4/24/01

LC010424

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> FOR MOST OF US, THE ENERGY CRISIS IS AN ANNOYANCE, A COSTLY ANNOYANCE, BUT FOR OTHERS IT'S BECOMING A CRITICAL MATTER.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ONE MORE REASON TO GET UPSET OVER CALIFORNIA'S POWER CRISIS, THIS IS IT. DIRTY AIR. IT'S ONE OF THE SAD BYPRODUCTS OF RUNNING THE STATE'S POWER PLANTS AT FULL CAPACITY.

CHRISTINA MAUTZ>> I FEEL THAT I'M BEING PUT IN A POSITION WHERE I'M BEING MADE TO PAY FOR ELECTRICITY WITH MY HEALTH.

VAL>> THE COST OF GASOLINE IS TOPIC A, AND LET'S BE HONEST HERE. THE BIG QUESTION ON EVERYONE'S MIND IS, ARE WE BEING RIPPED OFF? WE'LL ASK THE OWNER OF A CHAIN OF GAS STATIONS IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS.

JESS>> ALSO, PATT MORRISON TAKES EXCEPTION TO A DECISION BY THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES.

PATT>> SEATBELTS AND HANDCUFFS. DON'T WEAR ONE AND YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF WEARING THE OTHER, ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> AND THE SHRINKING HOME OF THE ORANGUTAN. THE MODERN WORLD IS ENCROACHING ON THEIR TERRITORY AND ENDANGERING THESE AMAZING CREATURES. WE'LL TALK WITH A MAN WHO IS SPEARHEADING OPERATION ORANGUTAN.

JESS>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
UNDERWRITING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW. OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT, BACK TO THE FUTURE. AFTER DECADES OF PROGRESS IN THE BATTLE AGAINST SMOG, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S AIR QUALITY IS TAKING A TURN FOR THE WORSE.

VAL>> JUST LAST YEAR, L.A. CELEBRATED THE LOSS OF ITS TITLE AS THE SMOGGIEST CITY IN THE NATION, BUT AIR QUALITY OFFICIALS PREDICT THAT WE MAY HAVE TO RECLAIM THAT CROWN. WHAT'S TO BLAME FOR THE HAZE ON THE HORIZON? PHILIP BRUCE SAYS IT'S AN ALL TOO FAMILIAR CULPRIT.

PHILIP>> IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ONE MORE REASON TO GET UPSET OVER CALIFORNIA'S POWER CRISIS, THIS IS IT. DIRTY AIR. IT'S ONE OF THE SAD BYPRODUCTS OF RUNNING THE STATE'S POWER PLANTS AT FULL CAPACITY. EVERY TIME THEY FIRE UP THOSE NATURAL GAS TURBINES IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, IT SPEWS SOME MORE BAD STUFF INTO THE AIR, STUFF THAT EVENTUALLY TURNS INTO SMOG. WHILE NOBODY CLAIMS THE PLANTS THEMSELVES ARE FILTHY, HAVING SO MANY OF THEM RUNNING FOR HOURS ON END IS EXPECTED TO TAKE A BIG TOLL ON THE AIR WE BREATH, ESPECIALLY THIS SUMMER WHEN THE AIR QUALITY OFFICIALS PREDICT THAT L.A. MAY FACE ITS FIRST STAGE ONE SMOG ALERT IN THREE YEARS.

ANDREA VAN HOOK>> POWER PLANTS, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY CLEANED UP OVER THE PAST YEARS AND NATURAL GAS POWER PLANTS ARE SOME OF THE CLEANEST POWER PLANTS YOU CAN HAVE, DO EMIT NITROGEN OXIDE WHICH IS A MAIN COMPONENT OF SMOG AND PARTICULATE MATTER POLLUTION, THE TINY SOOT PARTICLES THAT GET LODGED DEEP INTO THE LUNGS AND CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS.

PHILIP>> CHRISTINA MAUTZ IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO KNOWS FIRSTHAND JUST HOW TERRIFYING THOSE PROBLEMS CAN BE. A FEW YEARS AGO, SHORTLY AFTER MOVING TO LOS ANGELES, CHRISTINA DEVELOPED ASTHMA AND BEGAN SUFFERING FRIGHTENING ATTACKS THAT LEFT HER GASPING FOR AIR.

CHRISTINA MAUTZ>> THE ONES THAT HAVE COME ON MORE SUDDENLY, I WILL START CHOKING. LITERALLY, IT'S LIKE MY THROAT AND MY CHEST JUST SUDDENLY CLOSE UP AND I CAN'T GET BREATH IN.

PHILIP>> CHRISTINA'S BREATHING PROBLEMS ONLY GET WORSE ON SMOGGY DAYS. THAT'S WHY SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT PREDICTIONS OF A LONG HOT AND SMOGGY SUMMER, A SEASON THAT COULD THRUST LOS ANGELES BACK TO THE BAD OLD DAYS OF DIRTY AIR AND WARNINGS TO STAY INDOORS.

