Region V Public Report
February 1S12
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W P C BOARD MAKES FARM POLLUTION RECOMMENDATIONS
The President's Water Pollution Control
Advisory Board concluded a week of tours
and meetings in Illinois and Indiana on
the relationship between confined animal
feeding and the quality of water with a
presentation of ten recommendations.
The recommendations, which will be passed
on to William D. Ruckelshaus, Administra-
tor of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, are based on information gath-
ered during tours of livestock and poul-
try farms and presentations by experts
in the field of agricultural pollution
and animal wastes in both eastern and
western states. The advisory board had
previously studied similar water prob-
lems in the western states and made a
preliminary report to Ruckelshaus from
Denver last October.
Concluding that "animal wates constitute
both real and potential hazards to pub-
lic health," the Board recommended:
That the Environmental Protection Agency assume a
vigorous leadership role in coordinating major
activities of all federal, state and local agen-
cies involved in agricultural waste management
with those of educational institutions and private
groups and individuals interested in solving ani-
mal waste disposal problems. To aid in this ef-
fort, EPA must be provided with more funds and
expanded staffing to coordinate its own programs
in research, training, administration and manage-
ment .
That the Environmental Protection Agency join with
the appropriate federal and state agencies and
educational institutions in developing and imple-
menting a comprehensive public information program
to explain fully the evolving guidelines and means
of achieving effective pollution control measures
necessitated by animal waste disposal problems.
That the Environmental Protection Agency seek add-
ed appropriations for expanded research and devel-
opment programs, so that these costs can be held
to minimum levels to the farmer. Demonstration
projects are a very effective educational method
that should be increased, which can result in over-
all reduction in costs to both producer and con-
sumer. In addition, USDA should use all existing
programs and technical services to help animal pro-
ducers install systems that comply with regula-
tions.
That the Environmental Protection Agency encourage
the adoption of state legislation and regulations
for animal waste management based on minimal fed-
eral guidelines which will maintain standards with
a view to enhancing water quality.
That the Environmental Protection Agency give high
priority to funding for research and development
projects which may develop practicable and safe
alternate uses for animal wastes.
That the Environmental Protection Agency initiate
cooperative long range research projects in centers
of excellence which will result in the collection
of reliable data upon possible less-evident ill
effects of concentrations of animal wastes.
* That the Environmental Protection Agency, through
program grants or otherwise, encourage state agen-
cies to increase their monitoring programs so that
an adequate profile of state water quality by
stream basins and groundwater would be available
in order to easily identify problem areas.
* That attention be given to the development of
national and/or state site selection guidelines
which will determine the best land areas to be
used for animal production to minimize water pol-
lution.
* That the Federal Government encourage educational
institutions and state and local agencies through
grants and/or other incentives , to expand their
graduate and undergraduate training programs in
the environmental agricultural areas, which will
direct manpower into the pollution control field.
* That the Environmental Protection Agency should
develop animal waste guidelines and work as
closely as possible with the states to ensure
that these basic minimum requirements be adopted
nationwide in the interest of uniformity which
prevents discrimination against any particular
group or individual.
After viewing pollution problems at Illinois and
Indiana farms on January 24 and 25, the Board spent
a full day hearing statements by representatives of
Midwest Universities and the EPA. The speakers
tended to stress the importance of federal financing
for waste control projects, effective waste control
regulations and enforcement, more extensive monitoring
of water quality and the need for demonstration pro-
jects.
While most speakers emphasized the necessity for con-
tinuing research, Will C. LaVeille, Agricultural
Waste Specialist for EPA's Midwest Region, brought
out that "simple, remedial measures are now available
to abate 95 per cent of the usual animal waste situa-
tions," and that farmers could effectively apply tech-
nology that is currently available, such as simple con-
tainment and runoff techniques.
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U.S Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5 Library
77 W. Jackson Blvd. (PL-16J)
Chicago, IL 60604-3507
Message
from Mayo
Decentralization in EPA
We in the EPA are working to decentralize our national
cleanup programs. For example, in the Midwest we have
an approach for cleanup that specifically reflects the
peculiar problems and needs of this area.
One of the prime indications that, in fact we are at-
tempting to decentralize, can be found in the delegation
of responsibility by Administrator Ruckelshaus to the
Regional Administrators. These delegations are intend-
ed to maximize decision-making responsibilities at the
field level, where staffers are closer to the problems.
Among the recent delegations to the Midwest Regional
Office have been authority to approve annual program
grants to state water pollution control agencies.
Total federal grants to state agencies during the
current fiscal year amount to over 2 million dollars,
or 20% of the total federal share.
A second delegation of authority has been in the area
of construction grants. Under this delegation, Region
V will have final sign off this fiscal year for up to
$400,000,000 out of the anticipated national total of
$2 billion.
In the area of grants for basin planning up to one
half million dollars will be made available with Re-
gional Office concurrence here in the Midwest.
In Air Pollution Control, final sign off authority for
$10 million in federal funds will be made at the re-
gional level for planning and control program grants
for 35 state and local air pollution control agencies
in this region.
The total package of funds which can be delegated at
Region V will thus total $413,000,000. If there
were any doubts expressed previously that the nation's
environmental programs would be decentralized, I
think these figures should dispel those doubts.
