Legislation Programs And                  905R79117
Organization Revised January 1979
            This document has been prepared to introduce to you the Environmental
            Protection Agency and its programs, the document is organized to acquaint
            you with the  legislation authorizing EPA activities, the history and
            present organization of EPA, the pollution control programs operated by
            the Agency, and the EPA budget.
              I.  EPA LEGAL AUTHORITIES 	  2

             II.  HISTORY AND ORGANIZATION	13
                     ORGANIZATION DIRECTORY	16
                     MAJOR  FACILITIES OF EPA	18

            III.  PROGRAM SUMMARIES
                     AIR	19
                     WATER  QUALITY	24
                      Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction Grants -
                      State Allocations	27
                     WATER  SUPPLY	28
                     SOLID  WASTES	30
                     PESTICIDES	32
                     RADIATION	33
                     NOISE	36
                     TOXIC  SUBSTANCES	39
                     RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT	41
                     ENERGY	45
                     AGENCY & REGIONAL MANAGEMENT	48
                     PROGRAM MANAGEMENT & SUPPORT  	 50

              V.  EPA BUDGET
                     APPROPRIATIONS STRUCTURE 	 52
                     APPROPRIATION HISTORY  	 56
                                          JANUARY 1979
                                 OFFICE OF RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

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                        I.  EPA LEGAL AUTHORITIES



                                   AIR



The Clean Air Act as amended in 1970 and 1977 is the basic authority for



the air pollution control program designed to protect the public health



and welfare.  The major features of the Act are as follows:






National Ambient Air Quality Standards - The Act directs EPA to establish



national ambient air quality standards for specific pollutants to protect




the public health and welfare.  Standards have been set for sulfur di-



oxide, particulates, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons,



ozone and lead.






State Implementation Plans - To meet, maintain and enforce the standards



each State must formulate an implementation plan.  EPA must review each



plan; if a State fails to submit a satisfactory plan, EPA is required to




prepare a plan.  If a State fails to enforce its plan, EPA may enforce it.



The 1977 amendments delay the attainment dates of areas violating the



ambient air standards and require each State to submit a revised plan



which must provide for attainment of standards as soon as practicable, but



not later than December 1982 (1987 under some circumstances).






New Source Performance Standards - The Act requires EPA to set standards



of performance for new and modified stationary sources of pollution.




These standards are not ambient standards; they are direct emission



limitations for specific types of sources, such as portland cement plants



and coal-fired power plants.

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Hazardous Air Pollutants - For stationary source pollutants which are




particularly  hazardous, the Act directs EPA to set National emission



standards.  These standards apply to existing as well as new sources.






Auto Emission Controls - The Act requires EPA to establish regulations



requiring a 90 percent reduction in the emissions of carbon monoxide and



hydrocarbons from 1970 model year levels.  The hydrocarbon reduction is to



be effective with 1980 model year cars. (The Act originally established a



compliance date of the 1975 model year to meet this reduction.)  Nitrogen



oxide emissions are to be reduced to 0.1 grams per mile in 1981, a re-



duction of approximately 75% from pre-control emission levels.  Particulate



emissions standards for classes or categories of vehicles are also



required beginning with the 1981 model year.  Reductions in emissions from



heavy duty vehicles, generally corresponding to the degree of stringency




imposed on passenger cars, are also imposed in 1983 and 1985.






                              WATER QUALITY




The Clean Water Act of 1972 as amended in 1977 is the primary authority



for the water pollution control programs.  The act is designed to make our




waters fishable and swimable.





Effluent Limitations - The law directs EPA to set effluent limitations to



limit discharges of pollutants from industrial and municipal sources.



Municipalities not achieving a mid 1977 goal of "secondary treatment" can



apply for an extension.  These extensions, issued on a case by case basis,



can not be valid beyond mid 1983.  The law also provides the choice of




three enforcment options for industries failing to meet the mid 1977 goal



of reaching "best practicable control technology".  Effluent limitations

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requiring the application of "best available technology" for industrial



non-toxic and non-conventional sources must be achieved no later than July



1, 1987.  The Act also requires the setting of effluent limitations for



certain toxic chemicals by mid 1980 and the implementation of these



standards by no later than mid 1984.






Wastewater Discharge Permits - The Act authorized EPA or States to issue



permits for discharges of pollutants by municipal and industrial sources.



The permits generally conform with effluent limitations.






Water Quality Standards - Water quality standards are established for all



navigable surface waters.  Standards consist of a designation of the use of



the stream (recreational purposes, agricultural and industrial, public




water supply, etc.) and water quality criteria sufficient to protect the



stream for such uses.  Criteria are established for such parameters as



temperature,  dissolved oxygen, microbiological content, toxic pollutants,



etc.  Wherever the effluent limitations are inadequate to achieve water




quality standards more stringent limitations will be applied to the



sources discharging into these bodies.






Municipal Pollution Control - The Clean Water Act provides a program of



Federal grants for construction or major modification of wastewater treat-



ment plants.  The Federal share for most projects is 75 percent, however,




in some cases may rise to 85 percent.  The Clean Water Act authorizes



$24.5 billion from FY 78 - FY 82.

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Planning - The Act places major emphasis on planning.  Facility planning



is carried out by local agencies to ensure that the most effective and



efficient type of waste treatment will be selected.  Integrated planning



and management agencies are required to be established for all major



metropolitan areas; Statewide planning is also required.  The Act



authorizes Federal financial support to these State and local agencies.






Ocean Dumping - Under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act



of 1972, EPA is authorized to designate ocean dumping sites, issue permits



for ocean dumping which may include implementation plans to phase out



ocean dumping, and assess penalties for improper ocean dumping.






                               WATER SUPPLY



The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 is the basic authority for the Water



Supply Program.






Drinking Water Regulations - The Safe Drinking Water Act directs EPA to



establish national drinking water regulations to protect public health



and welfare.






State Enforcement Responsibility - Safety of drinking water is primarily



the concern of State and local governments.  However, if a State fails to



comply with national public health standards or to satisfy minimum State



program requirements, EPA is required to establish and enforce a program



to supervise public water systems in the State.

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Protection of Underground Sources of Drinking Water - The Safe Drinking



Water Act requires control of underground injections which could endanger



underground sources of drinking water.  EPA is required to publish



regulations containing minimum requirements for State programs, including



prohibition of underground injections which are not authorized by State




permits.






                               SOLID WASTES



The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 is the authority for



the Solid Wastes Program.






Hazardous Waste Management - The Act requires that each facility that



treats, stores or disposes of hazardous wastes have a permit issued by a



State or EPA.  EPA will publish criteria for identifying hazardous waste



and a list of such wastes by January 1980.  Standards governing the gen-



eration, transport, treatment, storage or disposal of hazardous wastes



will also be published by January 1980.  The Act authorizes Federal grant



support for States that wish to operate hazardous waste programs,



including the issuance of permits.  If States do not establish hazardous



waste programs, EPA must assume the responsibility required by the Act.





Solid Waste Disposal Planning - The Act encourges States to develop



environmentally sound plans for solid waste disposal.  The Act requires



that an inventory be conducted of all waste disposal sites.  Federal grant



support of State and local programs is authorized through FY 1979.

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Research, Development and Demonstration - The Act authorizes the Agency to



conduct research, development and demonstrations in areas such as resource



recovery, resource conservation and solid waste disposal.






Technical Assistance - EPA is to provide State and local governments with



technical assistance through teams of Federal, State and local employees



or contractors.






                                PESTICIDES



The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act as amended in 1972,




1975, and 1978 is the basic authority for the Pesticides program.  It



authorizes a comprehensive program to regulate the manufacturing,



distribution and use of pesticides as well as major research efforts into




the effects of pesticides.






Pesticide Registration - All pesticides must be registered and classified




for "general" use or "restricted" use.  Those placed in the restricted



category may be used only by, or under the supervision of, certified



applicators.






Applicator Certification - States with EPA-approved certification plans



train and certify pesticide applicators to use restricted pesticides.  EPA



must train and certify applicators in the remaining few States without




plans.






Prohibition of Misuse - The use of registered pesticides in a manner in-



consistent with label instructions is prohibited by the Act.  The label



directions and precautions are approved by EPA at the time of registration.



