KANSAS PCB CONTAMINATED CATTLE AND
Prepared By:
U. S. Environi&ental Protection Agency
Region VII
324 East llth Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64106
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Distribution of PCB Contaminated Meat
Philadelphia
-- CATTLE
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4?EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 7
324 East Eleventh St.
Kansas City Mo. 64106
Environmental
News
Iowa
Kansas
Missouri
Nebraska
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 1979
R. Michaels
J. Wicklund
PLEASE CALL (816)374-3036
PCBs FOUND IN
KANSAS CATTLE
Investigations are continuing into the death of 54 head of cattle
in a Kansas feedlot.
Environmental Protection Agency, Kansas Department of Health and
Environment, Food and Drug Administration, and the Animal Plant and
Health Inspection Service revealed today that in May, Don Busenitz of
Newton, Kansas delivered 168 head of cattle to Pawnee Valley Feedlot
in Hans ton, Kansas. The cattle were vaccinated, and dipped for lice and
grubs, a common practice in animal feed lots. Seven days later 54
head of those cattle were dead.
The surviving animals are being held under order of the Kansas
Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Animal Board of Health.
The feedlot operator and Busenitz have been ordered to hold any remaining
animals or materials until investigations are complete.
Confirmed analyses of the dead animals show an extremely high con-
centration of polychlorinated biphenols (PCB's) in the fat. PCB's are
chemicals which were used in electrical transformers to absorb heat.
They do not break down in the environment and have been shown to cause
cancer in test animals.
The PCB's came from waste oil used by Busenitz in animal back
rubbers on his farm. Busenitz purchased the transformer oil eight
years ago. EPA outlawed the production of PCB's in 1976.
Jayhawk Rendering Plant, Garden City, Kansas, where the 54 head
of the Busenitz cattle were processed, has been ordered by Kansas
Department of Health and Environment to hold any remaining material from
the affected cattle.
more
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The Pood and Drug Administration has intiiated a major
investigation to identify all products that may have been
produced from the contaminated cattle in an effort to prevent
any of the materials entering the market for human use. At
this time FTA does not believe there is a significant health
hazard.
Dr. Kay Q. Camin, Regional Administrator of EPA, the agency
which has responsibility for keeping PCB's out of the environ-
ment, issued a warning to farmers and ranchers to be especially
alert to the use of waste oil in their operations. She said,
"You must be particularly careful not to use oil from electrical
transformers. This oil usually contains high concentrations of
PCB's." If you have ar.y doubts about the source of your waste
oil, call Environmental Protection Agency's toll free number;
in Missouri (800)892-3837, and in Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska,
(800)821-3714; tfee Kansas Department of Health and Environment
in Topeka, (913)296-3821.
**#f*#ftf
Office of Public Affairs
Region 7
324 East Eleventh St.
Kansas City, Mo. 64106
teUse
Postage and
Fees Paid
Environmental
Protection
Agency
EPA 335
^ — ^\
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^^P
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US.MAIL
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United States Region 7 Iowa
Environmental Protection 324 East Eleventh St Kansas
Agency Kansas City Mo 64106 Missouri
Nebraska
vvEPA Environmental
News
S. Vainrib
PLEASE CALL (616)374-5894
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, AUGUST 21,.1979
RADIO/TV PUBLIC SERVICE Dr. Kathleen Q. Camin (pronounced ka-MEEN), Regional
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM EPA
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in
Kansas City, warns farmers and ranchers to be alert to the
use of any products containing PCBs or Polychlorinated
Biphenyls. PCBs are a health hazard that have been out-
lawed by the EPA since 1976. Dr. Camin urges .fSrmers .and;.
others to be especially careful not to use waste oil from
electrical transformers which usually contain high levels
of PCBs.
If you have any questions about the use of PCBs or the
source of your waste oil, call the EPA toll-free numbers; in
Missouri, call (800)892-3837; in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska,
the number is (800)821-3714. The Kansas Department of Health
and Environment's number in Topeka is (913)296-3821.
> ffltt
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VOL. 99. NO. 287
THE KANSAS CITY STAR
KANSAS CITY, FRIDAY EVENING, AUOUST 17, 1
979
PCB Spreads
Lethal Lode
Kansas Cattle Carried
Cancer-Causing Agent
DEADLY CHEMICAL
i
ByJohnM.Wyllen
Stir Enmy/EfMmnmnt writer
An environmental nightmare has
unfolded this week with the discovery
that a herd of 1B8 cattle from near
Newton, Kan., was contaminated with
PCB. a deadly chemical that causes
cancer and attacks the central ner-
vous system in humans.
State and federal officials believe
there is no Imminent danger to the
public health from those animals, but
they acknowledge that herds raised on
the same farm for the last seven yean
probably also were contaminated with
PCB, or polychlorinated bipbenyls.
They say there's no way of knowing
how serious that contamination might
have been, or where contaminated
meat or byproducts might have gone.
Officials say Don Busenitz. the New-
ton farmer who owns the herd, took the
animals to the Pawnee Valley Feedlot
near Hanston. Kan.. In mid-May. With-
in a week, 54 died of unknown causes.
It wasn't until Aug. 7 that tests In
Ames, Iowa, revealed that the dead
animals had PCB concentrations of up
to 2.200 parts a million In their fat tis-
sues, said John Wlcklund. chief of the
toxic materials and pesticide branch
with the Environmental Protection
Agency here. That level would be fa-
tal, Wlcklund said.
By then, the M dead udmals bad
been rendered. Byproducts bad been
shipped to Omaha for use as pet food
and to Springfield. Mo., for further
processing and use In poultry feed In
Arkansas.
State and federal Investigators
stepped to. clamping a quarantine on
the remaining 114 cattle, putting hold
orders on the pet food and trying to
piece together how huge quantities of
the chemicals got into the cattle.
It was traced to salvaged oil Busen-
itz bought eight years ago to use as
part of the badtrub mixture put on cat-
tle to ward off Insects. Analysis Indi-
cates that the "oil" is actually a 93-
percent PCB solution used in electrical
transformers. Wicklund said. The
PCBs were absorbed through the ani-
mal's hides. The major use for PCBs,
which are no longer made because of
their extreme environmental hazard, •
Is in electrical transformers.
PCBs are both toxic in large doses
and capable of causing cancer In
smaller amounts. Acute symptoms In-
clude a rash called chloracne and, in
larger doses, damage to the central
nervous system and death. The chemi-
cals collect In the fat of warm-blooded
animals and don't break down. Thus,
repeated exposure to PCBs causes an
ever-increasing buildup in the body.
Wlcklund said the 2.200 parts per
million in the dead animal "is enough
to cause trouble In absolutely any-
thing." To put the figure in perspec-
tive, federal regulations require spe-
cial disposal precautions for anything
contaminated with PCBs at a level
above SO parts a million.
Initial tests on some of the live ani-
mals In the feedlot showed PCB levels
of ISO to WO parts per million, Wick-
lund said.
| GARDEN crrYT~—-c^
ti^l&ff^f^^^^^^^^^^fW^
^^'^m^m^Mm^miiA
Jbn Murray/staff
Used In applying pesticides to cattle near was spread through the rendered meat to
Newton, Kan., oil containing deadly PCB processing plants across the Midwest.
veterinary advisers have told EPA
and the Kansas Department of Health
and Environment that the animals will
never lose enough of the PCB contami-
nation to be acceptable for slaughter
or rendering.
The problem wasn't made public un-
til today, officials acknowledged pri-
vately, because details of the problem
were still very sketchy. Officials didn't
want to release sketchy Information
and uimeccessarUy alarm the public.
But the situation has drawn top-level
attention. Including the personal In-
volvement of Dr. Kathleen Q. Camin.
EPA regional administrator, and Mel
Gray, director of the environment di-
vision of the Kansas Department of
Health and Environment.
Federal officials were asked if it
were true that because Busenitz told
Investigators that he has used oil from
the same shipment for the past eight
years, then did it mean contaminated
meat has reached dinner tables?
Assuming the oil was the same.
Wlcklund said: "Yes. I don't know any
-------
OfW'*1^*' '& -*4*1* **-ni*j!'j^*ip
frLetha
other way I could answer you."
Here's what has developed so far
and where the probe will go:
' Busenitz .bought about 1.000 gallons
/of waste transformer oil eight yean
! ago from a nearby salvage dealer. Of-
| fldals say neither man had any Idea
t the chemical was dangerous. (Many
| farmers often buy used oils from sal-
> vage dealers, which is then mixed with
! other chemicals to treat their cattle).
/ The transformer oil, which came In
•K-gallon drums,-was mixed with
t small amounts of lltujaiy* and toxa-
phene to form a backrub for the cattle
l on the Busenitz farm. Transformer oil
f containing PCBs Is similar In appear-
ance to motor oils.
This year, Busenite shipped the herd
of 1M cattle to the feedlot In May.
r When M died, they were taken to the
{ Jaynawk Rendering Plant In Garden
I dry. Before rendering, tissue samples
I were taken at the feedlot for analysis.
' The analysis moved slowly. Wlck-
taud said, from a veterinarian through
Topcka State Journal Friday, AuguM 17,1979—5
Waste oil use iblamed
for deaths of cattle
«' - >Tt»'
Kansas State University,-then to the
University of Missouri and finally to
'the highly specialized laboratory In
Ames.
Thus, It was Aug. 7 before the PCB*
were found.
Meanwhile, Jaynawk had processed
the-dead pn*rnf*ti producing oil and
red meat. The meat was shipped to
Carnation Co., Omaha, for production
of pet food.
The oil from the contaminated cattle
was sent to Southwest Byproducts,
Springfield, where It was further pro-
cessed, then was sent into Arkansas to
be used as part of a poultry feed.
EPA officials say they believe that.
by the time the oils were processed,
the PCB contamination had bean re-
duced to 2 parts per million or less.
That would be. because the contami-
nated fat was repeatedly diluted with
fat from uncontaminatod animals dur-
Ing processing, officials believe.
The UJ5. Food and Drug Admlnl*tr»
tton is checking samples and record*"
In Springfield. Omaha.and Garden;
by Dying
City to be certain that contaminated
products aren't used as animal food.
Kansas Department of Health and
Environment officials are screening
Busenltz and members of his family
for possible PCB contamination.
Working with EPA, they hope to find
out If any other U aiig/ui nmi oil was
•old to farmers In the area for use in
/backrubs.
Buaenltz will apparently differ • to-
. tal los* on the contaminated herd. In
addition, under federal regulations he
will be required to prepare proper
storage for the chemicals.
Wlcklund said the problem is prob-
ably the single most serious PCB case
In this area's history. But the biggest
part of the problem Is that nobody
knows how serious past contamination
may have been.
"We just don't know. I'll be honest
with you," Wlcklund said. Buaenltz,
reached by telephone today, declined
to discuss the case.
The Newton cattle raiser said EPA
officials had asked him" not to talk with
anyone about the problem, addlngi
"I'll try to honor that request" lie
said it wouldn't benefit anyone if Inac-
curate Information came out.
Warning on Oil
Dr. Kathleen Q. Camin. regional ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency here, warned fanners
and ranchers today to be certain they
know the origin of the oil they are us-
ing to make backrub for cattle.
"Be particularly careful not to use
oil from electrical transformers, as
this oil usually contains high concen-
trations of PCBs," Dr. Camin said.
Farmers uncertain about oil they
are using may contact EPA In Kansas
City or the Kansas Department of
Health and Environment In Topefca for
help.
Toll-free numbers for EPA are:
From Missouri, 1-800-8B2-S837. From
Kansas, Iowa or-Nebraska. 1-800-B31-
3714.
. A load of waste transformer oil useu
by Don Buesnitz, a farmer near-New-
. ton, contained Poly-Chlorinaled-
Byphenob, PCB, and caused the death.
of 54 cattle he had marketed,, ap ^inves-
tigation has revealed.
Busenitz bought the load.of waste oil
eight years ago and kept'it on his farm
until this spring when he used some, of
it to control flies and insects on his
cattle/ ' . •
When he took Ms herd to market a
week later. 54 of the 268 cattle died.
An investigation was undertaken by
the Kansas Health and Environment
office and the Environmental Protec-
' tion Agency into the cattle deaths and
determined the cause was PCB found
in the waste oil.
'ftCB is known to cause cancer In test.
animals and the EPA had earlier oul-
lawMyts-use. Thetarmer had bought
the'oii before this was revealed and he
dMA'PJtnow what side effects it would
have.;' "
-. ~Sfnce,then five major government (
•. agencies'have stepped Into the case.
They said that at present they:feel safe
to say there is no significant health
. hazard to people because all the ani-
mals treated 'by Busenitz'with the
waste oil were confiscated before they
were shipped from the slaughter house.
The EPA isued a warning Thursday
to farmers and ranchers not to use elec-
• trical transformer oil for Insect con-
trol.
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54 He&d Lost THE WICHITA EAGLE AND BEACON Soturdoy, Auguti is, 1979
EPA. Warns of Danger to
Cattle
By Our State Staff
TOPEKA — Reacting to the death
of 54 cattle near Newton, the U.S. En-
vironmental Protection Agency has
warned farmers and ranchers not to
treat their animals with waste oil
from electrical transformers.
•Federal and state officials said Fri-
day that such oil, contaminated with
polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs,
was used by Don Busenitz on his cattle
as an insect repellent.
Busenitz had bought the load of
waste oil eight years ago for use in a
rubbing mixture to control flies and
other insects on his herd.
Last spring he took a herd of his
cattle to a feedlot, and soon thereafter
54 of them died. About 100 other cattle
in the herd were also contaminated
with PCBs and are being held in iso-
lation on the feedlot pending a deci-
sion on their disposal.
Joseph Harkins, secretary of the
Kansas Department of Health and
Environment, said Friday that state
animal health investigators began an
investigation to determine the cause
of death, but it was only last week that
a national animal health laboratory in
Ames, Iowa, confirmed the presence
of PCBs, chemicals 'hat have been
shown to cause cancer in test ani-
mals.
PCBs, banned by 'he EPA in 1976,
were used widely before that time in
electrical transformers to hold heat.
The dead animals were sent to Jay-
hawk Rendering Plant in Garden City
for processing, but Harkins says he
thinks federal and state officials have
now found them all.
'.'We have simply'put a net out to
prevent any of the materials from
reaching the marketplace," Harkins
said Friday.
According to an EPA spoicesman,
some of the contaminated meat was
sold to Carnation Co. in St. Joseph,
Mo. But that meat has been embar-
goed.
The U.S. Food and Drug Adminis-
tration is conducting an investigation
to identify all products that may hav,
been produced from the cattle.
Besides the red meat sold to Carna-
tion, oil from the fat of the cattle has
been tracked through Cargill Turkey
at Springdalc. Ark., to Gold Kist
Chickens in Fayetteville, Ark.
Harkins said none of the products
were intended for human consump-
tion. Some were designed for use in
animal feeds.
Initial laboratory tests showed that
the cattle died of a toxic reaction to an
insecticide.
Harkins said Busenitz bought the oil
from a Newton area salvage yard.
'It's a common practice to buy oil
this way, because it's used in the
mixture for the backrubs on the an-
imals,'• Harkins explained. "It's a
mixture of insecticide and oil that the
feedlots and growers put together.
This farmer certainly was not doing
anything out of the ordinary.
-------
•*rfife KANSAS CITV STAR 'Sunday? August f9,. J979!
Farmer Blames Government for Lethal PCBs in Cattle
ByJohnM-Wylien
Sttr Ei»r>y/enylronment WHtir
NEWTON, Kaiu-Don BuSenttz blames '$
government Incompetence and Inaction for
leaving him In the middle of a devastating *
situation. f't
Government investigators, meanwhile. '\
are deeply concerned that the same deadly J
chemical blamed for wiping out a herd of •*»
Busenitz'cattle might also be in use on farms
and ranches all over the Midwest.
Buseniti sent 168 cattle from his farm
here to a western Kansas feedlot in May.
Within a week. 54 of the cattle died mysteri-
ously. It was three months before laboratory
test* showed why: Tbeammato had absorbed '
hugR amounts of patyenlarin
..(PCBs).
d blphenyU
- f
},'. Small amounts of the chemical have been
,/shown to cause cancer. In larger doses, PCBs .
• cause nerve damage and even death. 1
' 'i|
The chemical can be absorbed through :
. the skin and builds up In the fatty tissues of ',
humans and warm-blooded animals. It does i
not break down, so repeated exposure would J
leave Increasingly large amounts in the body, -j
PCBs were manufactured for about SO
years, primarily for use in electrical transfor-
mers, before manufacture was outlawed be- -.
cause of the extreme health hazard. Federal
officials estimate that millions of pounds of. -
V' PCBs are still in circulation, though most are
J sealed Inside transformer equipment
;, But, before there was widespread under-
[,;• standing of the dangers of PCBs, some used
N transformer oil with high levels of the cheml-f<
-' caJ was packaged in drums and sold to sal-
• vage dealers. Even today, relatively few peo-
.' pie know the difference between transformer
'(, oil, which Is up to 95 percent pure PCB, and
f regular waste oil, which Is widely used on
ts- farms.
r.
Busenitz bought a batch of waste
transformer oil eight years ago, using the
''substance in the back-rub solution used on
V cattle to ward off insects. Now he's been told
P this IB what ruined his herd this year. • ''
He's bitter because it took Investigators
three months to find out what went wrong.
"That's an awful Indictment, for as many
people and as much money as they've (the
federal government) got," he said, taking a
brief break from feeding hogs on his farm
four miles southeast of Newton.
The tall, wiry farmer wears a neatly
trimmed mustache. Mis voice dripped sar-
t casm as he talked about the delay:
"It's a real feather In their caps. We de-
serve better."
k ' . John Wlcklund, the branch chief for the
UJS. Environmental Protection Agency, who
is helping coordinate the probe by five sUte
and federal agencies, said tests from labora-
' lories In Kansas. Missouri and Iowa were
, needed to find the problem. Such tests tak»
time because chemicals such as PCBs are dif-
ficult to trace, Wicklund said. Veterinary
. medicine experts first thought the problem
with the Busenitz herd Involved pesticides.
and those had to be ruled out with lab tests
before tests for other substances could begin.
Tests made since PCBs were first found
in the dead cattle have brought a stream of
bad news to Busenitz. Tissues from the dead
cattle had levels as high as MOD parts of the
chemical for each million parts of fat. Any-
' alsover 50 parts per million is comity-
i ered a hazardous' waste. Federal regfy
I lations require special disposal tec*
1 tuques for such materials. I
< • Officials believe they have tracked"
down all the products from the render-,
, Ing of the $4 dead cattle. Materials had
I spread from Nebraska to Arkansas, I
: Wlcklund said, but officials believe the =
j only material to reach livestock was
I mixed -Into a poultry feed used hi Ar-
kansas. By then, they said, the PCBs
from the Busenitz cattle had been so
, extensively diluted by materials from
' uncontaminated animals that there
was no longer a health threat ,
, ' The remaining 114 cattle are under
! Quarantine at the feedlot In Hanston,
Kan. Tests on them show PCB levels of
from ISO to 800 parts per million. At
of how he used the transformer oil, but
government investigators say he told
them he had used the oil in back-rub
since he bought it. They say this raises
.the possibility that some contaminated
meat might have been sold to the pub-
lie In past years. Busenitz said Satur-
i day that he bad never had problems
with cattle before this year.
'' The PCB compound came to tin
Busenitz farm from the Saltier Repair
Service and Salvage Yard In Walton,
.Kan., a tiny town six miles northeast
of Newton. • •'
Arthur Sattler. the spry owner of the
salvage business, spent part of his 75th
birthday Thursday talking to the sec-
. ond of three government Investigators
who have visited his eight-acre facility
'this week.
.-' Sattler has been buying other peo-
, pie's cast-offa and finding new
jiHose Jev^rfedaraTofficials skyTTheTn* them for about» years. His cufr
cattle will never be acceptable for
Slaughter orrendering.
; Busenitz doesn't yet know the size of
his loss or whether It will be covered
by insurance. He said be doesn't want
to talk much about the problem until
he can consult a lawyer, but added,
"Something like this Is Just devastat-
ing, Idon'tknow if you can understand
How devastating."
He said the containers of oil be
'bought had no warning that the coo-
tents were dangerous to animals.. He
.blamed the government for not track-
ing down PCBs once their danger was
Known.
1 "It is the state's job, the govern-
ment's job, to follow up on where all
that material was when they found out
It was hazardous. That's another
feather In their cap. That's getting to
be quite a cap," he said.
tomers say he's good at it, polntingto •
fat wallet that makes a bulge in the
back pocket of his grimy overalls.
But the transformer oil transaction
eight years ago didn't Involve much
money. Sattler, who frequents auc-
tions in this part of the state, picked up
the oil In one such sale. He doesn't re-
member where the auction was, wno
sold the oil or bow much he paid, but
he knows It didn't cost much.
"I bought that oil and was going to
.use It for spraying weeds. He (Busen-
itz) came by and wanted to buy it, so I
sold it I knew it was called
transformer oil. but I didn't know
another thing about it." Sattler said.
1 The salvage dealer didn't think any-
thing more about the transaction until
the first government Investigator
showed up Wednesday. Sattler still
. isn't sure exactly what PCBs are, but
• aredangerous.
{v When told all the cattle Buseniti had
sent to the feedlot were contaminated
Sattler shook his head sadly:
•' "I didn't know him (Buseanx) real •
well. He came here and seen that oil. I'
dkbit have no idea it would have any ^
f thing tokllltbecattl*.': 1
v Sattler said he's new done ranch g
.business in waste oils, and after tnfe3
experience be said he'll never •ate •
handle such materials. ~ "• ^
. "Enoughlsenough."besaldflnnh/. j
•'- But government officials are wor- "*
•rled that other drums of PCBs might •!
be sitting like tune bombs In salvage '<
••yards such as Sattter's or on farms !f
'and ranches such as Busenitz'. 2
They haven't found any yet; but an 1
'Intense campaign to alert farmers to
• the problem* began Friday with calls ' i
»\o Ite Kansas Farm Bureau tat ouir ^1
farm argantzsttons asking them toVl
i. alert members. EPA officials say thrl J
1 campaign will spread at least to Kan- <•!
sat, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa, thu /1
• four states served by the regional of- v" y
,', Ret In Kansas City. , j
•' Doctor Kathleen (}. Camln, EPA r*>'
.' gtonal admlnstrator, asked all farm-
• ers and ranchers Friday to check the '<
oil being used in livestock back rubs. If ;,
.there are any indications that trans- ,
.former oil Is being used, farmers ,|
should stop using It immediately and
:call EPA or the Kansas Department of '
'Health and Environment in Topeka. -"(V
. ' EPA has two ton-free lines that /
'farmers may use to caO its office in .,
, Kansas City: from Missouri. 1-800-883- t,"
- SB37; from Kansas, Iowa or Nebraska. .
1-800421-3714.
-------
Topeko Capital-Journal, Saturday, August 18, 1979
Officials tracing
effects of PCBs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Federal
and state officials are trying to deter-
mine the public health impact of a can-
cer-causing chemical that decimated a
herd of Kansas cattle last May.
Fifty-four head of cattle owned by a
Newton farmer died of what was later
found to be contamination from poly-'
chlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs.
The chemical is known to cause can-
cer in animals and attacks the central
nervous system in humans.
Those cattle were melted down in
Garden City and byproducts shipped to
Nebraska and Missouri for processing
before the cause of their death was de-
termined earlier this month in Iowa.
Federal and state officials say there
is no imminent danger to public health
from the animals, but they concede
that cattle raised on the farm in the last
seven years probably also were con-
taminated.
-------
Hutchinson News
Deadly
kills 54
, NEWTON - Stat* and federal au-
thorities are investigating the con-
Umination of a herd of cattle from a
Newton farm that caused the death of
64 of the animals and a quarantine on
the remaining 114.
The cattle, from the Don Busenitz
farm near Newton, were con-
taminated with PCB, a deadly chem-
ical that causes cancer and attacks
the central nervous system in hu-
mans, according to a laboratory re-
port from Ames, Iowa. The PCB.
polychlorinated biphenyls, came from
oil used as a backrub. oi) the animals
to ward off insects.
Busenitz took the cattle to Pawnee
Valley Feedlot, near Hans ton, in mid-
May where within a week 54 of the
animals died. Tissue samples were
taken from the dead animals to deter-
mine the cause of death, but their
carcasses were rendered at the Jay-
hawk Rendering Plant, Garden City.
The byproducts were shipped to
Omaha and Springfield, Mo., for fur-
ther processing for use as pet food
and in poultry feed.
The tissue samples went from Kan-
sas State University to the University
of Missouri to the' Ames laboratory
before a determination on the prob-
lem was made. Officials said there is
DO imminent danger to the public
health from the remaining
Sun. Auf. 19,1979
chemical
cattle
A bold order has been placed on
the pet food made from the byprod-
ucts of the dead animals, according to
a spokesman with the Environmental
Protection Agency in Kansas City.
The case is under investigation by
the EPA, the Kansas Department of
Health and Environment and the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration.
Authorities also acknowledged that
herds raised on the Busenitz farm in
the past aeven years also were con-
taminated with PCB, and there is a
possibility that contaminated meat
has reached some U.S. dinner tables.
However, there's DO way of determin-
ing how serious that contamination
may have been or where the con-
taminated meat or byproducts went.
The PCB-containing oil was traced
to 1,000 gallons of waste transformer
oil Busenitz bought eight years ago
from a salvage dealer. Tests showed
the oil was a 95-percent PCB solution
used in electrical transformers.
Using waste ofl mixed in backrubs
for cattle is a common practice among
farmers, according to EPA officials.
The remaining 114 cattle from the
Busenitz herd probably will not be ac-
ceptable for slaughter or rendering.
veterinary advisers have told EPA of-
fidala.
-------
NEWS TRIBUNE. Jefferson City Mo.. Sundoy. August 19.1979
Caff/e confarn mated
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (UPI) -
Evironmental Protection Agency
officials said Friday an investigation
had revealed a Kansas herd of 168 cattle
was contaiminated with PCB, a deadly
chemical that causes cancer and afflicts
the central nervous system in humans.
Federal and state officials said,
however, they did not believe there is an
imminent danger to the public health
from those animals.
