look at the outside of the building and you come up with an estimate. But when you tear things apart, you find the damage is much greater and that everything is going to be much more expensive. You certainly have to bring things up to code.”

Burke said one matter also discussed at the White House on Thursday was federal participation by a high official in the Coliseum’s reopening ceremonies at the USC-Washington game Sept. 3.

But, she added, the primary reason that she traveled to Washington was that the federal money actually available to pay for Coliseum repairs had dipped to $200,000, and she had become concerned that the many minority contractors participating in the work would not be paid on time.

“We just had to make sure we didn’t end up embarrassed at not being able to pay for the work that was being done,” she said. “That’s why I went there.”

Webb said he considers the Coliseum project, which now will cost nearly twice as much as repair of the Santa Monica Freeway, “a metaphor for the revitalization of L.A.

“When we open on Sept. 3, we’ll be doing what many people said was impossible, and we could do it only with help from FEMA,” he said.

Webb in January estimated repair costs at $35 million. He raised that assessment on June 1 to $42 million. On June 28, Burke said it would reach $50 million. The new $58-million estimate by Burke and Webb came just a month later.

A tour of the massive construction site Thursday showed that much remains to be done before the projected opening. Burke acknowledged that considerable detail work will be done for two months after Sept. 3.

A 600- to 800-person work force is toiling around the clock at the facility. Much has been achieved since the earthquake, but with only 36 days remaining until USC’s home opener, and 44 days until the Raiders open against Seattle, major tasks remain to be finished.

On the upper concourse level, restrooms are still without fixtures. Some interior walkways, where concession areas are still being rebuilt, reverberate with the sound of jackhammers.

Outside, on the north side of the Coliseum, heavy construction vehicles rumble over barren ground and muddy puddles, in the shadow of giant cranes. Part of the earthen berm on which the stadium rests has not been replaced, and landscaping has not begun.

At the Coliseum’s trademark peristyle end, scaffolds are still in place and most reinforcing concrete remains to be poured.

In the seating areas, several thousand seats have been unbolted from their concrete anchors and lie about, awaiting completion of repairs to the underlying superstructure.