CHRISTINA MAUTZ>> I FEEL BOTH FRIGHTENED AND OVERWHELMED BECAUSE I FEEL THAT I'M BEING PUT IN A POSITION WHERE I'M BEING MADE TO PAY FOR ELECTRICITY WITH MY HEALTH AND IT'S NOT FAIR. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY THAT I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BREATH SO THAT I CAN TURN LIGHTS ON.

PHILIP>> YOU CAN ALREADY SEE WHAT IMPACT ALL THIS ADDITIONAL POWER GENERATION IS HAVING ON THE AIR QUALITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. JUST SINCE LAST JANUARY, POWER PLANTS HAVE SPEWED MORE THAN 2,000 ADDITIONAL TONS OF NITROGEN OXIDES INTO THE AIR. NOW THAT'S A MAJOR COMPONENT OF SMOG AND THE LEVELS NOW ARE TWICE WHAT THEY WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR. BUT THAT'S JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET COMPARED TO THE POLLUTION THAT POWER PLANTS WILL EMIT THIS SUMMER IF THEY'RE FORCED TO RUN LONG HOURS TO MEET RISING POWER DEMANDS.

THE IRONY IS, THE STATE IS GIVING GENERATORS PERMISSION TO DO JUST THAT: OPERATE LONGER AND EMIT MORE POLLUTANTS. IT'S ALL PART OF THE ONGOING PLAN TO AVERT A STATEWIDE ENERGY DISASTER. THE GOOD NEWS IS, MANY OLDER PLANTS ARE BEING OUTFITTED WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART SCRUBBERS THAT WILL MAKE THE EXHAUST CLEANER. THE BAD NEWS IS, A GOOD SIZED CHUNK OF THE POWER USE THIS SUMMER MAY COME NOT FROM THE BIG PLANTS LIKE THIS ONE, BUT FROM SMALL DIESEL-POWERED GENERATORS. THESE ARE ONE OF THE DIRTIEST SOURCES OF POWER AROUND. THESE PORTABLE GENERATORS OFFER BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY A CHEAP AND RELIABLE SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY.

ANDREA VAN HOOK>> IT IS A TRADE-OFF THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE MAKING TO HAVE ELECTRICITY VERSUS HAVING CLEAN AIR. THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION'S POSITION IS THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO ROLL BACK ON AIR POLLUTION LAWS OR CLEAN AIR LAWS IN ORDER TO HAVE MORE POWER.

PHILIP>> ANDREA VAN HOOK SAYS THE L.A. COUNTY OFFICE OF THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION IS URGING STATE AIR QUALITY OFFICIALS NOT TO CAVE IN TO THE POWER CRISIS, BUT INSTEAD TO ADOPT RIGID STANDARDS FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION.

ANDREA VAN HOOK>> WE'RE PUSHING FOR PEOPLE TO CONSERVE AS MUCH ENERGY AS POSSIBLE, TO CONSERVE ELECTRICITY. IF YOU DON'T NEED THE AIR CONDITIONER, TRY NOT TURNING IT ON. WE'RE ALSO ASKING PEOPLE DURING THE SUMMER TO CARPOOL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SIMPLY BY CARPOOLING, YOU TAKE VERY QUICKLY AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF POLLUTION OUT OF THE AIR AND THAT WILL HELP OUR SMOG LEVELS.

PHILIP>> IF LOS ANGELES DOES RECAPTURE ITS TITLE AS THE CAPITAL OF SMOG, THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES THAT WILL SUFFER THE ILL EFFECTS: THE VA HOSPITAL WHERE SCORES OF VETS ALREADY FIGHT FOR THEIR NEXT BREATH. DR. GUY SOO HOO DIRECTS THE PULMONARY AND CRITICAL CARE UNIT. FOR SOME OF HIS PATIENTS, A SMOGGY DAY COULD BE FATAL. BUT AS THEY STAY INSIDE AND CRANK UP THE AC TO SURVIVE, IT ONLY ADDS TO THE DILEMMA OF CRANKING UP POWER PLANTS TO PRODUCE MORE ELECTRICITY.

DR. GUY SOO HOO>> WELL, I THINK EVERYONE IS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. WE HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN, I GUESS, THE TWO EVILS HERE. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO USE ALL THE ELECTRICITY THAT WE NEED. WE NEED TO CONSERVE, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE IT'S COSTLY AND IT CREATES A BIG DEMAND ON OUR EXISTING SUPPLY GENERATORS. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE ENVIRONMENT INSIDE SO THAT WE ARE MINIMIZING EFFECTS OF DISEASE.

PHILIP>> AND THEN THERE'S CHRISTINA MAUTZ. SHE'S WILLING TO COPE WITH WHATEVER COMES FROM HER OWN ASTHMA, BUT NOW SHE HAS SOMEONE ELSE TO WORRY ABOUT, SOMEONE SMALL WHO CAN SUFFER FROM THE DIRTY AIR.