The herd of cattle was from a farm
•near Newton, Kan., that was owned by
Don Busenitz.
Officials said that herds from the farm
for the last seven years probably also
were contaminated by PCB, or
polychlorinated bipheyls. They said
there was no way of determining how
serious that contamination might have
been or where contaminated meat or
byproducts might have gone..
Within a week after Busenitz took tht
herd to the Pawnee Valley Feedlot near
Hans ton, Kan., in mid-May, 54 of the
animals died of unknown causes.
John Wicklund, chief of the EPA toxic
materials and pesticide branch, said
tests at Ames, Iowa, Aug. 7 revealed the
dead animals had PCB concentration of
up to 2,200 parts in a million in'their fat
tissue, a level that would be fatal.
Wicklund said that by the time the
tests were completed, the 54 animals had
been rendered and byproducts had been
shipped for use as pet food and for use in
poultry feed.
Federal and state investigators put'a
quarantine on the remaining 114 cattle
and a hold order on the pet food and
poultry feed.
Source of the PCB was traced to
salvaged oil Busenitz bought eight years
ago to use as part of a mixture put on
cattle to ward off insects.; Analysis
indicated the "oil" was actually a 95
percent PCB solution used in electrical
transformers, Wicklund said. The PCB
was absorbed through the hide of the
animals.
Wicklund said PCB no longer is made
because of its extreme environmental
hazard.
-------
Hutchinaon Newt Mon., Aug. 20. 1978.
Questions PCS report delay
Newton farmer
angry, puzzled
KEWTON - Newton farmer Don
Busenitz said be is angry and puzzled
over why the government took three
Months to determine what killed 64 of
168 cattle he had shipped to a Han-
•ton feedlot in May.
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency laboratory testing showed
that the cattle were affected by large
amount* of polychlorinated bipbenyla,
:.«r PCB. in their bodies.
An EPA official said the testing
took a long time because the deadly
chemical was hard to trace.
Authorities said they fear the
jfbemkaj is being used, throughout UM
; Midwest. Buaenitz used the chemical
as an insect repellent-on his cattle.
He purchased the waste oil eight
years sgo and kept it on his farm in
storage until this spring when used
some of it for insect control. PCB has
been known to cause cancer, and in
large doses, causes nerve damage or
death.
Officials said they believe they have
accounted for all the meat products
made from the 54 cattle that died.
PCB was banned from use in 1076
but Busenitz had purchased the the
oil prior to the ban and didn't know
its possible aide effects, according to
health officials.
The PCB-containing oil was traced
to salvage dealer and testa show the
oil was 95 percent PCB solution used
In electrical transformers.
PCB is particularly dangerous be-
cause it doesn't break down in the en-
vironment.
Dr. Kay Q. Camin, regional admin-
istrator of the EPA in Kansas City,
has issued a warning to farmers and
ranchers to be alert to the hazards of
using waste transformer oil in their
livestock operationa.
A ton free number of
3714 is available for fanners in th*
area for information if they have any
questions about their scare* el waste
ofl.
Joseph Harkms, secretary of Uw
Kansas Department of Health and
Environment, said. "It's a TIM*>TM^I
practice to buy oil this way, because
it's used la the mixture for beckrubs
oa the animals. It's a mixture of fav
.Metidde and ofl that tiw feedloU and
growers put togther. This farmer
(Busenitx) was certainly not doing
anything out of the ordinary."
-------
THE KANSASCITY TIMES
PCB Taint
Feared in
500 Hogs
Pigs Quarantined
At Farm Stricken
By Cattle Deaths
By Dick Haws
AM*nterofn*St(ff
Federal and state authoriti« con-
firmed Monday that the more than 500
pigs and hogs on the Newton, Kan.,
area farm of Donald Busenitz have
beeu quarantined while authorities in-
vestigate the magnitude of the chemi-
cal contamination in the 168 cattle thai
Busenitz fed in his farm's feed lot.
The total value of the quarantined
livestock is estimated at more than
$100.000.
Dick Bonfy. general manager of Ro-
deo Meats Inc. in Arkansas City. Kan.,
also reported that 16 bogs bought by
bis company last week from Buaenltz
have been quarantined. The hogs have
been slaughtered but the meat won't
leave the packing bouse until autho-
rized.
"Everybody's gonna make damn
sure everything is safe." Bonfy aaid.
Mel Gray, director of the environ-
mental division of the Kansas Depart-
ment of Health and Environment, aaid
the sale to Rodeo was the first of the
season for Busenitz. "We caught It at
the nth hour." be added.
Tissue samples from the live and
slaughtered swine are being chemical-
ly analyzed, and Gray expects the re-
sults to be known within days. "We
hope this is all cleared up by the end of
this week," he said.
Authorities also are analyzing the
•oil in Busenitz'i feed lot, and Gray
aaid be would "be surprised" tf evi-
dence of the chemical didn't turn up.
He said it was highly unlikely that the
chemical had spread or been carried
outside the feed lot.
The swine quarantine was ordered
last Thunday after authorities deter-
mined that BusenJlz'B cattle were con-
taminated with PCB, a deadly cheml-
QUARANTINE
Casrttoae4 from Page 1A
ejj that cauam cancer and attacks the
Central nervous system la Humana.
Ftfly-four of the cattle died; the 114
remaining were quarantined. PCB
concentration* In the dead cattle were
found to reach 1400 parts per million,
and concentrations In the live cattle
ranged from 130 U> too parts per mil-
lion. Federal regulations require spe-
cial disposal precautions for any con-
tamination above 90 parts per million.
The investigation traced the PCB
fffi^tpift»Hrtn to aah/aged transfor-
mer oil that Busenitz bad bought eight
y*an ago and has used since then as
pert of a "back rub" mixture to keep
taaecta off his livestock.
Of the twine, Gray aaid the sows in
the gestation pen on Buaenitz't farm
bad the moat contact with the mix
Cure—although usually for only a abort
time. PCBs collect In fatty tissues and
could be transmitted to the piglets
through the BOWS' milk.
Authorities also have checked the ai-
lag« on the farm, but have found only
trace amounts of PCB*. "There are
not unuaual amounts there." Gray
Mid.
Aa a precaution, the members of the
Busenitz family are being adviaed to
have physical checkups, but State Ep-
idemiologist Donald Wilcox aaid it was
"quite remote" that family members
had suffered any ttuddty.
Busenhs told officials be bought
Bine, gallon barrels of the transfor-
mer oil from a Walton. Kan., aalvage
yard eight yean ago.
Three of the barrels had been used in
the back rub mixture; atx atill were
fun.
Authorities found that the PCB con-
centrations in tbf remaining oil
ranged from about 06 percent pure
PCB in one barrel (960.000 parta per
to ibout 65 parta per '"til""' in
have been DO report* cf similar «
tamination problems.
The PCB investigation began in mi
Kay after Buaenitz took his cattle
the Pawnee Valley Feedlot, near Ha
•ton, Kan., where M died of unknov
causes. On Aug. 7, tests final
revealed the PCB concentrations. I
then the dead cattle had been ren-
•red. Byproducts bad been snipped i
Omaha for use as pet food, and t
Springfield. Mo., for further prates.
ing and use in poultry feed.
After the contaminated cattle wer
found, state and federal officials sal
they believed the public was in no in.
mediate danger. They acknowiedgec
however, that livestock raised on U>
same farm in past yean might hov<
been contaminated, and there is rv
way of determining where byproduct
from those cattle have gone.
State and federal officials have
asked an Midwestern farmers to
check to make sure they aren't using
transformer oil In the back rub mix-
ture* for their livestock. So far there
-------
behind
the
lines
byarthura.brtatoerw
Why PCB
Took Time
To Track
Ater M cattle keeled over dead in
• Kansas feed lot. it took ana-
lysts three months to learn that
the animals had been contaminated
with a deadly chemical known as PCB.
or polychlorinated biphenyls.
Why did it take them to long to find
out?
By the time they did find out. the
cattle had been rendered and shipped
out to Nebraska, Missouri and Arkan-
sas in the form of pet food and poultry
feed. The Environmental Protection
Agency and the Kansas Department of
Health and Environment were not in-
formed until afterward.
Is there no Jaw preventing the mar-
keting of products derived from ani-
mals that have died mysteriously and
in large numbers, and shouldn't elate
and federal oversight agencies be
alerted to such incidents ?
Those are come of the important
questions iparked by the deaths of the
cattle of Don Busenitz, a Newton.
Kan., farmer. Here, according to state
and federal officials, are the answers.
with an account of what happened and
what should have happened:
The cattle died about May 17.
within a week of their arrival at
the feed lot near Haniton, Kan..
and a private veterinarian performed
an autopsy. The vet then aaked for
help from Dr. Harry D. Anthony.
director of the Diagnostic Laboratory
at Kansas State University.
Anthony suspected pesticide poison-
ing and informed Dr. G.D. Guru, state
livestock commissioner, and U.S. Ag-
riculture Department officials tat To-
peka.
Because there was DO indication of
any contagious disease, the 114 surviv-
ing cattle in Busenitz's herd were not
quarantined and no "bold" order was
placed on the carcasses of the dead
animals.
Guns uid there were no legal obli-
gations requiring such orders.
Anthony would have begun analyz-
ing samples from the dead cattle at his
laboratory immediately, be said, but
some of his equipment was not
operating properly. He asked Dr. Gary
Ocweiler, the veterinarian attached to
the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic
Laboratory at the University of Mis-
souri, to analyze the samples.
sweiler said he began the analy-
I I sis on the premise that the cat-
Vx tie were contaminated by a
pesticide. By June 1 he bad ruled out
one class of pesticides and began to
focus on a substance called toxaphene.
"It would be nice to say we turned
all our attention to It right away,"
OsweUer said. Unfortunately, that was
not possible. His laboratory analyzes
between 1300 and 1,400 samples year-
ly, with a single technician doing the
actual testing. Also, the Busenitz cat-
tle sample was from out-of -state, "and
we .do have to-state priorities,"
Osweilersaid.
Tests at the laboratory repeatedly
turned up evidence of a substance with
some of the characteristics of toxa-
phene, but with some differences. By
about July 17— almost two months af-
ter receiving the sample— Osweller
contacted Dr. H. A. Nelson with the Na-
tional Animal Disease Center in Ames.
Iowa, and asked him to look into the
matter.
With the advanced equipment avail-
able to him, Nelson learned that the
cattle contained enormous amounts of
PCB, a chemical formerly used in
electrical transformers, which causes
cancer and attacks the nervous sys-
tem in humans. For about eight years.
Busenitz has nibbed down his animals
with discarded transformer oil to keep
insects off them. But by the time the
trouble had been traced, the M dead
cattle had been rendered tand shipped
off.
FT^ here were no laws or regulations
I to prevent the rendering. Be-
A cause toxaphene poisoning was
•ntpprted and toxaphene literally
boils away in rendering—the state ani-
mal health and U.S. Agriculture De-
partment officials weren't too con-
cerned that the rendered animal prod-
uct* might present a health risk.
But PCB cannot be boiled away. It
will break down only when incinerated
at 2400 degrees Centigrade.
Once Nelson learned of the PCB con-
tamination, he called the EPA and the
Food and Drug Administration in Kan-
sas City and the FDA in Topeka.
Federal officials notified the Kansas
health and environment agency.
Fortunately, through the combined
effort* of the agencies, the rendered
products were tracked down and quar-
antined before any seriously contami-
nated materials could be sold to the
public, the officials said. The surviv-
ing 114 Busenitz cattle were quaran-
tined. But the question remains
whether any other animals sold by
Busenitz were contaminated but still
had reached dinner tables to past
years.
In the aftermath, EPA Regional Ad-
ministrator Kathleen Q. Gamin com-
plained, "I believe that when SO cattle
die from poisoning that we should have
been called."
Others called for better cooperation
among government agencies.
But lurking behind the delays and
confusion in the case is the sim-
ple fact that no one was looking
for PCB to the cattle. There was ap-
parently no cause for alarm. No one
had ever beard of PCB contamination
to cattle.
Concluded one high EPA official:
"The saving grace is that this does not
usually happen."
-------
Poison cattle meat
'won't hit market'
By United Press International
Fears that meat products from 55
Kansas cattle that died from PCB-
poisoning will reach the market place
and pose a potential danger to humans
are unfounded, federal environmental
officials say.
"Nothing has reached the market
place from those cattle that will harm
anybody," Dr. Kathleen Camin,
regional administrator of the En-
vironmental Protection Agency, said
Tuesday in Kansas City.
Dr. Camin said she believed all of the
products had been traced and were now
under quarantine.
Authorities also said they believed
there was little likelihood that other
Kansas farmers may have bought the
PCB-laced oil from a Walton, Kan.,
supplier whose sale of the poisonous
petroleum has resulted in the
quarantine of more than 600 bead of
livestock.
"We were concerned, very con-
cerned," said Dave Wagner, director of
the Environmental Protection Agen-
cy's Air and Hazardous Material
Division. i;
"But evidently this was something
like a one-shot occurance. There's no
evidence he sold other PCB-
contaminated oil..Mr. (Don) Busenitz
just flat bought him out eight years
•go."
. The EPA, the Federal Drug Ad-
ministration and state health officials
were not aware of the PCB danger until
56 of 168 head of cattle owned by the
Newton, Kan., farmer died at a Han-
ston, Kan., feedlot. By the time the
health officials had entered the case,
however, the dead cattle had been
rendered at a plant in Garden City,
Kan., and the byproducts had been
spread to dog food and chicken and
turkey feed plants in three states.
The EPA outlawed production of
PCBs — polychlorinated biphenols — in
1976 after they were found to cause
cancer — and in large doses — nerve
damage or death in test animals.
PCBs were chemicals used in elec-
trical transformers to absorb beat.
They do not break down in the en-
vironment.
According to the EPA, the carcasses
of the PCB-poisoned cattle were
shipped to the Jayhawk Rendering
Plant in Garden City where It was
converted to oil for fowl feed and red
meat for dog food.
The oil was sent to the rendering
plant's parent company, Southwest By-
Products in Springfield, Mo., where the
EPA said it was diluted.
-------
PCB in Gattie Prompts Quarantine in Kansas
< By Daniel Cattau
World-Herald Staff Writer
, _ The discovery of a lethal
(tnemical in a herd of 168 cattle
f6n a farm near Newton, Kan.,
has prompted state and federal
ifficialstoquarantinethefarm-
;r's cattle and examine his
togs, a federal Food and Drug
Administration official in
ICansas City said.
Last May, 54 cattle from the
•Don Busewitz farm died in the
bawnee Valley Feedlot near
ij>Jewton, Kan.
Not in Omaha
Clifford Shane, regional di-
fector of the FDA, said the
Chemical was identified Aug. 7
lit the U.S. Department of Agri-
iulture laboratory in Ames,
rWa, as PCB, a chemical that
pauses cancer and attacks the
^central nervous system in
fjiumans.
PCB stands for polygon-
's'fcated biphenyls.
•Shane said the 114 remaining
Seattle have been quarantined
, and that Busewitz's hogs are
('alsobeingtested.
"There's a good chance he'll
lose his entire litter," Shane
said.
Orginally, it was reported
that byproducts of the dead
cattle had been shipped to
Omaha for use as pet food.
Shane said that report is in-
correct.
Pet food plants in St. Joseph,
Mo., and pans of Wisconsin did
receive some red meat from the
contaminated cattle, Shane
said, but officials had been able
to determine the lots where
these cattle were located and
made sure none of the food from
this source had reached the
market.
Oil from the cattle was sold to
poultry operations in Spring-
field, Mo., and Arkansas, he
said, adding that "we're trying
to deter the carryover from
eggs and chickens."
'No Problems in Nebraska'
Shane said the discovery ot
PCBs in the herd appears to be
an "isolated instance, but we
have no way of determining
this" immediately. *
DenisBlank, chief of the
Bureau of Dairy and Foods of
the Nebraska Department of
Agriculture, said "there are no
problems with PCBs in Nebras-
ka."
He said Kansas and federal
officials would have notified Ne-
braska officials if there were a
problem. A
Shane said the chemical was
traced to salvaged or used oil
that was part of a backrub
mixture put on cattle to fight in-
sects. ,
Shane said the oil came from
electrical transformers and has
a high concentration of PCBs.
"Five years ago," Shane
said, "the EPA (Environmen-
tal Protection Agency) banned
the use of the oil in transform-
ers."
But Busewitz bought the
mixture eight years ago. Shane
said the transformer oil "looks
likeregularoil."
The PCBs were absorbed
through the hides of the ani-
mals, he said. Since PCBs do
not break down, they can be
passed along in cattle excre-
ment to pasture land, then re-
absorbed in higher quantities,
through the silage.
Shane'said one dead cow had
PCB concentrations of 2,200
parts per million in its fat issue. •
Other tests on live animals
showed concentrations between
150and800 parts per million.
Tolerance Levels
"There are PCBs in the envi-
ronment already," Shane said,
adding that the federal govern-
ment has set a certain allowable
tolerance in some products.
For instance, Shane said, up
to 1.5 parts per million are al-
lowed for milk and dairy prod-
ucts and 3 parts per million (on
afat basis) for poultry.
Cattle raised on the Newton,
Kan., farm also probably have
been contaminated during the
last seven years, according to
Kansas and federal officials.
But they said they believe
there is no imminent public
health risk from thoseanimals.
. In order to prevent similar
occurrences elsewhere, Shane
urged farmers "to make cer-
tain you have a knowledge of the
source of the oil that you're
using on this type of backrub."
Om*.
-------
.11.
EPA discounts
poison meat fears
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (UPI) - Fears
that meat products from 55 Kansas
cattle that died from PCB-poisoning will
reach the market place and pose a
potential danger to humans are
unfounded, federal environmental
officials say.
"Nothing has reached the market
place from those cattle that will harm
anybody," Dr. Kathleen Camin, regional
administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency, said Tuesday.
Or. Camin said she believed all of the
products had been traced and were now
under quarantine.
Authorities also said they believed
there was little likelihood that other
Kansas farmers may have bought the
PCB laced oil from a Walton, Kan.
supplier whose sale of the poisonous
petroleum has resulted in the quarantine
of more than 600 head of livestock.
"We were concerned, very
concerned," said Dave Wagner, director
of the Environmental Protection
Agency's Air and Hazardous Material
Division.
"But evidently this was something like
a one-shot occurrence. There's no
evidence he sold other PCB-
contaminated oil. Mr. (Don) Busenitz
just flat bought him out eight years
ago."
The EPA, the Federal Drug
Administration and state health officials
were not aware of the PCB danger until
55 of 168 head of cattle owned by the
Newton, Kan., farmer died at a Hanslon,
Kan., feedlot. By the time the health
officials had entered the case, however,
the dead cattle bad been rendered at a
plant in Garden City, Kan., and the
byproducts had been spread to dog food
and chicken and turkey feed plants la
PCBs were chemicals used in
electrical transformers to absorb neat.
They do not break down in the
environment.
According to the EPA, the carcasses
of the PCB-poisoned cattle were shipped
to the Jayhawk Rendering . PJUiht in
Garden City where it was' converted to
oil for fowl feed and red meat .W dog
food.
The oil was sent to the rendering
plant's parent company, Southwest By-
Products in Springfield, Mo., wjtwre the
•EPA said it was diluted — thus lowering
|he PCBs concentration below the FDA
acceptable level.
The diluted oil was then sentio Tyson
Foods of Springdale, Ark., who sold the
oil to Cargill Turkeys, jJso in
Springdale. The EPA said Canull then
sold some of its oil to Gold Kist Chickens
of Fayetteyille, Ark.
Meanwhile, the EPA said the red meat
was sold to Carnation Co. of SL Joseph,
Mo., to be converted into dogfooa and the
hides and bones were sold to Southwest
Trading Co. of Houston.
"There's a quarantine on all of the
byproducts by the FDA," said an EPA
spokesman. "Any that mieht have
gitten to the market place is-Oow being
acedbytheFDA.
Busenitz' remaining J13 c#fle at the
Hanston feedlot will remain in
quarantine until which time they can be
destroyed by state health authorities.
The verdict on the farmer etnore than
500 pigs still remained oprtf Tuesday.
Wagner said test results on whether they
also would have to be destroyed would
probably be available sometime today.
The total value of the quarantined
livestock was estimated « more than
$100.000.
-------
. AM** 22,
- .... - . . .. _ _
First Tests Show
Low Toxin Leyel
In Hog Carcasses
^^ ..»-.... , V " fe .
V-
By Dick Haws
A MM** or me Stiff
• The contamination of livestock on a
farm near Newton, Kan., with a can-
cer-causing chemical may not be as
extensive as feared, according to pre-
liminary results of tests on 16 hog car-
casses from the farm.
Howard Duncan, the director of the
Kansas Bureau of Environmental Pro-
tection, said Tuesday that the National
Animal Disease Laboratory in Ames,
Iowa, had reported thafa tissue analy:
•is of the 16 hog carcasses from the
Don Busenitz farm showed concentra-
tions of the chemical PCB "too little to
quantify," and that the concentrations
would be reported as "less than one-
half part per million."
Federal authorities have noi *
established an allowable limit for the
chemical in red meat, but in fish and
poultry, the maximum concentration
is five parts per million.
"- Duncan described the Ames report
as "the first ray of sunshine'' since au-
thorities found evidence of the contam-
ination earlier this month in 168 cattle
raised in Busenitz' feedlot
The bog carcasses, which were
bought by Rodeo Meats Inc. of Arkan-
sas City. Kan., will be analyzed by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture before
a decision is made on disposal of the
meat
Meanwhile, S53 live hogs remain un-
der quarantine on Busenitz' farm
while authorities await the results of
tissue examinations.
Officials think there is virtually no
chance that the cattle ever will be
found fit for human consumption. If
the preliminary tests on the hog car-
casses are confirmed, however, and if
the live hogs are found to have similar
low levels of the chemical, they may
be judged fit for consumption.
The loss of the beef is a serious fi-
nancial blow for Busenitz, but it might
be eased somewhat because of the
Ames laboratory's interest in the ani-
mals. ' •• .-.-'.
Duncan said lab officials have Indi-
cated that they may want to buy some
of the diseased animals for research.
The case is one of the most severe in-
stances of contamination on record.
An investigation by state and federal
authorities traced the chemical' con-
tamination to salvaged transformer
oil that Busenitz bought eight years
ago and has used since as part of a
"back-rub" mixture to keep insects off
his livestock^ Busenitz told officials
he bought nine, 55-gallon barrels of the
transformer oil from a Walton, Kan..
salvage yard.
Over the years that Buzenitz raised
cattle and sWiue on his farm and used
the oil mbctute, "neither he nor his vet
recalled any problems," Duncan said.
Part of the government investiga-
tion is focusing on the source of the
contaminated oil. The salvage yard
operator has ao records, but thinks he
bought it from one of two auction
houses in the Wichita-Newton area.
Officials expect to go over auction
house records to try to discover
whether the same kind of oil was sold
to anyone else, although there have
been no reports from other Kansas
farmers of contaminated cattle.
Busenitz had used three of the nine
barrels of oil in his backrub mixture.
In the six remaining barrels, PCB con-
centrations ranged from 85 parts per
million to about 600,000 parts per mil-
lion, investigators said.
Under federal regulations, a PCB
concentration in excess of SO parts per
million represents a "hazardous
waste" and special procedures must
be used to dispose of it
-------
THE KANSAS CITY STAR
r»,fiCia*»'W*. t Nt •" **
ome Fluorescent Lights
. " ' . - •..,.'• **. - .
L ~". ~* •>.'»? . • ,..
Contain PCB; Danger Slight
ByJohnM-Wyliell
Star Enerfly/Envlrwimtnt Writer
; PCB—the toxic chemical that con-
taminated a Kansas cattle herd re-
cently—is in the ballasts of millions of
^fluorescent light fixtures across Amer-
ica.
• Although there are extremely tight
controls over the handling of the
'chemical when it is used in large
'amounts in power transformers and
other large equipment, there are. no
federal regulations on the handling of
the ballasts. The larger ballasts may
contain nearly a quart of PCB-materi-
al. The concentration of PCB in the
ballasts varies up to 95 percent, de-
pending on the manufacturer.
"They (ballasts) are in every build-
ing in America," said Wolfgang
Brandner, a toxic materials specialist
' with the Environmental Protection
Agency here. "We felt there was no
way we could ever achieve control
over those units. If a regulation is not
enforceable, there is no reason for
having the regulation."
'• Brandner said the ballasts, heavy
• metal pieces of electrical equipment,
• are so well built that they are very
unlikely to break open, even if they fail
'• and begin to smoke. Since there is no
• real salvage value in defective units,
he said, there would be no reason for
' them to be broken open. As long as
'they remain sealed, they can—and
•' are—disposed of with regular trash,,
eventually winding up in municipal
'landfills.
'• PCB, or polychlorinated biphenyl,
> has been made since 1929 for use in
;.' electrical equipment. It is fire resis-
• tant and. very difficult to break down—
'which makes it perfect for cooling
high-powered electrical equipment.
'-' But it also is toxic' to humans and
'' warm-blooded animals in large doses,
• and can build up in the fat tissues. It
has been shown to cause cancer:
1 A quart of high-concentration PCB-
r material probably would be fatal to
'"•humans, Brandner said, but federal of-
' ficials believe the chances of an indi-
vidual being exposed to PCB from
light ballasts is very small.
•* Although PCB has been widely used
' since 1929, the dangers it poses weren't
' known until this decade. EPA has
gradually put more and more regula-
tions on its use, though the final ban on
,' PCB manufacture wasn't adopted un-
' til last spring. The primary manufac-
' turer, Monsanto Corp.. stopped mak-
ing PCB voluntarily in 1977.
1 PCB has come into the public eye
.' again since the discovery Aug. 7 .that
f 168 cattle from the Donald Busenitz
;farm near Newton. Kan., had been
(contaminated by the chemical.
feL . , ^ ..h. '-. „ ; *- „!.••.•
It got Into the cattle through a back-
rubbing compound made with oils that
turned out to contain large amounts of
PCB. One barrel of oil was 95 percent
pure PCB. Of the 168 cattle, 54 are
dead and the remainder are under
quarantine at a western Kansas
feedlot. A herd of hogs on the Busenitz
farm also is under quarantine until of- •
ficials can determine if it, too, was
contaminated. Preliminary tests.
showed extremely small concentra-
tions.