In addition to the new financial muscle at the regional
level other delegations of authority have been made as
well. Authority has been delegated to regional ad-
ministrators to issue water quality standards violation
notices - 180 day notices as they are more commonly
called - authority to recommend that state water pollu-
tion control agencies take remedial action following
an enforcement conference, authority to certify pollu-
tion control facilities for income tax write-offs, and
authority to certify potable water supplies as meeting
drinking water standards.
A recent 180 day notice to a Lafayette, Indiana firm
marked the first time that such a notice has been
issued at the regional level. Previous 180 day notices
had been issued from Washington.
Finally, certain regional administrators have been
designated responsibilities to make recommendations
to the Corps of Engineers on disposal of polluted
dredgings. That provision especially applies to this
region. -Francis T. Mayo, Regional Administrator
CALENDAR
FROM THE MINNESOTA-WISCONSIN OFFICE
February 14 The monthly meeting of the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency will be held
at 9:00 a.m. in the State Health Bldg.
February 18 A meeting will be held with Superior
Fiber Products at 10:00 a.m. at the
Superior Fiber Products Company.
This meeting is a follow up to the
180-day notice served the company.
FROM THE GRF.AT LAKES COORDINATOR
FROM ENFORCEMENT
February 15-16
February 23
Great Lakes Basin Commission Meeting,
Ann Arbor, Michigan.
International Joint Commission Pol-
lution Boards for Red and Rainy Rivers
Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
March 1
An informal 180 day hearing will be
held with the Alton Box Board Com-
pany at 9:00 a.m. at the Holiday Inn
in Lafayette, IN.
The Indiana and Illinois Divisions of
the American Association of University
Women will present a program entitled
"The Ecological and Planning Impli-
cations of an Airport in Lake Michigan"
Saturday, March 11, at William Rainey
Harper College, Algonquin and Roselle
Roads, Palatine, Illinois. The pro-
gram starts at 9:00 a.m. and includes
a luncheon. Sandy Schwartz, 916 Mich-
igan, Evanston, is in charge of
reservations. The price is $4.50.
FROM THE INDIANA OFFICE
February 14 The Indiana District Office has
scheduled follow-up meetings to
180-day notice hearings in Montezuma
Indiana at 7:00 p.m.
February 17 The Illinois Pollution Control Board
has open meetings every other Thursday
at 10:00 a.m. Their address is 309
W. Washington, Chicago, Illinois.
The public is welcome.
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INNER-CITY AND
THE ENVIRONMENT
Air and water pollution, solid waste problems, noise,
pesticides and congestion are problems which influence
the lives of all urban residents, particularly those
who live in the ghetto or other parts of the inner city.
Long before pollution became a national issue it was
experienced in the inner city and was decried by local
leaders. However, the concerns of these leaders have
not yet been adequately related to the environmental
movement.
Too often "the environment" has come to mean a remote
river, forest, or mountain side while the more immedi-
ate and local problems of biodegeneration were over-
looked. Luther Gerlach, a University of Minnesota
anthropologist studying revolutionary movements, has
suggested that ecology has the greatest potential for
producing a "fundamental change" in society if people
would really take seriously the implications of this
new discipline. Ecology need not be remote from ur-
ban social action.
The need for developing an urban ecology has been
documented geographically by Ian McHarg in his book
Design with Nature which describes a study of the in-
ner-city environment in Philadelphia. McHarg's stu-
dents mapped statistics relating to a number of para-
meters reflecting the quality of life in that city:
physical disease (TB, cirrhosis, gonorrhea), mental
disease, pollution, ethnicity, and economic factors.
By superimposition of these individually mapped over-
lays, McHarg1s students found that the "Heart of the
city is the heart of pathology and there is a great
concentration of all types of pathology surrounding
it." This thesis was restated during the House Com-
mittee hearings on the Environmental Quality Educa-
tion Act, most eloquently by Margaret Mead who ar-
gued that "We have got to face the man-made environ-
ment of the inner-city...at the same time that we
talk about Yellowstone..."
The Environmental Protection Agency recognized this
need for urban programs almost from its inception. To
meet the challenge, two task forces were established:
one on inner city problems, one on environmental edu-
cation.
There are at present three inner-city environmental
programs underway in EPA. All three are being coor-
dinated through the Inner City Community Programs
Office which is part of the EPA's Community Services
Division. Director of the Inner City programs is
Lenny Robonson in Washington, L). C.
The newest program is the Consumer Recycling pilot pro-
gram. Under this program, residents in a Washington,
D.C. model cities program would receive economic
incentives for separating their wastes for recycling.
A $75 thousand Phase I feasibility study was launched
earlier this month.
In the second program, the black-owned Greenpower
Foundation this summer will work with residents in the
Watts section of Los Angeles to come up with ideas
and ways to improve their environment. Last summer,
Greenpower conducted a study to identify just what the
problems of the inner city were. This summer's grant
will be for $100 thousand.
The third program - Summer Program for Action to Renew
the Environment (SPARE) - will be a continuation this
summer of a program carried out for the last two years
seeking to involve the Neighborhood Youth Corps in en-
vironmental activities. This program will be decentral-
ized to the regional level this summer.