CHRISTINA MAUTZ>> I HAVE A 14-MONTH-OLD SON WHO HAS DEVELOPED SENSITIVITY IN HIS LUNGS ALREADY AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY -- I'M SORRY. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY THAT MY SON WON'T BE ABLE TO BREATH, THAT, YOU KNOW, MY SON WHO'S JUST LEARNING TO WALK AND LOVES GOING TO THE PARK, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO KEEP HIM INSIDE ALL SUMMER. THAT'S JUST -- IT'S NOT FAIR TO HIM. IT'S NOT A FAIR TRADE-OFF.

JESS>> IS THIS A WARNING OR IS IT A CERTAINTY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FIRST STAGE ALERTS THIS SUMMER?

PHILIP>> NOW IT'S A WARNING. IT LOOKS MORE AND MORE, THOUGH, LIKE A LIKELIHOOD IF WE HAVE A HOTTER THAN NORMAL SUMMER AS MANY FORECASTERS THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.

JESS>> AND ARE THOSE PORTABLE GENERATORS BEING A BIG FACTOR?

PHILIP>> THAT'S A HUGE FACTOR. THESE DIESEL GENERATORS ARE NASTY THINGS. I MEAN, THEY HAVE SOME SCRUBBING DEVICES ON THEM, BUT REALLY THEY ARE PROBABLY THE NASTIEST FORM OF POWER GENERATION YOU CAN COME UP WITH. THERE ARE SOME NEW GENERATION DEVICES OUT THERE THAT ARE BETTER, BUT THE BULK OF THEM ARE OLDER AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT MORE OF THOSE DEVICES IN PLACE THIS SUMMER. THEY'RE GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE A LOT LONGER, TWICE AS LONG AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.

VAL>> NOW, PHIL, HOW DO THEY KNOW THAT THE INCREASED POLLUTION LEVELS ARE DUE SPECIFICALLY TO THESE POWER PLANTS VERSUS, SAY, JUST MORE CARS?

PHILIP>> WELL, THERE'S BEEN A VERY DEFINITE STUDY ON WHERE POLLUTION COMES FROM AND, I HAVE TO SAY, 87 PERCENT OF THE SMOG THAT WE ALL SEE COMES FROM CARS. ABOUT THREE TO FOUR PERCENT ALLEGEDLY COMES TYPICALLY FROM POWER PLANTS. BUT IF THE POWER PLANTS ARE RUNNING MORE, TWICE AS MUCH AS THEY HAVE, IT MAY BE EVEN MORE IN THE PAST, THEN THEY CAN DOUBLE THAT, TRIPLE THAT NUMBER. SO IF YOU GO FROM THREE TO SIX PERCENT TO NINE PERCENT, THAT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE AND JACK UP THE SMOG LEVEL SIGNIFICANTLY.

VAL>> WOW.

JESS>> IS THIS ENOUGH TO MAKE US CHANGE OUR WAYS?

PHILIP>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A BIG --

JESS>> -- THE USUAL STORY. CARPOOL, AVOID TURNING ON YOUR AIR CONDITIONER, BUT WILL WE?

PHILIP>> YOU KNOW, THE THING ABOUT CALIFORNIA IS, WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY, WE REALLY ARE ALREADY ONE OF THE MOST ENERGY-EFFICIENT STATES REMARKABLY IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW. MOST PEOPLE ARE VERY AWARE OF THAT AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT DEVICES ARE IN PLACE. THERE MAY HAVE TO BE SOME DRASTIC STEPS PUT INTO PLACE TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE THINGS SOUND GOOD, YOU KNOW, CARPOOLING AND TURNING YOUR LIGHTS OFF AND ALL THAT, BUT FOR SOMETHING TO HAVE A DRAMATIC EFFECT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE PROBABLY SOME REGULATION WITH SOME TEETH IN IT. THE QUESTION IS, DO PEOPLE REALLY WANT THAT?

VAL>> RIGHT. PHILIP, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS FOR THE WARNING.

OUR TOP STORY TOMORROW, WILL ONE OF OUR LAST REMAINING WETLANDS BE THREATENED BY A NEARBY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OR WILL IT REMAIN WHAT COULD BE CALLED OUR VERSION OF THE RAINFOREST?

JIM HILL>> IN THE PAST 110 YEARS, BOLSA CHICA, SPANISH FOR "LITTLE POCKET", HAS BEEN HOME TO A GUN CLUB, A 400-WELL OIL FIELD, A WORLD WAR II ARMY ARTILLERY REGIMENT, AND, BY THE 1960'S, IT HAD BECOME A COVETED PIECE OF REAL ESTATE.

>> THIS HAS BECOME A POLITICAL FOOTBALL. THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WHO'VE MADE THEIR POLITICAL CAREERS ON THIS ONE ISSUE.