State and federal officials s'ay some
of the contaminated material from
rendering the dead cattle got into cir-
culation around the Midwest, but they
, believe they have found and put hold
orders on all material that might have
been seriously contaminated. None
was destined as food for humans, but
much of it was to have been used as
animal feed. ' •
. Mel Gray, director of the environ-
ment division of the Kansas Depart-
ment of Health and .Environment, said
I [the incident at the Busenitz farm
. "very vividly brought to our attention
the hazards involved" with PCB. But^'
he added that he knows of no feasible
: 'way to track down all the PCB manu-
; factored and sold before anyone real-
' ized how dangerous it was.
• EPA and the state agency have
asked farmers to check the oils they
are using and call one of the agencies
' if they suspect any of the oil contains
PCB. But Gray and Brandner both ex-
; pressed doubt thai-farmers will follow
the suggestion. ....
V The only approved method for de-
. straying old PCB is high-temperature
: incineration, enough to overcome its
fire-retardant properties. No incinera-
" tor meets the specifications that exist.
Vbut Robert Morby of EPA here.has
good news on that front.
.' The regional office has invested
1 .$100.000 of the total $1.4 million cost of
: developing a mobile incinerator that
. can destroy PCB and other hazardous
material. The idea is to move the unit
to sites where there are large amounts
of the waste.. •' '
B . A '•'•'•
'.. Morby says officials here hope that
.by making the investment, the region
i.will get high' priority for use of the
' unit. The unit, to be completed next
year, would be used under contracts
' ^between the government, the develop-
ter and those with wastes to destroy.
Until that unit, or some other sys-
' tern, is available and approved, liquid
PCB must be stored under tight securi-
ty. Solid wastes contaminated with rel-
' atively low levels of PCB may be
shipped to one of seven landfills in six
• states: New York. Alabama, Califor-
nia, Nevada, Oregon and Idaho. Utili-
• ties must follow strict regulations in
• handling PCB. The light ballasts
aren't regulated, but here's how utili-
1 ties must handle larger amounts of the
• chemical, using the Missouri Public
Service Co. sys tern as an example:
! . John Gilbert, spokesman, says all
units containing PCB are under a
- strict inventory control system "from
birth to retirement" so that no PCB
' can inadvertently disappear.
'• (He notes that the number of units
• being used that contain PCB grows
smaller each year, as older equipment
•is replaced with new units that use oth-
1 er coolants.)
; If a' unit on a power pole contains
' PCB, a warning label is posted on the
' unit and the power pole. Substations or
c other facilities where the chemical is
f used are fenced off and also have
warnings posted. In all cases, the
'.chemical is enclosed in the component
(it cools.
• If units containing PCB must be car-
: ried by trucks, the trucks also bear
i large warning signs. '
<: Gilbert notes that the utility has nev-
er drained such equipment for repair.
• Defective or worn-out transformers,
'.capacitors and other equipment are
• shipped for repairs to shops operated
a by manufacturers. Brandner says he
Jknows of no such shops in this area.
On rare occasions, 'an accident.with
a pole or a direct lightning strike will
cause a PCB-filled unit to break open.
In this case, trained utility crews will
clean up the spilled oil and all the
earth it contaminated. The material
jwill be sealed.in specially-designed
drums for proper disposal later.
To further guard against spills, Gil-
• bert noted, large dikes are constructed
around the large transformers used in
substations, so if a leak occurs the
• PCB will be contained where it may be
,. cleaned up safely. • •'
,. Brandner is convinced that the regu-
- lations on large amounts of PCB are
enough to protect the public, because
the amounts used in light ballasts is
small. The PCB is also well-sealed in-
doors, not the case with electrical
' equipment that is outdoors and subject
to (he weather; • • j ,
£.. Besides, he notes, "there'are so
jf.many of them (PCB-filled ballasts)
; that we don't _ think we can achieve
'• control of them'"'
-------
f So H /!/«•
-------
WICHITA, KANSAS 67201, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 197
168 Cattle Contaminated With PCBs
Gentlemen's Pact Kept Infected
By KAREN FREIBERG
Staff Writer
If it hadn't been for a gentlemen's agreement.
168 cattle contaminated with a cancer-causing
chemical may have slipped undetected through a
series of meat inspections and on to consumers'
plates.
The agreement was made between Don Taylor,
manager of the Pawnee Valley Feedlot at Man-
sion, and Lamed veterinarian Dennis Huck last
May when cattle started dying in droves from
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) contamination.
PCB is a chemical used in a variety of sub-
stances. The PCB in this case came from waste oil
that had been used in electrical transformers to
control heat. The oil was sold by a salvage yard,
mixed with insecticide and applied to cattle by
Newlon rancher Don Busenitz.
At the time, no one knew what had caused the
deaths of 56 head of cattle from a herd of 168 that
BuseniU had brought to the custom feedlol for
fattening.
According to Taylor, there are no laws requiring
feedlot operators, or farmers, to notify authorities
when livestock, die on their premises.
"We fatten about 60.000 head of cattle a year,
and in that time we treat an awful lot of animals.
So we are pretty familiar with diseases, and when
one dies, we can usually Figure out why," Taylor
said.
BUT, HE SAID, even if he didn't know the cause
of death, as in this case, there were no laws,
outside of his own "feedlot policy," that required
him to tell anyone about the deaths. Nor is there
any law preventing him from selling those dead
animals to a rendering plant, which is what hap.
pened with Busenitz's cattle.
"We consider it a matter of policy that if we
don't know what's wrong, we call in a yet," Taylor
said
When Huck couldn't determine
what lulled the cattle, he started an
investigation that led to tests by three
diagnostic lab laboratories and took
nearly three months.
Meanwhile, products from the dead
cattle were being distributed to pet
food dealers and poultry feeders.
According to Taylor, a. "gentle-
men's agreement" was made be-
.tween him and Huck to hold the live
cattle off the red meat market until
the exact cause of death was deter-
mined. They remain off the market —
in a pen at the feedlot — pending word
on how they will be destroyed, since
they have been determined to be
"walking containers of hazardous
Meat Off Table
waste." as described by one state
health official.
If a veterinarian hadn't been con-
sulted and the remaining live cattle
had been sold for slaughter, the odds
are against the PCB content being de-
tected by inspectors.
.ACCORDING TO Dr. John Spauld-
ing, director of the Department of
Agriculture's residue detection divi-
sion, an average of about one in 30,000
cattle are tested for PCB content.
Last year, K8 cattle out of about 30
million head that were slaughtered in
the United States were inspected for
PCB. Of those, only one showed posi-
tive results, and Spaulding said the
PCB content was in such a low level
that the USDA did not investigate fur-
ther.
In the first three months of this
year, Spaulding said 324 cattle have
been tested, all with negative re-
sults.
He said tests would have to show 3
parts per million contamination be-
fore the USDA would investigate the
source of the PCB. The cattle at Paw-
nee Valley Feedlot are contaminated
with 130 ppm to 1.100 ppm.
Spaulding said it is entirely possi-
ble, based on a statistical analysis
program he heads, that 168 head of
contaminated cattle could go unde-
tected at the time of slaughter.
The contaminated meat shows DO
discoloration, has no unusual odor and
tastes normal.
He said officials in Kansas had in-
formed him of the contamination of
the Kansas herd but that "based on
what we know so far, unless we find a
flood of PCB oil out there, we think the
source is limited to one farm, and
we've contained it."
Spaulding said he had no plans for
an investigation of area slaughter-
houses to check for contaminated red
meat.
SPAULDING'S statement was
echoed by at least two other govern-
mental agencies — the Environmen-
tal Protection Agency and the Kansas
Department of Health and Environ-
ment.
According to EPA regional director
Kay Camin, there is no reason to be-
lieve that any red meat for human
consumption has been contaminated
because the EPA has found and em-
bargoed all the products made from
Busenitz's dead cattle.
Jim Adamson, a spokesman for the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration,
says his agency is less certain that all
of the products have been located.
"As far as our agency is concerned,
we haven't been able to trace the final
destination of the animal feed yet. We
will be making tests of eggs from
chickens that may have eaten the
contaminated feed, and there could be
broilers and laying hens that will be
camples also."
The fate of the 113 cattle still con-
fined to Taylor's feedlot has not been
determined. Nor has the fate of more
than 550 hogs oil Busenitz' farm that
have been in contact with the same oil
been determined.
Sixteen of the hogs were slaught-
ered at Rodeo Meats in Arkansas City
and found to have one-half ppm con-
tamination. Tests from the live bogs
have not been returned yet.
According to Howard Duncan of the
Kansas Department of Health and
Environment, no tolerance limit is
established for red meat, although the
FDA has set a limit of 5 ppm for fish
and poultry.
He said the cattle that are still alive
will probably be destroyed and buried
either in heavy soil, such as clay, or at
a hazardous waste disposal site.
-------
Thursday, August 23, 1979 Hutchinson, Kansas 662-3311
Newton man's hogs
contain PCB
By Dcbra Oswmh
TOPEKA - Laboratory tests on
tissue samples of hog» owned bjr
Newton farmer Don Busenitz in-
dicated their bodies contain the
deadly chemical polychlorinated biph-
•nys. commonly known as PCB.
Buseniti ha* already lost 54 cattle
which died from PCB poisoning la
mid-May and faeea to lose 114 remain-
ing in hia herd because their bodies
also contain the chemical.
Howard Duncan of the State De-
partment of Health and Environment
in Topeka said Wednesday that the
carcasses of hogs owned by Buseniti
and stored at an Arkansas City
slaughterhouse show traces of PCB.
The test results show that the
bogs contain less that one half PCB
•jir*rt per million tin their fat tissues)."
Dnncan said.
The Food and Drug Adminis-
trate sets the tolerance limit* of
PBC fci poultry and fish. If any
pouhry »r fish contain more than five
parts PdB per million they can't be
•sold for human consumption. So on
the surface, you would say that the
hogs should be fine but the problem is
there are no tolerance limits set for
pork and beef." be said.
There are all kind* of ramification*
to this." he said.
He confirmed that FDA. USDA and
state officials met Wednesday after-
noon in a joint meeting to discuss
whether the bogs can be allowed on
IW
He added that a policy concerning
PBC tolerance limits might be decided
at the meeting. He said there would
be another meeting Friday afternoon.
BuseniU's problems began in mid-
May when he shipped a herd of 168
cattle to a Hanston feedlot and within
* week 64 died of an unknown cause.
It wasn't until Aug. 7, that tests at
Iowa State University at Ames
showed the cattle's bodies contained
2.200 part* PCB per million in their
fat t"«w»*.
Later tests showed the remaining
114 would have to be destroyed be-
cause of "excessive contamination by
PCB."
However, the cattle may have to be
transported to Nevada or Idaho for
disposal-because there are only seven
landfills in the U.S. that are equipped
to handle PCB waste.
Duncan said Wednesday that there
was a "glimpse of hope that maybe
the cattle could be used for research
purposes" rather than be destroyed.
"I hope this is the ease because
Busenitx could recover maybe 20 per-
cent of bis losses," Duncan said.
At this point, not including the pos-
sible loss from his hogs. Buseniti
could lose over $100.000 from his
cattle herd.' He has told reporters he
doesn't know if his insurance, will
cover the loss.
"We have no plans to dispose of tk*
animals right at the moment. We are
presently evaluating just what the
concentration of PCB is in these ani-
mals. We are leaving our options
open," said Wolfgang Brandner, chief
of toxic section of the Environmental
Protection Agency.
"Research is certainly a possibility.
Or we maybe could keep the animals
on grass to lower tbeir PCB level.
But that might take two years. How-
ever, it might also be a lot cheaper
than an Involved disposal procedure.
"We will be meeting Friday with all
parties to this problem to evaluate
our findings. Well probably reach a
decision then," he said.
The problem with disposing of PCB
is that it doesn't break down in the
environment.
"It's a real concern. It can really
put a fanner under the gun," said
J.L. Sell of the Department of Animal
Science at ISU.
Sell wasn't involved with the test-
Ing of the Newton cattle but is famil-
iar with PCB and animals.
"Various species of animals absorb
PCB differently and it affects them
differently. In cattle. PCB collects in
the fat tissues and if it collect* up to
a certain degree it will spread into
the fatty portion* of the red meat.
The PCB will eventually cause ner-
vous disorders in the cattle and
death," be said.
-------
THE WICHITA lAGLt
Thurxioy, Auputl 23. 1979
PCBs Contamination-Trail:
From Ranch to Where?
By KAREN FREIBEKU
Staff Writer
"A transaction eight yean ago be-
tween a Walton salvage dealer and a
Newton rancher has taken on a deadly
significance during the last few days
— since the discovery that the trans-
former oil that was sold then may
have caused the deaths of 55 cattle.
The, transformer oil, which con-
tained the cancercausing chemical
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
.was used by Don Busenitz to mix with
Insecticides that were applied to 168
Seattle. When the cattle started dying,
&sts were made to determine the
BASED ON REPORTS from
'various federal and state agencies.
this is the chronology of events that
led up to the deaths and what actions
have been taken as p result of the
deaths:
« Eight years ago, Don Busenitz, a
Newton rancher, bought several bar-
ftls of waste oil from Sattler Salvage
and Repair Co. In Walton. The oil was
used for the last few years by Busenitz
to help make insecticides cling to the
hides of cattle.
• On May 17, 1979, Busenitz shipped
168 cattle to the Pawnee Valley
Feedlot at Hanston to be fattened for
slaughter.
• On May 21. SI of the cattle died.
. • A local veterinarian was called by
the feedlot to determine the cause of
death, but the cause could not be
found. Tissue samples were sent to
the diagnostic laboratory at Kansas
State University, and a "gentleman's
agreement" was reached between the
veterinarian and the feedlot operator
that the cattle would not be moved
until the results were returned.
• The lab at KSU thought the deaths
were caused by toxophene poisoning,
which was one of the insecticides used
in the cattle oilers. Technicians were
not positive of this, however, so the
samples were sent to the diagnostic
laboratory at the University of Mis-
souri for a second opinion. .
• A backlog of work at the Univer-
sity of Missouri's lab put the Kansas
samples on a low priority list When
tests were finally done, the results
- fr
By the time word of the
cause of death of the cattle
had reached Kansas au-
thorities in early August,
the rendering plant al-
ready had processsed the
carcasses and products
from them were on their
way to a dog food mauf ac-
turer in Omaha, Neb., an
oil products dealer in
Springfield, Mo., a hide
dealer in Houston and a
poultry firm in Arkansas.
again appeared to say that the cattle
died from toxophene poisoning, but
there was enough uncertainty (or the
technicians to send the samples to the
Department of Agriculture's toxicolo-
gy laboratory in Ames, Iowa.
• The Iowa laboratory determined
that the cattle died, not from toxo-
phene poisoning, but from PCBs
stress.
'• Meanwhile, as the tissue samples
from (he dead animals were traveling
from one lab to another, more ani-
mals were dying. By August 13, the
death count had risen to 56 head.
• Also, before the exact cause of
death was determined, the dead an-
imals had been sold to a rendering
plant in Garden City.
• By the time word of the cause of
death had reached Kansas authorities
In the first week of August, the ren-
dering plant had already processed
the carcasses and the products had
started their way through the distri-
bution system to a dog food manufac-
turer in Omaha, Neb., an oil products
dealer in Springfield, Mo., a hide
dealer in Houston and a poultry firm
in Arkansas for mixing with chicken
feed.
• Last Thursday the Environmen-
tal Protection Agency put the re-
maining 113 live cattle under office
quarantine and several agencies
began mounting investigations, in-
cluding the Federal Drug Adminis-
tration, the Department of Agricul-
ture, the EPA, the Kansas
Department of Health and Environ-
ment and the Kansas Department of
Animal Health.
• Part of the investigation led to
discovery of the fact that Busenitz'
herd of more than 550 hogs also may
have been in contact with the PCBs-
laced oil. Sixteen of the hogs that had
been slaughtered at Rodeo Meats in
Arkansas City were tested for conta-
mination and found to have less than
one-half part per million PCBs. By
comparison, the cattle that had died
showed from 130 ppm to 1,100 ppm
contamination. No official limits have
been established for meat, but federal
regulations prohibit selling poultry or
fish with, more than 5 ppm.
• .The EPA gave the meat firm
permission Wednesday to cut up the
hog carcasses and freeze them until a
decision could be made as to whether
the meat could be sold or would have
to be disposed of.
• Meanwhile, the 113 remaining
live cattle await an unknown fate at
the Mansion feedlot. Authorities have
yet to determine if and how they
should be disposed of.
• As of Wednesday, discrepancies
existed in reports from various feder-
al agencies concerning the where-
abouts of products' manufactured
from the dead animals. EPA officials
say they are certain all of the materi-
als from the dead animals have been
accounted for and are now embargoed
from use. The FDA, however, says the
final destination of the chicken feed is
still in question and tests are being
done on chickens that may have eaten
•the PCBs-contaminated feed and oa
eggs produced by these chickens.
• To date, no one has been able to
determine how much PCBa trans-
former oil is in circulation or how ex-
tensively it b being used on cattle,
-------
WICHITA BEACON
Thundoy, August 23, 1979
••^ ^^ ^^ I • **"•""* pt«»v.«^n inurtooy, *ugv*t a, iv/v
PCBs must be purged from
environment
It's reassuring that none of the beef from 54
cattle that died from exposure to the killer
chemical PCB found its way into the human
food chain, nor is it likely that meat from
another 100 contaminated animals exposed to
the substance will make it to the market-
place.
But the discovery that PCBs (polychlorinat-
ed biphenyls) were responsible for the deaths
within, a Newton cattle herd raises many wor-
risome questions. The cattle were exposed to
the cancer-causing agent by way of pil used in
back rubs commonly set up in pastures and
feedlots, to help keep flies off penned-up an-
imals.
In this case, the oil was salvaged from old
electrical transformers, evidently built before
1976, when the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency banned PCBs as a hazard to human
health and to the environment. The oil in those
transformers was heavily laced with PCBs —
some of it consisting of up to 95 percent
PCBs.
The question that must be answered now is
how many such transformers were salvaged
for their oil content, and how many cattlemen
have bought contaminated oil and unwittingly
exposed their livestock to it. In the case of the
Newton herd's contamination/the exposure
might have gone unnoticed, had the animals
not died from the high concentrations of PCBs.
And other cattle oilers on that ranch had been
filled with similarly contaminated oil for the
last eight years. It would be a matter of the
greatest good luck if none of the beef from the
animals that scratched their backs on those
oilers during those years was consumed by
humans.
Unfortunately, the worry doesn't stop there,
since PCBs had been in wide use as a coolant,
in hydrtulic fluid, and in plastics, inks, pre-
servatives and lubricants since the 1930s. So
how much of the toxic matter, which tends to
build up in living tissue after repeated expo-
sure, is sprinkled throughout the countryside
is all but impossible to determine.
But the EPA should be able to come up with
a fairly accurate estimate of how much PCB-
tainted transformer oil is still in existence.
Then it should move immediately to impound
the dangerous fluid and arrange for safe dis-
posal of it. In the meantime, meat inspectors
at slaughterhouses should begin checking
meat for the presence of PCBs as an added
safeguard.
And anyone — fanners and non-farmeri
alike — who may have bought salvaged trans-
former oil for any reason should get it out of
service as quickly as possible, for their sake
and the sake of anyone who .is likely to come
into contact with it or anything that has been
directly exposed to it.
As the unfortunate incident with the Newton
cattle has demonstrated, simply banning
deadly toxic substances such as PCBs isn't
enough; the EPA now must follow up with.
decisive in-field action as quickly as possible
to make sure those who are unaware of the
dangers of PCBs are protected.
-------
1HE KANSAS CITY STAR
If7»
Chance
Saved
Public
Feed/of Official
Agreed to Delay
Sale of Caff/e
HANSTON. Kan. (AP)-If It hadn't
been for • gentlemen'! agreement, 168
hud of cattle contaminated with a
cancer-causing chemical might have
•lipped undetected through a aeriea of
Ineat inspections and onto consumers'
plates.
The agreement was made between
Don Taylor, manager of the Pawnee
Valley Peedlot at Mansion, and Lamed
veterinarian Dennis Muck last May
when cattle started dying in droves
from contamination by polychlorinat-
•d biphenyls—called PCBs.
The PCBs came from waste oil that
had been used as fill material in elec-
trical transformers to control heat.
The oil was sold by a salvage yard,
mixed by Newton rancher Don Busen-
.lt> with insecticide and applied to cat-
tle.
At the time no one knew what had
caused the deaths of 86 head of cattle
from the herd of 168 that Busenitx had
taken to the feedlot for fattening.
Taylor said there are no laws requir-
ing feedlot operators or fanners to no-
tify authorities when livestock dl« on
their premise*.
. "We fatten about 60,000 head of cat-
tle a year, and in that time we treat an
awful lot of animals. So we are pretty
familiar with diseases, and when one
dies we can usually figure out why."
But. Taylor said. «vw I be doeant
know the cause of death then are no
laws requiring him to tell anyone
about the deaths. Nor la there any law
preventing him from wiling those
(lead animals to a rendering plant,
which is what happened with Busen-
ta's cattle, Taylor said.
"We consider it a matter of policy
that If we don't know what's wrong, we
eall in a vet." he said.
When Huck couldn't determine what
Jdlled the cattle he started an investi-
gation that led to tests by three diag-
nostic laboratories and took nearly
ttiiee months.
Meanwhile, products from the dead
cattle were being distributed to pet
food dealers and poultry feeders.
According to Taylor, a gentlemen's
agreement was made between himself
and Huck to hold the live cattle off the
meat market until the exact cause of
death could be determined. They re-
mained off the market—in a pen at the
feedlot—pending word on bow they
would be destroyed. Since then the cat-
tte have been determined to be walk-
log containers of hazardous waste.
If a veterinarian hadn't been con-
sul led and the remaining cattle hadn't
been sold for slaughter the odds are
Igainst the PCB being detected by Ins-
pectors.
Last year, t68 cattle out of about 3
million that were slaughtered in the
United States were inspected for PCB
contamination, said Dr. John Spauld-
mg. director of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's residue detection divi-
sion.
Spaulding said it is entirely possible
that 168 head of contaminated cattle
could go undetected at the time of
slaughter.
-------
Hutchinsoh News Fri., Aug. t4,1979
Seek burial site for
contaminated cattle
TOPEKA (UP1) - State officials
•re searching for a possible burial site
la Kansas (or 113 cattle contaminated
with the deadly chemical PCB.
Howard Duncan, director of the
state's Environmental Sanitation Bu-
*MU, Thursday said his department
hopes the Environmental Protection
Agency will grant a waiver allowing
the cattle, owned by Newton farmer
tDon Busenitt, to be buried is the
•tat*.
Without • waiver, federal regu-
lations require the cattle to be dis-
posed of at a Nevada industrial waste
site. An Ames, Iowa, laboratory had
•oniidered using the herd as a re-
search experiment but has since
dropped those plans.
Duncan said his staff is in-
vestigating sites within 60 miles of
the Pawnee Valley feedlot »ear Bur-
sfett, where the cattle are quar-
antined. They are looking for a
geologically secure site with non-
aorous, clay soil so PCB, which don't
break down in the environment, can-
not seep into groundwater supplies.
The fate of the cattle, along with
pigs contaminated with much smaller
amounts of PCB, is in the hands of
Mate and federal officials from several
agencies, who are meeting Friday.
. Officials of the state's environmen-
tal bureau, the EPA, U.S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture, Food and Drug
Administration, Kansas Board of Ag-
riculture and the state Department of
•Animal Health were called together
to discuss the problem.
-------
Hutchinson News
Fri., Aug. 24. 1979
Electrical capacitors
treated with PCB oil
MCPHERSON - At least 12 elec-
trical capacitor banks on utility poles
in or near McPherson contain oil
treated with the deadly chemical
polychlorinated byphenyl, commonly
known as PCB. according to Don Ge-
rmrd. general manager of the McPber-
•oo Board of Publk Utilities.
PCB was banned from use in 1976
and bas recently been in the eye of
the public after • cattle herd near
Newton was found to be contaminated
with the chemical.
The PCB concentrates in the ofl is
"probably in excess of 500 parts per
million." Gerard.
la compliance with recent Environ-
mental Protection Agency orders,
•aeh of the capacitors has been
marked with • yellow, stick-on label
-warning of the PCB content.
The EPA has ordered that any oil
having a PCB concentration of 50 to
500 parts per million to be gathered.
sealed in barrels and transported to
•even EPA approved landfills in the
U.S.
Electrical components containing
the PCB will be allowed to stay in use
until they wear out, according to
Wolfgang Brandner, chief of the EPA
toxic section in Kansas City, Mo.
As the units are taken out of serv-
ice, the oil will be cautiously drained
.out and the unit and oil disposed of
by either transporting it to an ap-
proved landfill or by high temper-
ature incineration in special facilities
BOW being built, Brandner said.
-------
fHE WICHITA UGLf
Quarantined Hogs Found
'Essentially Free' of PCB
By KAREN FREIBERG
Staff Writer
Test results released Thursday of hogs quarantined on a
Newton farm show low-level contamination from the toxic
chemical PCB — so low that one state official said he
would like to see the embargo lifted and the bogs allowed
to be sold.
The results conformed with earlier tests of 16 hogs that
had been slaughtered from a herd of more than 550 hogs
held on the farm of Don Busenitz.
"The results show that both the slaughtered hogs and
the live hogs have one-half part per million PCB conta-
mination," said Howard Duncan, director of the Kansas
Department of Health and Environment's bureau of sani-
tation. .
"That tells us the hogs were essentially free of tbe
chemical, and, as far as our agency is concerned, release
of the hogs looks favorable," Duncan said.
The hogs became suspected as carriers of the cancer-
causing chemical PCB after it was learned that PCB.
polychlorinated biphenyl, lulled 55 of Busenitz's cattle.
PCB apparently was contained in oil that Busenitz had
mixed with insecticides and applied to the cattle through
backrubbers. Some of the bogs on his farm also bad
access to the oilers.