In Region V, the Youth Advisory Board, is currently
preparing some ideas on how to impact inner city areas
in conjunction with the Chicago Committee on Urban Op-
portunity/Model Cities Office.
In addition, Roland Cornelius, Region V's Director of
the Office of Equal Opportunity, will be in charge of
EPA's midwest inner city effort. Your ideas on how to
improve inner city environments are solicited.
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Franklin,Ohio Sets Recyling Pace
by William A. Wynne, THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER
FRANKLIN, OHIO -- Ecologists throughout the world
are showing interest in a new $2 million municipal
recycling plant here that gobbles down 50 tons of
refuse in an eight-hour shift while reclaiming most
of it.
Bernard F. Eichholz, city manager of this Warren
County city of 10,000, said the plant handles un-
separated garbage - paper, cans, plastics and glass -
and retrieves the reusable materials. Its operation
is capable of reducing by two-thirds the cost of
disposal by conventional methods and virtually
eliminates air and water pollution, Eichholz said.
The plant recycles refuse from surrounding com-
munities, totalling 20,000 population.
Four employees on an eight-hour shift dispose of
the 50 tons brought in daily at a cost of $6 a ton.
Eichholz said the cost could be reduced to $3 a ton
if the plant worked at full capacity.
By selling recycled materials, the overall cost of
disposal could be lowered even further, Eichholz
said.
Landfill disposal here cost $5.88 a ton before the
plant opened last year.
The revolutionary solid waste plant uses equipment
with such strange names as Hydrapulper, HydraSposal-
Fiber Claim, flocculation chambers and fluid bed
reactor.
Sounds in the building indicate what process the ref-
use is undergoing - amid metallic clanks, rattles,
swishing water and plops.
Refuse brought in by trucks is dumped onto a covered
concrete apron called a tipping area. It is then
pushed by tractors onto a conveyor belt.
From there, the refuse goes into a Hydrapulper, a
water-filled pumping vessel from where it moves to
a HydraSposal, which whirls to the sides and drops out
heavy objects. Rotors beat metal containers into
compact balls, pound glass into small pieces called
cullet and reduce paper and cardboard to intregrated
fibers. The latter is used in the making of cardboard
and shingles.
Baxter thought that some machinery used in the paper
pulping process could also be used with some new
equipment to retrieve most materials contained in
scrap. To others familiar with the paper pulping pro-
cess at the Black Clawson Co. plant in nearby Middle-
town, Baxter's idea seemed feasible.
A $1.2 million federal grant to help finance construc-
tion of the plant was obtained from EPA's Solid Waste
Office. The City of Franklin put up $456,000 and
the Black Clawson Company, $123,000.
The Black Clawson Company first set up a pilot unit
in their Middletown Plant.
After tests, Franklin retained A.M. Kinney, Inc.,
consulting engineers of Cincinnati, to design the
plant and oversee its construction.
Pulping equipment chops plastics, foils, ceramics and
crockery into small uniform sizes. Magnetic devices
remove ferrous metals. Nonferous metals, glass cullet,
sand and dirt are presently stored awaiting arrival of
new separating equipment to retrieve and separate alu-
minum metal and various colored glass.
A fluid bed reactor incinerates crank-case oils,
paints and other hard-to-dispose of materials without
polluting the air.
A four-foot bed of sand in a large tank is preheated
to 1,200 degrees by oil burners. The white hot sand
particles are blown upward as paints, oils and chopped
refuse are introduced into the hot bed. Complete in-
cineration takes place as particles of hot sand mix
with burnable refuse. Combustion raises the tempera-
ture to 1,500 degrees without adding oxygen. Particles
and gases are discharged from the reactor into a
scrubber where they are cooled and washed with water
to remove fly ash.
The effluent currently is dumped into a land-fill
gully nearby. It will be processed as regular sewage
when a new sewage treatment plant is completed next
to the recycling plant.
After processing in the treatment plant, the water
will be returned to the recycling plant to water
down the incoming, unseparated refuse.
Sludge from the plant will be channeled to the
recycling plant's fluid bed reactor for incineration.
An occasional cloud of white steam comes from the
plant's stack, but there is virtually no air pollution
said Eichholz.
Joe Baxter Jr., an inventor and engineer for a paper
pulping machinery manufacturer, first became aware of
the diminishing number of possible landfill sites here
while serving as a Franklin city councilman.
On viewing the content of the landfill dump then used
by Franklin, it was clear to Baxter that more than
50% of the refuse consisted of paper, uncrushed cans
and bottles.
Aerial view of Franklin's recycling plant
(on the right) and the construction area of the
new waste treatment system. See page 10.
cover photograph courtesy of Mr. Wynne
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EPA PROGRAM NOTES:
GRANTS
Regional Administrator, Francis T. Mayo has announced
that a grant to the Youngstown, Ohio City Health Depart-
ment for an air pollution control program has been approv-
ed. The grant of $103,871 is expected to increase the
capacity Of the Youngstown agency to carry out its role
in the air implementation plan for the State of Ohio.
Continued support will be contingent upon the adoption
and enforcement of local emission regulations equivalent
to those emission regulations adopted by Ohio.