Misuse of a pesticide is subject to civil and criminal penalties.

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State Authorities - Under the Act, a State may register certain pesticide




products or issue experimental permits to meet special local needs.






Federal Assistance - The Act authorizes Federal assistance to the States



for enforcement and to help develop and administer applicator certifica-



tion programs.






Research and Monitoring - EPA may conduct research on pesticides and



alternatives, issue experimental use permits, and monitor pesticide use



and presence in the environment.






Tolerance Levels - Under authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic



Act, EPA establishes tolerance levels for pesticide residues on food and



animal feed.






                                 RADIATION




There is no single Act which establishes the authority for EPA's radiation



abatement and control program.  Under Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970,



which established EPA, certain broad authorities were transferred to EPA.



These together with authorities vested under other Federal Acts, but



applicable to the EPA radiation program, establish the parameters for the



program.






Standards and Guidelines - Under  Reorganization Plan No.  3 the functions



of the Federal Radiation Council  were transferred to EPA.  EPA issues



radiation protection guidance to  all Federal agencies.  In addition, under



the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, EPA was tranferred the function of the

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Atonic Energy Commission to establish generally applicable environmental



radiation protection standards.






Monitoring and Analysis - Under the Public Health Service Act, (42 USC 241)



Section 301, EPA has the authority to monitor radiation levels in the



environment.






State Assistance - The Public Health Service Act (42 USC 243), Section 311



provides the authority to assist States in radiation control efforts; the



Federal Radiation Guidance authorizes the establishment of cooperative




programs with States.






Ocean Dumping - The Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972



provides EPA with the authority to control the ocean disposal of radio-



active wastes.






                                  NOISE




The Noise Control Act of 1972 is the basic legislation for EPA's noise



abatement and control program.  This act was amended in what is known as



the Quiet Communities Act of 1978.






Noise Emission Standards - The Act directs EPA to identify products which



are major sources of noise, and to establish noise emission standards,



necessry to protect the public health and welfare, taking into considera-



tion technology and costs.  EPA is to enforce compliance with these



standards.

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Aircraft and Airport Noise Standards - The Act directs EPA to submit pro-



posed regulations to control aircraft and airport noise to the Federal



Aviation Agency (FAA) which shall consider them prior to prescribing the



same regulations, a modified regulation or no regulation.  If EPA believes



the FAA's action does not protect the public health and welfare, it may



request the FAA to review its decision and make public the reason for its



action.






Labeling - The Act requires EPA to prescribe labeling regulations for any



product which emits noise capable of affecting the public health and



welfare or which is sold on the basis of its effectiveness in reducing



noise.






Railroad Noise Standards - The Act directs EPA to establish noise emission



standards for railroads taking into account the best available technology



and the cost of compliance.  These regulations are enforced by the



Department of Transportation.






Interstate Motor Carrier Noise Standards - The Act directs EPA to



establish standards for motor carriers similar to those for railroads.





Noise Research - EPA is directed, under the 1978 amendments, to determine



the psychological and physiological effects of noise on the public welfare



with special emphasis on the non-auditory effects of noise.






State & Local Grants - The 1978 amendments gives EPA specific authority to



assist State and local governments in order to encourage the development



of effective noise control.  EPA is empowered to provide direct technical




assistance in the areas of monitoring, manpower development and other areas.
                                10

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                             TOXIC SUBSTANCES




The Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 is the authority for the Toxic



Substances Program.






Testing - If the EPA finds (1) that a chemical substance may present an



unreasonable risk to health or the environment, and (2) there are in-



sufficient data to predict health or environmental effects, manufacturers



may be required to conduct tests to evaluate a chemical's characteristics



such as persistence, acute toxicity, or carcinogenic or mutagenic effects.






Priority of Chemicals to be Tested - The Act establishes an interagency



committee to develop a priority list of chemical substances to be tested.



Up to 50 chemicals may be listed by the committee; within one year of a



chemical's listing EPA must initiate testing requirements or publish



reasons for not requiring testing.  The chemicals for which EPA may



require testing are not limited to those on the list.






Premarket Notification - Manufacturers of new chemical substances must



notify EPA 90 days prior to their manufacture.  EPA may determine if there



is inadequate information to evaluate the health and environmental effects



of new chemicals and require the acquisition of additional data before the



chemical is manufactured or distributed in commerce.  The manufacture of a



chemical for a significant new use also requires premarket notification.






Regulation of Chemical Substances - EPA may prohibit the manufacture,



sale, use or disposal of new or existing chemical substances if the Agency



finds these activities to present an unreasonable risk to health or




environment.  EPA may also regulate the amount of a chemical that may be
                                11

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manufactured and used or the manner in which the chemical is used, or



require chemicals to be labeled with instructions as to proper use or



disposal.






Polychlorinated Biphenyls - The Act requires EPA to issue labeling and



disposal regulations for polychlorinated biphenyls as well as prohibit



their production and distribution after July 1979.






Research and Monitoring - The Act directs EPA, in cooperation with the




Department of Health, Education and Vfelfare, to undertake research and



monitoring programs.
                                 12

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                      II.  HISTORY AND ORGANIZATION






EPA was created through an executive reorganization plan designed to



consolidate certain Federal Government environmental activities into a



single agency.  The plan (Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970)  was sent by



the President to Congress on July 9, 1970,  and EPA was established as an



Independent Agency in the Executive Branch on December 2, 1970.






EPA was formed by amalgamating 15 components from 5 departments and in-



dependent agencies.  Water quality responsibilities were transferred from



the Interior Department (the Federal Water Quality Administration) and  the



Department of Health, Education and Welfare (the Bureau of Water Hygiene).



Other activities transferred from HEW included the National Air Pollution




Control Administration and the Bureau of Solid Waste Mangement.






In addition, EPA acquired the Department of Agriculture's authority to



register pesticides and to regulate their use; the Food and Drug



Administration's authority to set tolerance levels for pesticides which



occur in or on food and to monitor compliance with those limits; and a



portion of the Department of Interior's pesticides research program.






Finally, EPA assumed some of the Atomic Energy Commission's and HEW's



authority for setting environmental radiation protection standards.  The



Agency also absorbed the duties of the Federal Radiation Council.






Organizationally, EPA is headed by an Administrator,  who is supported by a



Deputy Administrator and six Assistant Administrators (See chart).  Three



of the Assistant Administrators are responsible for "functionalized"




activities, i.e., activities which cut across all programs.  These
                                 13

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activities are planning and management, enforcement, and research and



development. Ihe remaining program activities have been grouped under



three other Assistant Administrators on a media or pollutant basis, e.g.,



water pollution, air pollution, solid waste, toxic substances, etc.  The



activities carried out by these offices are primarily policy development,



standards and criteria development, and support and evaluation of regional



activities.






EPA has made major progress in decentralizing its operating programs.  It



has established regional offices in conformance with the standard Federal



regional boundaries and has assigned major responsibilities for carrying



out EPA programs and policies to the regional offices.  These include the




authority to implement and enforce standards, to conduct monitoring and



surveillance programs, and to provide technical and financial assistance



to State and local governments.