PCBc ARE USED in electrical transformers because of
their high resistance to heat. They have been shown to
cause cancer in laboratory animals.
The decision of whether to release tbe live hogs and the
meat from the slaughtered hogs, which is stored in
freezers at Rodeo Meats in Arkansas City, will be mad^by
numerous state and federal officials.
~J
At least five agencies are involved in the PCB contro-
versy — the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Adminis-
tration, the Kansas Department of Animal Health and the
KDHE.
Officials from these agencies met Wednesday and will
meet again today to determine what action to take re-
. garding the hogs and the remaining 113 head of cattle that
are quarantined at the Pawnee Valley Feedlot in Han-
ston .
Duncan said the decisions will be tough to make because
• there are no legal precedents to follow. Personal judg-
ments will be required, he said.
"The problem is there is no standard for how much PCB
is acceptable in red meat. There have been levels estab-
. Ushed for fish and poultry, but unless the bogs can grow
feathers or fins, that isn't any help.for us," Duncan
said.
The FDA has established a tolerance level of 5 parts per
million PCB content in fish and poultry. The pork from
Busenitz's farm contained one-tenth of that amount.
DUNCAN SAID he sees "no hope" for the remaining
live cattle. An Iowa laboratory determined that 51 of the
dead cattle died from PCB stress. "The lab in Ames.
Iowa, says the chance of using them as research is rapidly
lading on the horizon. They are steers so can't be used for
•breeding purposes. They have no value."
Each day the decision is delayed costs money. Accord-
ing to Don Taylor, manager of the custom feedlot where
the cattle are quarantined, it costs about $100 a day to feed
the cattle.
Agriculture officials estimated the value of Busenitz's
herd at moire than $100,000.
Duncan said a veterinarian has been hired to take sam-
ples from the 96 cattle that have not been tested to deter-
mine if any of the animals escaped contamination.
Duncan said he does not expect any concrete decisions
at today's meeting. He said it may be Monday before any
solutions can be reached.-
He said well water and soil tests at the Busenitz farm
have shown little or no PCB contamination, with the ex-
ception of the feedlot where the cattle had been penned.
"The water showed no detectable contamination when it
came from the well, and rain water runoff from one of the
hog lots was also negative," Duncan said.
Other tests showed PCB in varying amounts: 2 ppm in
the ensilage, .3 ppm in one hog lot and .06 ppm in another.
and 19 ppm and • ppm in the cattle yard.
-------
Here Are
THE WICHITA EAGLf
Friday, Augu»! 24, 1979
Some Facts About PCB
By KAREN FREIBERG
Staff Writer
Although Congress decided in 1976
that the chemical that has killed 55
cattle in Kansas should be banned, it
wasn't until July 1 of this year that
regulations were put into effect.
Meanwhile, polychlorinated N-
phenyls, or PCBs. continued to be
used in various things, ranging from
huge electrical transformers to such
household items as painU. inks and
caulking compounds.
Some common questions and an-
swers about PCBs are:
Q.WaattsPCB?
A. PCB is a chemical developed In
1929 that is highly resistant to heat.
Q. Bow are PCBs used?
A. The chemical is popular because
of its high resistance to beat. It is used
primarily in electrical transformers
and capacitors and in heat transfer
and hydraulic systems.
Q. D* iKtffhffM HTTP contain
PCBs?
A. About 10 percent of the PCBs
produced were used in fluorescent
light ballasts, a device in the fluore-
scent tube that stabilizes the flow of
•current in the light. Other uses are in
paints, adhesives, caulking com-
pounds, inks, carbonless copy paper
sealants and dust control agenU.
Q. Are PCBs a threat to human
health?
A. PCBs are slow-acting poisons
that accumulate in the body, eventu-
ally causing symptoms such as fa-
tigue. ikin disorders, numbness, re-
productive failures and liver
problems. They have been shown to
ctutf fffiffr ip laboratory. animals.
Q. Have PCBt beea known to cause
In humans?
A. There Is no documented evidence
of anyone dying in the United States
from PCBs. Accidental addition of
PCBs to rice oil poisoned 1,200 Japa-
nese in 1968, resulting in birth defects
and other side effects such as those
mentioned earlier. The oil contained
between 1,000 part* per million and
2,000 ppm.
Q. Why did the cattle that recently
died from PCBs die after they entered
the feedlot when they had been treat-
ed with the chemical for five months
before that?
A. For the five months prior to en-
tering the feedlot. the cattle had been
absorbing the chemical through their
hides as they came in contact with
treated back rubbers. Since it accunv
lates in the system, it was this pro-
longed contact that allowed it to build
up* It is thought that when the cattle
were dipped upon entering the feedlot,
a common procedure for treating new
arrivals for ticks and other parasites,
the animals' natural capacity to de-'
toxlfy poisonous substances was.
lowered, adding more stress to that
caused by PCBs. Only those cattle
with the lowest natural reserves died.
Others may have shown signs of
•tress but did not die.
Q. What laws govern tht use of to*
efcmical?.
A. In 1976, Congress passed a bill
that called for the ban of several toxic
substances, including PCBs. The En-
vironmental Protection Agency was
charged with developing phase-out
regulations and rules for disposal and
for halting manufacture of the the
product. The actual phase-out regula-
tions, however, didn't go into effect
until July 1,1979.
Q. Does that mean PCBs were
available to the public in waste prod-
ucts for the past three years even
though the law was passed banning It
In 1171?
A. Yes. Most utility companies,
however, began storing the contami-
nated waste oil around the beginning
of this year.
Q. What does It mean when the EPA
•ays It Is phasing oat PCB use?
A. It means manufacture of PCBs
has been stopped, but existing PCBs
can still be used until the carrier be-
comes dysfunctional. In the case of
electrical transformers, the oil must
be removed and incinerated or stored
at a special hazardous waste site. In
the case of fluorescent lights, the EPA
has determined that there is no way to
control their disposal.
Q. D* utilities In Kansas still OM
these transformers, and js any of the
til •torad In the state by **il)tie»?.
A. Yes. KG&E officials say they still
have several operational PCB trans-
formers. They also say a supply of the
oil is stored in the company's main
service center in Wichita that is used
for maintenance on existing trans-
formers. Other utility companies
have indicated that they use PCB
transformers and capacitors.
Q. How do PCBs get Into (aod?
A. Fish absorb the chemical from
contaminated water. Another exam-
ple would be if cattle containing PCBs
were sold to a rendering plant and
their by-products were mixed with
chicken feed. PCBs would be trans-
ferred to the chicken meat or eggs.
Q. What controls are placed M
(•ods JIM twining PCB?
A. The highest levels of PCBs are
concentrated in freshwater fish, such
as coho and chinook salmon from the
Great Lakes, freshwater trout and
catfish. For a long time, the Food and
Drug Administration held that S ppm
was an allowable level of contamina-
tion in both fish and poultry. On Tues-
day, however, these limits will be re-
duced as follows: from 5 ppm to 2 ppm
for'fish, from 2.5 ppm to 1.5 ppm in
dairy products, from 5 ppm to 3 ppm
in poultry and from .5 ppm to J ppm
in eggs.
Q. How much PCB-contaminatod
food would It be necessary to eat be*
fore a person becomes sick?
A. No one knows for sure what the
danger level is. "A lot" is the common
answer from officials. Because the
chemical is accumulative and does
not break down in the environment.
the real danger to human health is
eating small amounts of the chemical
disguised in food over a long period of
time.
-------
l\o
danger tound Hutchison News sun.. AUg. 26. 1979
State frees hogs for
Farmer's cattle dinner
may be destroyed
By Carol Loman
TOPEKA - State and federal officials have released "for
general consumption" the carcasses of 16 hogs from the Don
Busenitz farm, Newton, and have released 125 live hogs
from quarantine.
The animals may be butchered and sent to dinner tables
across the country.
Holds were placed on the live hog*
and carcasses earlier this month after
•tat* and federal officials determined
54 cattle from the Busenitz farm had
died from PCB poisoning. The PCB.
polychlorinated byphenyls, are a
deadly chemical that waa contained in
transformer oil Buaenitz used as an
insect repellent on livestock.
The chemical PCB does not break
down and ha* been known to cause
cancer, nerve damage and death in
test animal*.
Content of PCB
Joe Harkness. director of the Kan-
sas Department of Health and Envi-
ronment. Saturday said, "a second lab
test at the Environmental Protection
Agency laboratory confirmed the
original lab test...that the content of
PCB (in the hog*) was either nonex-
istent or so low that it was negli-
gible.'
There will be additional laboratory
tests on 409 other live hogs on the
Busenitx farm. "We don't expect to
find any contaminated, but we feel
that the lab tests need to be eon-
ducted as a precautionary matter. We
expect to be releasing those animal*
\ext week." Harkness said.
However. 113 of Busenitz' cattle
probably won't be so lucky. Harkness
laid those animals, which have been
under quarantine since May, when 64
of the original herd of 167 died,
"probably will have to be destroyed
and disposed of."
Busenitz' loss on the cattle is ex-
pected to be about $100.000. A coat of
about $100 a day has been accruing
since the cattle have been quar-
antined at a Garden City feedlot.
However, Harkness also said Satur-
day that the health department has
changed the quarantine order to an
order of impoundment. That means
the state will take over control of the
animals and the expense of impound-
ing them. He said the animals prob-
ably will have to be destroyed and it
was unfair to burden the farmer and
feed lot with the expense when the
state has no site immediately ayajl-.
able for disposal of the animals.
Tissue samples from the animals
have been sent to the National Ani-
mal Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for
mere testing before they are ordered
destroyed. "We want to make abso-
lutely certain that we are not unnec-
essarily destroying any animal,"
Harkness said. "We don't expect to
The state is considering severa
ternatives for disposal of the ca\
One is to ship them out of stai*
one of seven facilities licensed lor
dangerous waste disposal. The state
also is considering designing and de-
veloping an in-state site for purpose*
of rapid disposal.
To do that, the state would have to
get federal approval of the plan a*
well as find a location, design the fa-
cility and set up a continuous mon-
itoring program for the site.
"We're looking for the safest and
fastest ways of disposing of the ani-
mal*," Harkness said.
Check family
Harkness also confirmed that his
department has offered to check the
Busenitz family for PCB con-
tamination.
"We have (contacted the family and
offered the ^medical consultation of
our staff and the Communicable Dis-
ease Center in Atlanta," he said.
"That's being handled by one of our
staff physicians and I don't know the
status. I'm confident that the family
will take reasonable measures to have
their own safety protected."
Harkness added he didn't think the
Busenitz family's health waa in dan-
ger.
-------
ST.LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Sun., August 26,1979 ,
Union Seeks More Protection From
UE On Toxic Chemical1
ly Harry Wllensky
»VM Pott-Dispatch SUN
A union representing Union Electric
Co. workers says it wants more
protection (or those who handle toxic
chemicals — Including PCBs — as
recommended in a federal study in 1977.
The unpubliclzed federal study was
undertaken after some UE employees
whose work exposes them to toxic
chemicals complained of skin irritation,'
dizziness and eye irritation.
The study found that the hazard level
to which those workers were being
exposed was well below the federal
standard. The utility was meeting safety
requirements in working conditions.
' But because so little is known about
long-term effects of exposure, the study
recommended additional safeguards,
some of which Union Electric has
provided. However, the utility hu
rejected others as unnecessary.
One of the recommendation* that was
rejected called (or annual physical test*
(or workers exposed to toxic chemical*.
The study has never been mad*
public. The Post-Dispatch learned of It
while looking into a PCB spill la Ballwln
two weeks ago.
The union Is Local 1439 of the
International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers. The federal study It requested
was made by the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health.
Union spokesmen uy they are
preparing to ask the company to
reconsider Its rejection of annual
physicals..
The principal toxic chemical* causing
concern among woriur* art PCB*
(polychlortnaW'd bipheoyU). which art
used ai coolant* la traoiiormers and
condenser*, and trtchloropbenoxyacatic
add, which U B*ed la spraying
operations.
Of Union Electric'* 5.400 employees,
approximately 200 are Involved with
PCBs and 100 with herbicide spraying.
Exposure to oils containing PCBs
occurs infrequently during maintenance
of transformers and more frequently
during yearly inspections. Linemen also
have potential exposure when replacing
a leaking condenser known a* a
capacitor.
Although the federal study found
little evidence of danger to amplujfaaa, H
reported:
of PCB*
vs/tout tooti and eojolpmaal aad OB tbs
hand* aod face* of tropkiyxa. ta vkw of
the Inadequacy of existing knowtedj* of
the potential loridty of tow-levd.
exposures to PCBs, a judgment a* to
whether employees were being exposed
to levels which may be potentially
hazardous cannot be made at this time
"Since there Is so little information
available regarding the long-term
effects of low-level exposure over a
working lifetime and since PCBs may be
retained in the body for yean, It is
advisable to reduce air concentrations to
*r/aMaaaaf
coatnU."
r m r ~f 9 * — " • ~» ••• •
w«rkm tipo«*d to PCBs *a4
pasOrtdaa. A tpotatmaa for Ueioa
Electric said tbt rnromnvmUdon was
rejected bec*u*e the company's
physicians • considered such
examinations unnecessary.
Another recommendation was that
the area used for overhauling
transformers containing PCBs and the
area used by linemen for testing oil
should be strictly set apart from other
areas. Union Electric since has built a
separate building for these operation*.
One recommendation called for an
onproved education program on toxicrry
tezards. The company said h has
conducted such educational meeting*.
Potentially exposed women to the
vork force who are of child-bearing age
ihould be advised of the advene effect*
of the chemicals on the unborn child, the
report continued. It tald those who bear
children while working with PCB*
.should be counseled on the advene
effects of nursing the child.
The company said It has no women
porting with the toxic chemicals, to h
considered this recommendation
Irrelevant.
Earl Schubert, a union businss agent,
•aid the IBEW plans to meet with
^management soon to negotiate a "safe
work practice" program based on the
«ecoramendations in the federal study.
Ooe of the major objective* will be
4be annual physicals, be said. Be said
the union was disappointed in
management'* initial rejection of this
••commendation.
Another union objective will be
Improving the education program
auggested • by the federal expert*.
Workers need to be made fully aware of
toxic hazards and first-aid procedures,
Schubert said.
"Just what to do to handling a PCB
spill ihould be spelled put clearly, In
detail." he said. "Right now. each
repair crew sort of chooses it* own way
tt handling a cleanup."
One UE worker who asked not to be
Identified said be wa* worried about
aimself and hi* family "getting
contaminated" because be bad been
working on cleanups of PCB spills
before toxic hazards were recognized
I In past years, he laid. "When tome of
1 the stuff got on your clothes, you were
fold just to wash your hands and get
your clothes washed. But for the last two
years, the men have been wearing jump
,«uits, (loves, masks — stuff that to
•destroyed after each job."
, PCBs are fireproof as well a* a food
•conductor and Insulator. But being
Aemically inert, they are so stable that
«»*y persist Indefinitely.
i PCBs for SO years have been used all
tfver the world In capacitors on power
tines. Only in recent years has the toxic
hazard been recognized.
; Union Electric gradually I* phasing
out Its 35,000 PCB capacitors and has
placed in operation 500 of a new type
containing no toxic element*. But It
intends to use up Its remaining supply of
.PCB capacitors.
• A capacitor consists of layer* of foil
Immersed in a stainless steel container.
Lightning striking a power line can
rupture the seams of this f""t»infr and
spill two gallons of PCBs on the ground.
Such a spill occurred Aug. 8 on a pole
at the northwestern corner of
Manchester and Kefar* Mill road* In
•altwin. To clean ap the spill, UE
linemen removed about 100 feet of soil
mat might have been contaminated.
A sawdust-like substance was spread
over the pavement to absorb the oily
apUl. All the contaminated material —
Art, oil, rags — was placed In two steel
drums for shipment to a waste disposal
center in Alabama
All six of the capacitors on this pole
were replaced with new unit* «•*•'"'"£
BO PCBs.
Workers handling such cleanups
carry an emergency kit. If they consider
a PCB spill dangerous, they can put on
disposable clothing that resembles a
rain cult and Includes plastic bootees.
The authors of the federal study noted
that studies of occupational exposure to
PCBs have been made in Japan, Sweden
and Australia and said: "PCBs have not
clearly been demonstrated to result io
adverse human health effects with the
possible exception of chloracne,"
The federal study reported that UE
workers using kerosene In spraying
operations formerly complained of
headaches, nausea, skin rash and eye
Irritation. These symptoms showed up
when linemen were spraying without
protective clothing or respirator* with
toggles.
-------
Toxic Aeent
i containing dirt and other material contaminated by a PCB apiii Aug.
6 at Manchester and Kehrs Mill roads await removal. Union Electric Co.
crews cleaned up the ground after lightning cracked open a capacitor
containing the PCBs.
"However, no employee has had any
of the above symptoms since the
company provided protective clothing
and respjraton a few yean ago," the
report said. "The only employee
complaint since the company furnished
protective clothing is that while wearing
rubberized rainwear or impervious
outerwear, they get hot and sweaty in
the summertime."
Schubert agreed with this
observation, reporting that the only
complaints from workers lately involved
the discomfort of very hot work in the
protective clothing.
A spokesman for Union Electric said:
"Our workmen for many yean have
been handling PCBs just like oil, and
there has never been any adverse
reaction other than skin rash."
He said the chief concern about PCBi
is not any potential effect on worker*
handling them but the danger of the
toxic materials getting into waterways,
contaminating fish and thus getting into
the food chain.
Last year, a firm collecting PCB-
contaroinated waste from 1,800 St.
Louis-area service stations and trucking
companies was charged with dumping
the material in a makeshift disposal site
near a tributary of the Meramec River
In Jefferson County.
Some of the waste seeped into the
Stream and killed fish, it was reported
Label warning ot the toxic danger
posed by a drumful of chemicals
used in electric capacitors.
-------
6A THE KANSAS CITY STAR &**»*** *, im
PCB Tests Negative on Hogs
TOPEKA (AP)—The Newton. Kan..
fanner whose hogs were quarantined
after 55 of his cattle were killed by the
toxic chemical PCB will be allowed to
sell his hog carcasses and bring 125
hogs out of quarantine, state and fed-
eral officials decided Saturday in To-
peka.
The Kansas Department of Health
and Environment and the U.S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture released the hog
carcasses after two sets of tests
showed no contamination.
Joe Harkins, secretary of the Kan-
sas department, said he also released
125 live hogs for market which were on
the Don Busenitz farm because tests
showed no contamination.
The hogs became suspected as carri-
ers of the cancer-causing chemical af-
ter it was learned that PCB, polychlo-
rinated biphenyl, killed 55 of Busenitz''
cattle. The deadly chemical was in
waste oil Busenitz was using on the
animals in a backrub to ward off in-
sects.
Harkins said 400 remaining hogs will
be released if the tests are negative.
Harkins said the state has received
"absolutely no reports of any other
farmers with problems. At this time
we are very optimistic that this is a
very isolated case," he added.
-------
THE WICHITA EACH! AMD KACON Sunday, A«u*t 96, 1979
PCB Gases
Controlled,
Officials Say
. -State and federal authorities said
Saturday that the PCB poisoning in
Newton ia completely under control.
One hundred twenty-five hogs from
Don Busenitz' Newton farm and 16
frozen carcasses were released from
an Arkansas City packing house after
officials decided the meat was free
from the cancer-causing chemical,
they said.
The officials also impounded 113 of
Busenitz' cattle contaminated with
PCB. releasing him and the Pawnee
Valley FeedJot in Mansion from fur-
Iher costs of paying for the animals,
•which had been under quarantine
while the agencies studied the prob-
lem. A way to dispose of the cattle is
now being sought.
Busenitz unknowingly had been
using waste oil contaminated with
PCB to mix with an insecticide. Bu-
senitz bought the oil eight years ago
from a Walton salvage dealer. He
used the oil to make the insecticide
stick to the animals' coats. Investiga-
tion began when 55 cattle died at the
feedlot.
Dr. Joseph F. Harkins, secretary of
the Kansas Department of Health and
Environment, said tests on other hogs
on Busenitz' farm will be completed
soon.
Harkins also said any remaining oil
*-ill be removed from the farm and
(Contamination cleanup completed so
that Busenitz -can return to normal
operations on bis farm.
-------
Hutchinson News Tues., Aug. 28,1979
Officials await PCB test
results
TOPEKA. Kan. (UPI) - State offi-
cials Monday awaited laboratory n-
• ulta to determine whether a
quarantine on hog* at a Newton farm
can be totally lifted.
A total of 125 bog* owned by Don
BuMniti of Newton have been freed
from quarantine after testa revealed
they had only minimal levela of the
toxic chemical PCB In their fatty Us-
Tiatue sample* on the farmer'a re-
maining 409 hogs, held in separate
peai. have been Down to an Ames,
Iowa, laboratory. Howard Duncan,
state environmental sanitation direc-
tor. Monday said result* are expected
later this week.
Hie frozen carcasses of 16 of Bus-
•jtiu* hogs, slaughtered before the
animals became suspect of PCB poi-
soning, hsve been released for eon-
sumption. Tests found low or
negligible levels of PCB in the meat.
The hogs had been held from sale
since early August when officials dis-
covered some of BuseniU* cattle died
from massive poisoning by poly-
chlorinated biphenyls, known as
PCB*.
PCBa, banned from production by'
the Environmental Protection Agency
in 1976, do not break down and have
been known to cause cancer and
nerve damage in test ""'"ifltt In
large doses, death can occur.
Joe Harkina, director of the Kansas
Department of Health and Environ-
ment, said if the 409 untested hogs on
BuseniU' farm are found to be uncon-
Umlnated, they probably will be re-
leased from quarantine this week.
"We don't expect to find any con-
taminated, but we feel that the lab
tests need to be conducted aa a pre-
cautionary matter," Harkina said.
The outlook is different for 118 of
BuseniU' cattle under quarantine on a
feedlot near Burdett. They are the re-
mainder of a herd that began dying in
May.
Tissue samples from the cattle have
been sent to Iowa for testing to make
sure all are contaminated.
However, state officials suspect the
entire herd will hsve to be destroyed
and are waiting for cost-estimates be-
fore determining bow to dispose of
the cattle.
BuseniU's cattle were exposed to
PCBs la waste transformer oO u»
farmer had used in back-rubbers. If
all are destroyed, the farmer stands
to lose more than $100.000. plus
about $100 daily costs of maintaining
the cattle on the feedlot.
Harkins said the state has changed
the order from a quarantine to an or-
der of impoundment, whkh means the
health department will pay the daily
eoaU and will take control of the
cattle. He said the state also will pay
to destroy the cattle and make aure
the carcasses are disposed of accord-
Ing to federal regulations.
Harkins confirmed the health de-
partment has offered to have the Bus-
enitx family checked for PCB
contamination, even though it did not
appear the family's health was in dan-
ger.
-------
(The 8an£a£ (Titg JJime?
.-„<> t»«™ r
PCB Fears Ease
. Officials Say They've Traced
I All Toxic Oil in Cattle Deaths
By Dick Haws
A Member of ttw Staff
LAWRENCE. Kan.—The investiga-
tion of Kansas' worst case of PCB con-
tamination is drawing to a close, and
officials say it was bad, but not nearly
as bad as it might have been.
The final results of tests on contami-
nated cattle under quarantine near
Newton, Kan., are expected within 10
days. The cattle that have heavy con-
centrations of the cancer-causing
chemical probably will be shipped to a
special site in Nevada for disposal,
said Mel Gray, director of the environ-
mental division of the Kansas Depart-
ment of Health and Environment
Many of the cattle have PCB concen-
trations of 50 to 500 parts per million, a
contamination level that requires dis-
posal at one of seven special landfills
in the country. Federal authorities
have not established an allowable lim-
it for PCB in red meat, but in fish and
poultry, it Is five parts per million.
The source of the contamination has
been traced to nine 55-gallon barrels of
waste oil found on the farm of Don
Busenitz, who owns the cattle. Busen-
itz told authorities he remembered
buying as many as 15 to 20 barrels of
the oil eight years ago to use in a back-
rub mixture to keep insects off his live-
stock. Officials now speculate that the
oil Busenitz used on his earlier herds
was not contaminated.
"It's a possibility that we'll never be
able to prove." Gray said.
The contaminated oil came to light
after 54 of Busenitz's 168 cattle died
earlier this summer. An investigation
found a high PCB level in both the live
and dead animals.
Last week the Department of Health
and Environment lifted its quarantine.
on 125 of Busenitz's hogs after tests
showed they were not contaminated.
An additional 400 hogs are under quar-
antine while testing continues.
The toxic oil was traced to a now-'
defunct auction house in the central
Kansas town of Walton, and authori-
ties believe the nine barrels on Busen-
itz's farm represent all the contami-
nated oil sold by the auction house. '_
An analysis of the topsoil in Busen-.
itz's feedlot showed only minimal PCB
concentrations—two to four parts per*
million—and at a depth of 6 inches,
investigators found no trace of the
chemical. Authorities say they can de-
contaminate the feedlot by scraping
off the topsoil and then burying it in a
landfill. -
Because of the exceedingly high con-'
lamination, the barrels and back-rub-
bing devices used to apply the oil to the
livestock must be sent to special incin-
eration plants that are still under con-
struction. The contaminated items will
be stored in a warehouse until an incin-
erator is available. "'
-------
Toprka Sun-Journal. Thursday. Aupusl 30,1979
Soil contaminated by
Topsoil in a feedlot on the Newton
farm of Don Buscnitz will have to be
removed and buried in a landfill be-
cause of PCB contamination, Kansas
Department of Health and Environ-
ment officials said today.
A topsoil analysis found PCB con-
tamination of two to four parts per mil-
lion, but there was no trace of the toxic
chemical at a depth of 6 inches, offi-
cials said.
The oil drums and applicating equip-
ment for the backrub mixture must be
destroyed in special incineration plants
because of their extremely high PCB
contamination levels.
An investigation is nearly complete
into what is being called the state's
worst case of PCB contamination, offi-
cials said.
Within 10 days, officials expect final
results of tests on contaminated cattle
under quarantine near Newton.