EMISSION STANDARDS SUSPENSION
Ford Motor Company, American Motors Corporation and
Chrysler Corporation plan to make a formal request
with supporting data for a one-year suspension of the
emission standards for 1975 model autos.
William D. Ruckelshaus, EPA Administrator, said he
received letters from Ford and American Motors stating
their intention to file for a suspension.
The Clean Air Act of 1970 permits a one-year suspension
under certain conditions. The law required the EPA
Administrator to make four determinations before
granting the delay.
1. That suspension is essential to the public interest
or the public health and welfare of the United States.
2. That all good faith efforts have been made to meet
the standards for which the suspension has been re-
quested.
3. That the applicant has established that effective
control technology, processes, operating methods, or
other alternatives are not available or have not been
available for a sufficient period of time to achieve
compliance prior to the effective date of such stan-
dards.
4. That a study and investigation by the National
Academy of Sciences has not indicated that technology,
processes, or other alternatives are available to meet
the standards.
Under the law, the Administrator also must hold a
public hearing and make a final decision within 60
days after a formal application is received from an
auto manufacturer. To date no auto company has sub-
mitted the required amount of detailed supporting in-
formation. General Motors Corporation on January 12
wrote to Ruckelshaus requesting a one-year suspension,
but the Administrator replied that more supporting
data would be required.
The Clean Air Act calls for a 90 percent reduction in
emissions of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in the
1975 models from the 1970 model cars.
180-DAY NOTICE
On February 1, Region V of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency announced issuance of a 180 day
notice of water quality standards violation to the
Alton Box Board Company plant in Lafayette, Indiana.
In a letter to Edwin J. Spiegel, Jr., President of
the firm, Mayo said the company has failed to meet
Federally approved cleanup schedules for its discharges
into the Wabash River. Mayo said the company was to
have finished construction of adequate treatment
facilities by the end of 1970, but failed to meet
that date.
While the company has taken some steps to improve
plant operation and water reuse, EPA says the company
has failed to provide adequate treatment for removal
of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). The company
produces paperboard from waste paper. With full pro-
duction, 90 tons of paperboard is produced per day by
the company's 100 employees.
The 180 day notice to Alton Box Board Company is the
first issued to an Indiana firm by EPA. Seven pre-
vious notices have been issued to municipalities in
Indiana. The Alton notice brings to 47 the number
of violation notices issued within EPA's Region V
since the formation of the Agency.
This 180 day notice also marks the first time that
such a notice has been issued at the Regional level.
Previous 180 day notices were issued from Washington.
Regional issuance of 180 day notices is part of the
EPA policy of decentralization of Federal regulatory
functions in the field of pollution control.
Under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, pollu-
ters that receive such notices have 180 days to come
up with a satisfactory abatement program, or the
matter will be referred to the Justice Department for
court action.
In his letter to the company, Mayo added that James 0.
McDonald, Director of Enforcement, would be contacting
the firm shortly to set a date for an informal hearing
on the standards violation notice.
AIR IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINES
On January 31, EPA announced that the six midwestem
states in the Agency's Region V have substantially
met the January 31st deadline for submission of Air
Implementation Plans.
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LOCAL AND NATIONAL
The Air Implementation Plans list the steps which each
state is going to take to meet Federal primary and
secondary ambient air quality standards for carbon
monoxide, particulate matter, hydrocarbons, nitrogen
dioxide, sulfur oxides and photo-chemical oxidents.
EPA will review the State plans and is expected to
grant approval late in May. At that time states must
then begin implementing the plans to meet the Federal
standards.
The problem areas still requiring revision work,
include:
Illinois - still needs regulations for control-
ling emissions.
Indiana still needs regulations for control-
ling particulate matter from Industries in
Northwest Indiana.
Wisconsin - still missing legal authority to
collect emission data and require self-moni-
toring of sources. (Seeking to get this in the
Legislature.)
The January 31 deadline was set by the Clean Air Act
of 1970.
PESTICIDES
Public interest groups will gain the right to use
federal administrative machinery to challenge the
government's pesticide decisions for the first time
in history under new rules being proposed by the En-
vironmental Protection Agency.
The proposed rules revise the conduct of administra-
tive proceedings on pesticides including public
hearings. They give the public the right to trigger
further administrative review of pesticide decisions
by EPA that the public may regard as unfavorable and
potentially harmful to human health or the environ-
ment.
Previously, the right to initiate review had been
restricted to the pesticide manufacturer whose pro-
duct was threatened with removal from interstate
marketing by suspension or cancellation of federal
registration.
"We regard this as a significant step in the opening
up of our administrative processes to participation
by all groups with a legitimate interest in promoting
and protecting the public welfare", EPA Administrator
William D. Ruckelshaus said. "The continuing contro-
versy over pesticides use demands that we give those
who may oppose a particular registration every op-
portunity to present their evidence and arguments at
full public hearings when necessary."
The new rules also would give the public more rights
in dealing with scientific advisory committees set up
by EPA to review pesticide actions. The revised
rules would require such committees to solicit
scientific data from public interest groups by giving
formal notice in the federal register of the start of
their deliberations, with 30 days allowed for sub-
mission of written material on the scientific effects
of the registered product to be reviewed.