EPA is working to increase State participation type activities thru



delegation where permitted and desired by the States.  One of the larger



activities where selective delegations is occuring is the Wastewater



Construction Grants Program.
                              14

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        UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                  ORGANIZATIONAL DIRECTORY
Administrator, Douglas M. Costle	  (202) 755-2700
Deputy Administrator, Barbara Blum	  (202) 755-2711

Office of Administrative Law Judges
     Herbert L. Perlman	  (202) 755-5509
Office of Civil Rights
     Doris C. Thompson	  (202) 755-0555
Office of Federal Activities
     William N. Hedeman, Jr	  (202) 755-0777
Office of General Counsel
     Joan Z. Bernstein	  (202) 755-2511
Office of International Activities
     Alice B. Popkin	  (202) 755-2780
Office of Legislation
     Charles S. Warren	  (202) 755-2930
Office of Public Awareness
     Joan M. Nicholson	  (202) 755-0700
Office of Regional and Intergovernmental Operations
     J. Edward Roush	  (202) 755-0444

Assistant Administrator for Planning and Management
     William Drayton, Jr	  (202) 755-2900
Office of Administration
     Edward Hanley           	  (202) 755-2911
Office of Planning and Evaluation
     Roy N. Gamse	  (202) 755-2920
Office of Resources Management
     Paul J. Elston	  (202) 755-2744

Assistant Administrator for Enforcement
     Marvin B. Durning	   (202) 755-2500
Office of General Enforcement
     Richard Wilson	  (202) 755-2640
Office of Water Enforcement
     Jeffrey Miller	   (202) 755-0440
Office of Mobile  Source and Noise Enforcement
     Benjamin R.  Jackson	   (202) 755-2530

Assistant Administrator for Water and Waste Management
     Thomas C. Jorling	  (202) 755-2800
Office of Water Planning and Standards
     Swep T. Davis	  (202) 755-0402
Office of Water Programs Operations
     John T. Rhett	  (202) 426-8856
Office of Drinking Water
     Victor J. Kimm	  (202) 426-8847
Office of Solid Waste
     Steffen W. Plehn	  (202) 755-9170

                                16

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Assistant Administrator for Air, Noise, and  Radiation
     David G. Hawkins	  (202)  755-2640
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
     Walter Barber, Jr	  (919)  688-8146
Office of Mobile Source Air Pollution Control
     Michael Walsh	  (202)  426-2464
Office of Noise Abatement and Control
     Charles L. Elkins	  (202)  557-7777
Office of Radiation Programs
     Dr. William D. Rowe	  (202)  755-4894

Assistant Administrator for Research and Development
     Stephen J. Gage	  (202)  755-2600
Office of Monitoring and Technical Support
     Albert C. Trakowski, Jr	  (202)  426-2202
Office of Energy, Minerals and Industry
     Steven R. Reznek,  (Acting)	  (202)  755-4857
Office of Air, Land and Water Use
     Dr. Thomas A. Murphy	  (202)  426-0803
Office of Health and Ecological Effects
     Dr. Thomas A. Murphy,  (Acting)	  (202)  755-0820

Assistant Administrator for Toxic Substances
     Steven D. Jellinek	  (202)  755-0310
Office of Pesticide Programs
     Edwin L. Johnson	  (202)  755-8033
Office of Chemical Control
     John DeKany	  (202)  755-5483
Office of Testing and Evaluation
     Warren R. Muir	  (202)  755-4895
Office of Program  Integration and Information
     Marilyn C. Bracken	  (202)  755-8040

Region I
     William R. Adams	  (617)  223-7210
Region II
     Eckardt C. Beck	  (212)  264-2525
Region III
     Jack J. Schramm	  (215)  597-9814
Region IV
     John C. White	  (404)  526-5727
Region V
     John McGuire	  (312)  353-5250
Region VI
     Adlene Harrison	  (314)  749-1962
Region VII
     Kathleen Q. Camin	  (816)  374-5493
Region VIII
     Alan Merson	  (303)  837-3895
Region IX
     Paul DeFalco, Jr	  (415)  556-2320
Region X
     Donald P. DuBois	  (206)  442-1220

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           MAJOR FACILITIES OF EPA
Environmental Research Laboratory
Narragansett, Rhode Island

Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
Durham, North Carolina

Motor Vehicle Emission Laboratory
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Environmental Research Laboratories
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Environmental Research Laboratory
Athens, Georgia

Environmental Research Laboratory
Gulf Breeze, Florida

Eastern Environmental Radiation Facility
Montgomery, Alabama

Environmental Research Laboratories
Cincinnati, Ohio

Environmental Research Laboratory
Duluth, Minnesota

Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory
Ada, Oklahoma

National Environmental Investigation Center
Denver, Colorado

Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory
Las Vegas, Nevada

Environmental Research Laboratory
Corvallis, Oregon
                   18

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                          III.  PROGRAM SUMMARIES




                                   AIR



The fundamental objective of the air pollution program is the protection



of public health and welfare from the harmful effects of air pollution.



The Clean Air Act mandates this goal be attained through the prevention



and control of harmful substances in the ambient air.  Existing clean air



is to be protected from significant deterioration, and future increases in



emissions are to be minimized in a manner which does not place particular



regions of the country at a competitive disadvantage.






The Clean Air Act envisions the development and implementation of air



pollution control strategies as State responsibility, while the Federal




government is responsible for setting minimally acceptable standards to



assure the protection of public health and welfare.  Ihere are State



controls on stationary sources and transportation systems, and Federal



controls on new motor vehicles, certain new industrial sources and sources



emitting hazardous pollutants.






As a basis for setting standards the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)



identifies those air pollutants which are a major national problem.  EPA



compiles all scientific evidence relating to the impact and effect of each



pollutant after which a standard is set establishing allowable ambient



concentrations.  Two types of standards are developed:  primary standards



provide a margin of safety to protect public health, while secondary



standards protect public welfare (the effect of air pollution on plants,



animals and materials).
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National Ambient Air Quality Standards have been established for sulfur



dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulates, hydrocarbons,



ozone and lead.  With the exception of ozone, these pollutants are



directly produced by sources such as automobiles, power plants and




industrial processes.  Ozone is formed by photochemical reactions in the



atmosphere involving hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen.






Sulfur oxides result from burning fuel containing sulfur or from chemical




processes involving sulfur compounds.  Major sources include coal and oil



fired power plants and boilers, copper and lead smelters, chemical plants



and petroleum refineries.  Particulates include compounds ranging from



ordinary wind-blown dust to a fly ash emitted by power plant boilers and



highly toxic compounds escaping from various industrial processes.



Hydrocarbons are a major component of automobile exhaust, but are also



emitted from petroleum refineries, gasoline stations, dry cleaning plants,



paints and solvents, the use of asphalt in pavement and the spraying of



pesticides.  Carbon monoxide is emitted mostly by automobiles, although




industrial and residential boilers add a small amount.





Nitrogen oxides can be emitted from any situation in which fuels are burned



at high temperatures.  Major sources are automobiles and power plants.



Lead is emitted into the air from two principal sources:  automobiles and



industrial plants, such as non-ferrous smelters.  The need for other




standards for pollutants such as sulfates and inhalable particulates are



under review for future action.  In addition, existing standards are



periodically reviewed and evaluated in light of new scientific evidence.
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EPA sets New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), which establish strict



limits on emissions, to insure that new factories built in polluted areas



do not exacerbate the air pollution problem.  These standards also help



clean the air in areas with lower pollution levels.  By establishing and



enforcing uniform rules for new plants, such standards help insure that



the stringency of air pollution regulations is not the basis for a State's



gaining or losing industries.  New Source Performance Standards have been




set for 28 categories of sources, including iron and steel plants, copper,



zinc and lead smelters, and fossil-fuel-fired steam generators.  By 1982,



the most significant industrial sources of air pollution will have New



Source Performance Standards, which require that they use the best



pollution control technology available.






Another area where Federal regulation is the primary method of control is



the establishment of National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air



Pollutants which apply directly to all facilities that emit toxic



substances.  EPA has set standards for asbestos, beryllium, mercury and



vinyl chloride, and is considering control of benzene and arsenic as



hazardous air pollutants.






Motor vehicles are responsible for most of the man-made emissions of



carbon monoxide and a substantial proportion of hydrocarbon and oxides of



nitrogen emissions.  EPA, through its mobile source air pollution control



program, regulates allowable emissions from new vehicles and controls the



pollution performance of in-use vehicles.  Specifically, the Agency sets



emission standards for automobiles, trucks, motorcycles and aircraft,




assesses the performance of vehicles in-use in relation to those
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standards, assures that new motor vehicles and engines covered by



emissions standards are capable of meeting them for their useful life, and



assures the quality of the data used for determining compliance with fuel



economy standards.  Implementation of vehicle inspection and maintenance



programs and transportation control measures such as carpools, bus lanes




and mass transit, are important aspects of State strategies for meeting



clean air goals.






A State Implementation Plan is the basic document in which a State out-



lines its strategy for meeting clean air goals.  The plan includes the



State's regulations for specific sources; the dates by which these sources



must meet certain emission standards; how the State proposes to review new



industrial facilities to see that they do not violate air pollution rules;



what it plans to do about inspecting in-use vehicles to insure that



pollution control equipment is properly maintained; alternative trans-



portation control measures; and other air pollution programs and



regulations the State has adopted.  The State Implementation Plan is



reviewed by EPA to make sure it meets the requirements of Federal law and



EPA regulations.