VAL>> WHEN WILL THE BATTLE OF BOLSA CHICA END? THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AT 7:00 P.M.

JESS>> IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, WHAT'S DRIVING GASOLINE PRICES? YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THE HEADLINES PREDICTING THAT GASOLINE COULD HIT $3 A GALLON THIS SUMMER, BUT WHY?

VAL>> IS IT A SIMPLE MATTER OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND OR ARE MORE COMPLICATED FORCES AT WORK? JOINING US NOW IS ANDRE VAN DER VALK. HE IS THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE TRADE ORGANIZATION OF CALIFORNIA AND THAT IS A GROUP THAT REPRESENTS ALL THE FOLKS WHO OWN THE GASOLINE STATIONS, THE GASOLINE RETAILERS. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> THANK YOU, VAL, JESS.

JESS>> AND WHEN WE INTRODUCE YOU THAT WAY, IT SUGGESTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AN AX TO GRIND AND CAN YOU REALLY TRUST THE MAN WHO WEARS THE STAR? (LAUGHTER)

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> (LAUGHTER) I SURE HOPE SO. I THINK WE'RE STILL RELIABLE.

JESS>> ALL RIGHT. FROM THE STATION OWNERS' STANDPOINT, AND YOU OWN BOTH SHELL AND TEXACO STATIONS, --

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> THAT'S CORRECT.

JESS>> -- WHAT'S CAUSING THIS TREMENDOUS JUMP IN GASOLINE PRICES?

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> WELL, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO KIND OF EXCLUDE LAST NIGHT'S -- YOU KNOW, WE ALL WATCHED LAST NIGHT WITH THE BIG FIRE AND THAT'S ONLY A SMALL PORTION. IN FACT, THEY SAID --

JESS>> -- YOU DON'T THINK THE TOSCO FIRE AGGRAVATED THE SITUATION?

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> THIS -- WELL, LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY. TOSCO DEALERS RECEIVED A TWO-CENT INCREASE LAST NIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00. THAT FIRE WAS STILL ONGOING, SO THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, AND THEY --

VAL>> -- WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THEY RECEIVED A TWO-CENT INCREASE?

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> A TWO-CENT INCREASE ON THE WHOLESALE LEVEL.

VAL>> THEY RAISED THE PRICE OF THEIR WHOLESALE GASOLINE?

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> EXACTLY.

VAL>> WHILE THE FIRE WAS GOING ON?

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> TALK ABOUT TIMING. I WAS FLABBERGASTED WHEN I HEARD THAT, YES.

JESS>> JUST A COINCIDENCE?

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> WELL, I DON'T THINK SO. AND I THINK, IF YOU LOOK AT PUBLISHED REPORTS, TOSCO MANAGEMENT HAS MADE A STRONG DETERMINATION TO GO UP ON PRICING BASED ON WHAT THEY FEEL THE WHOLESALE PRICE OF GASOLINE IS. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE BEHIND THIS LAST UPWARD MOVEMENT.

VAL>> I'VE NEVER HEARD OF TOSCO. THEY'RE A MAJOR WHOLESALER?

JESS>> THEY'RE THE SUPPLIERS FOR 76, UNION 76?

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> EXACTLY. TOSCO IS THE ALL-SHELL COMPANY. THAT'S THE OLD NAME OF THEM, BUT THEY BOUGHT THE 76 STATIONS THAT YOU SEE AROUND THAT USED TO BE OWNED BY UNOCAL. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF 76 DEALERS THAT ARE JUST SCREAMING RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE UP IN ARMS AND, IN FACT, THEY'VE BEEN HAVING MEETINGS OVER THE LAST WEEK --

JESS>> -- THEY'RE NOT BENEFITING FROM THIS PRICE HIKE?

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> ABSOLUTELY NOT. IN FACT, WHAT THEY ARE IS CAUGHT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PRICE HIKE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T MOVE QUICK ENOUGH AND THEY'RE LOSING SO MUCH VOLUME. THE AVERAGE DEALER THAT I'M TALKING TO HAS LOST SOMEWHERE AROUND 25 TO 30 PERCENT OF HIS VOLUME.

VAL>> MEANING CUSTOMERS OR SALES OF GAS?

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> MEANING THE TOTAL SALES OF GASOLINE. AND LET'S ASSUME THAT, IN THE L.A. BASIN, THE AVERAGE STATION DOES 100,000 GALLONS. NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, AND THIS IS A MONTH, HE'S DOING 70,000 GALLONS A MONTH. BUT LET'S GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PREMISE WHICH IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING? AND WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING -- THAT'S WHY I SAY LET'S EXCLUDE THE FIRE BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THAT STRICTLY THE COKER UNIT WHICH IS FOR RESIDUAL FUELS AND IT ALSO PRODUCES PRODUCTS FOR OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

VAL>> BUT IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, THAT'S NOT A MAJOR THING, NOT A MAJOR FACTOR?