Another improtant proposed change would give any per-
son the right to submit comments on an advisory com-
mittee report within 45 days after receipt of the
report by the EPA Administrator. The agency announced
last July that it would release to the public all
scientific advisory committee reports on pesticides
as soon as they are received.
Television and radio coverage of federal pesticide
hearings would be permitted for the first time under
another proposed procedural change. Such coverage
has been generally prohibited at federal administra-
tive hearings on the grounds that the presence of TV
cameras, tape recorders, and other electronic eqiup-
ment might disrupt the proceedings. The new pro-
cedure would establish appropriate safeguards to pre-
vent undue disruption.
Responsibility for the regulation of pesticide pro-
ducts moving in interstate commerce under the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicie, and Rodenticide Act of 1947
(FIFRA) was initially delegated to the U.S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture until such responsibility was
transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency
on December 2, 1970.
The proposed revision in the rules was published in
the Federal Register on January 22, 1972, after which
30 days was allowed for comments. The comments must
be filed with the Hearing Clerk, Environmental Pro-
ection Agency, Room 3125, South Agriculture Building,
Fourteenth and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington,
D.C. All such comments will be available for public
inspection.
1973 BUDGET
On January 24, Ruckelshaus released a statement on
the 1973 budget: The new 1973 budget represents a
continuing commitment, on the part of the administra-
tion and the Environmental Protection Agency to the
goal of a cleaner America.
At a time of budget stringencies everywhere to cope
with the pressures of inflation, the fact that EPA
is continuing at a high level for the coming year
demonstrates that pledge of faith.
please turn to next page
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PROGRAM NOTES CONTINUED
continued from page 7
The total proposed in new budget authority for EPA in
fiscal 1973 is $2,481,300. This compares with
$2,447,520 in the current fiscal year.
A number of programs are being expanded in the coining
year. We will undertake larger efforts, for example,
in the reserach and development in control technology
for air pollution, in regional studies of air pollu-
tion, and in research on health effects of air pollu-
tion. We will be devoting more funds to research on
eutrophication problems in water. And there are other
increases to speed up the development of safer pest
control measures, and to develop effluent guidelines.
The largest part of this new budget is $2 billion in
federal matching grants to local governments for
construction of sewage treatment facilities. This
will enable the nation to help localities meet a
major challenge — the construction, maintenance, and
operation of adequate waste treatment plants. It is
part of the Administration's three year program of
$6 billion in federal funds to help upgrade the
quality of the nation's waters, to protect public
health, and to improve the aesthetic aspect of our
lakes, rivers and harbors. When combined with con-
tributions by local government, this will ultimately
mean a total for treatment facilities of about $12
billion.
Offsetting the increases mentioned earlier in a num-
ber of programs, there have been changes in the solid
waste management program. We will be moving from the
development and demonstration phase to various forms
of aid to localities. The shift will mean a decrease
of $5.4 million in development of new methods of waste
water treatment and control, as private industry is
now increasing its interest in this activity.
The EPA in fiscal 1972 put to work nearly double the
funds appropriated for environmental programs in 1971.
This new budget for 1973 builds upon both the progress
and experience of the past year. It will enable us to
continue our momentum. We have laid down standards,
launched intensive research, taken scores of enforce-
ment actions, and have responded to million of com-
munications from the public with a broad program of
information and education on the environment.
NOISE
Last summer hearings on various aspects of the noise
problem were held by EPA throughout the country as
part of the backup for a report to Congress required
under the 1970 Clean Air Act.
The Conclusions and Recommendations from that report
are now available from the Region V Public Affairs
Office. Those who participated in last summer's
Chicago noise hearings will automatically receive a
report. Others can obtain a copy by writing. Also
due out soon will be 15 technical documents on various
aspects of the noise problem. Information on EPA
noise programs in Region V can be obtained from Gary A.
Williams in the Federal Activities office of EPA
Chicago.
All EPA regional offices will be receiving noise
measuring equipment in the near future and acustical
consultants will be made available to the Region for
Environmental Impact Statements. As was the case last
summer, noise interns will be working in the Regional
Offices this summer.
The EPA noise report, released on January 26, said
that in addition to contributing to the risk of in-
curring hearing impairments, noise conditions in the
general environment also interfere with speech com-
munications, disturb sleep and affect recreation.
EPA Administrator Ruckelshaus said that the "tech-
nology exists today to start to bring about a sig-
nificant reduction in the levels of environimsntal
noise within the next 5 to 10 years, and enactment
of the Administration's noise control legislation
now pending in Congress would allow the nation to
get on with this important job."
The report says that local and State governments
have the primary responsibilites, in most respects,
for the actions necessary to prive a quieter envi-
ronment. However, it also says there are some func-
tions that should be carried out by the Federal
Government, such as developing noise criteria,
establishing standards for selected products and
establishing labelling requirements. More re-
search is called for in areas such as noise con-
trol, measurements, physiological and psychological
effects and economic impact.
SOLID WASTES
EPA is preparing a status report on accomplishments
in each state in cleaning up solid waste problems.
It is due out in Mid-February.
The EPA "Mission 5000" campaign, to close that many
open dumps in the U.S., will draw to a close and
end this summer with about a 50% success rate. Local
initiative, without Federal funds, was emphasized in
the campaign.