As a result of the 1977 Amendments all States will have to revise their



State Implementation Plans.  States have divided their air quality control



regions into two types — non-attainment and attainment areas.  A non-




attainment area is any region which violates an air quality standard for a




given pollutant and is subject to the non-attainment area requirements of



the Act. Regions which do not violate air quality standards for specific



pollutants are called attainment areas and are subject to the Prevention




of Significant Deterioration requirements of the Act.
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The non-attainment amendments set new attainment dates for areas




violating the air quality standards.  The new attainment date for all



pollutants is 1982.  For ozone and carbon monoxides, extensions to



1987 are available in certain cases.  By January 1, 1979, States must



submit revised State Implementation Plans which provide for attainment of



the standards.  If adequate plans are not approved by EPA by July 1979,



the States are subject to sanctions, such as loss of Federal highway



funds and sewage treatment plant grant funds.






The State Implementation Plan revision required by the 1977 Amendments for



non-attainment areas is an important process involving state and local



governments as well as the public. Ihe plan requires the use of reasonably



available control technology, an inventory of actual emission from all



sources, and new construction permits for all new sources.  A State must



show that it will achieve emission reductions to comply with the standards




by the appropriate date.  States which ask for the additional extension




until 1987 must establish a program to weigh alternative sites for new



sources, establish a timetable for vehicle inspection and maintenance



programs and identify other measures necessary to attain and maintain the



air quality standards.






Ihe basic idea behind maintaining clean air in attainment areas (i.e.,



those areas where air quality is better than the national ambient air



quality standards) is to limit additional pollution to minimal amounts.






The section of the law Preventing Significant Deterioration (PSD) is



specifically aimed at protecting regions of the U.S. such as National parks,



Indian lands and recreation areas, which have clean air.  New construction
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in areas relating to the prevention of significant deterioration require




a case-by-case determination of best available pollution control tech-



nology in addition to the limits on incremental air pollution.






Long-term progress (1972-1977) can be seen in achieving compliance with



the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for total suspended particu-



lates, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide nationally".  The long-term




national trend in ozone has been stable, with a decreasing trend in




California and slightly increasing trend in the rest of the Nation.






Nitrogen dioxide trends are stable in California.  However, nationally



nitrogen dioxide levels tend to be increasing based on three to four



years of data.






                              WATER QUALITY



Despite many noted improvements, over half of the country's river basins



are affected by pollution.  This pollution includes oxygen demanding



bacteria, nitrogen and phosphorous compounds, algae, suspended solids, and



industrial waste including toxic liquids and heavy metals.  These



pollutants come fron the discharge of waste from industrial, commercial,



agricultural, and municipal sources as well as runoff from activities that



cover a broad land area and are associated with agriculture, silviculture



(forestry), mining and construction.






The emphasis of the water quality program has been on controlling the



discharge of pollutants into the waterways from specific industrial and



municipal sources.  Pollution from these sources is generally easier to



control (as compared to controlling runoff from agriculture and similar



activities) the composition of the pollutants can be more easily
                                 24

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determined, and control measures are easier to implement.  Three major



methods are utilized under the Clean Water Act to control point source



pollution; issuing wastewater discharge permits, promulgating effluent



guidelines and improving the coverage and efficiency of publicly owned



waste treatment works.






Wastewater discharge permits generally require industrial sources to



reduce the level of pollution to that achievable with the "best



practicable technology".  Permits to be issued in the future will require



the reduction of pollution to the level attainable with the "best



available technology economically achievable" by no later than July 1,



1987.  The permits include schedules for installation of control equip-




ment or process changes.  Virtually all of the major industrial and



municipal dischargers have permits.  EPA encourages State assumption of



this program; 32 States have accepted this responsibility.






EPA is developing Best Available Technology (BAT) guidelines to regulate



65 classes of priority toxic pollutants for 21 industrial sources.  These



guidelines must be set by mid 1980 and implemented no later than



July 1, 1984.






Through the wastewater treatment construction grants program, the



coverage and effectiveness of publicly owned sewage treatment plants is



being upgraded.  A large proportion of the Nation's population is



presently served by sewage systems that do not provide adequate waste-



water treatment.  The grants cover 75 to 85 percent of the eligible costs



of planning, designing and constructing sewage treatment plants — either
                                   25

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the construction of new plants or modifications in existing plants.   The



Clean Water Act authorizes $24.5 billion of Federal assistance for FY



1978-FY 1982.  Of this, $8.7 billion has been appropriated thru FY 1979.






Other aspects of the water quality program include planning assistance to



control pollution in major segments of river basins, including storm water



runoff and runoff from broad land areas.  This effort is currently being



coordinated through the newly developed State EPA agreement process.



Additional programs include technical assistance to State and local



authorities and research and development into the health and environmental



effects of pollutants and means of controlling them.  Grant assistance is



also provided to State agencies to assist them in their permit issuance,



monitoring and enforcement activities.






The major emphasis in the water quality program has been on issuing




"first round" wastewater discharge permits (those designed to reduce the




level of non-toxic or conventional pollutants, to that achievable with



the best practicable technology) and awarding construction grants.  The



current objective is to successfully address threats to public health and



aquatic ecosystems.  To achieve this goal, the program will emphasize a



reorientation from conventional to toxic pollutant control, the environ-



mental rather than the public works nature of the construction grants



program, and the delegation of more water quality management functions to



the States.
                                 26

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                   EPA  Construction Grants

                      FY 1979 Allotments



State                                             Allotments

Alabama	 $53,189,100
Alaska	  20, 709,000
Arizona	  32,128,000
Arkansas	  31,117 ,400
California	 329, 323,400
Colorado	  38,050,800
Connecticut	  45,858,100
Delaware	  20, 709,000
Dist of Col	  20,709,000
Florida	 158,904,600
Georgia	  80,425,600
Hawaii	  32 ,836, 300
Idaho	  20, 709, 000
Illinois	 215,137 ,900
Indiaua	 114,637,000
Iowa	  53,648,800
Kansas	  36,460,300
Kentucky	  60,545,000
Louisiana	  52,290,300
Maine	  31,042,900
Maryland	 115,047 ,000
Massachusetts	 122,357,300
Michigan	 171,081,500
Minnesota	  77,414,600
Mississippi	  40,009,900
Missouri	 103,367,100
Montana	  20,709,000
Nebraska	  22, 800, 700
Nevada	  20,709,000
New Hampshire	  36,489,300
New Jersey	 147,924,700
New Mexico	  20,709,000
New York	 439, 897 , 200
North Carolina	  82,040,900
North Dakota	  20,709,000
Ohio	 267,788,600
Oklahoma	  38,431,900
Oregon	  53, 735 ,800
Pennsylvania	 180,649, 100
Rhode Island	  21,752,800
South Carolina	  48,732,500
South Dakota	  20,709,000
Tennessee	  64,140,000
Texas	 180,723,600
Utah	  20,709,000
Vermont	  20,709,000
Virginia	  81,187,700
Washington	  73,260,300
West Virginia	  74,150,800
Wisconsin	  80,777,700
Wyoming	  20,709,000
American Samoa	   2,551,400
Guam	   3,081,500
Northern Mariana Islands	     570,300
Puerto Rico	  48,600,000
Trust Territory of Pacific	   5,766,700
Virgin Islands	   1,565,600

    Total	 $4,200,000,000


                                 27

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                               WATER SUPPLY



The primary objective of the water supply program is to assure that the



public is provided with safe drinking water.  Today there are more than



240,000 public water supply systems serving approximately 170 million



people.  Many of these systems are not using the most effective equipment



and techniques to collect, purify and deliver potable water to the public.