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> IT'S A MINOR THING, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT I THINK PSYCHOLOGICALLY IT'S GOING TO DRIVE THE PRICES HIGHER AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING IN THE PRESS FIVE TO EIGHT CENTS, TEN CENTS. IN FACT, IT'S CAUSED ALREADY A TWO-CENT INCREASE.

VAL>> SO WHAT'S REALLY CAUSING THE INCREASE THEN?

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> I BELIEVE THERE'S A SHORT SUPPLY OF REFINED PRODUCTS, GASOLINE, THAT IS THE CLEAN GASOLINES THAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS, AND THIS IS NOW --

JESS>> -- ESPECIALLY CALIFORNIANS.

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> ESPECIALLY IN CALIFORNIA, AND I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THAT THE OIL COMPANIES HAVE MADE A DETERMINATION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PRICE THEIR PRODUCTS TOWARDS THAT HIGH SIDE OF THE REFINED, ON THE GASOLINE END OF IT. AND I THINK THAT TOSCO IS PROBABLY THE RECIPIENT OF KIND OF BEING OUT IN LEFT FIELD BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A SECURE SOURCE OF CRUDE. THEY'RE NOT AN INTEGRATED OIL COMPANY LIKE THE OTHER BIG BOYS ARE. THEY'RE THE LARGEST INDEPENDENT REFINER IN THE UNITED STATES AND THEY ARE KIND OF THE GUYS WHO ARE BUYING ON THE OPEN MARKET AND HAVE BEEN. THEY'VE MADE A DETERMINATION THAT, HEY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE PAYING THESE HIGH PRICES ON THE OPEN MARKET AND THEN TURNING AROUND AND LOSING AT THE RETAIL LEVEL. SO THEY MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TWO WEEKS AGO THAT SAID WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THE HIGHER END OF THE MARKET.

VAL>> IS THAT WHAT THAT MEANS IN THE PAPER? IT SAYS, "TOSCO HAS DECIDED TO TIE THE WHOLESALE PRICE IT CHARGES TO THE SPOT MARKET", WHICH IS THE HIGHER MARKET?

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> EXACTLY. SO NOW YOU'RE FINDING UNOCAL DEALERS OUT THERE -- I LEFT JUST AT 5:00 AT $1.89.9, SO IS $2 GASOLINE HERE? IT'S HERE.

JESS>> THERE SEEMS TO BE A PARALLEL BETWEEN THIS AND THE ELECTRICITY CRISIS, EXCEPT HERE THE INCREASED COST OF THE WHOLESALE GASOLINE IS BEING PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMER.

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> EXACTLY. AND ALMOST, I WOULD SAY, QUICKER THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME. LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, YOU COULD SAY, WELL, OPEC HAS CUT PRODUCTION. YOU COULD SAY THAT, WELL, WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THAT PROBLEM. WE DON'T HAVE THOSE PROBLEMS NOW. WHAT WE'VE GOT IS A TIGHT SUPPLY OF GASOLINE, YES, AND IT HAPPENS TO BE AROUND THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN CLEAN GASOLINES ARE MANUFACTURED AND THAT'S A FACT.

JESS>> AND WHEN THERE'S MORE DRIVING GOING ON?

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> AND WHEN THERE'S MORE DRIVING GOING ON, AND THERE'S QUITE A FEW MORE CARS THAT ARE OUT THERE. WE KNOW THAT. DEMAND IS UP.

VAL>> WELL, WAS THIS DECISION, THIS KEY DECISION, BY TOSCO -- I IMAGINE OTHER WHOLESALERS WILL FOLLOW SUIT -- IS THIS SOMEWHAT ARBITRARY? DO THEY HAVE A CHOICE? COULD THEY DECIDE NOT TO CHARGE SO MUCH FOR THEIR WHOLESALE GASOLINE?

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> WELL, WE THINK SO, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT WE AS A NUMBER --

JESS>> -- AS A RETAILER.

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> -- OF RETAILERS. WE THINK SO AND WE THINK IT'S ALMOST OBVIOUS BECAUSE PHILLIPS IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AND WANTS TO BUY TOSCO. THIS HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY BOTH SHAREHOLDERS, BOTH COMPANY'S SHAREHOLDERS. THE MARRIAGE THERE IS STRICTLY FOR CRUDE. THAT'S WHAT I'M AT LEAST LED TO BELIEVE, SO CONSEQUENTLY, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? MAYBE TWO OR THREE MONTHS, FOUR MONTHS, BEFORE THIS APPROVAL PROCESS GOES?

WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD DO THIS, YOU KNOW, AND MAKE A DECLARATION AND SAY, LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO GO UP AND WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE HIGH SIDE OF THE MARKET, ESPECIALLY WHEN, IF YOU REALLY LOOK AT THE FACTORS THAT GO INTO THE MANUFACTURE OF GASOLINE AND THE PRICING OF GASOLINE, THAT ON A SOCIALIZED BASIS, GASOLINE ISN'T AS EXPENSIVE AS THE INDEPENDENT MARKET WOULD LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE. I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK, A BARREL OF CRUDE IS IN THE $20 RANGE. EXTRAPOLATE THAT. 42, YOU KNOW, GALLONS PER BARREL --

VAL>> RIGHT. HUGE MARKET.