Mel Gray, director of the depart-
ment's division of environment, said
cattle that have a heavy concentration
of the cancer -causing chemical probab-
ly would be shipped to a special site in
Nevada for disposal.
He said preliminary tests indicated
that many of the cattle have PCB con-
centrations of SO to 500 parts per mil-
lion, an amount that requires disposal
at one of seven special landfills in the
nation.
There arc no federal standards for
PCB limits in red meat, but maximum
allowable amounts in fish and poultry
is five ptrts per million.
The contamination sourer, Gray
said, has been traced to nine drums of
waste oil found on the farm of Busenilz,
who owns the cattle. Buscnitz has said
he bought the oil eight years ago to use
in a backrub mixture to keep insects off
his livestock.
Earlier this summer the contamina-
tion was discovered after 54 of Buse-
nitz's 168 cattle died, and an investiga-
tion showed high amounts of PCB in
both the live and dead animals. Offi-
cials speculate that oil used on earlier
herds was not contaminated.
The Department of Health and Envi-
ronment lifted a quarantine pn 125 of
Busenilz's hogs last week, but an addi-
tional 400 hogs are still quarantined as
testing continues to measure possible
PCB contamination.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency in Kansas City said
PCB will be buried
Wednesday it was Investigating the
possibility that oil spread on roads near
the Johnson County landfill may have
contained PCB.
Rancllc Rae. a staff attorney for the
EPA, said the probe started Aug. 18
after the agency received an anony-
mous complaint that oil used to keep
dust down on gravel roads around the
landfill near Shawnee contained high
lev els of PCB.
She said the EPA was handling the
investigation because it is concerned
the chemical could be released into the
environment. Gray said his agency
supported the EPA in the investigation
"to assure there are no hazards in-
volved."
Contaminated Cattle
May Go to Waste Site
TOPEKA (UPI) _ An industrial
waste disposal site near Wichita
might become the burial ground for
113 cattle contaminated with the toxic
chemical PCB.
Howard Duncan, state environmen-
tal sanitation director, said Thursday
that the cattle probably would be
shipped to the Kansas Industrial En-
vironmental Services' waste dump at
Furley to be slaughtered and buried.
He said correspondence with the En-
vironmental Protection Agency must
be completed before a decision is
made.
Duncan said it might be as long as
30 days before a decision can be made
and the cattle destroyed.
The cattle, owned by Don Busenitz
of Newton, are impounded by the
state on a feed lot near Burdett. They
are the remainder of a herd that
began dying in May.
The cattle was exposed to polych-
lorinated biphenyls. PCBs, in waste
electrical transformer oil that was
applied to the cattle by livestock back
rubbers as an insect repellent.
Busenitz' cattle and hogs have beer
withheld from market since early Au
gust, when officials discovered that
some of his cattle died from PCB poi-
soning.
PCBs were banned from production
by the EPA in 1976. PCBs do notbreak
down and have been known to cause
cancer and nerve damage in test an-
imals. In large doses, the chemical
can cause death.
Duncan said an Ames, Iowa, labo-
ratory rejected an offer to use the
contaminated herd for research pur-
poses. Kansas State University was
reluctant to accept a similar offer be-
cause of the problem of disposing of
the hazardous waste. Because they do
not deteriorate, PCBs from carcasses
or manure must be prevented from
seeping into water supplies from a
waste disposal site.
The official said the cattle probably
would be hauled live to Furley,
slaughtered and buried in a trench.
An EPA-approved gas collection sys-
tem also would be installed to sup-
press the odor from the decaying car-
casses.
-------
WICHITA BEACON Thur.doy. Au0utt 30. 1979
Ending the PCB threat
It's good to see a government agency mov- there is still much cause for concern. As we
ing decisively in handling a contaminated said earlier, no one knows how many barrels
herd of cattle and the remaining barrels of of dangerous transformer oil brimming with
PCB-fouled oil that infected them with the PCBs were salvaged after the chemical com-
cancer-causing agent. The Kansas Depart- pound was banned by the U.S. Environmental
ment of Health and Environment is at work on Protection Agency three years ago. There
safely disposing of the condemned animals may be cattle or hogs in other parts of the
and the salvaged transformer oil, having as- state, or in other states, still scratching their
sumed that responsibility. backs on oilers filled with such oil. And now
It goes without saying that both the contain- « « ''J
inated carcasses and oil should be sealed off so becn
as not to present any risk of further exposure
to people or the environment. We trust that There is no question that PCBs pose a
water supplies and other potential sources of serious threat to living beings: They can ac-
contact with the PCBs discovered on a farm cumulate in tissue over an extended period
near Newton will be so protected. and eventually spawn an outbreak of cancer,
p ... . ... . . „ ... , or they can, through toxic effects in extremely
Something should be done to offset the losses high i*vels cause death in a matter of days or
of those who had money and time invested in Weeks
the beef cattle herd that ultimately will have .. ' . , . .. XT . . ...
to be destroyed. Knowing that they did the . " mu.st te "^ the Newton contamination
right thing, by keeping the cattle out of the »Jc'den. , was an isolated occurrence - one
food chain after more than 50 of the animals that ™n "ot * repeated. But hoping isnt
died mysteriously, shouldn't be their only enou£n' wh;n Preventable cancer and death
reward are the end results of inaction. The EPA
should undertake a program now to track
But while the Newton incident eventually down unaccounted-for PCBs and make sure
may be brought to a satisfactory conclusion, this known killer is never again set at large.
-------
THE KANSAS CITY TIMES
PC6 May Be on Roads Near Landfill
ByLizReardon
A Mtfflbir of ttw Stvff
. Oil used on roads near the Johnson
County landfill earlier this month may
tiave contained PCB. a toxic, cancer-
Causing chemical linked to the con-
.lamination of a central Kansas cattle
herd, Environmental Protection Agen-
cy of ficials here said Wednesday.
; Ms. Ranelle Rae, an EPA staff attor-
ney, confirmed that the federal agency
began an investigation on Aug. 18
based on an anonymous complaint
that oils used to keep dust down on
gravel roads in the vicinity of the land-
fill contained PCB levels prohibited by
federal law.
The oil apparently was applied to
roads near the landfill, at 181B1W. 63rd
Just north of the Shawnee city limits,
by a private firm, officials of the Kan-
sas Department of Health and Envi-
ronment said Wednesday. The depart-
ment refused to identify the firm, and
Ms. Rae declined comment on how far
the EPA investigation had proceeded.
Deffenbaugh Disposal Service oper-
ates the landfill, but officials from that
firm could not be contacted Wednes-
day.
Federal regulations prohibit the use
of waste oil containing "any detecta-
ble concentration" of PCB for road
oiling to control dust, Ms. Rae said.
Robert Grace/staff
Area of PCB Investigation
LANDFILL
PCB, polychlorinated bipheny), has
been used for SO years as a fill materi-
al in electrical transformers. It is fire
resistant and is commonly used to cool
high-powered electrical equipment.
The chemical is sometimes drained
from transformers and sold as waste
oil for uses such as road sealing and
•praying weeds, Ms. Rae said.
Chronic, long-term toxic effects can
result when humans and warm-blood-
ed animals are exposed to even very
'low concentrations of the chemical,
f EPA officials have said. Petroleum in-
]dustry workers exposed to PCB over a
^period of 'time showed symptoms that
'included akin disorders, respiratory
(infections and impotence.
» High levels of PCB were found in the
podies of 54 dead cattle owned by a
(Newton, Kan., farmer earlier this
'month. The farmer had used oils con-
ftaining what were considered fatal
•concentrations of PCB in a back-rub-
rbing compound on the animals. Other
tanimals on the farm were quarantined
(to test for PCB levels in fat tissues.
I The EPA is spearheading the inves-
tigation, Ms. Rae said, because the
{agency is concerned that if roads were
•prayed with an oil compound contain-
ing PCB, the chemical could be re-
leased into the environment and enter
the food chain. PCB is not broken down
In the food chain but, instead, accumu-
lates and can cause difficulties such as
(those noted in petroleum workers ex-
posed to the chemical for long periods
« time. The chemical also has been
kinked to reproductive failures and
kkin tumors in laboratory animals.
I Contacted Wednesday, afternoon.
JCounty Commissioner Robert Bacon
id county officials had not been noti-
fied of the EPA probe. Ms. Rae said
federal agency's responsibility
to notify the state Department of
:alth and Environment and not
ly contact local officals. Mel
{•Gray, director of the environment di-
rvision of pie Health and Environment
Department in Topeka, said his agen-
cy was supporting EPA efforts in the
Investigation "to assure there are no
((health or environmental) hazards in-
volved."
• Penalties for violation of regulations
Involving PCB use can include a civil
Ity of a $25,000 fine for each viola-
or a more severe criminal penalty
a $25,000 fine for each day of viola-
and not more than a one-year pris-
^>n term. Ms. Rae said.
-------
THE KANSAS CITY STAR
, im
Tests Reveal PCB in Oil Tank
ByJohnM.Wylien
Star Energy/Environment Writer
toxic chemical PCB has been
found in a 1,000-galIon oil tank belong-
ing to Deffenbaugh Disposal Service ir.
Shawnee, the Kansas Department of
Health and Environment said today.
; J. Howard Duncan, a key toxic-sub-
'stances administrator with the depart-
,ment in Topeka, said one laboratory
test showed the oil contained 47 parts
per million polychlorinated biphenyls,
,or PCB. Another test showed 52 parts
per. million of the chemical, which is
.both toxic and capable of causing can-
ieer.
1 A coordinated probe by the Environ-
jmental Protection Agency and the
-JCansas department began earlier this
month after Dr. Kathleen Q. Camin.
; EPA regional administrator, received
an anonymous telephone call charging
that PCB-contaminated oil was being
•used to spray roads in the area of the
'Johnson County Landfill, 18181 W.
153rd. Deffenbaugh operates the land-
jful.
/ Duncan said the state tests raise two
problems:
• Federal regulations require spe-
cial disposal methods for anything
contaminated with PCB above SO parts
per million. Hie tests leave the oil at
Deffenbaugh in a gray area, Duncan
said.
• It isn't clear whether the oil used
on the dirt roads, which Duncan said
were all on Deffenbaugh property,
came from the barrel teat contains
PCB contamination. He said the con-
taminated oil was used primarily in
hydraulic systems of Deffenbaugh
trucks. ;
PCB Was widely used as a coolant in
transformers and other electrical
equipment for almost SO years until en-
vironmental scientists discovered it
was both toxic and capable of causing
cancer. Manufacture of the chemical
has been banned, and federal regula-
tions govern its disposal.
One of the properties that makes it
desirable as an electrical coolant, the
fact that the chemical doesn't break
down, makes it environmentally dan-
gerous because it means that the
chemical builds up if it reaches the fat
tissues of warm-blooded animals.
Thus., repeated exposures to small
amounts of the chemical can become
dangerous as the chemical builds up.
Ms. Ranelle Rae, the EPA lawyer
serving as spokesman for the federal
probe, .said oil contaminated with any
amount of PCB can't be used as road
spray, as a mixing agent for pesticides
or herbicides, for dust control or for
rust prevention.
But if the contamination is below SO
parts per million, she said, there are
no special requirements for disposal.
She said, however, that there are strict
regulations against mixing uncontam
inated oil with PCB-contaminated oil
to lower the PCB concentration.
"Once you know it has PCB, yoi
can't dilute it. period." she said.
Duncan said the contaminated oi
also was linked to Radium Petroleum
Co.. which he described as a Deffen
baugh subsidiary and a waste-oi
handler.
Records at the Missouri Secretary o
State's office show Radium was incor
porated in May, with Ronald D. Def
fenbaugh as president and treasurer
Deffenbaugh could not be reachec
for comment today on the investiga
tion.
-------
THE WICHITA EAGLE
Friday, August 31, 1979
Leaking Transformer Drips PCB
In State Health Agency Basement
Transformer
Drips PCB at
Health Office
By JOHN PETTERSON
Of Our Topeka Bureau
TOPEKA - While the Kansas De-
partment of Health and Environment
wrestled Thursday with the problem
.of cattle contaminated by PCB, the
toxic substance was dripping from a
transformer in the agency's base-
ment.
Although the leak, estimated at 2 to
4 drops a week, doesn't threaten the
health of departmental employes
working above, state officials would
like to see the problem corrected.
In fact, the Department of Admin-
istration has asked for a $100,000 ap-
propriation to take care of things at
the department's headquaters build-
ing at Forbes Field, south of the
city.
RAY COCHRANE, capital complex
engineer, said that the transformer,
an integral part of the building's elec-
trical system, contains about 500 gal-
lons of oil with high concentrations of
PCB. a cancer-producing agent.
Melville Gray, director of the Divi-
sion of Environment, said that such
oil normally contains 300,000 to 900,000
parts per million of PCB. That would
be an extremely dangerous concen-
tration.
The state took possession of the
transformer along with the rest of the
building when the Air Force phased
out its operations at Forbes.
The equipment was rebuilt in 1974,
but the leak never was fixed. Officials
asked the attorney general's office to
see what it could do about getting
Westinghouse. which had the con-
tract, to return to complete the
work.
Apparently, the attorney general's
office was unsuccessful in getting the
leak repaired.
"THIS WAS leaking before we ever
knew about PCB," said John Dunni-
gan, a buildings and grounds division
spokesman.
"We've done everything imaginable
to come up with some answers. We're
checking it regularly," he said.
Dunnigan and Cochrane said that
the state is following procedures rec-
ommended by the Environmental
Protection Agency for handling PCB.
The collected wastes are placed in
metal barrels and kept behind locked
doors in the building.
"It's a challenge to be working with
all that for a few drops a week,"
Cochrane said.
Officials would like to replace the
inside transformer with one located
on the building's grounds. That would
mean removing the existing equip-
ment. That presents another prob-
lem.
TRANSFORMERS WITH such high
concentrations of PCB fall under spe-
cial EPA disposal regulations.
Cochrane said that present regula-
tions require the PCB material to be
burned in a special, high-temperature
furnace. The problem is that no such
furnace exists.
"We've communicated with the
feds so we are doing all we can do
right now," Cochrane said.
Dunnigan said that arrangements
have been made to collect the drops so
that the oil won't spread in the trans-
former room.
"It was leaking and coming down
the side of the transformer. Finally, I
got a little plastic container and put it
right underneath," he said.
-------
THE KAN SAS CITY STAR Mcuy,
Family
Exposed
[To PCB
1 Beef Is Proved
l Contaminated
fe At High Level
ByJohnM.Wyliell
Star Energy/Environmtnt Writer
Investigators who thought a fright-
ening PCB-contamination incident
near Newton. Kan., was almost over
were jolted this week with the discov-
ery that at least one and probably four
families have been eating beef heavily
contaminated with the toxic, cancer-
causing chemical.
: Officials of the Kansas Department
of Health and Environment confirmed
today that laboratory tests on the fat
, from part of a side of beef being eaten
by a Newton-area family showed PCB
contamination above 1,000 parts a mil-
lion.
"That's sky-high," said one official
familiar with the tests.
Meat impounded from three other
families hasn't yet been tested, but J.
Howard Duncan, a key administrator
at the Kansas department, said today.
"I would like to have a twist of good
luck (on those tests) but I don't believe
I'm going to."
PCB, polychlorinated biphenyl, can
cause cancer in small amounts and
damage to the skin, liver, eyes and
central nervous system in larger dos-
es. The doses in the beef are at roughly
the same level as the doses in cooking
oil in Japan 10 years ago that left doz-
ens of persons ill and deformed, many
for life. Duncan said the families that
were eating the tainted or possibly
tainted beef are being advised on spe-
cial tests they should undergo. He
speculated that the reason no visible
health effects were involved is that
PCB concentrates in the fat, most of
which was being cut off before the
meat was eaten. He also said the fami-
lies had not eaten very much of the
meat—"apparently, they weren't very
. big beef eaters." he said.
The beef was sold to the four fami-
lies by Don Busenitz a year ago. It was
discovered this year that oil in a cattle
backrubber used to control insects on
the Busenitz farm .near Newton was
contaminated with PCB, but author-
ites stopped any tainted meat from the
: farm from reaching market. •..;. . .
, Duncan praised Busenitz, who vol-
untarily told Kansas officials about the
, meat he had sold privately a year ear-
lier.
"He is concerned for their health."
Duncan said.
. The first samples of the processed
beef were flown Monday to Ames,
Iowa, for analysis. Results came in
• Wednesday, and the order impounding
all four freezers filled with beef was
-------
KANSAS CITY TIMES
1, 1W9
|Jo III EffectsReported
From Tainted Beef
& By Dick Haws
8j A Member of the Sti«
g A top official with the Kansas De-
l^partment of Health and Environment
iiwught to soothe fears Friday that five
^.Central-Kansas families faced a grave
pvealth danger from eating beef that
Authorities believe was contaminated
with the toxic chemical PCB.
Dr. Joseph Hollowell, director of
health for the Kansas Department of
Health and Environment, said in Tope-
ka that he had interviewed the fami-
lies involved and none had reported
the customary symptoms of PCB con-
tamination.
""We do not believe"they're in any
danger from this beef." Hollowell
said.
•' Hollowell said the family members
had been advised to arrange for send-
ing blood samples to the National Cen-
ter for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga.,
for analysis. ..
They were also being asked to un-
' dergo liver function tests at their local
hospital.
"I think we may find a level of
; PCBs," Hollowell said, "but I'd be
, surprised if there wasjuiy clinical or
Arsenal health effect." " . ' '
• ' The contaminated beef has been
traced to cattle owned by Donald
^Busenitz on Busenitz's farm near New-
«ton in-central Kansas.
*. Busenitz has told authorities he had
•two steers slaughtered last year. He
Htept one side of beef for his family and
Jsold the rest to four other families who
Aave not been identified.
* After reports surfaced this summer
Jthat high levels of PCBs had been
•found in Busenitz' cattle, one of the
Ufj^njjjes asked to have its beef ana-
ly»d~,, - «, „ i= „ « - — ~,- .
The analysis showed the beef was
iooataminated with about 1,300 parts
million of PCB, a concentration far
velhe level allowed for human con-
•wimption. ,
S^6r,humans to suffer from PCB tox-
NMutywHollowell said, exposure would
"have to be at a high level for a long
period of time. He said he didn't be-
lieve the consumption of the contami-
nated beef would bring health prob-
lems for the central Kansas families.
' Authorities say the families appar-
ently consumed the meat quite slowly
because they found some of the beef
still remained in the freezers, more
than a year after the animals were
slaughtered.
Hollowell said that none of the fami-
ly-members reported PCB-type symp-
'toms. Nor did Busenitz, whom Hollo-
"well indicated had said "he hadn't felt
•healthier."
\ The rest of the frozen beef is being
.analyzed and officials expect those
•tests to be completed in three or four
Jdays.
(^-Authorities began investigating
•Busenitz' cattle earlier this summer
Rafter 54 of his herd died from unknown
causes. High levels of PCBs were later
found in many of the animals.
'. The .PCBs have been traced to nine
barrels of waste transformer oil that
"Busenitz purchased from an area junk
^dealer eight years ago. Busenitz used
th> OH to help keep insects off his cat-
.tle. Unknown to him, it also contained
•high-levels of PCBs.
-------
MB THE KANSAS CITY TIMES
Meat, Oil Most Serious Threats
PCBs Subject of 35 Inquiries
By Environmental Authorities
By Kimberly Mills
and Robert Engelman
A Member of the Staff
A deadly chemical found in a side of
beef in Newton, Kan., and tentatively
identified on roads in a Johnson Coun-
ty landfill, has been the subject of 35
investigations and inquiries in the last
year by the regional.off ice of the Envi-
• ronmental Protection Agency here.
The region coqsists of Missouri,
Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.
. 'Some of these inquiries into local
uses of the substance, actually a fami-
ly-of chemicals known as polychlori-
nated biphenyls or PCBs. apparently
have been routine and have uncovered
no imminent hazards.
But two EPA investigations appear
substantially more serious. One In-
volves a batch of meat apparently con-
taminated with a PCB-laden oil rub
and the other centers on a dust-control
oil used at the landfill.
• EPA officials refused-to reveal de-
tails of the investigations, citing ex-
emptions under the federal Freedom
of Information law. The agency has
until Sept. 17 to respond to a freedom
of information request recently filed
on the matter.
.The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration has mounted two in-
vestigations of PCBs in conjunction
with the EPA. OSHA officials also de-
clined to furnish information beyond
saying no imminent danger was in-
volved in either case. "
One investigation is being handled
by the Kansas City area OSHA office,
which covers the western three-fifths
of Missouri. The other is under the su-
pervision of the Wichita OSHA office.
which covers all of Kansas.
Last week, tests on a side of beef
sold by a Newton farmer to a local
family showed PCB contamination
above 1,000 parts per million. Federal
regulations, which banned the manu-
facture and sale of PCBs May 31, also
require special disposal methods for
anything contaminated with PCBs at
more than SO parts per million. The,
tainted meat was prevented from
reaching any other markets. •
Another PCB investigation, this one
within the metropolitan area, surfaced
..with the revelation that oil spread to
control dust on roads in the Johnson
• County landfill may have contained
the chemical. Although PCBs have
' been found in a 1,000-gallon oil drum
owned by Deffenbaugh Disposal Ser-
: vice Inc. at the landfill, neither state
nor EPA investigators will/ say
; whether that, oil was spread on the
vroads. ^ ''"a± &.'. • . A- .'
.1 ' The owners of the disposal service,
''also connected with a petroleum com-
"pany in Kansas City, have refused to
; comment on the investigation.
» A docket log of EPA investigations
''into PCBs Included the names of,a
• Lebanon, Mo., electrical cooperative
•and two Kansas City electrical prod-
iucts wholesalers. The local companies
[•aid they had been questioned by the
; agency about disposal of PCB-laden
• capacitors and fluorescent light bulb
[ballasts, but that no problems had sur-
faced. . , , .
I Both companies said they no longer
(sell the products and don't have them
! in their inventories.
i In Lebanon, an official of the La-
|Clede Electric Co-op confirmed the
1 utility was visited by EPA officials
i "just like all the others in this part of
> the state."
| Don Clark, operations superinten-
.dent, said he was not sure why La-
;Clede's name appeared alone in the
; EPA docket log, and insisted the utili-.
\ ty—which covers parts of six counties
' around Lebanon—had had no problem
• disposing of power line capacitors con-
•tainingPCBs.
"Several of the utilities in southern
Missouri, including ours, gathered the
capacitors and deposited them with
the Shelby Power Corp. in Marshfield,
Mo.," Clark said. "A chemical compa-
ny collected them and hauled them to
Utah, where they were buried in deep
silos in the middle of the desert."
In the last few years, only a few PCB
Investigations have been conducted by
OSHA, officials said, because of the
"limited amount of exposure In the re-
gion that we're aware of."
The Food and Drug Administration
also is involved in the Newton investi-
gation to determine whether there was
any criminal negligence. And the num-
, ber of local, state and federal agencies
>• concerning themselves with PCB indi-
[ cates just how prominent a chemical it
'has become. .
, In Malignant Neglect, a new book
1 describing known or suspected cancer-
[causing agents in '(he environment,
•PCBs are labeled "probably the most
'widespread chemical contaminant
f known to mankind," found even in ani-
tmals 11,000 feet below the surface of .
the North Atlantic Ocean.
„.; While the chemical Just now is re-
• ceiving intensive study—after being
used for 50 years—much is known
about its properties. And what has
made it so attractive to industrialists,
its indestructible nature, worries envi-
.ronmentalists. . ^.^^_ ., ^_i,. _
\
PCBs, introduced for commercial
'use in 1929, are made by controlled
iChlorination of biphenyl, a derivative
of benzene. Initially the clear liquid
was used for transformer and capaci-
tor fluids, but its uses expanded great-
ly before its major manufacturer,
.Monsanto, stopped production two
years ago. The company made 1.4 bil-
plion pounds of PCBs over almost five
: decades.
Out of this. 758 million pounds still
' are in service, 290 million pounds are
i in dumps and landfills and 150 million
pounds are in the soil, water and air.
According to EPA calculations, 10 mil-
lion pounds of PCBs contaminate the
environment each year through va- •
porization, leaks and spills.
PCBs are used in hydraulic fluids:
adhesives for making brake linings,
.clutch faces and grinding wheels;
washable wall coverings and uphol-
• stering materials; adhesives for enve-
lopes and tapes; coatings for ironing
board covers; plastic bottles and "car-
bonless" carbon papers and as an ad-
ditive in paints and varnishes.
Although the chemical no longer can
be made or sold, and its disposal is
\highly regulated, experts forecast
PCBs will be present for years to come
' in the country's waters and soils, ani-
mals, birds and people. According to
' the EPA, 91 percent of all Americans
have detectable levels of PCBs in body.
'tissues, with 40 percent registering at
least one part per million. That level is
increasing, experts say.
Since the chemical's dangers have
' been publicized, studies of workers ex-
; posed to it have revealed many symp-
toms, including a type of skin disease
called chloracne, digestive distur-
'bances, jaundice. Impotence, throat
and respiratory irritations and severe
headaches.
The effect on 1,000 Japanese who in
1968 accidentally ate rice oil contami-
nated with 1,000 to 3,000 parts per mil-
, lion of PCBs was even more severe.
They suffered chloracne, loss of hair,
fatigue, nausea, deformities of joints
and bone, poor development of teeth in
children and stillborn children. Some
died.
,' Inhalation through the air and ab-
sorption through the skin by workers
also is possible, but "what the long-
term effects are nobody knows," said
Dr. Peter Baxter, an epidemiologist at
\ the Center for Disease Control in At-.
lanta.
-------
r Baxter said it is unlikely that people
'who come into contact with PCBs in
greatly diluted amounts would be
greatly harmed, but he said scientists
'are reticent to give "anyone absolute
f assurance about anything" that has
1 been studied as little as PCBs.
' Service and maintenance workers
, who handle electrical transformers or
capacitors naturally would have a
higher exposure, but the physical ef-
1 fects resulting from those contacts
over a long period of time are un-
known, said Dr. Trent Lewis, chief of
toxicology with the National Institute
of Occupational Safety and Health in
: Cincinnati. People who come in con-
tact with the chemical contained in ev-
eryday products, such as flame-
' proofed yarn or waterproofed canvas,
are "pretty safe," he said.