EPA is considering stepping up its solid waste in-
volvement with a summer program for college students,
possible regional seminars, and a national education-
al program.
Region V's solid waste office is headed by William
Kehr in Chicago.
LAKE MICHIGAN CLEAN-UP
Francis T. Mayo, Midwest Regional Administrator for the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, released a status
report on cleanup of Lake Michigan, February 9.
The report, on the status of compliance by cities and
industries with recommendations of the 1968 Lake Mich-
igan Enforcement Conference, shows industrial cleanup
proceeding on a faster schedule than municipal cleanup.
Of the cities that are still behind schedule, said
Mayo, 60 per cent are behind because they have failed
to meet the conference requirement for 80 per cent
phosphorus removal by all municipalities in the basin.
Phosphorus reduction facilities can be constructed
and placed in operation within 6-9 months after fin-
ancing is arranged.
continued on next page
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The report notes that of 287 dischargers required to
construct treatment facilities, 157 are presently on
schedule or have completed facilities. Of the 130 be-
hind schedule, 113 of that number have not met interim
dates, but only 17 of that number have missed final
dates.
In terms of positive accomplishments in the last year,
Mayo noted that phosphorus removal facilities have
gone on-line ahead of schedule in Waukegan, Illinois
and Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Jones Island Plant. And,
Mayo said, disinfection is presently provided for all
major discharges.
Mayo said .that EPA is presently meeting with State Ad-
ministrators in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and In-
diana to review the progress of each discharger.
Where a discharger is behind schedule, EPA will look
forward to either the State or Federal Government
initiating the necessary enforcement action to assure
compliance at the earliest possible date. Both State
or Federal agencies have already started several such
actions. On the Federal level, these include 180-day
notices to Hammond and Whiting, Indiana, and civil
action which has been filed in the U.S. District Court
against U.S. Steel, Gary Works. Other possible action
against major dischargers is being considered. In
addition, all industrial discharges are being reviewed
under the Refuse Act Permit Program which was launched
this last year.
James 0. McDonald, regional chief of enforcement,
listed the following dischargers as "prime can-
didates" for 180 day clean-up notices:
City of Gary and Gary Sanitary District.
Metropolitan Sanitary District of Green Bay,
Wise., and two Green Bay industries - American
Can and Charmin Paper.
The Wisconsin communities of Manitowoc and Two
Rivers, which discharge directly to the lake.
McDonald says he is troubled about "slippage" on
the part of eight paper mills in the Fox River, which
empties into Green Bay. Me Donald said Wisconsin
officials are holding hearings in Green Bay to deter-
mine why these firms have slipped behind their clean-
up schedules.
McDonald also said the EPA is sharply scruitinizing
discharges from U.S. Steel Corp.'s Waukegan Works,
the North Shore Sanitary District's five lakeside
plants and from the East Chicago mills of Inland
Steel Corp. and Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company.
FINAL DATES MISSED
ILLINOIS
U.S. Steel Corporation, Waukegan
U.S. Steel Corporation,
South Chicago — Under court order
please turn to next page
non-technical publications
General
Toward a New Environmental Ethic
Environmental Protection-1971 (EPA Anniversary
report)
Man and His Endangered World
The Mess We're In — Ranger Rick's Nature Magazine
Bibliography - Books on the Environment — To be
published in February
Air Pollution
Solid Wastes
Mission 5000
Safe and Sanitary Home Refuse Storage
Sanitary Landfill... An Answer to a Community Problem;
a Route to a Community Asset
Sanitary Landfill Facts
The Solid Waste Disposal Act
Citizen Role in Implementation of Clean Air Standards
Air Pollution Episodes - A Citizen Handbook
Take Three Steps to Clean Air (PHS)
Auto Report: Annual Report of EPA to Congress
Air Pollution - The Facts
Air Quality Criteria for Carbon Monoxide, Summary and
Conclusions
Air Quality Criteria for Photochemical Oxidants, Summary
and Conclusions
The Clean Air Act, December 1970
Needed: Clean Air
Your Right to Clean Air
Water Pollution
What You Can Do About Water Pollution
Clean Water: It's Up to You
Clean Water for the 1970's
Federal Guidelines, Design Operation and Maintenance
of Waste Water Treatment Facilities, September 1970
Water Quality Standards: Better Water for America
A Primer on Waste Water Treatment
Our Troubled Waters: The Fight Against Water Pollution
Needed: Clean Water
Heat Can Hurt - Better Water for America
Noise
Now Hear This (If You Still Can)
February
To be published in
Radiation
Nuclear Power Plants Q. 6 A. - To be published late
February
Publications in Preparation Stages
U.S. Laws on the Environment
EPA Research Programs
Standard-Setting § Enforcement by EPA
Career Choices in the Environment
Children's Version of Environmental Ethic Booklet
"Environment - Planning and Action" (from Design News)
"A Small Oil Spill" (reprint from Environment)
"Who Ownes the Water" - (reprint from Environment)
"Never Do Harm" - (reprint from Environment)
"Old Weapons Are Best" (reprint from Environment)
Contact Office of Public Affairs
One North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
312-353-5800
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E PA SUPPORTS PROGRESS
WITH DEMONSRATION GRANTS
At the forefront of environmental protection are EPA-
supported demonstration projects—projects constructed
and operated to demonstrate new technology for control
of air, water and solid waste pollution. EPA demon-
stration grants provide substantial funding for re-
search, development and demonstration projects applied
for and operated by governmental and private agencies,
industry, and in some cases, individuals.