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> -- YOU START LOOKING AT IT, WELL, GASOLINE PRICES THEN SHOULD BE SOMEWHERE IN THE $1.70 RANGE WITH TAXES AND EVERYTHING.

JESS>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM YOU, WE CAN EXPECT PRICES TO GO CONSIDERABLY HIGHER?

ANDRE VAN DER VALK>> IF YOU GO BY TOSCO'S DETERMINATION, ABSOLUTELY, OR COMMENTS, YES, WE'RE STARTING --

JESS>> HELLO, $3 A GALLON.

VAL>> AND DON'T BLAME YOUR RETAILER. HE'S CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. ANDRE VAN DER VALK, THANK YOU SO MUCH, FROM THE GASOLINE RETAILERS GROUP. WE'D LOVE TO SEE IF YOU'RE RIGHT, BUT I'M AFRAID YOU'RE GOING TO BE RIGHT.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU TO SEE WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE GETTING RIPPED OFF OR NOT. HERE'S HOW YOU CAN REACH US:

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
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4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

JESS>> DRIVE WITH A BROKEN TAILLIGHT? GO TO JAIL? PATT MORRISON EXPLAINS HOW THAT COULD HAPPEN, IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT>> WHAT DOES THE SUPREME COURT HAVE IN COMMON WITH BOWLING? THEY BOTH HAVE A LOT OF SPLITS. TODAY IT'S ANOTHER 5-4 DECISION, THE SUPREME COURT RULING THAT POLICE CAN SLAP THE CUFFS ON YOU FOR AN OFFENSE SO MINOR THAT IT ONLY CARRIES A FINE OF A FEW DOLLARS AND NO JAIL TIME.

A TEXAS WOMAN WAS DRIVING HER TWO CHILDREN HOME FROM SOCCER PRACTICE WHEN A POLICEMAN SAW THAT NONE OF THE THREE WAS WEARING A SEATBELT AND STOPPED HER. NOW, OBVIOUSLY, THE WOMAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN WEARING A SEATBELT AND, EVEN MORE OBVIOUSLY, SO SHOULD HER KIDS. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT WAS ONLY ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO THAT TEXAS STILL ALLOWED SIMULTANEOUS DRINKING AND DRIVING, SO LET'S KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.

ANYWAY, THE OFFICER ARRESTED THE WOMAN AND THEN, AS TEXAS LAW ALLOWS, HANDCUFFED HER WITH HER HANDS BEHIND HER BACK, TOOK HER TO THE POLICE STATION WHERE SHE HAD HER MUG SHOT TAKEN, AND WAS RELEASED ON BOND. HER TRUCK WAS TOWED AWAY AND A FRIEND HAD TO TAKE CARE OF HER CHILDREN. AFTER SHE PAID THE $50 SEATBELT FINE, THE WOMAN SUED, ARGUING THAT AN OFFENSE THAT CARRIES NO JAIL TIME SHOULD NOT BE TREATED LIKE A CRIME THAT DOES, BUT THE COURT, FIVE TO FOUR, FOUND OTHERWISE.

WELL, IF THIS CUFF-FIRST POLICY CAUGHT ON IN OTHER STATES AND FOR OTHER OFFENSES, THE POSSIBILITIES WOULD BE UNLIMITED. THE ARLO GUTHRIE SONG, "ALICE'S RESTAURANT", ABOUT A MAN TOSSED IN THE SLAMMER AMONG RAPISTS AND MURDERERS FOR LITTERING, MIGHT NO LONGER BE A PARODY. THINK OF JAYWALKING IN THE SENSE THAT SUCH CELEBRITIES AS FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL, ED MEESE, HAVE BEEN TICKETED FOR. THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF MANHATTAN COULD BE WEARING HANDCUFFS. METER MAIDS AND METER MEN COULD DRAG OFF TO THE POKEY ANYONE WHO NEGLECTS TO FEED THE PARKING METERS AND STILL WRITE UP A TICKET IN THE BARGAIN. AND LOS ANGELES LIBRARY POLICE MAY FINALLY BE EMPOWERED WITH THE ARREST PRIVILEGES THEY'VE BEEN SEEKING, ABLE AT LONG LAST TO CUFF THOSE WITH TRIPLE DIGIT OVERDUE FINES AND SAY, "BOOK 'EM".

VAL>> IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS, THE ENDANGERED ORANGUTAN. THE NAME TRANSLATES TO "PEOPLE OF THE FOREST" AND, IN FACT, THESE GENTLE RED APES SHARE 97 PERCENT OF THE SAME DNA AS WE HUMANS.

