IMPACT OF MADISON LIBRARY ON CAPITOL POWER PLANT Senator MONTOYA. It is not available yet. But the early research indicates that it is feasible. What will the new Madison Library do to the fuel or electricity requirements and to this budget? Mr. RUBEL. I made a report on that subject last year, sir. As I recall, the impact of the Madison Memorial Library on the cost of purchased power, fuel and miscellaneous items was in the neighborhood of $750,000 a year. Senator MONTOYA. That is what it will require? Mr. RUBEL. Yes, sir. That takes care of the air-conditioning and heating. The refrigeration for air-conditioning is provided by the Capitol Power Plant, where the bulk of electric power is consumed. That report appeared in last year's hearings. PAYMENT OF UTILITY BILLS FOR LEASED BUILDINGS Senator MONTOYA. Do you have any way to pay your utilities on the present buildings that the Library of Congress leases? Mr. RUBEL. We have nothing to do with that, sir. The Library of Congress makes those arrangements. Senator MONTOYA. Yes, I know. But do they pay utility bills on that? Mr. RUBEL. I presume they do. I am not familiar with the terms of their rental agreements. Some of those buildings are rented from private owners, and others are rented through GSA, as I understand it. Senator MONTOYA. We are trying to save some rental by building the Madison Library extension, some rental that approximates $2 million a year. If we are going to add $750,000 to the fuel bill which we are not paying now, then that constricts the amortization feasibility of the building. IMPACT OF MADISON LIBRARY ON CAPITOL POWER PLANT Mr. HENLOCK. Mr. Rubel refers to page 301 of the Senate hearings of last year, in which he stated the estimated cost for purchase of electrical energy for the Madison Library as $362,200; of electrical energy to operate additional refrigeration equipment at the plant required by the proposed new building, $242,800; purchase of refrigerants and other items required at the plant and for the chilled water distribution system, $39,000; and additional fuel for supplying the new building with steam from the plant, $87,000; which make up the total $729,000 figure to which Mr. Rubel referred. Mr. RUBEL. Mr. Chairman, I would like to mention that those figures were developed a year ago and they do not take into consideration the latest increases in fuel and electric power costs. Senator MONTOYA. I assume that. But your figure now is $800,000. Mr. RUBEL. Only for the Madison Memorial Library? Senator MONTOYA. No, for electrical energy and the other utilities to service the Madison Building. Is that what your figure was? Mr. RUBEL. My figures were developed a year ago, sir, for the impact of the Madison Memorial Library Building. Senator MONTOYA. So it would be more now? Mr. RUBEL. Yes, sir. The price of coal in the past year has gone up from $10.05 to about $11.50 a ton. Next year it may be $15 a ton. EXPENDITURES FOR ELECTRICAL ENERGY Senator MONTOYA. I would like to have a table showing the expenditures for electrical power put into the record. Mr. RUBEL. This graph, which I present for the record, is interesting because it shows a change in the rate of increase in recent years. You will notice the rate was much flatter in earlier years than in re cent years. We had a big increase when the Rayburn Building was occupied in 1964. Now the rate of rise is much steeper. The fact is that we are using more power each year. (The table follows:) 42-807 0-70-14 NONRECURRING ITEMS Senator MONTOYA. You have two nonrecurring items at $90,000 each. Will you explain these? REPAIRS TO STEAM DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Mr. HENLOCK. Last year you approved $75,000 as a part of a 3-year program to make urgent replacement of shutoff valves and other equipment in the steam distribution lines, extending from the Power Plant to the Government Printing Office, a distance of a mile and a half or more. They have been in service, 15 to 30 years, and require replacement now. The amount asked for 1971 would continue the program and is, in Mr. Rubel's judgment, urgent for maintenance of steam distribution service-affecting all of our buildings on Capitol Hill and others served by the plant. RELOCATION AND REPLACEMENT OF STEAM MAINS AND VALVE STATIONS AT PLANT Senator MONTOYA. Do you consider the second request, namely, to replace the mains and other things in the plant, to be an urgent one? Mr. RUBEL. Yes, sir. Senator MONTOYA. Is this something that could be deferred? Mr. RUBEL. It is creating a difficult condition at the plant, Mr. Chairman, because we recently installed a new water treatment system, which has created a crowded condition in the area of certain pressure reducing valves. I would not like to see it deferred. I consider it urgent because it is difficult for men to work in the congested area as it now exists. REPAIRS TO CHIMNEYS Senator MONTOYA. Please discuss the remaining two items, the repairs to the chimney and the additional protective relays for refrigeration. Mr. RUBEL. We have two brick chimneys, each about 175 feet high, built in 1907. They have been in continuous service since 1910. Brickwork which is put together with mortar requires periodic attention, such as pointing and remortaring. Such operations are performed on the exterior brickwork. The chimneys are lined internally where the temperatures are 300° or more. Such linings do wear out periodically. This request has primarily to do with the replacement or the repair of the linings of the two chimneys. Senator MONTOYA. You do this periodically, don't you? Mr. RUBEL. Yes, sir. The last time we had work done, it was primarily associated with the exterior parts of the chimneys. Senator MONTOYA. Do you do it on the inside, too? Mr. RUBEL. If we are allowed this appropriation, the majority of work will be done on the inside of the chimneys. It is essential to have it done soon. RENOVATION OF EXTERIOR OF BUILDINGS Senator MONTOYA. Has the major renovation work for which $225,000 was approved last year been completed? This was on the exterior of the main structure. Mr. RUBEL. No, sir; this work has not been completed. The drawings and specifications are being prepared. We had to give priority to the work in the steam tunnels to expeditiously correct some unsafe conditions. The contract for part of the work in the steam tunnels, for which the money was appropriated last December, was awarded last week. We have a limited engineering force working on all of these projects. We must allocate their time according to the urgency of the needed improvements. Senator MONTOYA. Are you expending the full $225,000 this year? Mr. RUBEL. No, sir. That is a 2-year program, sir. The $225,000 appropriation was allowed for 2 years. Senator MONTOYA. So it will be a carryover. Mr. HENLOCK. The money you appropriated last December was made available to June 30, 1971. Senator MONTOYA. But you have no contract on this yet? POWER PLANT EXPANSION STUDY Senator MONTOYA. What conclusions were reached as a result of of the study funded last year concerning Power Plant expansion needs in order to provide service to the Madison Library buildings? Mr. RUBEL. Mr. Chairman, some events have taken place since last August, primarily having to do with air pollution, noise abatement, and water pollution, which make me believe that we had better expand the scope of the survey and study and not restrict it to the needs of the Madison Memorial Library Building. In my opinion, the study should now cover the questions of noise, air pollution, and water pollution, as well as the expansions needed for the Madison Memorial Library Building. We have received a signed petition from 100 residents that live within one block of the Capitol Power Plant, complaining about dirt and noise. We have also received a report that was prepared by the HEW stating, in substance, that the Power Plant was excellently designed, very well equipped, and operated expertly. It also states that we have all the equipment necessary to reduce the pollution of the atmosphere. Nevertheless, it concludes by stating that we had better stop burning coal and oil and convert to the use of natural gas. Senator MONTOYA. Wasn't that a self-serving declaration by one member of the family in behalf of another? Mr. RUBEL. I wouldn't know, sir. Mr. HENLOCK. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Rubel prepared and submitted to the House Appropriations Committee earlier this month, for the record, three lengthy statements on this subject as related to the plantair-pollution control, future plans for the plant, natural-gas availability, and other related considerations Do you wish the same pages put in the record of your hearings? (The statements follow :) |