While demonstration grants must be approved by EPA
headquarters in Washington, each regional office moni-
tors a portion of all projects. Of the 60 projects
currently being monitored by Region V's Research and
Monitoring office, four projects stand out as being of
special interest in the advancement of pollution con-
trol methods. All four projects are in the field of
wastewater treatment, yet each is unique.
In Muskegon County, Michigan, the Department of Public
Works has received the largest EPA demonstration grant
ever awarded—over $2 million—to support their waste-
water management system project. According to the
consulting engineering firm, the Wastewater Management
System that is now being implemented "will move treated
wastewater out of the waterways, where it is a pollu-
tant, to the land, where it is a resource." The ob-
jective of the plan is the elimination of the discharge
of wastes into the water resources of the County
through use of wastewater constituents (water, phos-
phates, nitrates, potassium, organics and trace min-
erals) as agricultural resources and the subsequent
use of the land as an extremely effective waste treat-
ment system. This total management system—based on
several widely used processes, which have not pre-
viously been integrated for the purpose of waste dis-
posal --provides for the piping of wastewater away from
the shoreline to an inland secondary treatment site.
After storage and disinfection, the water, with its
abundance of nutrients, is spray irrigated on a var-
iety of crops. Passage through the "living filter" of
the soil purifies the water before it is collected in
an underdrainage system, monitored, and finally dis-
charged to surface waters to augment low flow.
The design capacity of the system will serve Muskegon
County through 1992. Total cost of the project is
estimated at $36 million, of which the federal govern-
ment will pay 55 per cent.
According to Administrator William D. Ruckelshaus,
EPA is "very hopeful about the Muskegon project,
and we think maybe this could be transferred to many
other areas." It has been stressed, however, that
there are limitations to the plan in areas where land
is at a premium—the project which requires 10,000
acres of land in Muskegon County would need a land
area about the size of Rhode Island if put into ef-
fect in Chicago.
Another waste treatment system project has been es-
tablished by the Miami Conservancy District for Frank-
lin, Ohio with a federal grant of $606,900 representing
about half the project cost. The project plan in-
cludes the construction and operation of a regional
waste treatment facility which will serve all indus-
trial and municipal users within the service area,
resulting in the abandonment of existing inadequate
treatment facilities for the City of Franklin and four
industrial facilities. High reliability and perform-
ance will be stressed, as will flexibility, economy,
continued from page 9
INDIANA
Municipalities - Elkhart
Hammond
Kendallville
Ligonier
Portage
South Bend
Whiting
Industries - U.S. Steel Corporation, Gary
MICHIGAN
Chikaming Township
New Buffalo
New Buffalo Township
WISCONSIN
Cedarburg
Clintonville
Germantown
Portage
recovery and recycle of pollutants and treated waste-
water. The entire process will be controlled by a
computer that will monitor the content of the plant's
effluent and control the functioning of the system.
Construction on the plant is' nearly complete and a com-
puter is currently being selected, according to the
EPA Research and Monitoring office in Chicago. The
plant, when completed, will complement and be com-
patible with a solid waste recovery plant also built
with EPA funds adjacent to the waste treatment site.
(See article on page 5 )
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a third demonstration pro-
ject is being conducted which will provide an impor-
tant link in complete functioning of the Franklin
system. The Milwaukee Sewerage Commission project,
which has been granted $144,212 - 75% of the total
project cost plans to install, demonstrate, and eval-
uate newly developed ultrasonic velocity measurement
equipment for measurement of sewage volume flow. The
ultrasound measurement method could function in con-
nection with a computer-operated waste system (as in
Franklin, Ohio) and could be used independently for a
variety of purposes including, for example, measure-
ment of sewage flow in combined sewer systems in order
to prevent overflow problems during large rain storms
or measurement of individual user's input into the
wastewater system for tax purposes.
A further project of interest is taking place in
LaSalle, Illinois where EPA has contributed $454,776
to a $988,068 project to test the use of an aluminum
storm sewer system. The City of LaSalle will demon-
strate the correction of combined sewer overflow prob-
lems by constructing a separate storm drainage system,
hoping to provide an economical solution for the city.
According to an EPA review of the LaSall project, "The
proposal contends that aluminum pipe can be installed
at a greatley reduced price and the primary thrust of
the demonstration would be establishing performance
and durability of aluminum sewer pipe." Aluminum pipe
is less costly to install than conventional pipe be-
cause of its light weight, requiring less labor. A
ten year evaluation will continue, however, to deter-
mine whether aluminum is in fact an equal material to
those conventional materials, such as concrete. This
project is on schedule with construction to be com-
pleted and the evaluation to begin in March. Detailed
data on demonstration projects is not available as
projects proceed, however, complete reports will be
available at the conclusion of the projects.