'. What disturbs scientists like Baxter
and Lewis is the durability of PCBs.
Only two methods are viewed as feasi-
ble for destroying PCBs—burning it at
a temperature between.2,000 and 3,000
degrees Fahrenheit or exposing it to ,
ozone and ultraviolet light. Neither
method is in widespread use, however.
For that reason, the government has
handed down strict rules for disposing
of the chemical when it no longer is
needed, such as when an electrical
transformer is taken out of service
For transformers containing PCBs in
the most dangerous classification—
> above 500 parts per million—the liquid
must be stored at one of eight EPA-
approved, chemical waste landfill
sites.
Three of the sites are in New York
with one each in Alabama, California,
Kentucky, Oregon and Idaho.
-------
THE KANSAS CITY STAR 43A
PCB Leak Stopped in Time
'~:,~i .... . . • - • i .. ,•• • . • •
~v ByJohnM-Wyliell , ,-
^ ' StarEntrey/EnvtronmentWrllir
•-:-' Federal officials say leakage of tox-
~Ic PCB-contaminated oil was halted
•> tere early Friday before it could pose
* ;'a serious health danger.
I! •-, The leak was discovered in one of 61
~ drums containing about 2,800 gallons
* of waste transformer oil aboard a
„ trailer in the lot of Consolidated
* Freightways, 4207 Gardner, in the
... Northeast Industrial District
PCB can attack the liver and central
\ '. nervous system and has been linked to
\ : cancer. It does not break down and In
• '• warmblooded animals it collects In
' : fatty tissues. It was used by the mil-
• -lions of pounds, mostly in electrical.
;_.- equipment, for almost 50 years before
its manufacture was banned earlier
this year.
Federal officials estimate that the
leak here was spotted before more
;. than a few gallons escaped. The spilled
oil was confined to the truck and •
patch of asphalt. . V -
BUI Keffer of the Environmental
Protection Agency, praised the work
of the shipper, General Electric Co., In
handling the spilL
"What Impressed me was that the
shipper had cleanup material packed
on the truck," Keffer said. The ship
ment was going from a GE plant In
Denver to a GE facility in Chicago.
EPA and dty officials worked from
late Thursday night through Friday
morning making certain that the
material had been Isolated and that
none had reached city sewer lines.
Keffer said the leak was traced to a
pinhole-sized break in a seam of one
drum.
The oil contained PCB at a level of
500 parts per million, just under the
level at which the oil would be consid-
ered so dangerous that federal regula-
tions would require its destruction at
extremely high temperatures. Al-
though furnaces are being designed
for that task, none now exists.
At the 500-parU-per-miUlon level.
somewhat less stringent restrictions
are placed on how the oil can be
shipped, handled and disposed of.
. Public attention was focused on PCB
last month after the chemical contam-
inated a herd of cattle on a farm near
Newton, Kan., killing one-third of the
animals. The remaining animals are
under quarantine at a western Kansas
feedlot. and eventually will be de-
stroyed. • .
Meat from cattle slaughtered at the
same farm last year also was found to
have very high levels of the chemical.
An Investigation also Is under way
into the discovery of PCB-contaminat-
ed oil at the Deffenbaugh Disposal Ser-
vice In Johnson County.
-------
THE KANSAS CITY TIMES
\9f9
State Plans to Kill, Bury
Tainted Cows by Wichita
By Dick Haws ,
A Member of the Stiff
. The Kansas Health and Environ-
;ment Department recommended Fri-
;day that 112 head of cattle, contain!-
• nated with the cancer-causing chemi-
: cal PCB. be buried at a certified indus-
! trial disposal site near Wichita.
< The site, in northern Sedgwick Coun-
Ity near Furley, is the only one in
(Kansas approved by the federal gov-
;ernment to handle heavy contamina-
;tion by PCB-poIychlorinated biphe-
i The recommendation now goes to
(the U.S. Environmental Protection
; Agency for consideration. The EPA
• has ultimate authority in deciding how
• to dispose of the animals. . •
; The cattle were impounded by gov-
f ernmental authorities last month after
i tests showed they contained high lev-
iels of PCB. The animals have been
j held at a feed lot near Mansion, Kan.,
* while officials determined the most
• appropriate disposal method.
)• The state of Kansas now is paying
| more than $100 a day to feed the cattle
r and will pay for disposing of the ani-
. mals. Howard Duncan of the Health
'. and Environment Department said the
! terms of the proposed agreement still
j were being negotiated. He declined to
release any cost figures until a final
agreement was made.
If the disposal plan is approved, the
cattle would be trucked from Hanston
to the disposal.site, killed and then
buried in an earthen trench. Duncan,
who described the Wichita site as
"well suited" to handle the contami- ,
nated animals, said he hoped a deci-
sion on disposing of the cattle could be
made as early as next week.
According to federal standards,
PCB concentrations between SO parts
per million -and 500 parts per million
must be disposed of in approved indus-
trial waste disposal sites like the one
near Wichita.
Duncan estimated that PCB concen-
trations in half to two-thirds of the ani-
mals would fall within the 80 to 500
range, the other animals having con-
centrations of less than 50 parts per
million.
Whatever the level, Duncan said, the
animals are not fit for human con- /
sumption and can't be rendered for
use in other products.
The PCB contamination has been
traced to nine 55-gallon barrels of
waste oil found on the Newton-area
farm of Don Busenitz. Busenitz un-
knowingly bought the contaminated oil
from a Walton, Kan., junk dealer, and
had used it as a "back rub" to keep
insects off his cattle.
-------
Toxic Giemical, Bori7oTF&s^Fouiul
By Bill Richards
WuhJnitoD Pott 0ttO Writer
Federal researchers yesterday said
they have discovered that a little-
known but highly toxic chemical com-
pound has contaminated fish In Lake
Michigan and in several major riven
In the Northeast and Midwest.
Dr. David Stalling, a scientist with
the VS. Fish and 'Wildlife Service's
laboratory in Columbia, Mo., said the
compound, known as polychloripated
dibenzofurans (PCDF), is up to 1.000
times as toxic as PCBs, which were
banned by the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency in 1976 as • hazard to hu-
mans.
A second member of the research
team that found the PCDF traces in .
the fish said the compound can cause
birth defects and is suspected to be a
carcinogen.
Stalling said that PCDF had not
been spotted by chemical investiga-
tors before because it is a PCB bypro-
duct that can be detected only by the
'use of recently developed and highly
•sophisticated laboratory equipment
The compound hp.s, in effect, quietly
hitchhiked behind PCBs, he said, al-
though it can be far more powerful.
Stalling said PCDF is released in a
highly concentrated form when PCBs
are heated but not totally incinerated*
at temperatures of more than 800 de>
trees centigrade. Such releases can
occur, he said, during manufacturing
processes using PCBs and inside elec-
trical equipment, such as transform-
ers and capacitors, where PCB nave
been widely used as lubricants and
coolants.
Investigators have found traces of
PCDF in smokestack emissions at
power plants in Cincinnati and St.
Louis, s,aid Stalling. Those plants, be
said, burn a mixture of traditional fu-
els and unsorted trash that apparently
contained some PCBs.
Although federal law prohibits the
use or manufactures of PCBs. about
70 percent of the compound that al-
ready had been produced by 1976,
when the law was passed, is still in
use, Stalling said.
In a presentation here at the .an-
nual meeting of the American Chemi-
cal Society, Stalling said: "The real
problem from this compound is that
it can be misdiagnosed ana people
will think that, because they have
gotten rid of PCBs, they are safe,
when they're not"
A federally funded team of public
and private scientists discovered up to
two parts per billion of PCDF contam-
ination in fish caught in the Ohio
River, the Connecticut River, the Hud-
son River and In Lake Michigan near
Saglnaw, Mich., Stalling said.
The research team found PCDF In
carp, catfish, trout and salmon. In ad-
dition to Stalling, the team included
Dr. Ralph Dougherty of Florida State
University, Dr. Christopher Rappe of
the University of Umea, Sweden, and
Dr. Douglas of the EPA.
Stalling said that other researchers
have determined recently that one of
Japan's worst cases of mass food poi-
soning was probably due to PCDF
contamination.
The incident, which took place in
Yusho, Japan, in 1968, occurred when
a batch of rice oil was contaminated
with what investigators originally be-
lieved were PCBs. Several deaths, in-
cluding two stillborn infants, were at-
tributed to the contaminated rice oil.
More than 100 other persons in Yoshu
have since suffered chronic head-
aches, fatigue, weight loss and numb-
ness in their limbs from eating the
rice oil
-------
ra
Bicbita (ffaale
County Soys No, EPA Says Why Not?
Contaminated Cattle Burial Site in
, feptomUr 12, 1979
By KAREN FREIBERG
Staff Writer
A turf battle of sorts may be developing between Sedg-
wick County and the Environmental Protection Agency
over a disposal site for 112 head of live cattle contaminat-
ed with the cancer-causing chemical PCB.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment
would like to see the cattle buried at Kansas Industrial
Environmental Services Inc.. near Furley in northeast
Sedgwtck County. KIES is the only state-approved haz-
ardous-waste disposal site in Kansas.
The EPA, whose job it is to approve a suitable burial
plot for the cattle, is investigating the KIES site to make
sure it would be safe.
That investigation brought EPA Regional Administra-
tor Kay Camin and KDHE Director Mel Gray to Wichita
Monday to discuss the matter with Sedgwick County
.commissioners.
The EPA is required by law to give the county SO dayr
notice before disposing of the cattle within the county,
unless county commissioners waive that requirement.
DON GRAGC, COMMISSIONER for the first district.
which includes Furley, said Camin and Gray met pri-
vately with each of the county's three commissioners.
Commissioners Tom Scott and Evereuu Patrick could not
be reached for comment Tuesday.
During his meeting, Gragg said
Camin and Gray explained some of
the details of disposal of the cattle if
the KIES site were chosen.
He said he also was asked to sign a
document granting a waiver of the
30-day notice.
"I refused to sign it." said Gragg.
"There's already much unhappiness
in Furley about that place (KIES) and
doing something to circumvent the
public hearing process would be
wrong."
GRAGG SAID THE officials
"seemed concerned that if they did
give the public 30 days to comment it
would cost too much in terms of feed-
Ing the cattle." about $100 a day, ac-
cording to one health official.
Although the EPA is technically re-
Contention
quired to give the county 80 days no-
tice that it intends to bury the cattle in
the county, Gragg says that doesn't
mean very much.
He said the EPA has the final say on
where the cattle will be buried, re-
gardless of any decision made by the
commission.
•'They have to give us the 90-day
notice and them there is nothing we
can do about it," he said.
The possibility exists, however, that
the EPA could reconsider a decision if
public opinion is opposed to it.
LEE DEETS, MANAGER of KIES,
said there would be no danger to area
residents if the cattle were buried at
his site.
"The soil here is tighter than con-
crete and there is no possibility of any
chemical getting away," he said.
The cattle, which are quarantined
at a Hanston feedlot in western
Kansas, are owned by the state. They
were impounded from Newton
rancher Don Busenitz when H was
learned in early August that they
were contaminated with high levels of
PCBs.
The cattle were evidentlly contami-
nated through contact with trans-
former oil that Busenitz had mixed
with insecticide and applied to the
cattle via back rubbers. Fifty-six of
the 168-head herd have already died.
PCBs ARE HEAT retardent chemi-
cals widely used in electrical trans-
formers. They have been proven to
cause cancer in laboratory animals
and have been banned from produc-
tion by the EPA.
Gray said his purpose in meeting
with the commissioners was to "ap-
prise them of the situation that exists
and that no clear-cut decision has
been made yet as to the disposal
site.-
He said that KIES is under inves-
tigation as a possible location.
-------
-
-
!
Capacitor
Explodes,
Sprays PCB
c-
By Kimberty Mills
A Mffnbtr of ttw Stiff
One at nine overhead capacitors on a
"power pole in Overland Park ruptured
- Monday afternoon, itowering a tmaH
patch of roadway, sidewalk and grass
with oil containing PCB, a cancer
-causing chemical.
Officials from Kansas City Power *
, Light Co., which operates the capaci-
-tors at 96th near Bluejacket Drive,
said there was no danger to nearby
.resident*.
-------
IB THE KANSAS CITY TIMES
ItpOmhir JO, 1f79
. leadertPreB .._
'Thursday. September 20.1979 SB
EPA OK* burial site
Dumping Site
OK'd for Cattle !
Tainted by PCB for PCB-tainted cattle
WICHITA (AP) — A cite 'north of
Wichita has been approved by the En-
vironmental Protection Agency for the
disposal of cattle that were contami-
; nated with PCB. a cancer-causing sub- '
i stance.
j Kathleen Q. Camin, regional admin-
^istrator of the Environmental Protec-
i tion Agency in Kansas City, said
1 Wednesday that the had approved a
I site at Furley, Kan., for the disposal of
• 113 bead of cattle contaminated with
fPCB. .
! The site, operated by the Kansas In-
dustrial Environmental Services Inc..
! is a certified industrial disposal site. It
. Is the only site in Kansas approved by
the federal government to handle.
heavily contaminated substances con-'
: timing PCB, polychlorinated biphe-
:*yU.
V * The cattle were impounded by au-
(borities last month after tests showed
they contained high levels of PCB. The
contamination has been traced to nine
55-gallon barrels of waste oil found on
i the farm of Don Busenltz near Newton.
'Kan. He usedJhe oil to keep insects off
his cattle.
The animals have been held at a feed
'lot near Mansion, and. the state is pay-
ing more than $100 a day to feed them.
v, Officials hawe said the cattle are
not fit for human consumption and
Cannot be rendered for use in other
products.
KANSAS CITY (AP) - Cattle contaminated with the
cancer-causing substance PCB apparently will be buried
•ear Wichita, following approval of the site Wednesday
by an Environmental Protection Agencyofficlal.
Kathleen .««,«*••» :~-
-------
United States Region 7 towa
Environmental Protection 324 East Eleventh St. Kansas
Agency Kansas City, Mo. 64106 Missouri
Nebraska
Environmental
News
.FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE R. Michaels
.WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19. 1979 PLEASE CALL (816) 374-5894
Decision Announced Dr. Kay Q. Camin, Regional Adminstrator of Environmental
in PCB Disposal
Protection Agency, Kansas City, Missouri, announced at 5:00 p.m.
today two decisions Involving the recent PCB incident in Kansas
Those decisions will become effective on September 20.
The first decision is an order reducing the required notice period
from the operators of the Kansas Industrial Environmental Services
Inc., (KIES) site at Furley, Kansas, to local and State government.
The order reduces from 30 to 5 days the notice required before
disposal of PCBs in the site.
The concern for shortening the time period arose because of the
remaining live contaminated cattle and the possible threat they
pose to the environment.
The second decision is Dr. Camin's approval of the KIES site for
one time disposal of PCBs.
Dr. Camin has reviewed the transcript of an informal public hearing
held in Wichita Monday evening and having received no adverse
comments at or since the hearing, decided on these actions.
In making the announcement, Dr. Camin said, "I have considered
all facts presented to me and I have concluded that this site
provides more protection than our agency's regulations require
for PCB disposal."
KDHE will arrange for disposal of the cattle, back-rubber, highly
contaminated soil from the farm and the contaminated meat at the
KIES site.
#####
-------
THE WICHITA EAGLE
Thuradoy, S»pt»mt»r 20, 1979
PCB Contamination
Furley Site Chosen
.. / a&/ '' ,-• -vr- * * '""'' ' *f "*
•^ ^T *•*•• N""i*>'" v'"» '
" • * ',' . I "" ..,'•.. '*
For Infected Cattle
Waste Dump
Gets Waiver
In 4 Areas
By KAREN FREIBERG
Staff Writer
A hazardous waste site in Sedgwick
County was officially approved
Wednesday as a burial site for 112
PCB contaminated cattle.
Kay Camin, regional administrator
of the Environmental Protection
Agency, said disposal of the cattle at
Kansas Industrial Environmental
Services near Furley could begin im-
mediately as far as she is con-
cerned. ' . .'
Mel Gray, deputy director of the
Kansas Department of Health and
Environment, said the cattle would be
• moved live from a feedlot near Han-
ston to the Furley site "within a few
days," and lulled and buried there.
.; The cattle, which are owned by the
: state, were impounded from a Newton
farmer in mid-August when it was
learned that PCB contamination had
caused the deaths of 54 of the original
168-head herd. Two more cattle have
died since they were quarantined at
the feedlot. ,
THE GOVERNMENT'S decision to
deem the site safe for disposal of PCB
materials came on the heels of sever-
; al meetings of state, federal and
county officials and one public hear-
ing on the subject. • : - :': ;
Camin said she received no adverse
comments on using the furley site for
the disposal.
ODOUNO ELCVATKW
1JMFT..
nee FT..
fC» REGULATIONS '
MOUIRE SO FEET
WITH A PERMEABILITY
Of at rryYR. FOR
. (00 YEARS PROTECTION
1392 FT...
; 13S1FT.'
MOMTonMO wtu rr
<«•» r\. E AST
OF TRENCH)
tot. «fiTM REseikNcx to «»ftii n!o
•rrtM KRUCAUITV Of 001? ri AR 'OK
14 FT uoo n«s Of moiccTON or (wouio
I n piATtR UNX ft>vtni f~.'.i-.
^V^- OKAY AND HUE 4MV CUV OHAIX . jf^V
PROFILE OF APPROVED DISPOSAL SITE
. . .Well would monitor any PCB leakage
"I have considered all the facts
presented to me, and I have concluded
this site provides more protection
than our agency's regulations require
for PCB disposal," said Camin.
At a meeting of Sedgwick County'
commissioners Wednesday morning,
Camin explained four waivers of EPA
regulations applied for by the opera-
tors of the Furley facility. •
; In approving the site, Camin said •
the waivers would be accepted. ..(
ONE OF THE WAIVERS is of the
requirement that SO feet of compact
earth separate the bottom of the
burial plot and the first evidence of
usable water! U i *" t ; U U ir
The Furley site, according To
Camin, has only 14 feet of soil between
the two points. The type of soil there is
so compact, however, that it would
provide for many more than the 500
years of protection required by EPA
rules, the administrator said. She
added the Furley site is safer than
required by the EPA.
The EPA also is waiving the re-
quirement that a special collection
system be installed at the juncture of
the lowest strata of soil and bed
rock. T-
• Such a system would collect any
leakage of PCBs that might occur.
Camin said. But she said such a "lea-
chate collection" system would not be
-------
THE WICHITA JAGLI
Thursday, t»p»»mb»f 20, 1979
PCB-Contaminated Cattle
To Be Buried Near Furley
* From Page ID
necessary at the Furley sitebecause
of a monitoring well that would warn
of any leakage before it Beeped that
far down. She said the well could act
as a collecting agent and pump out
any errant PCBs before they could
escape.
THE THIRD WAIVER is for a fence
that would have had to be constructed
around the specific burial site, which
is estimated to be about 200 square
feet
Camin said that, because such a
fence surrounds the'entire Furley fa-
cility, a second one would not bejie-
quired around the burial plot. ^
The fourth requirement being
waived by the EPA concerns the fre-
quency of testing surface water and
monitoring wells at the site. In es-
sence, the EPA said the current test-
ing schedule, which complies with
stale rules is sufficient.
Even with the waivers, the EPA es-
timates the burial site would provide
7,300 years of protection before the
PCBs could reach bedrock, and 1,300
years before they could hit the first
evidence of usable water.- :
CAMIN SAID HER approval is for a
one-time disposal of PCBs near Fur-
ley .Lee Deets, facility manager, has
applied for a permanent PCB disposal
license,but Camin said that decision
would be considered later.
The county commissioners took no
action on the EPA presentation
Wednesday, turning down an "invita-
tion" to waive a required five-day no-
tice of the burial. That period ended
Wednesday night.
The commissioners had no authori-
ty to prevent the cattle from being
buried in the county. However, EPA
regulations required a 30-day notice
before the burial could take place.
Late last week, the EPA shortened
that to a five-day notification because
officials consider the live cattle an
emergency situation. -..-..
CRAY SAID that there was a
danger that the cattle may escape or
more might die and the carcasses
would have to be buried immediate-
ly.
He said there are other EPA-ap-
proved sites in the country, but it
would cost about $75,000 to dispose of
the cattle out of state compared to and
estimated $15,000 near Furley.
The Furley site is the only state-ap-
proved hazardous waste disposal in
Kansas. It has not beeh approved for
disposal of toxic PCBs,. an action that
takes special EPA consideration.
The cattle were contaminated when
transformer oil containing high levels
of PCBs was mixed with insecticide
and applied to the animals by Newton
farmer Don Busenitz.
SIX BARRELS of this oil are stored
at Furley until an incinerator can be
found to burn it. EPA regulations re-
quire PCB liquids to be burned, but
there are no approved commercial
incinerators available in the United
States. -" ' •
PCBs are heat retardant chemicals
widely used in electrical transformers
and some household goods such as
fluorescent light ballasts. They have
been proven to cause cancer in labo-
ratory animals. New production of
PCBs has been banned by the EPA
but those now is use are legal.
-------
(tfagle
* Friday, September 21, 1979
PCB-Cattle
Shot, Buried
Near Furley
Contamination
Probe Continuing
From Staff and Wire Reports
PCB-contaminated cattle were shot
to death, then buried near Wichita
Thursday, and federal officials are
expanding their investigation of PCB
contamination at meat-packing plants
and feedlot operations in many West-
ern and Midwestern states.
The deaths of the Kansas cattle
brought to an end a bizarre chain of
events that started last May on a
Newton farm and ended within the
wnven-wire confines of the Kansas
Industrial, Environmental Services'
hazardous waste disposal site near
Furley in northeast Sedgwick County
— the only state-approved chemical
wasle disposal site in Kansas.
THE CATTLE HAD been loaded
into three trucks during the early
morning hours from their pen at
Pawnee Valley Feeders near Bur-
dette in western Kansas. They had
been quarantined at the feedlot since
mid-August when it was learned they
carried high levels of the deadly PCB
chemical.
Mel Gray, deputy director of the
Kansas Department of Health and
Environment, said the animals were
herded into a pit 10 at a time and shot
in the head with high-powered rifles,
then buried in a deeper, adjacent
pit.
Department officials had at one
time considered killing the animals
with injections of quick-acting poison,
but Gray said rifles were used instead
because veterinarian consultants had
told him it would be more humane.
Gray would not reveal the names of
the riflemen but desribed them as
•'expert marksmen."
1C
There were six veterinarians pre-
sent, he said.
The animals were buried in a lime-
lined pit containing three vent pipes
with charcoal filters to contain nox-
ious odors caused by the decomposing
.bodies. '... .'•
BURIED WITH THE animals were
. 100 pounds of contaminated meat, two
1 empty backrubber rollers and barn-
yard soil.
The rollers were from two backrub-
bcrs used by Newton farmer Don Bu-
• senitz to apply a solution of PCB-con-
taminated oil and insecticide to 168
. cattle. Soon after the herd was moved
' to the feedlot, 56 of the cattle died.
Before the cause of the catties'
deaths was learned, several Newton-
area residents had purchased con-
laminated meat from Busenitz, some
of which was buried with the cattle.
' In Montana. PCB contamination of
hundreds of thousands of laying hens
has spurred federal officials to ex-
pand their investigations of PCB con-
tamination to meat-packing plants
and feedlot operations in many West-
ern and Midwestern states.
The problem surfaced last week
when it was learned that chicken feed
produced at the Pierce Packing Co. in
Billings, Mont, had been accidentally
contaminated with PCBs when a
backup electrical transformer rup-
tured in June, releasing the chemical
into the feed.
PCBs, SHORT FOR polychlorinated
biphenyls, are heat retardant chemi-
cals widely used in electrical trans-
formers and other materials such as
fluorescent light ballasts. The EPA
has banned new production of the
chemicals but is allowing use of those
in existance to continue.
PCBs have been proven to cause
cancer in laboratory animals
Three major grocery store chains in
Montana and northern Wyoming
pulled suspect eggs from their
shelves, and many farms where the
contaminated feed was used volun-
tarily recalled their eggs.
Dr. Vernon Spear, regional head of
the USDA's meat and poultry division
based in Butte, said that inspections
also were being carried out at 40 to 50
slaughtering facilities in Montana,
Wyoming and North Dakota. :;
Spear said similar monitoring
might be conducted at slaughtering
facilities in other states if USDA "re-
ceive information that the contami-
nated product was shipped into those
areas."
Food and Drug Administration offi-
cials said 1.9 million pounds of meat
meal that may have contained PCBs
has been shipped from Pierce during
the last 3'/j months. Shipments went
to Utah, Idaho, Washington, Minneso-
ta and North Dakota, as well as Mon-
tana.
-------
THE KANSAS CITY STAR Mond.y. S^KT 24.
Horror Tale Ends at Dump
Cattle Burled, But Toxic Chemical Lives On
By Scott Kraft
Associate! Prcu Wrtw
FURLEY. Kan. (AP)—An 80-acre
tract of ghost land is nestled among
the farms of south-central Kansas, a
dumping ground for toxic wastes that
will never die.
Humans will never move onto the
clay tract near the tiny Sedgwick
County town of Furley. It's the only
state-approved hazardous waste dump
in Kansas.
Last week a six-month horror story
ended at the dump. It began when
Newton farmer Don Busenitz rubbed
oil onto the hides of his herd to keep
flies away. He didn't know the oil was
laced with PCB, a heat retardant used
in electrical transformers. PCB has
been proved to cause cancer in labora-
tory animals, and its production has
been banned.
More than two dozen state and feder-
al officials arrived at the dump on a
gravel access road, walked past the
warning signs and watched workmen
kill and bury 112 cattle contaminated
with PCB.
The cattle were herded into a ditch
five at a time. Shots rang out as three
marksmen put them to death. Workers
later piled the carcasses in a lime-
lined hole about the size of a living
room and 19 feet deep.
Eventually, nature will turn the cat-
tle to dust. But the two pints of PCB in
those carcasses will never die.
The search for a place to dump the
contaminated cattle didn't take long.
There wasn't another waste disposal
site within 1,200 miles that was al-
lowed to handle material contaminat-
ed with polychlorinated biphenyls.