JESS>> ORANGUTANS ARE HIGHLY INTELLIGENT AND SOME EXPERTS INSIST THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO REASON AND TO THINK. SCIENTISTS HAVE TRACED THEM BACK 20,000 YEARS. AT ONE POINT, MORE THAN TWO MILLION ORANGUTANS RANGED THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST ASIA. TODAY, FEWER THAN 20,000 REMAIN. THEY LIVE IN ISOLATED POCKETS OF RAINFOREST IN SUMATRA AND BORNEO. IN THE LAST TWO DECADES, 80 PERCENT OF ORANGUTAN HABITAT HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY LOGGING, AGRICULTURE AND MINING, AND THEIR NUMBERS DECIMATED BY POACHING.

VAL>> JOINING US NOW IS ORANGUTAN EXPERT, DR. WILLIE SMITS, WHO'S DEDICATED TO SAVING THESE FASCINATING CREATURES. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

JESS>> POACHING FOR WHAT REASON? NOT FOR SKINS? NOT FOR FOOD?

DR. WILLIE SMITS>> THERE ARE SOME ORANGUTANS THAT WERE ACTUALLY HUNTED FOR SKINS BY THE TRADITIONAL --

JESS>> -- AND THERE'S A MARKET FOR THAT?

DR. WILLIE SMITS>> THERE IS VERY LITTLE MARKET FOR THAT. BUT RECENTLY, SOME BUSH MEAT POACHING IN SUMATRA HAS COME UP AND THE CHINESE PEOPLE HAVE BECOME INTERESTED IN THE SHREDDED MEAT OF ORANGUTANS. BUT THE MAIN REASON WHY THEY ARE HUNTED IS FOR THE PETS, FOR THE BABY ORANGUTANS WHICH ARE SO HUMAN-LIKE, THAT PEOPLE JUST FALL IN LOVE WITH THOSE EYES AND THAT'S WHY THE MARKET CONTINUES --

JESS>> -- INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE WANTING A PET WILL BUY?

DR. WILLIE SMITS>> YES. THEY WANT TO HAVE IT AS LONG AS IT'S STILL A CUTE BABY AND STILL LETS ITSELF BE CARRIED AROUND.

VAL>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW CHARMING THEY ARE. YOU BROUGHT SOME VIDEO AND YOU CAN TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

JESS>> THIS IS THE AGE AT WHICH THEY ARE REALLY CHARMING. LOOK AT THAT.

DR. WILLIE SMITS>> YES. THESE ORANGUTANS ARE ALL YOUNG ORPHANS. THEY HAVE CONFISCATED OVER 800 ORPHANS OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS.

VAL>> I'M SORRY, THESE ARE ORPHANS? THESE ARE ORANGUTANS WHOSE MOTHERS WERE KILLED?

DR. WILLIE SMITS>> EACH OF THOSE ORANGUTANS HAVE SEEN HOW THEIR MOTHERS WERE KILLED BY HUMANS BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET A YOUNG ORANGUTAN BABY. A MOTHER WILL NEVER EVER LET GO OF HER BABY. SO THESE BABIES NORMALLY COME IN VERY POOR CONDITION BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY STRESSED. SOME OF THEM HAVE COMPLETELY GIVEN UP THE WILL TO LIVE. IT'S ALSO A PROBLEM THAT MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE ON THE LINE OF TRADERS UNTIL THEY ARRIVE IN THE MARKETS, UNTIL THEY GET TO THE HOUSES OF PEOPLE.

VAL>> HOW MUCH ARE PEOPLE WILLING TO SPEND TO GET THE BABY ORANGUTAN?

DR. WILLIE SMITS>> WELL, IT DEPENDS UPON WHERE. IF YOU WOULD BUY AN ORANGUTAN BABY IN JAKARTA, UNTIL LAST YEAR, YOU COULD SAY $600 FOR AN ORANGUTAN BABY. IF YOU GET IT TO TAIWAN, IT WILL BE WORTH $5,000. BUT IF YOU CAN GET IT TO THE UNITED STATES OR EUROPE, WHICH ALSO STILL HAPPENS, IT CAN BE UP TO $30,000, SO IT'S THE TRADE WHICH IS REALLY THE PROBLEM.

JESS>> IT'S A REAL PROBLEM WITH THESE IN THAT THEY STAY WITH THEIR MOTHERS FOR, WHAT, FIVE OR SIX YEARS? THEY NURSE FOR THAT LONG?

DR. WILLIE SMITS>> EIGHT YEARS.

JESS>> EIGHT YEARS.

DR. WILLIE SMITS>> EIGHT YEARS. THERE'S NO OTHER ANIMAL WHICH HAS SUCH A LONG BIRTH INTERVAL AS THE ORANGUTANS. DURING THE LIFETIME, A MOTHER MAY ONLY RAISE THREE BABIES. ONE TO REPLACE THE MOTHER, ONE TO REPLACE THE FATHER AND ONE JUST IN CASE, AND THAT JUST IN CASE ISN'T ENOUGH ANYMORE.