Federal studies in selected States have shown that (1) more than half of




the facilities providing drinking water have serious deficiencies, (2)



more than three quarters of the operators are inadequately trained, (3)




the vast majority of systems are unprotected from accidental connection



with contaminated water, and (4) more than three quarters of the systems



are not subjected to adequate surveillance or monitoring.  Other studies



report that during the period 1971-1977, there were 192 reported outbreaks



of disease or poisoning attributed to drinking water which resulted in




36,800 illnesses.  This represents only those acute clinical cases that



were reported and does not include the chronic effects whose impact may



take many years to accumulate.






The passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act in December 1974, and



amendments passed in November 1977, have broadened EPA's authority and



responsibility to regulate the quality of the nation's drinking water




regulations, with the States having the major responsibility for enforcing



these regulations.  Primary regulations are designed to protect public



health to the extent feasible, taking technology, treatment techniques,



and costs into consideration.  Secondary regulations will describe the



contaminant level required to protect public welfare and will apply to
                                 28

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such characteristics as the odor and appearance of drinking water.

Interim primary regulations were promulgated by the EPA in December 1975

with an effective date for State enforcement of June 1977.  Secondary

regulations will be promulgated in 1979.



The Safe Drinking Water Act also requires EPA to develop regulations for

the protection of underground sources of drinking water.  The Act

specifically requires that a State program:  (1) shall prohibit any under-

ground injection which is not authorized by a permit issued by the State,

(2) shall require that the applicant for a permit to inject nust satisfy

the State that drinking water sources are free from danger; and (3) shall

include inspection, monitoring, record-keeping, and reporting require-

ments.  Ihe responsibility for controlling underground injections remains

a State function.



EPA is aiding States to develop water supply enforcement and underground

permit programs by providing technical and financial assistance through

grant programs.  EPA is compiling a survey of the quality and availability

of rural drinking water supplies which is expected to be completed during

1979.



Federal financial assistance for the Drinking Water program has increased

from its fiscal 1977 total of $52.5 million to the fiscal 1979 level of

$70.6 million.  Approximately 74 percent of the 1979 appropriation will be

used to assist State and local governments in abatement and control
                                *.
efforts.  By fiscal year 1979, 5^ States will have submitted applications

for public water systems supervision grants, 48 States will have accepted

primary enforcement responsibilities,  and 18 States will have submitted

applications for underground injection control  grants.



                                 29

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                               SOLID WASTES




Many billions of tons of waste are generated in the United States every



year, of which at least 35 million are potentially hazardous — that is



toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive.  Potential health and environ-




mental effects vary considerably, from the direct threat of hazardous



wastes to the less direct threat from wastes such as abandoned cars,



municipal refuse, and wastes from confined animal feeding operations.






The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 gives EPA broad



authority to regulate the disposal of hazardous wastes; encourages the




development of solid waste management plans and non-hazardous waste



regulatory programs by States; prohibits open dumping of wastes; and



provides for a national research, development and demonstration program



for improved solid waste management and resource conservation techniques.






The control of hazardous wastes will be undertaken by identifying and



tracking hazardous wastes as they are generated, insuring that hazardous



wastes are properly contained and transported, and regulating the



storage, disposal or treatment of hazardous wastes.  EPA will develop



criteria for identifying hazardous wastes, and promulgate a list of



hazardous wastes by January 1980.  Regulations applicable to generators,



transporters and operators of facilities that dispose of solid wastes will



also be promulgated by January 1980.  The regulations will include



requirements for recordkeeping, labeling, and the use of a manifest system,



to  insure that all hazardous waste is designated only for authorized



treatment, storage or disposal facilities.  These facilities will be




authorized by permits, issued by EPA or States; permits will be issued to



facilities that comply with standards to be promulgated by EPA.  EPA will
                                 30

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encourage States to develop hazardous waste management programs and issue
permits, and Federal grant support of State hazardous waste programs is
authorized by the Act.  If States do not develop hazardous waste manage-
ment programs EPA will be required to do so.

A major objective of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act is to
protect the environment and conserve resource through the development
and implementation of solid waste plans by States.  EPA will publish
guidelines to assist States to develop plans which will establish
environmentally sound waste disposal and resource conservation practices
and provide for the establishment of necessary State regulatory powers.
The Act also requires that an inventory be conducted of all waste disposal
sites to determine whether they are in compliance with sanitary landfill
criteria to be established by EPA.  Cpen dumps are to be closed or up-
graded within 5 years of being inventoried.  A major objective of this
provision is to protect the quality of ground and surface water from
leachate and surface runoff contamination.  Ihe Act authorizes Federal
financial and technical assistance to encourge States to develop solid
waste programs.

Ihe Act recognizes the need to develop and demonstrate waste management
practices that are not only environmentally sound and economical but also
conserve resources.  The Act requires EPA to undertake a number of special
studies on subjects such as resource recovery from glass and plastic waste,
and managing the disposal of sludge and tires.  An Interagency Resource
Conservation Committee has been established to report to the President and
the Congress on the economic, social and environmental consequences of
present and alternative resource conservation and resource recovery
techniques.
                                  31

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                                PESTICIDES



Pesticides are of enormous benefit to man, particularly in the area of



agriculture production, sanitation, and disease control.  Nearly a billion



pounds of pesticides, embracing 30,000 to 35,000 pesticide products



formulated from more than 1,400 chemical compounds, are used annually in



the United States.  The use of pesticides, especially in agriculture and



particularly for cotton and corn production, is widespread, and has



increased the health risk to humans and the potential of damage to the



environment.  In 1973 there were over 2800 hospital admissions resulting




from the improper use of pesticides that involved farmworkers,



applicators, formulating plant workers, and children.  Hazardous levels of



pesticides found in wild life tissues demonstrate the potential for



adverse effects from less toxic but slower degrading pesticides like DDT,




aldrin, dieldrin, chlordane, heptachlor, and toxaphene (chlorinated



hydrocarbons).  These compounds, soluble in body fat, are passed on to




humans through the food chain, and their effects on human health may take



too many years to appear.






Three specific approaches comprise EPA's pesticide program:   (1)



registration, (2) use management, and  (3) research and monitoring.  The



1972, 1975, and 1978 amendments to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and



Rodenticide Act require EPA to register pesticide products for general or



restricted use.  Products are registered only if they perform their in-



tended functions without unreasonable adverse effects on the environment,




including humans.  The registration of a pesticide may be cancelled at any



time that available information indicates continued use of the pesticide



may result in unreasonable adverse effects on the environment.  If a
                                 32

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registered pesticide poses an imminent threat to human health or the



environment, EPA may suspend its registration immediately, and take the



product off the market.






The use of pesticides is controlled.  Only certified applicators or



persons under their direct supervision may apply pesticides registered for



restricted use.  States certify the applicators, and training is provided



through a joint effort by EPA, the Department of Agriculture's Extension



Service, and State agencies.  To date, 1,341,000 private applicators and



282,474 commercial applicators have received training, and of these,



approximately 85 percent have been certified.






EPA conducts monitoring and research activities to determine the health



and environmental effects of pesticides.  Researchers consider both acute



and chronic, long-term, health effects in their epidemiological studies of




pesticide exposure, with particular emphasis on new pesticides.  In




addition, National Science Foundation and Department of Agriculture



researchers help to develop environmentally safe, alternative pest control



techniques.  EPA rountinely samples pesticide products from manufacturing



establishments and the market place as part of an enforcement program to



insure compliance with registration requirements and labeling instructions.






                                RADIATION



The EPA radiation program focuses on preventing all available exposure of



people to ionizing radiation without offsetting benefits (An example of



ionizing radiation  is x-ray ). EPA pursues this goal through three



interdependent roles:  (1) the development of standards and criteria,
                                33

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(2) assessment of the environmental impact of technology employed by other



Federal agencies, and (3) surveillance of radiation levels in the environ-



ment.






The need for EPA to set standards for exposure to non-ionizing radiation,



such as microwave, radar, etc., is being reviewed.  EPA and the Nuclear



Regulatory Commission have divided responsibilities with respect to



standard setting and guidance for radiation exposure from nuclear fuel



cycles.  EPA has the authority for issuing standards for the protection of




the environment from sources of radiation, and has issued standards for



the total amount of radiation exposure from facilities in the uranium fuel



cycle. EPA also develops radiation standards and guidelines for other



Federal agencies, which are then implemented by these agencies in their



own facilities and through regulations that they promulgate and enforce.