The 2H-year-old site, owned by Kan-
sas Industrial Environmental Services
Inc., is located on a 900-foot-deep clay
bed. Its owners say the site is the saf-
est in the Midwest.
"Those cattle don't worry me at
all," site director Cliff McDaniel said
as he stood over the spot where the
cattle were buried.
Three vent pipes with charcoal fil-
ters to contain noxious odors were all
that marked the spot. The segregated
burial ground is charted precisely in-
side the office.
McDaniel said PCB will seep only
slightly into the soil once the cattle
have decomposed. "In IS or 20 years,
all we'll have is a small amount of con-
taminated soil," he said.
McDaniel said agricultural herbi-
cides are the most toxic chemicals
dumped here, and they are kept only in
small quantities. The site is not autho-
rized to handle radioactive waste.
The site's life as a dump is limited.
Within 30 years or so, the dump will be
covered with an 18-inch layer of topsoil
and grass. KIES hopes to turn the site
into a recreation area. Regardless, it
will become state property and "no
one will ever live here," McDaniel
said.
Until then, though, some area farm-
ers like Mrs. Carolyn Hill will worry.
Her family's farm is adjacent to the
disposal site, and she worries about
the water her family drinks from their
well.
She and her husband, Dennis Hill,
listened to the gunfire last week as the
cattle were killed.
"That gunfire didn't bother me,"
she said. "What bothers me is that
those PCBs are over there now. Our
water might be coming from under
that site."
McDaniel said the Hills and other
families occasionally complain about
the odors that emanate from the site.
He said he tries to do everything he
can to alleviate the smells.
"No one really wants one of these for
their next door neighbor, and you can't
blame them," McDaniel said.
But he added that if society wants
the fruits of an industrial society "it
will have to pay the price of getting rid
of what it generates to make it."
-------
FACT SHEET
-------
FACT SHEET - PCB CONTAMINATED CATTLE
Newton, Kansas
August 16, 1979
WHAT HAPPENED?
** May 17, 1979, Don Busenitz of Newton, Kansas took
168 head of cattle to Pawnee Valley Feedlot In
Hanston, Kansas.
** Cattle were vaccinated and dipped for lice and grubs.
** May 24, 1979, feedlot records show that 54 cattle
had died.
** The dead cattle were taken to Jayhawk Rendering Plant,
Garden City, Kansas, and were processed.
ANALYSIS OF CATTLE
** Autopsy performed and tissue samples (fat, kidney
and liver) were taken by Dr. H.D. Anthony, Kansas
State University, Manhattan, Kansas.
** Backrubber oil and feed were collected at Busenitz's
farm.
** On May 23, 1979, all samples were sent to Dr. Gary
Osveiler, University of Missouri Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory, Columbia, Missouri, for analysis.
** TOXAPHENE poisoning was suspected. Test proved
Inconclusive•
** On July 12, 1979, samples were sent to Dr. H.A. Nelson,
National Veterinary Sciences Laboratory, Animal Plant
and Health Inspection Service in Ames, Iowa, for
confirmatory tests*
** Samples showed 2,200 parts per million (ppm) polychlorinated
byphenols (PCBs) in the fat and 95 percent PCB in the back-
rubber oil*
** PCBs are chemicals which were used in electrical trans-
formers to absorb heat* They do not break down in the
environment and have been shown to cause cancer in
test animals*
-------
RESPONSE FROM FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES
** Farm, feedlot, rendering plants, end three animal
feed mills were Investigated by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), Kansas Department of
Health and Environment (KDHE), Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and the Animal Plant and
Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
** The source of the cattle contamination was found to
be PCB oil used In the backrubber on the Busenltz
farm.
INVESTIGATION REVEALS
** Busenitz had purchased oil for backrubber from Art
Sattler Repair and Salvage Company, Walton, Kansas,
eight years ago.
** The oil is the source of PCB contamination.
** Jayhavk Rendering Plant sold oil derived from the
fat of the contaminated cattle to Southwest By-
Products, Springfield, Missouri, for use in animal
feed. Southwest Rendering reportedly diluted oil
to less than 2 ppm (FDA standard) by using
vegetable oil.
** Southwest By-Products sold the diluted oil to Tyson
Foods, Springdale, Arkansas.
** Tyson Foods sold oil to Cargill Turkey, Springdale,
Arkansas.
** And finally, Cargill Turkey's sold the oil to Gold
Kist Chickens, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
** Jayhawk Rendering Co. sold red meat from the contaminated
cattle to the Carnation Company, St. Joseph, Missouri, for
use in dog food.
** Jayhawk Rendering Co. sold the hides and bones to
Southwest Trading Company, Houston, Texas.
** At this time, FDA does not believe there la significant
health hazard involved*
REGULATORY ACTIONS
** 112 remaining cattle at Pawnee Valley Feedlot, Hanston,
Kansas, have been quarantined by Dr. Gerald D. Gurss,
state veteranarian.
-------
3
** No live animals are to be sold.
** No carcasses can leave the feedlot.
** A representative sample of the 534 swine on the
Busenltz farm will be sampled for PCB contamination.
** Hold Order was served on Don Busenitz by KDH&E
requiring him to retain all swine until samples
are analyzed and show no PCB contamination.
** The remaining barrels of PCB oil on the Busenitz
farm have been placed under a hold order by KDH&E.
-------
PCB LIVESTOCK CONTAMINATION INCIDENT IN KANSAS
Early in May 1979, Don Busenitz of Newton, Kansas delivered 168 head
of cattle to Pawnee Valley Feedlot near Hanston, Kansas. He had
purchased those cattle from a cattle broker in Wichita, Kansas and
had wintered them on his farm.
Upon delivery to the feedlot, the cattle were vaccinated and dipped
for lice ana grubs, a common practice in animal feedlots. Seven
days later, 54 head of those cattle were dead.
Extremely complex Investigatory analyses of the dead animals showed
very high concentrations of polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs) in the
fat. PCBs are chemicals which were used in electrical transformers
to absorb heat. They Co not break down an the environment and they
have been shown to cause cancer in test animals. Legislation ban-
ning the production of PCBs became effective January 1, 1979.
The PCBs in this incident were traced to waste oil used by Busenitz
in animal back-ruboers on his farm. He had purchased the waste oil,
including 9 barrels of transformer oil, from a salvage yard in
Walton, Kansas in 1972.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Kansas
Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), U.S. Fooci and Drug
Administration (FDA), Kansas Department of Animal Health, and the
U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Animal Plant and Health
Inspection Service launched a major cooperative effort to mitigate
the effects of this environmental accident.
1. Issue: What happened to the 54 processed cattle which were
contaminated by PCBs.
Background: They were taken to Jayhawk Rendering Plant,
Garden City, Kansas. It was revealed on August 7 that they had PCB
contamination in their fat as high as 2,200 parts per million
(ppm). The livestock were rendered and shipped to the following
locations:
The hides were shipped to the Southwest Trading Corporation,
Houston, Texas.
The tallow and oil passed from Soutnwest By-Products,
Springfield, Missouri to Tyson Foods, Springdale, Arkansas, which
sold it to Cargill Turkeys, Springdale, Arkansas, which resold it to
Gold Kist Chickens, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The reo meat was sold to the Carnation Company, St. Joseph.,
Missouri, which made it into dogfood that was sent to
Jefferson, Wisconsin to be canned. About 200,OX cases of dogfood
had gone to Philadelphia by the time FDA issued its hold order on
August 24, wnen a sample revealed 5 ppm of PCB
-------
PCB UVESTOCK CCNTAMINATION IfCIDENT IN KANSAS
Decision: PDA has determined tnat no significant health hazard
exists. The dogfood is being tested lot-by-lot. As it is found
uncontaminated, it is being released for sale. Final dispositions
of the oones, hides, feeds, and dogfood will be made by FDA.
2. Issue: that about the 114 live cattle left at tte Pawnee Valley
Feedlot.
Background: On May 24, the Kansas Board of Animal Health quaran-
tined the remaining 114 live cattle at the Pawnee Valley Feedlot.
Two of the quarantined steers have since died. All live animals
were sampled. USDA determined on August 23 that the level of PCB in
the remaining cattle could not be reduced to an acceptable limit
during their lifetime. National Veterinary Services Laboratory,
Ames, Iowa, analyzed fat samples from 33 cattle showing a range of
80 to 2,200 ppm PCb.
Decision: All concerned agencies concur that the animals must be
destroyed and disposed of in an EPA-approved PCB disposal site.
KDHE impounded the remaining 112 cattle, therefore assuming the
financial ourden for holding, destruction and burial of the animals.
3. Issue: What will be the final disposition of the two additional
steers that died in quarantine.
Background: On August 7 and 13, two additional head died. The
first steer was buried at the feedlot. The amount of contamination
is not known. The second steer was tested and found to have less
than 50 ppm of PCB in its body. It was also buried at the lot.
Decision: The steers will remain buried in a marked area of the
Pawnee Valley Feedlot. EPA will test the soil at this site in one
year to determine if there is an environmental hazard.
4. Issue: Contaminated soil at Busenitz fan.
Background: Surface soil in the farmyard of the Busenitz farm was
analyzed and found to contain from 20 to 1,000 ppm PCB. The highly
contaminated areas were under the back-rubbers.
Decision: The highly contaminated soil will be removed and disposed
of with the steers. The farmyard will be scraped to a depth of six
Inches. That soil will be buried on the farm. Evidence from
Dr. Fries, USDA, suggests that the soil not contain over 5 ppm PCB,
as they can be absorbed through the hooves of cattle. KDHE and EPA
have agreed that to assure the safety of the farm for future use,
the soil should contain no more than i ppm PCB. EPA will test the
farmyard after scraping. EPA recommends that the location of the
buried dirt and sampling results be attached to the records of the
land.
-------
PCB LIVESTOCK CONTAMINATION INCIDENT IN KANSAS
5. Issue: Contaminated soil at Pawnee Valley Feedlot.
Background: Tne soil in the pen at the feedlot where the contamina-
ted cattle remain was found to contain very low levels of PCB.
Decision: Soil from the affected pen will be removed and buried at
the feedlot. The site will be marked.
6. Issue: What will happen to the retaining waste oil, empty
barrels, and the back-rubbers from the Busenitz far*.
Background: Samples of oil from six full 55-gallon barrels, three
empty 55-gallon barrels, and two back-rubbers revealed concentra-
tions of PCBs ranging from 82 ppm to 950,000 ppm. EPA/FDA/KDHE
inspectors traced the source of the waste oil to Art Sattler Repair
and Salvage Company, Walton, Kansas, who purchased 9 barrels of
transformer oil from a utility company in Wichita, Kansas in 1972.
Busenitz purchased the entire lot of waste oil later that year.
Decision: The remaining waste oil, empty barrels, and back-rubbers
were impounded by KDHE and all of it is now the property of the
State of Kansas. The barrels are being stored in a concrete vault
at the KIES site near Furley, Kansas until such time as the oil can
be destroyed in a high temperature PCB incinerator. EPA recommends
the back-rubbers be buried with the cattle.
7. Issue: What will happen to the 553 swine owned by Don Busenitz.
Background: August 20-25, swine back fat samples were taken at the
Don Busenitz farm. The samples showed PCB levels of undetectable to
17 ppm PCBs.
Decision: USOA/FDA have agreed to apply FDA's tolerance for PCB
residues in poultry to swine and cattle tissue found to contain
detectable PCB residues. Currently, the tolerance for PCBs in poul-
try is 3 ppm on a fat basis. FDA would not object to applying this
tolerance to swine still located at the Busenitz farm.
USOA will insure that swine over the 3 ppm level in fat do not enter
food channels. USDA will also notify FDA of any findings in these
swine above the 3 ppm level.
Accordingly, the swine that nave already oeen tested and found to
exceed the 3 ppm level are not suitable for use as human food and
should not be so offered. If necessary, they should be destroyed
and disposed of in a manner to prevent such usage.
-------
PCS LIVESTOCK CONTAMINATION INCIDENT IN KANSAS
FDA is also concerned about rendering the swine that have been
exposed to PCBs. Special precautions should be taken to insure that
these animals do not introduce PCB contamination into the rendering
plant or that rendered by-products do not exceed FDA's tolerance of
2 ppm for PCBs in animal feed ingredients.
Earlier, authorities released 16 swine carcasses and 125 feeder pigs
in which PCBs were not detected.
8. Issue: What will be done with the processed beef contaminated
by PCB which was confiscated by authorities.
Background: Four or five families in the Newton, Kansas area stated
that they had purchased custom slaughtered beef from Don Busenitz
during the last year. Fat samples from the remaining meat contained
as much as 1,300 ppm PCB.
Decision: The beef will be barreled and buried at an approved dis-
posal site. The families have been advised by KDHE to obtain blood
and liver function tests from their family doctors. These tests
will be monitored by the Center for Communicable Disease Control,
Atlanta, Georgia.
9. Issue: Should any responsibility be placed on any individual or
firm for the PCB incident in Kansas.
Background: The contaminated oil was purchased by Busenitz long
before there was any concern about the health effects of PCBs. Laws
controlling PCBs were not passed until 1976.
Decision: This series of events is being treated as an environmen-
tal accident. Our primary concern is to prevent a reoccurrence. We
must prevent further release of PCBs into the environment and the
food chain.
Dr. Camin, EPA Regional Administrator, announced at 5 p.m. Tuesday,
September 19, her decisions involving the recent PCB incident in
Kansas.
The first was an order reducing the required notice period from the
operators of the Kansas Industrial Environmental Services, Inc.,
site at Furley, Kansas, to local and state government. The order
reduced from 30 to 5 days the notice required before disposal of
PCBs in the site. Concern for shortening the time period arose
because the remaining live contaminated cattle might pose a threat
to the environment.
-------
PCB UVESTOCK CONTAMINATION INCIDENT IN KANSAS
The second decision was her approval of the site for one time
disposal of PCBs. After reviewing the transcript of an informal
public hearing held in Wichita earlier in the week and receiving no
adverse comments at or after the hearing, she decided on these
actions.
KDHE disposed of the cattle, back-rubbers, highly contaminated soil
from the farm, and the contaminated meat at the site on September 20.
The National Cattlemens Association has invited Dr. Camin, Mel Gray
of KDHE, the farmer involved in the incident, Don Busenitz of
Newton, Kansas, and FDA and USDA representatives to come to
Washington to discuss the problem with the idea of establishing a
national interagency plan on response, should this kind of
environmental accident occur again.
-------
LI.SM ©tf EVENTS
-------
PCB CONTAMINATED KANSAS CATTLE
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF EVENTS
December 10, 1978 - Mr. Don Busenitz, Newton, KS, bought 168, ten month old
feeder calves weighing approximately 450 pounds each.
Cattle had access to two backrubbers reported to contain
TOXAPHENE and LINDANE mixed in oil.
February 6, 1979 - The 168 cattle were examined by Dr. Cyril Brown, local veterl
narian, Newton, KS, and appeared to be healthy.
May 17 - Mr. Busenitz deliverd 168 cattle (approximately
15 months old, 850 pounds each) to Pawnee
Valley Feedlot, Hanston, Kansas.
- Cattle were vaccinated on arrival with IBR, BVO,
TI-3, clostridium - sevin and leptosperosis and
dipped in IMIDAN (PROLATE).
- Cattle refused to eat.
May 18 - Two cattle died.
May 20 - 14 more cattle died.
- Dr. H.D. Anthony, KSU, College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan,
Kansas, performed autopsies and collected tissue samples (kidney,
liver, fat).
May 21 - Dr. A. E. Wesley and Mr. Taylor of Pawnee Valley Feedlot collected
samples at Busenitz farm - silage, grain, backrubber oil, bag salt,
liquid protein.
May 23 - Dr. H.D. Anthony referred samples of kidney, liver, fat, silage
and backrubber oil to Dr. Gary Osweiler, UMC, Veterinary Medicine
Diagnostic Laboratory. TOXAPHENE poisoning suspected.
May 24 - Total of 54 cows have died.
- Dr. H.D. Anthony requested that Dr. Gurss, State Veterinarian,
Kansas Board of Animal Health, place surviving cows under
quarantine.
May 19 to - Dead cattle are collected by and taken to Jayhawk Rendering
June 18 Plant, Garden City, Kansas.
June 21 - Dr. Gary Osweiler, sent written report of analysis to Dr. H.D.
Anthony. Analysis thought to reveal TOXAPHENE but neither mass
spectral data nor clinical diagnosis matched TOXAPHENE poisoning.
July 12 - Dr. Osweiler referred samples to Dr. H. A. Nelson, National
Veterinary Services Lab, APHIS, Ames, Iowa, for confirmation of
TOXAPHENE analysis.
-------
August 6
- Dr. Nelson runs analysis on samples.
August 7
August 8
August 9
- Dr. Nelson reported results of analysis that cattle are contaminated
with PCBs to the following people Dr. Shane, FDA, Topeka, KS;
Dr. Swann, Federal Meat Inspection Program, Topeka, KS;
Drs. Conely and Clabough, National Veterinary Services, APHIS,
Topeka, KS; and Dr. Chaluox, APHIS, Deputy Administrator,
Washington, D.C.
- Wolfgang Brandner, Toxics Coordinator, EPA, Region VII,
notified of PCB contaminated herd of cattle by Dr. Nelson.
- Another cow died and was picked up by Jayhawk Rendering Plant,
Garden City, Kansas.
Verified sample analysis revealed the following:
Sample No. PCB Content
Liver A
Liver B
Kidney A
Kidney B
Fat #1 (5/23/79)
Fat #2 (6/1/79)
Silage 1
Silage 12
Backrubber Oil
82 ppm
80 ppm
44 ppm
140 ppm
2,200 ppm
670 ppm
6 ppm
0 ppm
Greater than 95% (analysis
is Identical to AROCHLOR 1260)
John Wicklund and Leo Alderman notifed.
Dr. H. D. Anthony identified the farm of origin of the contaminated
cattle. EPA inspector made preparation to visit farm.
David Ramsey, EPA Inspector, was sent to call on Mr. Don Busenitz,
Newton, KS, to determine the source of the backrubber oil.
Mr. Busenitz was not at home. Mr. Ramsey interviewed Mrs. Claassen,
Mrs. Busenitz's mother and neighbor. She stated cows were healthy
before going to feedlot. She also mentioned previous experiences
with cows becoming sick from what she believed was an interaction
between backrubber oil and the cattle dip.
Mr. Brandner requested Dr. O.F. Clabough, Veterinary Services,
APHIS, Topeka, KS, to extend the quarantine on the Busenitz
herd issued by Dr. Ourss to include dead cattle - no carcasses
were to leave the Pawnee Valley Feedlot.
Mr. Howard Duncan, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDH&E)
Topeka, Kansas, Informed Mr. John C. Wicklund, EPA, that Jayhawk
Rendering Company, Garden City, Kansas, collected the 54 dead
cattle, processed them, and sold the oil to Southwest By-Products,
Springfield, Missouri, for use in animal feed. Southwest
By-Products diluted the oil and sold it to Tyson Foods,
Arkansas, who sold it Gold Klst Chickens, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
-------
Springdale, Arkansas, who sold it to Cargill Turkeys, Springdale,
- Ed Fry, FDA, Kansas City, MO, notified of Mr. Duncans's
information*
- Tallow sample from rendering vat collected by KDH&E at
Jayhawk Rendering Company, Garden City, Kansas.
August 13 - Dr. Dennis Huck, feedlot veterinarian, collected tail fat
samples from 15 live cattle at Pawnee Valley Feedlot, Hanston,
Kansas, and sent them to APHIS laboratory, Ames, Iowa.
- Arrangements were made for EPA and KDH&E Inspectors to meet with
Mr. Busenitz on his farm Tuesday morning, August 14.
- One of the contaminated cows died at Pawnee Valley Feedlot
and was buried at the feedlot.
August 14 - Inspectors from FDA, EPA and KDH&E visit the Busenitz farm.
Six full and three empty 55 gallon barrels of transformer oil
were found on the property. Fifteen to 20 barrels were pur-
chased by Mr. Busenitz eight years ago from Art Sattler Repair,
Salvage Company, Walton, Kansas. Backrubber solution was
prepared by Mr. Busenitz and is composed of 2 gallons TOXAPHENE,
1 gallon LINDANE and 33 gallons of transformer oil. FDA took
samples of the backrubber oil.
- KDH&E issued a hold order to Mr. Busenitz requiring him to
retain the six intact 55 gallon barrels of oil found on his farm.
- FDA reported to Leo Alderman the following:
Records show 54 cows sent to Jayhawk Rendering from Pawnee
Valley Feedlot.
Red meat from the 54 cows was bought by Carnation, St. Joseph, MO.
Hides and bones from the 54 cows were sent to Southwest Trading,
Houston, TX.
August 15 - Dr. O.F. Clabough agrees to give a written estimation of the total
PCB content of a cow.
- Dr. Cyril Brown, Newton, KS, veterinarian, collected 11 back fat
biopsies from swine on the Busenitz farm and sent them to the
National Veterinary Services Lab, Ames, Iowa, for analysis.
- Joint EPA, FDA meeting.
August 16 - EPA and KDHE issue joint press release to T.V., Channel 27,
Topeka, Kansas, after station questions Agencies about PCB contam-
inated cattle.
-------
August 17
August 20
- Mr. Brandner contacted Dr. George Fries, USDA, Beltsville,
Maryland, who has been involved in the PBB cattle contam-
ination problem in Michigan. Dr. Fries stated that PCB
level in Busenitz cattle could not be reduced to acceptable
limits during the lifetime of the animals. Cattle should
be destroyed.
- First PCB story in Kansas City Star.
- Mary Woleske, FDA, reported preliminary analysis of Backrubber
oil and oil samples from 6 full drums, 2 empty barrels.
Results of preliminary analysis were:
Full Oil Barrel 11
#2
MM H 4<*
#4
#5
#6
Empty
#7
#8
Backrubber oil
Oil from mixing barrel
63% PCB
85 ppm
6%
572
59Z
69%
54%
31%
63%
59%
Dr. Mel Gray, KDH&E, reported that the vat sample from Jayhawk
Rendering Company contained 4.9 ppm PCB. FDA did a complete
inspection of the plant.
Mary Woleske, FDA, reported the results of the tail fat sample
analysis performed by APHIS lab in Ames, Iowa. These samples
were collected from live cows at Pawnee Valley Feedlot, Hanston,
Kansas, on August 13, 1979.
1) 150 ppm PCBs
2) 800 "
3) 300 -
4) 300 "
5) 360 "
6) 930 ppm PCBs
7) 1100 " "
8) 230 "
9) 310 "
10) 130 "
11) 810 ppm PCBs
12) 170 "
13) 240 "
14) 380 " "
15) 470 "
Range 130 ppm to 1100 ppm PCBs
- Swine back fat samples received by Ames, Iowa, laboratory.
August 21 - Mr. Brandner requested that Dr. Mel Gray notify Mr. Busenitz
of the analytical results of the cattle tail fat samples and
of all future samples analysis involving Mr. Busenitz's
livestock.
- Dr. Mel Gray requested meeting of all concerned parties
(KDH&E, APHIS, FDA, USDA, and EPA) to determine what action
should be taken on the contaminated cattle.
-------
August 22
August 23
August 24
August 25
Dr. H. D. Anthony, KSU, reported the concentration of PCB
In the 16 slaughtered hogs at Rodeo Meats, Arkansas City,
Kansas, was less than 0.5 pptn.
Dr. George Fries, USDA, agreed that extensive soil sampling
should be done at the Busenitz farm and at the feedlot. He
stated that 5 to 10 ppm PCB in the soil of a cattle pen
and any detectable PCB's in the soil of a hog lot could
cause unacceptable PCB residues In the livestock.
According to Dr. H. D. Anthony, KSU, the body composition
of a cow is:
Bone 7.5Z
Red Meat 44.5Z
External Fat 111
Internal Fat (in red meat) 3%
Blood 3.5Z
Skin
Heart
Tongue
Liver
TX,
0.35Z
0.252
1Z
Internal Organs 22%
FDA reported that PCB contaminated red meat bought by
Carnation Company, St. Joseph, Missouri, for use in dog
food had been transferred to the company's Jefferson,
Wisconsin plant and canned. Approximately 200,000 dog
food cans had gone to Carnation's distribution center in
Philadelphia. FDA has issued a hold order on the shipment
because a sample from one production lot contained 5 ppm
PCB.
Meeting of all involved agencies. EPA explained options
for disposal of cows, waste oil, backrubbers and soil con-
taining more than 50 ppm PCB. KDH&E will issue order to
destroy remaining 113 cattle after tail fat samples have
been collected from all animals. Since it will take a mini-
mum of 30 days to locate and approve a proper cattle burial
site, Kansas Animal Health Department requested removal of
the cattle from the Pawnee Valley Feedlot back to the
Busenitz farm. KDH&E decided to impound the surviving
cattle and pay all disposal costs if the fanner agrees.
FDA requested a more representative sample of the 534 hogs
on the Busenitz farm be taken - particularly the brood
sows need to be biopsied and their milk tested. KDH&E
reported the PCB content in the 16 slaughtered hogs at
Rodeo Meats to be undetectable - hold order will be
rescinded. All parties agreed an early reporting system
of disasters such as this one needed to be implemented and
an effort should be made to educate farmers on proper oil
use - County Extension Agents could assist.
Additional fat samples collected from Swine on Busenitz
farm. Samples collected from 9 feeder pigs, 12 sows, and
1 boar.
-------
- Fat samples collected from all cattle surviving at Pawnee
Valley Feedlot.
- 16 slaughtered hogs at Rodeo Meats, Arkansas City, Kansas,
and 125 feeder hogs at the Busenitz farm were released from
quarantine by KDH&E with USDA concurrence* PCB level in
samples from these hogs was undetectable*
August 27 - Swine and cattle fat samples arrived at National Veterinary
Services Laboratory, Ames, Iowa.
August 28 - KDH&E issued order to impound 113 live cattle contaminated
with PCB's located at Pawnee Valley Feedlot. An impoundment
order was also Issued to Mr. Don Busenitz for 9 barrels of
transformer oil and the soil in the cattle pen located at
the Newton, Kansas farm. Impoundment transfers ownership
of these items to the State.