10
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good news:
Ten year old Steve Garlock of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
didn't just drop his idea for improving the environ-
ment into the suggestion box--he took action. Steve,
a fifth grader at Lincoln School, was studying char-
coal in science class when he decided the substance
could be used to filter impurities from the air. He
then decided to share his conclusion in a letter to
President Nixon. Nixon responded a few weeks later,
telling Steve he was "greatly encouraged to learn
from your letter that you share my (Nixon's) great
concern for the quality of life in America." Steve
didn't expect a reply from President Nixon, but was
"really impressed" when he received one.
Badger Mills Inc., of Peshtigo, Wisconsin has joined
the Peshtigo City Council in the city's pollution
abatement program. The paper company said in a letter
to the city council, "it is the irrevocable intent of
the Badger Paper Mills, Inc. to become a party of the
proposed plant to be constructed for the treatment of
municipal and industrial wastes and to pay its pro
rata share of the industrial waste cost recovery
system."
The last of Dayton's big industrial water polluters
has quit. The Dayton Steel Foundry Company - which
was among more than 50 heavy polluters cited by the
state 2 years ago - announced it has completed in-
stallation of a $50,000 "clean water system". Dayton
Steel was the last of the 50 polluters cited by the
state, but not, by far the last of the municipal,
agricultural, street runoff and minor commercial pol-
luters along the length of the Miami River which
continue to dump thousands of gallons of poisons and
dirt into the river daily. The Dayton Steel System
is designed to totally remove the waste (mostly foun-
dry sand and clay) the foundry has been dumping into
the river via a storm sewer.
Twenty-one graduate students and 150 professors have
contributed to the realization of the Institute for
Environmental Sciences in connection with Miami
University. The classes are held in a rennovated
Nike Base about three miles west of Oxford, Ohio.
The students come from such diverse backgrounds as
psychology, political science, zoology, and physics.
They expect to complete the program in one and a half
to two years. Dr. C.E. Barthel, director, describes
the heart of the program as an attempt "to establish
a new educational concept of inter-disciplinary problem
solving". This amounts to combing the expertise of
several fields of environmental study to solve a
particular problem.
The school board of Dayton, Ohio has voted unanimously
to convert 31 boilers in 13 schools from coal to fuel
burners. The conversion will eliminate the boilers
as sources of particulate matter (soot and ashes) in
Dayton. This move will be part of an effort started
three years ago when all but four of Dayton's 70
school buildings were heated with steam, generated in
boilers fired by air polluting coal.
George Dunne,
President of the
Board of Forest
Preserve Commis-
sioners, presents
Mrs. Carol Miller
with the "John-
ny Horizon En-
vironmental A-
ward" for her
outstanding work
with the Boy
Scouts and the
Girl Scouts in
organizing clean-
up programs for
Cook County
streams. This
plaque was on-
ly the eighth to be awarded thus far.
The Anheuser-Busch Co. malting plant in Wisconsin has
been cited by the Manitowoc-Two Rivers Chamber of
Commerce for installation of a new air polluton con-
trol system. John A. Brussman, manager, said dust
laden air in the multi-building plant is cleaned by
seven large automatic continuous operating filters
and two intermittent operating filters.' The system
filters 14.4 million cubic feet of air every hour up
to 99.99% efficiency.
B.F. Goodrich Chemical Co. has begun operation of its
recently completed $450,000 industrial waste water
treatment unit serving both of the company's facili-
ties in Avon Lake, Ohio. Waste water from various
manufacturing processes is treated in large tanks
and then discharged into the sewer system. A company
spokesman said effluents will meet the city's indus-
trial waste water pretreatraent requirements and reduce
solids discharged into the sewers by 90%.
Lebanon, Ohio-Little Miami, Inc. will receive an award
from Keep America Beautiful, Inc. for its conserva-
tion activities. The award will recognize the group's
campaign last spring to clean up the Little Miami
River. An estimated 8000 persons removed about 500
tons of debris from the river.
The Dana Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio began out-
fitting 100 cars with a new pollution-control system
that the firm has developed and is hoping to market.
Some of the devices, called Retronox systems, were
installed on Dana's own cars and some will be installed
for testing purposes on cars in other cities. Dana
said the Retronox package is designed particularly
to reduce exhaust pollutants from older cars that
are not equipped with pollution-control devices now
required on new cars.
u
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LAST MINUTE NEWS BRIEFS•••
In late January a Detroit area judge fined the Standard Oil Division of American Oil Company $15,000 and placed it on
two years probation for spilling 208 thousand gallons of fuel oil in the Saginaw River last October. The penalty was
the highest ever levied in a Michigan pollution case A Cleveland common pleas judge last January extended a court
imposed building ban to include Cleveland and 30 suburban customers in hopes of speeding an agreement on a new sewage
treatment system The Justice Department is expected to file action against the Reserve Mining Company of Silver
Bay, Minnesota soon. In late January EPA requested court action after attempts to halt the 60 thousand ton a day
taconite discharge failed through the 180 day process EPA Administrator William Ruckelshaus is expected to visit
the Chicago area sometime late in February.
FROM:
Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region V
1 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
TO:
POtTAOC AND FCC* PAID
/IRONMCNTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5 Library
77 W. Jackson Blvd. (PL-16J)
Chicago, IL 60604-3507
Edited and Published by the Public Affairs Staff, Region V.
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