The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is responsible for developing,




implementing and enforcing standards for individual nuclear facilities in



the uranium fuel cycle.






EPA is working on standards for both short-lived and long-lived radio-



nuclides.  Long-lived nuclides are relatively permanent pollutants and



their control is particularly important in view of the expected growth in



the nuclear industry.  Presently EPA is developing standards for disposal



of high level wastes, for the control of hazards at active and inactive




uranium mill tailing sites, nuclear accident protective action guidelines,



cleanup guidelines for areas contaminated by plutonium and guidance for



occupational exposure to radiation.  EPA provided guidance to Federal



agencies on appropriate limitation of exposure from medical x-rays.  This



has been promulgated and work is underway to control exposure from radium




and uranium from phosphate plants.





                                 34

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 In the area of technology assessment, EPA performs independent environ-



mental analyses of radiation technologies being used or proposed for use



by other Federal agencies.  Environmental Impact Statements, required by



 the National Environmental Policy Act, are prepared by other agencies



whenever nuclear power plants are authorized or whenever new technologies



are proposed for introduction.  The statements are analyzed by EPA; these



analyses have had considerable effect on proposed programs and the



public's acceptance of them.  The storage of spent fuel from power



reactors and related policies have been assessed.  Proposals for the



solidification and disposal of the defense waste at Savannah River were



reviewed.  An active role was taken in the Interagency Review Group (IRG)



for radioactive waste management including the leadership role of the sub-



group for Federal Involvement.  A continuing effort in this area is



evaluation of the probabilities and potential consequences of accidental



release of radioactive material.  This work will provide a basis for



establishing guidance in the area of emergency response planning.





EPA carries on long range studies such as evaluation of land burial



techniques to dispose of low level radioactive wastes and assessment of



the level of containment at the two inactive sites where ocean disposal of



radioactive wastes has taken place.  Environmental standards for disposal



of low level radioactive wastes using various methods will be developed



from these studies.





The radiation surveillance function performed by EPA provides an indepen-



dent assessment of the overall radiological quality of the environment.



An air monitoring network of 22 continuously operating samplers measures
                                35

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ambient radioactivity.  This network is expanded to 67 sites when nuclear



weapon testing is carried out above ground and radioactivity is widely



distributed in the Northern hemisphere.  Other specific air monitoring



activities are carried on to measure plutonium, carbon-14 and krypton-85



radionuclides.  Water analysis and sampling programs are carried on to



measure levels of tritium and other radionuclides in surface water near



specific sources of radioactive materials.  Samples are also taken at 77



drinking water sites for comparison with EPA's regulations.  Another



aspect of radiation surveillance is the computation of population radia-



tion exposure using data on specific radionuclides released from different



sources.  Special population studies are also conducted to determine the



degree of exposure to non-ionizing radiation in major metropolitan areas.






                                  NOISE




Noise is a pervasive form of pollution which is increasingly being re-




garded as an environmental stressor with possible adverse health effects.



Noise induced hearing loss is a recognized problem particularly in highly



mechanized industries and high noise exposure occupations.  Excessive



levels of noise appear to act as stressors which may pose the risk of



increased susceptibility to disease and infection, notably heart disease



and ulcers.  An estimated 14.7 million workers are exposed to an 8 hour



average sound level above 75 decibels, a level at which there is risk of




hearing damage.  An additional 13.5 million Americans are exposed to sound



levels averaging above 75 decibels for 8 hours as operators of or




passengers in transportation or recreation vehicles.
                                 36

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Noise is also a strong factor in degrading the quality of life.  Since




1973 the Department of Housing and Urban Development, with support from



the Census Bureau, has performed an Annual Housing Survey in an effort to



determine the quality of housing in the United States.  In this survey,



noise has ranked consistently number one - three times as often as crime -



as the most frequently mentioned undesirable condition in residential



neighborhoods.






EPA has identified 55 decibels as the day-night sound level necessary to



protect the general population against activity interference. Outdoor day-



night sound levels above 55 decibels are likely to interfere with speech



communication, sleep and relaxation.  An estimated 103 million people live



in areas where the decibel level exceeds 55.






The EPA noise pollution control program has several major objectives: (1)




to reduce environmental (non-occupational) noise to a day-night sound



level of 75 decibels as soon as possible.  Attaining this goal will




essentially eliminate the risk of hearing loss due to environmental noise



and reduce extreme annoyance and activity interference, (2) as a longer



term objective, to reduce environmental noise levels to day-night sound



level of 55 decibels which would be most desirable to achieve health and



welfare protection.  An interim objective is to obtain a day-night sound



level of 65 decibels.






EPA utilizes four major approaches to meet these objectives:  (1) new



product standards directed principally at surface transportation and con-



struction noise sources, (2) in-use controls directed principally at
                                37

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aviation, interstate motor carrier and railroad noise sources, (3) product



labeling to provide protection against voluntary high level individual



exposure, and (4) development of State and local programs to control



noise.





EPA is in the process of promulgating or has already promulgated standards



to reduce noise from newly produced portable air compressors, medium and



heavy duty trucks, earth moving machinery, buses, truck mounted solid



waste compactors, motorcycles, jackhammers and lawnmowers.  As older



equipment is replaced with products conforming with the standards, there



will be a gradual reduction in enviromental noise levels.





Other regulatory activity in the noise program centers around the devel-



opment of labeling regulations which gives notice to prospective buyers of



the level of noise the product emits or its effectiveness in reducing



noise.  Vfork is currently underway which will lead to the labeling of



devices to protect hearing.





EPA also provides technical assistant to State and community noise control



programs.  Noise control at the State and local level is essential to



complement Federal activities.  Congress has identified the need for



increased State and local programs in its 1978 amendment to the Noise



Control Act of 1972, called the Quiet Communities Act.  EPA will be



carrying out a variety of programs under this new authority to stimulate



State and local noise control activity.






Enforcement activities of noise standards and labeling requirements



applicable to new products will be increasing as these regulations are
                                   38

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completed.  The basic enforcement approach will be to verify that


regulated products comply with standards when manufactured.  Testing is


done both by manufacturers and by EPA.  A noise enforcement test facility


has been established to test new products for which regulations are being


developed.



                             TOXIC SUBSTANCES


In recent years a number of significant epidscdes of environmental con-


tamination by toxic substances have occured which posed substantially


serious hazards to human health or to environmental quality.  Chemicals


found posing hazards include mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),


and vinyl chloride; chemicals suspected of hazards include nitrilotri-


acetate (NTA), proposed for use in detergents but withheld from production


in the U.S., and chloroflorocarbons (trade name, Freon), which may


threaten the stratosphere ozone layer.



In the past, each of these problems was dealt with on an ad hoc basis.


No existing law provided authority to deal comprehensively with the

                                                                   /
problems associated with toxic materials until passage of the Toxics


Substances Control Act, which became effective January 1, 1977.  It gives


EPA an important new tool for addressing toxic chemical problems.



Basically, the Act does three things:  (1) it seeks to prevent pollution


incidents through requirements for premarket testing, (2) it places the


burden of proof of safety on the manufacturer or distributor of the


chemical, and (3) it provides authority to control toxic chemicals not


subject to existing laws.  The basic new authorities include premarket
                                39

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notification and premarket testing if required; direct regulation of



chemicals, including possible controls on production, use, or disposal;



the opportunity for a comprehensive assessment of hazards posed by a



chemical; and extensive testing and record keeping authorities.






Under the Act, EPA may require testing of new or existing chemicals if



they are suspected of presenting an unreasonable risk to health or the



environment and if there are insufficient data to predict health or



environmental effects.  An interagency committee recommends the chemicals



which EPA should give priority attention to testing.  Members of the



committee are from agencies dealing with health, safety and science such



as the National Cancer Institute and the National Science Foundation.  EPA



must initiate testing requirements for any chemical substances listed by



the committee within one year or publish reasons why not.  A maximum of 50



chemicals may be listed by the committee at any time.  EPA may require




testing for chemical substances not recommended by the committee.






Ninety days before initiating production of the new chemicals, or manu-



facturing chemicals for significant new uses, manufacturers must notify



EPA.  The Agency will then determine if there is adequate information to



evaluate the health and environmental effects of the chemicals.  If the



information is inadequate EPA may require a manufacturer to develop



additional data before the chemical is approved for manufacture or



distribution.