JESS>> INDONESIA IS NOT A POLITICALLY STABLE NATION. IT HASN'T BEEN FOR SOME TIME. WHAT SORT OF COOPERATION DO YOU GET FROM THE GOVERNMENT IN INDONESIA?

DR. WILLIE SMITS>> WELL, THE COOPERATION OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT IS THERE, BUT THE PROBLEM IS ENORMOUS AND INDONESIA CONSISTS OF MORE THAN 17,000 ISLANDS. WITH THE SMUGGLING ON THE BOATS THAT ALSO CARRY ALL THE LEGAL TIMBER, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT MAYBE UP TO 80 PERCENT OF THE TIMBER IN INDONESIA HARVESTED NOW IS ILLEGALLY CUT AND ALL THOSE BOATS AND ALL THOSE ROUTES ENABLE THE TRADERS TO STILL SMUGGLE ORANGUTAN BABIES WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY.

VAL>> NOW THE VIDEO WE'RE LOOKING AT, I HAVE TO -- THESE ANIMALS LIVE VIRTUALLY THEIR WHOLE LIFE IN TREES. THEY ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE TWO HANDS AND TWO FEET, THEY HAVE FOUR HANDS.

DR. WILLIE SMITS>> AND THEY HAVE THEIR LIPS WHICH ACT LIKE THE REAL FINGER -- VERY SENSITIVE.

VAL>> AND THEY USE TOOLS, DO YOU THINK, IN A WAY?

DR. WILLIE SMITS>> YES --

JESS>> -- WE SAW ONE USING A LEAF TO SHIELD IT FROM RAIN.

DR. WILLIE SMITS>> ALL THOSE ARE SIMPLE, BUT IT'S ALSO NOW KNOWN FROM SUMATRA THAT ORANGUTANS ACTUALLY HAVE A TOOL KIT. THEY MAKE TOOLS OF VARYING SIZES. THEY ADJUST THEM TO DIFFERENT TASKS, WHAT PEOPLE IN THE PAST BELIEVED ONLY TO BE A THING OF CHIMPS.

VAL>> NOW THESE LITTLE GUYS WE'RE SEEING IN THE CAGES, IS THAT YOUR REFUGE?

DR. WILLIE SMITS>> THIS IS AT THE QUARANTINE CENTER AND AT THE REHABILITATION CENTER. THESE BABIES ARE OUT IN A PLAYGROUND. THEY MUST LEARN HOW TO MOVE AND THEY HAVE TO EXERCISE THEIR MUSCLES. THEY HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE NESTS. THEY HAVE TO LEARN AT LEAST 100 DIFFERENT TREE SPECIES THAT THEY WILL UTILIZE AFTER THEY ARE RELEASED IN THE FOREST.

JESS>> ALL OF THIS IS PREDICATED ON RELEASING THESE BACK INTO THE WILD?

DR. WILLIE SMITS>> YES. THOSE ORANGUTANS WILL GO BACK TO THE WILD. WE DO HAVE SOME WHICH HAVE BECOME BLIND BECAUSE OF VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES AND 70 PERCENT OF THEM THAT WE CONFISCATE FROM THE HUMAN DISEASES, SO WE HAVE TO CURE THEM FIRST AND SOME ARE, UNFORTUNATELY, INCURABLE. THOSE WILL REMAIN AT OUR CENTER. WE HAVE AN AREA OF ABOUT 22 ACRES WHERE THEY CAN STILL ROAM AND LIVE SEEMINGLY FREE IN THE TREES THERE.

JESS>> NOW IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE SEVERAL NOTED ZOOS, SOME OF WHICH YOU'VE BEEN COOPERATING WITH. ARE ZOOS IN THE COUNTRY ABLE TO HELP IN THIS SITUATION?

DR. WILLIE SMITS>> I THINK THE ZOOS DO A LOT. IF YOU LOOK AT THEM, THE REMAINING WILD ORANGUTANS, I THINK THERE ARE FEWER THAN 15,000 LEFT AND THERE'S ACTUALLY ONLY ONE AREA LEFT IN THE WORLD WHERE STILL A SUFFICIENTLY LARGE ORANGUTAN POPULATION IS SURVIVING. IT'S MY HOPE -- IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'RE COMING OVER HERE -- TO TRYING TO FIND SUPPORT TO SET ASIDE PERMANENTLY 1.6 MILLION ACRES OF LOWLAND RAINFOREST.

JESS>> PRETTY AMBITIOUS, BUT WE WISH YOU LUCK.

VAL>> WISH YOU LUCK. IF PEOPLE WANT TO HELP, THEY CAN GO TO YOUR WEB SITE THAT'S ON THE SCREEN FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DR. SMITS' WORK. IT'S EASY TO REMEMBER.

[WWW.ORANGUTAN.COM]

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