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OOliJ3S Higher salaries may help retain personnel. Certainly land use planning will reduce the scattering of housing, allowing present fire stations to better serve new hous- ing. A most important factor, however, is the adop- tion of standards - at the State level - for mobile homes. All but four States - Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wyoming - require that all mobile homes sold within their borders be built to the stan- dards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 501 B) and the American National Standards Institute (A 119.91 Contact: Manufactured Housing Institute, P.O. Box 201 - 14650 Lee Road, Chantilly, Virginia 22021. (7031 968.6970. C, STREETS AND UTI L1TIES Streets are affected in two major places: the road to the energy project from the community, which may involve State and county roads, and the streets within communities themselves - a local responsibility. The energy project road can become quite congested at shift changes. One response by energy/construction companies might be to stagger shift hours. Sewage systems can quickly become overloaded duro ing project construction. How much so depends on the capacity and quality of the existing system. For many small communities, the existing system was not adequate for the pre-project need, and some relied on primary treat- ment or just septic tanks. Health and water pollution reg- ulations would make them build new systems. In the mean- time, there is little excess capacity for newcomers. Lack of this capacity can hinder the building of new housing, and the use of septic tanks will lead to scattered devel. opment on the fringe of communities. Unless there is a severe problem of water quality, ex- pansion of the water system is usually easier than for the sewage system. Revenues are generally available from the sale of water to finance the project. More- over, the water system often just needs expansion, not a major change in the quality of the service. Companies providing electricity. natural gas and tele- phone service also have problems coping with rapid growth. These services are generally provided by private utilities, regulated at the State level. Close planning and cooperation may be required to assure adequate and timely supply. and the maintenance of reasonable rates. Solid waste disposal is usually not a serious problem in rural areas, for disposal sites are available. Here are a few ideas for action: Construction Bus System: Idaho Falls, Idaho Transit solutions can be implemented in many ways. Systems can be financed, either solely or in combination, by private enterprise (employee changes), employers, and public agencies. In the early 1950's the Atomic Energy Commission built the National Reactor Testing Station about 50 miles west of Idaho Falls, Idaho. No workers live on the site. About 70 per cent of all employees live in Idaho Falls; another 15 per cent live in Blackfoot, Pocatello and Area. Idaho Falls is considered attrac- tive because it is a large (38,000 population) com- munity with well developed housing and community services. The NRTS has about 6,000 operating employees. A large percentage of them ride to work from the four major communities on the more than 100 buses owned and operated by the contractor for the Energy Research and Development Administration. The employee pays 50t per round trip for the bus service, with the employer subsidizing the balance. This service cuts automobile traffic and employee costs. Contact: Transportation Division, Idaho National Energy Laboratory, 550 2nd St" Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401. (2081 526.2315 Traffic Improvements The road(s) leading to the energy project may be inadequate when construction begins. Improvement during the construction of the energy project may only make the congestion worse. Improvement should come before construction. If this is not possi. ble, it could be delayed until after the energy project is complete. In the meantime, the congestion can be reduced and the highway made safer by: traffic signals, striping, safety lighting, extension of shoulders, surface coating, periods of one-way traffic, commuter buses, and inten. sified patrol. Funding for these improvements could come from the State highway fund, the energy company and local street funds. Package Sewage Treatment Plants: Green River, Wyoming A 640'acre project is under construction in Green River with a combination of single-family houses, apartments and a temporary mobile home park. The Green River sewage treatment plant is at capacity. The City has an EPA grant to build a new one, but the time to do so would greatly delay the housing project. The City has allowed the developer to put in a package sewage treatment plant until the City's plant is complete. The sewer line is intended to be connected at that time. The cost is borne entirely by the developer. Contact: Administrative Assistant to the Mayor, City Hall, Green River, Wyoming 82935. (307) 875.5000 28