After considering the effects of a chemical on health, the environment,




the benefits, the availability of substitutes, and the economic
                                40

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consequences of regulating the chemical, a number of steps may be taken.


If EPA finds a chemical to present an unreasonable risk of injury to


health or the environment, the Agency may prohibit the manufacture or


distribution of the chemical, limit the amount of the chemical that may be


produced, regulate the use of a chemical, require the chemical to be


labeled with warnings or instructions, and regulate the chemical's


disposal.  EPA may also require a chemical manufacturer to improve his


quality control procedures if the manufacturing process causes a chemical


to present an unreasonable risk to health or the environment. In the event


that the immediate regulation of a chemical is necessary, EPA will publish


in the Federal Register the action it proposes to take, be it initiation


of a civil action for seizure of the chemical or article containing the


substance, recall of the chemical, or public notification of the hazards


of the chemical.



                         RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT


The EPA research and development program is designed to produce the
                                                              j

scientific information and technical tools on which to base guidelines,


standards, and strategies for controlling pollution.  The major thrusts of


the program are in air and water pollution research, with growing emphasis


on the problem of toxic pollutants in all media.  There are also signifi-


cant programs dealing with such environmental problems as solid wastes,


pesticides, non-ionizing radiation, and energy.



The research activities in each of these programs encompass the deter-


mination of the health and ecological effects of pollutants, the


identification and characterization of pollutant sources, and the study
                                41

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of transport, transformation, and ultimate disposition of pollutants in



the environment.  Improved methodologies for pollutant measurement and



monitoring are being developed, as well as better technologies and pro-



cesses for pollution control and resource recovery.





The air pollution research and development program is specifically



designed to respond to the requirements of the Clean Air Act to protect



public health and welfare from the adverse effects of air pollution.



Health and ecological effects studies are conducted to provide criteria



for establishing and revising air quality standards.  For example, the



potential health impact of diesel emissions are being assessed, along with



the health and ecological effects of such air pollutants as sulfur



oxides, oxone, and nitrogen oxides.  Other work is directed at identifying



the sources of airborne pollutants and the manner in which they are trans-



formed and transported through the environment to man, including the



development of models to provide estimates of pollution concentrations in



the atmosphere.  Research is conducted to understand the composition of



pollutant emissions and to develop improved monitoring methods and



associated quality assurance procedures.  In addition, the control tech-



nology R&D program seeks to assess the capabilities of existing control



approaches and to develop economical control technologies for major air



pollution sources.






The water quality research and development program  is designed to develop



cost effective wastewater control and treatment technologies for munici-



palities and  industries.  Program activities also include the development



of monitoring methods, methods for controlling accidental spills,
                                   42

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quality assurance techniques, and processing alternatives designed to



avert pollution while conserving energy and natural resources.  Strategies



for the management of pollution from non-point sources, such as agricul-



tural, mining, and construction activities are being developed.  Emphasis



is also being placed on determining the health and ecological effects of



land disposal of sludges resulting from municipal wastewater treatment,



recycling and reuse of industrial wastewater, assessing the ecology of



shellfish-growing water, studying the health effects of recreational water



use, and determining the ecological effects of ocean dumping.





The water supply research and development program is designed to provide



scientific data on which to base drinking water standards, and develop new



or improved technologies for effective and economical control of drinking



water contaminants.  Research efforts focus on detecting and identifying



the existence of contaminants, determining the health effects of organic,



inorganic, and microbiological matter in drinking water, and investigating



the suitability of reusing treated municipal or industrial effluents as



potable water.  Epidemiological studies will be conducted for major



organic pollutants so maximum contaminant levels can be established.



Treatment techniques for the removal of particulates (including asbestos)



are also being developed.  New efforts are being directed at determining



the nature and extent of groundwater contamination and, untimately,



developing protective measures.






Solid waste research emphasizes the assessment and development of tech-



nologies for managing hazardous wastes, as well as study of the transport



process of hazardous materials into groundwater systems, and resource
                                    43

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conservation and recovery.  The program involves the study of landfilling



techniques, research on the treatment and disposal of hazardous waste,



evaluation of remedial actions at pollution sites, and assessment of



control technologies.





The pesticides research program emphasizes research on the health and



ecological effects of pesticide use, and integrated pest management



studies of selected ecosystems.  The program studies the biological



effects of pesticide exposure and conducts research on human exposure



levels.  Research on biological methods of pest control is also under-



taken.  In addition, methods for improving the quality assurance of



pesticide research are being developed.





The toxic substances research program conducts studies to improve



screening techniques used to predict deleterious health effects from



exposure to chemical substances.  The program also examines industrial



processes that use or create toxic substances and evaluates alternative



procedures.  Other activities include the development of improved tech-



niques for identifying and quantifying toxic substances in the environment,



developing methodologies for understanding the movement of these



substances through the environment and evaluating the impacts of these



substances on the environment.





The radiation research program provides an information base for standard



setting and regulatory actions, with a primary focus on the health effects



of non-ionizing  (microwave) radiation.
                                  44

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EPA also undertakes research of a longer term and more basic nature.  This



anticipatory research is being performed to identify emerging problems



before serious crisis occur and to provide a base of knowledge in support




of more applied research efforts.






The research and development program has responsibility for preparing



Agency-wide guidelines for assessing the health risk of various pollutants



and for reviewing completed assessments.  For certain media, the Office of



Research and Development performs the risk assessments itself and develops



the scientific criteria used in regulatory decision making.






EPA's research and development effort includes a technical information



program to communicate EPA's research findings to the environmental



community.






EPA's energy program is also part of the Office of Research and



Development, this program is described in the following section.






                                  ENERGY



Ihe EPA energy-related environmental research and development program is



part of a national effort to increase domestic energy production.  The



purpose of the program is to avoid unnecessary delays in energy develop-



ment without sacrificing environmental quality.  Delays may be caused by




either inadequate knowledge on the health and ecological effect of energy-



related pollutants or the unavailability of control options.  Most of the




program focuses on environmental problems associated with the use of coal



as a fuel, since coal is likely to be used much more in the future due to



its domestic availability.
                                 45

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In FY 1979, EPA will spend $111 million on this program.  These funds will




be spent on in-house research, grants to universities, contracts with



private firms, and programs of other agencies.  As the lead agency in the




Interagency Energy and Environment Research and Development Program, EPA



has responsibility for funding, coordinating, and overseeing the research



activities of 17 other agencies.






The program is based upon the goals stated in the 1973 report entitled The



Nation's Energy Future (often referred to as the Ray Report), and upon two



1974 interagency task force reports commissioned by the Office of




Management and Budget and the Council on Environmental Quality to



recommend how Federal research and development funds in energy and



environment could be allocated most efficiently.  Though the program is




not authorized by a statute specifically geared at establishing an energy



and environment research and development program, Sections of the Clean



Air Act, of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the 1977




Department of Energy Act provide authorization for our energy activities.






EPA's energy program has both long-term and short-term focuses.  In the



long-term we are concentrating on new technologies which are likely to



supplement or supplant existing technologies. In the short-term we are



concentrating on existing, commercially available technologies.






Many new energy technologies with potentially adverse environmental




impacts will not be available before 1985 or  in commercial use before 1995.



Given the substantial lead time for health and environmental effects




assessment and control technology development, EPA is implementing re-



search programs now to insure that energy development does not threaten
                                46

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future environmental integrity.  In coordination with the Department of
Energy, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and 15 other
agencies, EPA is working to identify the health and environmental effects
of several advanced technologies.  In addition, EPA and the Department of
Energy are developing procedures for establishing environmental protection
standards for new technologies.

The primary short-term goals of the energy program are:  (1) to provide a
sound data base necessary for the Agency to establish regulations and in-
centives to encourage the use of environmentally acceptable practices in
extraction, processing and utilization of energy resources, and (2) to
provide environmental control options, as soon as practicable, for those
extraction, processing, and utilization practices which cause significant
health or ecological damage.

The EPA energy research and development program is divided into two broad
segments:  health and ecological effects and control technology.  The
health and ecological effects program consists of the research activities
associated with the behavior and effects of energy-related pollutants once
they are in the environment.  This segment of the energy program has four
components—the effects of energy pollutants on organisms and ecosystems;
transport and fate of energy-related pollutants in the environment;
measurement systems and instrumentation development; and human health
effects of energy-related pollutants.  The majority of the health and
ecological effects program is carried out by ten Federal agencies which
receive passthrough funding from EPA.  In FY 1979, for instance, $36
million of the $53 million available for the health and ecological effects
program will go to the other agencies participating in the interagency
program.
                                 47

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The second major segment of the energy research program, the control



technology program, is designed to provide information on the types and



quantities of pollutants released by energy supply activities and to



develop or stimulate the development of control options where necessary.



This technology research program is further divided into six components—



fuel processing, preparation and advanced combustion, fuel extraction,



environmental impacts of conventional and advanced energy systems, flue



gas sulfur oxide control, nitrogen oxide control, and flue gas particulate



control.  Unlike the health and ecological effects program, very little of



the control technology program is implemented by other agencies.  Most of



it is contracted out to private firms.  In fact, during FY 1979, $39



million of the $58 million program will be contracted out.






                      AGENCY AND REGIONAL MANAGEMENT



Agency and Regional Management is funded by a separate appropriation which



provides for the overall policy direction and administration of Agency



programs as well as for certain common services and functions which can be



most effectively managed on a centralized basis.  For purposes of clarity



it is useful to think of these activities as falling under two main



headings:  first, "management" and second, "support."






Management covers the salaries and related expenses of personnel involved



in program direction or in the provision of management of administrative




services and includes the following specific activities:






      *  Agency management which covers the top level policy direction of



         all Agency programs provided by the Administrator and his
                                    48

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         immediate staff and staff offices; the Agency-wide planning and



         management functions of the Office of Planning and Management;



         and the centralized administrative services provided to opera-



         tions located in Washington, B.C., Research Triangle Park, N.C.



         and Cincinnati, Chio.



      *  Regional management which includes the direction of program



         operations by each of the 10 Regional Administrators and their



         immediate staff as well as the general management and administra-



         tive functions provided by the Management Division of each Region.





The support area does not involve personnel and consists mainly of house-



keeping or common service items; these can be characterized as follows:





      *  Agency support which covers the services required to support pro-



         gram operations at EPA Headquarters, Research Triangle Park, N.C.,



         and Cincinnati, Ohio such as office services, printing, communica-



         tion costs, utilities, guard and janitorial services, etc.  Also



         included are certain Agency-^wide services which are managed on a



         centralized basis including facilities rental, postal service,



         charges for the Federal Telecommunications Service, centralized



         ADP services, security clearances and the like.



      *  Regional support which includes the support service requirements



         of the 10 Regional offices which are not covered by the Agency-



         wide services noted above, and covers items such as office



         services and supplies, communications, guard and janitorial



         services.
                                   49

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In EPA's budget these activities are discussed under the Agency and



Regional Management appropriation.  However, the estimates for that appro-



priation do not reflect the full amount of these costs.  This is because



the total amounts required for Agency and Regional support activities are



allocated among the various EPA appropriations on a pro-rata basis so as



to associate these quite significant costs with the various programs which



benefit from them.  The amounts allocated to the Abatement and Control,



Research and Development, and Enforcement appropriations are included



under a heading entitled "Program Support" which is common to each of



these appropriations.  The residual amounts allocated to the Agency and



Regional Management appropriation are charged to headings under that



appropriation entitled "Agency Support" and "Regional Support."





                      PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT



Each of EPA's appropriations includes an activity entitled "Program



Management and Support" which covers the direction and management of EPA's



major line organizations—Air, Noise and Radiation; Water and Waste



Management, Toxic Substances, Research and Development, and Enforcement as



well as the "overhead" services required to support these organizations.



Specifically it includes:





      *  Program management which covers the program direction and admin-



         istrative/management activities of the Assistant Administrator



         who direct EPA's major line organizations, their principal



         deputies, office directors, and supporting staffs.  Also included



         are the management and supporting staff of the laboratories and



         other field  installations which are under the management of
                                50

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   these major line organizations,  as well as the Office of General



   Counsel and the legal staffs of  the 10 Regional offices.



*  Program support - This includes  general and technical support



   services required by certain of  the laboratories and other field



   installations which are managed  by EPA's major line  organizations.



   It also includes a pro-rata share of the Agency-wide support



   costs which are allocated to the various EPA appropriations in



   the manner described in the previous section on Agency and



   Regional Management.
                            51

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                             IV.  EPA BUDGET






EPA APPROPRIATIONS STRUCTURE




EPA currently has seven individual appropriation accounts.  The first five



of the appropriations constitute the basic operating budget of the Agency;




the latter two are exclusively for grants and overseas activities.






Abatement and Control - This appropriation includes the development of




standards and regulations, grants and other assistance to States and



localities, and monitoring of the status of pollutants in the environment.






Enforcement - The primary activity in this appropriation is the enforce-




ment of Federal regulations, including compliance monitoring, water



quality permit issuance and initiation of legal action against violators.








Research and Development - This appropriation includes research activities



aimed at supporting the Agency's standard setting activities and develop-



ment of new technology for the control of pollution.






Agency and Regional Management - This appropriation provides for basic



central management and support activities, including overall program



direction, progress assessment, program evaluation, finance, personnel,



printing, facilities management, etc.






Buildings and Facilities - The design and construction of all new EPA




owned facilities as well as repairs and improvements to Federally owned



facilities is included in this appropriation.
                                   52

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Scientific Activities Overseas - This appropriation is used to purchase



excess foreign currencies from the Treasury Department to finance coopera-



tive environmental activities in countries such as Egypt, India and



Pakistan.





Construction Grants - This appropriation finances grants to municipalities



for the construction of wastewater treatment facilities.  Obligational



authority consists of both budget authority and contract authority.



Appropriations to liquidate the contract authority are requested as



needed.





The appropriations structure has been changing continously since the



Agency was established in 1970.  Initially, the operating budget was in-



cluded in a single appropriation, called Operations, Research and



Facilities. This account was split into four pieces in FY 1973 - Research



and Development, Abatement and Control, Enforcement, and Agency and



Regional Management.  Energy Research and Development was added in FY 1975



to cover work related to new energy.programs and in FY 1977 combined with



the Research and Development appropriation.  The Buildings and Facilities



appropriation, constructed from portions of each of the four operating



budget appropriations, was also added in FY 1975.  Scientific Activities



Overseas and Construction Grants have been separate appropriations from



the inception of the Agency.





Funds appropriated under the Enforcement and Agency and Regional Manage-



ment appropriations must be obligated in one year.  Funds appropriated



under the Abatement and Control and Research and Development
                                53

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appropriations are available for obligations for two years.   Funds

appropriated under the other appropriations are available until expended.


To provide flexibility between appropriations,  Congress has  approved

language to permit the Agency to transfer up to seven percent of any

appropriation except Construction to any other  appropriation. This

provision enables EPA to make small fund shifts required in day-to-day

management without obtaining Appropriation Committee concurrence.  Major

shifts exceeding seven percent and minor shifts accumulating to more than

seven percent are cleared with the committee.


In addition to the appropriation structure, EPA plans and budgets by

"media," or major program areas.  The media are:

         Air                       Noise
         Water Quality             Interdisciplinary
         Water Supply              Toxic Substances
         Solid Waste               Energy
         Pesticides                Program Management and Support
         Radiation                 Agency and Regional Management

Media programs cross appropriation lines.  For example, Air programs are

supported by funds from Abatement and Control,  Enforcement and Research

and Development.


Program strategies are generally developed along media lines rather than

by appropriation.  Consequently, it is generally easier to understand

major programs on a media basis.  In the interest of clarity, therefore,

the EPA budget justification is organized by media.  Program segments

corresponding to the appropriation breaks are separately described within

the total media section.
                                 54

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The Appropriations Committees have also placed controls on shifts between



media.  The Agency may add or subtract up to ten percent of the funds



provided for any media.  Changes of $250,000 and greater require prior



notification to the Committees.
                                55

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