August 29 - Dr. Robert Kloepfer, EPA Laboratory, Kansas City, Kansas,
reported the following results of analysis from soil, water,
and insilage from the Busenitz farm:
- Soil under one backrubber ranged from 190 ppm
to 1,000 ppm PCB.
- Soil under the other backrubber ranged from
110 ppm to 720 ppm PCB.
- Soil around the periphery of the cattle pen
contained 20 ppm to 34 ppm PCB.
Subsurface soil samples will have to be collected to
determine extent of contamination.
- Howard Duncan, KDH&E, reported preliminary analyses of
top soil from pen holding PCB contaminated cattle at
Pawnee Valley Feedlot revealed a PCB concentration of
less than 5 ppm. Soil from 6 inches below the surface
showed no PCB concentration.
August 30 - Howard Duncan, KDH&E, reported result of analysis on
cattle fat from beef sold by Mr. Busenitz to a Newton,
Kansas resident last year, The PCB content was 1,300
ppm. The beef has been impounded by KDH&E along with beef
from other Newton, Kansas residents who have purchased
cattle from Mr. Busenitz in the past years.
-------
September 6
September 7
September 13
September 14
-The Kansas Industrial Environmental Services (KIES)
chemical waste landfill site near Furley, Kansas,
was evaluated to determine its suitability for the
disposal of the PCB contaminated cattle and related
articles. The EPA evaluation team was lead by
William J. Keffer, Chief, Support Services Branch,
SVAN. Mr. Joseph Cronin, Environmental Engineer for
the Kansas Department of Health and Environment also
accompanied the EPA team. The evaluation considered
the location, design and operation of the site.
-EPA received disposal request letter dated September 5
to Lee Deets, General Manager of KIES to Dr. Camin.
-Meeting of all agencies involved to discuss the
additional test results from the hog and cattle
tests. The FDA representative discussed the
definition of avoidable contamination of the hogs
and the full group discussed the proposed fate
of all contaminated items and steers.
-The final report on the KIES site was delivered by
Mr. William Keffer of EPA. He indicated that the
site was well designed and well operated with a few
minor concerns. He recommended that the site be
approved for disposal of the PCB contaminated
cattle and related items. He recommended the few
minor shortcomings be addressed in the proposed
permit.
-FDA notified KDH&E that the tolerance for PCB's
in the poultry of 3 ppm of fat basis would be
applied to the Busenitz's swine. The swine will
continue to be monitored and those exceeding the
tolerance level kept out of the food chain.
-Letter sent to Melville Gray, Director of Environment,
from Dr. Kathleen Q. Camin concerning the recommenda-
tion for disposition of soils at the Busenitz farm
and Pawnee Valley Feedlot, the backrubbers and
other related items. KIES letter sent notifying the
Sedgwick County Board of Commissioners of the intent
to dispose of the contaminated cattle and related
articles.
-------
8
September 17
September 19
September 20
-Dr. Kathleen Q. Camin and other EPA staff members
met with the Wichita-Sedgwick County Environmental
Resources Advisory Board (ERAB) in Wichita and
briefed them on the cattle contamination incident
and the KIES application. ERAB endorsed the site
as an appropriate disposal location and recommended
it to the County Commissioners.
-A Federal Register notice was published allowing
the one time disposal of contaminated cattle to be
conducted with five days notice to local governments
based on the environmental emergency. A public
hearing was held the evening of September 17 to
receive public comment and explain the nature of
the emergency.
-Closing date on the comments concerning the five
day notice of intent to dispose of the cattle and
articles.
-Dr. Kathleen Q. Camin waived the 30 day local govern-
ment notice requirement and substituted the five day
notice. Further, she, by letter, approved the KIES
application and waivers with special conditions
concerning the contaminated cattle and related item
disposal operation and site maintenance.
-------
INTERAGENCY EFFORTS
-------
IKTERACENCY EFFORTS
PCB CONTAMINATED CATTLE
Food and Drug Administration
..is tracing the dead animals
..is testing samples of the oil from the backrubber and from
oil found in the barrels at the farm
..at this time FDA does not believe there is a significant
health hazard.
Environmental Protection Agency
..will trace origin of PCB transformer oil
..assist Busenitz in complying with PCB regulations
..determine If IMIDAN (PROLATE) is registered for use as a
cattle dip and was used properly at feedlot
..recommend disposal methods for PCB contaminated animals.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
..sample rendering vats at Jayhawk Rendering Company
..collect environmental sample from Don Busenitz farm hog
and cattle pens
..collect soil samples from area containing remainder of
Busenitz herd at Pawnee Valley Feedlot
..sample 3 oil barrels at salvage company
..place a hold order on all swine at Busenitz farm.
APHIS and State Veterinarian
..cattle quarantined
..swine quarantined and fat biopsies collected
..estimate total PCB content of contaminated ,cow.
National Veterinary Sciences Laboratoary, Ames, Iowa
•.PCB analysis in cattle and swine tissues, soil samples and
feed samples.
..Report of analysis to be sent to EPA and FDA.
-------
SAMPLE ANALYSES RELATED TO PCB CONTAMINATED CATTLE
SAMPLE
Liver A
Liver B
Kidney A
Kidney B
Fat fl
(5/23/79)
Fat #2
(6/2/79)
Silage fl
Silage #2
Backrubber
Oil
Fat From
Rendering
Vat
Cattle Tall
Fat 11
Fat 12
Fat 13
Fat 14
Fat f5
Fat 16
FROM NEWTON, KANSAS
DATE
SOURCE OF DATE COLLECTED DATE SENT RECEIVED ANALYTICAL
SAMPLE COLLECTED BY TO LAB BY LAB LABORATORY
Dead Cattle 5/29/79 Dr. H. D. 5/23/79 5/25/79 Univ. of MO
Pawnee Valley Anthony, KSD, Vet. Wag.
Feedlot, Vet. School Lab, Colum-
Hanston, KS Manhattan, KS bla, MO
ft HI! M H n
N * It H H M
Busenltz Farm 5/20/79 Dr. A. E.
Newton, KS Wesley and
Mr. Taylor of
Pawnee Valley
Feedlot
Jayhawk Ren- 8/9/79 KDH&E " " FDA, Kansas
derlng Plant, City, MO
Garden City, KS
Pawnee Valley 8/13/79 Dr. Dennla 8/13/79 8/16/79 Nat. Vet.
Feedlot, Han- Buck, Feed- Services Lab,
ston, Kansas lot Vet. APHIS, Ames,
Iowa
DATE ANALYSIS
REPORTED
6/21/79
8/20/79
8/20/79
DATE SENT FOR
ANALYTICAL CONFIRMATORY
RESULTS ANALYSIS
Suspect 7/12/79
TOXAPHENE
«t it
DATE VERIFIED
ANALYTICAL RESULTS ANALYTICAL
LABORATORY REPORTED RESULTS
Nat. Vet. 8/6S7/79 82 ppm PCB
Services Lab,
APHIS, Ames,
Iowa
80 ppm PCB
44 ppm PCB
140 ppm PCB
2200 ppm PCB
670 ppm PCB
" "6 ppm PCB
0 ppm PCB
95Z PCB (Aro-
chlor 1260)
4.9 ppm PCB
150 ppm PCB
800 ppm PCB
300 ppm PCB
300 ppm PCB
360 ppm PCB
930 ppm PCB
-------
DATE
SOURCE OF DATE COLLECTED DATE SENT RECEIVED ANALYTICAL DATE ANALYSIS
SAMPLE SAMPLE COLLECTED BY TO LAB BY LAB LABORATORY REPORTED
Fat #7 " " " " " " 8/20/79
Fat #8 " " ' "
Fat 99 " . . .
Fat #10
Fat #11
Fat #12 " " ...
Fat #13 " ...
Fat #14 " ...
Fat #15
Oil From Busenltz Farm 8/14/79 David Bergeson FDA, Kansas 8/20/79
Opened 55 Newton, KS FDA, Wichita, City, MO
gal* Barrel Kansas
Backrubber " " ...
Oil
Silage #1 " 8/15/79 Dwayne Muetting EPA, Kansas
KDH&E City, KS
Silage #2 "
Barrel " " FDA, Kansas 8/20/79
Oil #1 City, MO
Barrel ... .
Oil #2
Barrel ... .
Oil #3
Barrel ... .
Oil #4
Barrel ... .
Oil #5
Barrel ... . .
Oil #6
Barrel Oil . .
#7 (Empty)
ANALYTICAL
RESULTS
1100 ppm PCB
230 ppm PCB
310 ppm PCB
130 ppm PCB
810 ppm PCB
170 ppm PCB
240 ppm PCB
380 ppm PCB
470 ppm PCB
59Z PCB
63Z PCB
0.2 ppm PCB
63Z PCB
85 ppm PCB
6Z PCB
57Z PCB
59Z PCB
60Z PCB
54Z PCB
-------
DATE
SOURCE OF DATE COLLECTED DATE SENT RECEIVED ANALYTICAL DATE ANALYSIS ANALYTICAL
SAMPLE SAMPLE COLLECTED BY TO LAB BY LAB LABORATORY REPORTED RESULTS
Barrel Oil Busenitz Farm 8/15/79 Dwayne Muetting FDA, Kansas 8/20/79 312 PCB
98 (Empty) Newton, Kansas KDH&E City, MO
Soil - 0 ft. " " EPA, Kansas 8/28/79 1,000 ppm PCB
from West City, KS
Backrubber
Soil - 5 ft. " " " 190 ppm PCB
from West
Backrubber
Soil - 10 ft. " " " " 190 ppm PCB
from West
Backrubber
Soil - 0 ft. " " " " 390 ppm PCB
from East
Backrubber
Soil - 5 ft. " " " 110 ppm PCB
from East
Backrubber
Soil - 10 ft. " " " 720 ppm PCB
from East
Backrubber
Well H20 01 " 0
Well H20 92 " 0
Hog Pen H20 " 0
Runoff
Soil from " 34 ppm PCB
Cattle Pen,
West Fence
Soil from " 20 ppm PCB
Cattle Pen,
East Fence
01 Random " 0.3 ppm PCB
Soil from
Hog Pen
#2 Random " 0.06 ppm PCB
Soil from
HOR Pen
-------
SAMPLE
16 Hog Fat
(Slaugh-
tered Hogs)
Back Fat #1
(Live Hogs)
SOURCE OF
SAMPLE
Rodeo Meats
Arkansas City,
Kansas
Busenltz Farm
Newton, Kansas
DATE
COLLECTED
8/15/79
8/15/79
Back Fat 92
(Live Hogs)
Back Fat 03
(Live Hogs)
Back Fat 04
(Live Hogs)
Back Fat
-------
SAMPLE
Surface
Soil tl
(PCB Cat-
tle Pen)
Surface
Soil f2
(PCB Cat-
tle Pen)
Surface
Soil «
(PCB Cat-
tle Pen)
DATE
COLLECTED
Pawnee Valley
Feedlot, Han-
ston, Kansas
COLLECTED
BY
KDH&E, Tope-
ka, Kansas
DATE SENT
TO LAB
DATE
RECEIVED
BY LAB
ANALYTICAL
LABORATORY
KDH&E and
EPA, Kansas
City, Kansas
DATE ANALYSIS
REPORTED
8/28/79
ANALYTICAL
RESULTS
2.1 ppm PCB
2.7 ppm PCB
4.3 ppm PCB
Subsurface "
Soil #1
(PCB Cattle
Pen)
Subsurface "
Soil #2
(PCB Cattle
Pen)
Subsurface
Soil «
(PCB Cattle
Pen)
Random Soil 11
(Cattle Pen)
Random Soil 12
(Cattle Pen)
Feeder Pig Busenltz Farm 8/25/79
Fat fl Newton, Kansas
Feeder Pig
Fat 12
Feeder Pig
Fat #3
Feeder Pig
Fat f4
None
KDH&E
8/25/79
8/25/79
Nat. Vet.
Services Lab
APHIS, Ames,
Iowa
8/31/79
9/5/79
3.2 ppm PCB
<0.5 ppm PCB
<0.5 ppm PCB
1.0 ppm PCB
-------
SOURCE OF DATE COLLECTED
SAMPLE SAMPLE COLLECTED BY
Feeder Pig Busenltz Farm 8/25/79 KDH&E
Fat *5 Newton, KS
Feeder Pig " "
Fat lf>
Feeder Pig " "
Fat 11
Feeder Pig " "
Fat #8
Feeder Pig " " "
Fat 19
Sow Fat 11
Sow Fat f2 " " "
Sow Fat *3
Sow Fat #4
Sow Fat t5
Sow Fat *6
Sow Fat 97 ~ "
Sow Fat #8
Sow Fat *9 -
Sow Fat #10
Sow Fat #11 " " •
Sow Fat 112
Boar Fat 11 "
Dog Food Carnation Co. FDA
St. Joseph, MO
DATE
DATE SENT RECEIVED ANALYTICAL DATE ANALYSIS
TO LAB BY LAB LABORATORY REPORTED
8/25/79 8/25/79 Nat. Vet. 9/5/79
Services Lab
APHIS, Ames,
Iowa
8/31/79
9/5/79
8/31/19
"
9/5/79
...
.
• " 8/31/79
...
9/5/79
"
FDA, Kansas
City, MO
ANALYTICAL
RESULTS
Insufficient
Sample
2.6 ppm PCB
4.0 ppm PCB
2.3 ppm PCB
2.0 ppm PCB
3.4 ppm PCB
1.4 ppm PCB
4.0 ppm PCB
1.3 ppm PCB
4.0 ppm PCB
9.0 ppm PCB
2.6 ppm PCB
3.0 ppm PCB
17 ppm PCB
13 ppm PCB
3.0 ppm PCB
11 ppm PCB
Insufficient Sample
5 ppm PCB
-------
SAMPLE
Freezer
Beef
Freezer
Beef
Freezer
Beef
Freezer
Beef
SOURCE OF
SAMPLE
Busenitz
Neighbor fl
Newton, KS
Busenitz
Neighbor 12
Newton, KS
Busenitz
Neighbor #3
Newton, KS
Busenitz
Neighbor #4
Newton, KS
DATE
COLLECTED
8/23/79
COLLECTED
BY
KDH&E
DATE SENT
TO LAB
8/23/79
DATE
RECEIVED
BY LAB
ANALYTICAL
LABORATORY
8/23/79 Nat. Vet.
Services Lab,
APHIS, Ames,
Iowa
DATE ANALYSIS
REPORTED
8/29/79
ANALYTICAL
RESULTS
1300 ppm PCB
Soil #1 Cattle Pen
West Oiler Busenitz Farm
0-3 Inch Newton, KS
depth
Soil 92
West Oiler
3-6 Inch
depth
Soil *3
West Oiler
6-12 Inch
depth
Soil 14
East Side of
Pen - 0-3 •
Inch depth
Soil *5
East Side of
Pen - 3-6
Inch depth
Soil »6
East Side of
Pen - 6-12
Inch depth
8/30/79
KDH&E
8/30/79
8/30/79 EPA, Kansas
City, KS
33 ppm PCB
34 ppm PCB
.98 ppm PCB
11 ppm PCB
2.1 ppm PCB
.12 ppm FCB
-------
SOURCE OF DATE COLLECTED
SAMPLE SAMPLE COLLECTED BY
Steer #1 Pawnee Valley 8/25/79 KDH&E
Tall Fat Feedlot, Han-
stont Kansas
Steer 12 "
Steer #3 "
Steer #4 " "
Steer f5 "
Steer id "
Steer #7 "
Steer #8 " "
Steer 19 "
Steer #10 " "
Steer #11 "
Steer 112 "
Steer 113 "
Steer #14 " "
Steer #15 "
Steer #16 "
Steer #17
Steer #18 "
Steer #19
Steer #20 "
Steer #21
Steer #22 " "
Steer #23
DATE
DATE SENT RECEIVED ANALYTICAL DATE ANALYSIS ANALYTICAL
TO LAB BY LAB LABORATORY REPORTED RESULTS
8/25/79 8/25/79 Nat. Vet. 9/14/79 150 ppm PCB'S
Services Lab,
APHIS, Ames
Iowa
800
300
300
360
930
1,100
230
310
130
810
170
". - 240
380
470
1,500
320
830
590
410
300
510
" " 700
-------
SOURCE OF
SAMPLE SAMPLE
Steer #24
Steer #25
Steer #26
Steer #27
Steer #28
Steer #29
Steer #30
Steer #31
Steer #32
Steer #33
Steer #34
Steer #35
Steer #36
Steer #37
Steer #38
Steer #39
Steer #40
Steer #41
Steer #42
Steer #43
Steer #44
Steer #45
Steer #46
Steer #47
Steer #48
DATE
DATE COLLECTED DATE SENT RECEIVED ANALYTICAL DATE ANALYSIS ANALYTICAL
COLLECTED BY TO LAB BY LAB LABORATORY REPORTED RESULTS
630 ppm PCB'a
740
310
600
100
- • " " " " 400
460
- • - " " 950
450
370
750
" " " 260
510
470
'• 80
600
160
390
2,200
100
570
80
340
560
240
-------
SAMPLE
Steer #49
Steer #50
Steer #51
Steer #52
Steer #53
Steer #54
Steer #55
Steer #56
Steer #57
Steer #58
Steer #59
Steer #60
Steer #61
Steer #62
Steer #63
Steer #64
Steer #65
Steer #66
Steer #67
Steer #68
Steer #69
Steer #70
Steer #71
Steer #72
COL^TEO
LABORATORY
DATE ANALYSIS
REPORTED
ANALYTICAL
RESULTS
590 ppm PCB's
520
160
120
460
410
300
250
430
220
140
800
620
310
800
100
610
150
230
810
550
930
260 (Died - Burled at Feadlot)
670
-------
SOURCE OF
SAMPLE SAMPLE
Steer #73
Steer #74
Steer #75
Steer #76
Steer #77
Steer #78
Steer #79
Steer #80
Steer #81
Steer #82
Steer #83
Steer #84
Steer #85
Steer #86
Steer #87
Steer #88
Steer #89
Steer #90
Steer #91
Steer #92
Steer #93
Steer #94
Steer #95
Steer #96
DATE
DATE COLLECTED DATE SENT RECEIVED ANALYTICAL DATE ANALYSIS ANALYTICAL
COLLECTED BY TO LAB BY LAB LABORATORY REPORTED RESULTS
" " 1,300 ppm PCB's
190
600
490
70
320
350
110
290
560
990
- . 950
360
1,000
440
" " " " 300
520
270
310
830
790
- ... . 190
150
850
-------
SOURCE OF
SAMPLE SAMPLE
Steer #97
Steer #98
Steer #99
Steer #100
Steer #101
Steer #102
Steer #103
Steer #104
Steer #105
Steer #106
Steer #107
Steer #108
Steer #109
Steer #110
Steer #111
Steer #112
Steer #113
DATE
DATE COLLECTED DATE SENT RECEIVED ANALYTICAL DATE ANALYSIS ANALYTICAL
COLLECTED BY TO LAB BY LAB LABORATORY REPORTED RESULTS
250 ppm PCB'8
- ... - 210
" ... . 4QQ
- " " 200
290
140
80
630
620
" ... . JJQ
" ... . JQQ
120
480
490
- - - " 240
" ... - 4£Q
.
-------
PCS's Liquid and Barrel Storage and Disposal
Problem: Disposal of barrels containing from 85 ppm to 63 percent
PCS liquids, one empty barrel, and two back-rub devices.
Background: The barrels are the property of Mr. Don Busnitz, a farmer
in Newton, Kansas. The barrels and PCB liquids are in a machine shed
on his farm. Mr. Busnitz has limited resources. The barrels must be
handled under the requirements of 40 CFR Part 761, Polychlorinated
Biphenyls (PCBs) Manufacturing, Processing, Distribution in Commerce,
and Use Prohibitions, FR May 31, 1979, Vol. 44, No'. 100. At the meeting
called by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), a
number of questions concerning the disposition of the barrels was posed.
The following section attempts to answer these questions.
Discussion:
1. The oil is not impounded. Can EPA do so? Answer, no. The controll-
ing regulations place restrictions on use, manufacturing, processing,
and distribution and disposition of PCBs, PCB Containers, PCB Articles,
PCB Items, etc. The regulations provide for proper storage and
disposition of the defined material without controls over the material
unless it is improperly stored or disposed. The barrels and the oil
are the property of Mr. Busnitz and can be stored properly at a
reasonable cost to him.
2. Where could the oil be impounded? The only ability to impound the
material would result from a court action to enjoin Mr. Busnitz from
removal or other disposition. This would probably require an allegation
that he would improperly dispose of it if the court restraint w.ere
not granted.
3. Could the KIES site be approved and used to impound the liquid
waste oil? As long as the Annex III, Section 761.42, requirements on
Storage for Disposal of PCB's and PCB Containers are met, KIES or any
other location meeting the requirements could be utilized. If Mr. Busnitz
chooses to meet these requirements, then he can continue to store them
until a disposal site can be located and he can arrange for proper
disposal.
4. Could EPA explore the possibility of disposal in the Mobile Rotary
Kiln Incinerator scheduled to burn the dioxin wastes at Verona, Missouri,
in 1981? We could explore the possibility, however, we anticipate other
incinerators will be available for this purpose prior to that time
and the addition of this waste to that already complicated and difficult
incineration procedure would be a significant burden.
-------
5. Will EPA pay for storage and/or disposal of the barrels and/or
liquids? Answer, no. The Agency does not have funds available for
such storage or disposal. We can offer technical assistance and work
with Mr. Busnitz and KDHE to minimize the cost of storage and disposal.
The alternatives for disposition of the barrels and PCB liquids appear
limited to incineration in an approved facility. None are available
at the present time although several applications are under review in
Regional Offices around the nation. Storage of the barrels and PCB
liquids is the only short-term alternative. Storage can be accomplished
by contracting with a proper facility (KIES or an electric utility)
or construction of a proper facility on Mr. Busnitz*s farm.
Recommendations:
Storage of the barrels and back-rub devices containing PCBs must comply
with Annex III, Sec. 761.42 Storage for Disposal. If the PCB liquids
contain PCBs between the concentrations of 50 ppm and 500 ppm then they
can be disposed of in an approved chemical waste landfill (sec. 761.10(a))
If the PCB liquids contain greater than 500 ppm of PCBs then they must
be disposed of in an approved incinerator (Sec. 761.10(a)}. Assuming
that we have barrels in each category, Mr. Busnitz should contract for
disposal of the barrel containing PCBs at a concentration of less than
500 ppm. He should construct a proper storage facility for storage
of the barrel(s) containing PCBs at a concentration of greater than
500 ppm until an approved incinerator is available. Storage of the
barrels by Mr. Busnitz will have to meet the requirements of Annex III,
Sec. 761.42 Storage for Disposal, however, locations meeting the
requirements of this Annex are available in Kansas (Kansas Industrial
Environmental Services, etc.)
When an approved incinerator is available, then Mr. Busnitz should
contract with them or through his storage contractor for disposal of
the barrels containing PCBs at a concentration of 500 ppm or greater.
-------
PCB's Cattle and Soil Disposal
Problem: Disposal of 113 PCB contaminated cattle t dead cattle and soil
from the area of the back-rub device, and possibly other contaminated
soil or inert materials.
Background: The contaminated cattle are the property of Mr. Don Busnitz,
a farmer in Newton, Kansas. The cattle are currently located at
Pawnee Valley Feedlot near Hanston, Kansas. Mr. Busnitz has limited
resources. The cattle must be handled under the requirements of 40
CFR Part 761, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBS) Manufacturing, Processing,
Distribution in Commerce, and Use Prohibitions, FR May 31, 1979, Vol. 44,
No. 106. At the meeting called by the Kansas Department of Health and
Environment (KDHE), a number of questions concerning the disposition
of the cattle were raised. The following section attempts to answer
these questions:
Discussion:
Annex II of 40 CFR Part 761 provides the requirements for Chemical Waste
Landfills which control the disposal of PCB Articles, PCB Items, PCB
Containers, and PCB liquids contaminated between 50 and 500 ppm concen-
trations. Annex II requires that the Regional Administrator approve
such facilities and that the facilities meet the requirements of the
regulation. A waiver provision (Sec. 761.41(c)(4)) allows consideration
and approval of waivers of the requirements where unreasonable risk of
injury to health or the environment from PCBs will not result. Annex II
requires the following considerations:
(1) Soils,
(2) Synthetic membrane liners,
(3) hydrogologic conditions,
(4) Flood protection,
(5) Topography,
(6) Monitoring systems - Surface water, groundwater monitoring wells
and water analysis,
(7) Leachate collection,
(8) Chemical waste landfill operations — An operation plan, a
prohibition on ignitable waste disposal, and records, and
(9) Supporting facilities - Security fence, roads and absence of
safety problems or spills
Annex II calls for the development of an initial report by the owner or
operator of the facility, submission of other information required by
the Regional Administrator, and approval by the Regional Administrator
with additional requirements If necessary. The approval shall further
designate the persons who own and operate the landfill.
Chemical Waste Landfills approved for disposal of PCBs and PCB Items
(such as the contaminated cattle and soil) are listed on the attached
pages. Only one application has been received by Region VII, that of
the Kansas Industrial Environmental Services, Inc., located near
-------
Furley, Kansas. This facility has received the tentative approval of
the KDHE and is under final review by the Regional Office. The public
notice comment period and possible public hearing will be necessary
before final action on their application can be completed.
Thus, three alternatives are apparentt
(1) Contract transportation and disposal at an approved chemical
waste landfill (nearest location is Beatty, Nevada, or Livingston,
Alabama), or
(2) Continue to feed the cattle until the KIES application is acted
upon and if approved request them to take the wastes, or
(3) Develop a one-time use site near the feedlot.
The questions posed by the KDHE and the answers are as follows:
(1) What are EPA's capabilities in meeting the requirements?
EPA must review an application from an owner and operator and
approve or disapprove the site.
(2) Can the Regional Administrator grant an exemption or waiver
to Annex II? Where evidence or other information indicates that
the waiver is warranted and will not result in risk to health
or the environment.
(3) How fast can EPA act? The Regional Office can assist to a
limited degree in the perfection of an application developed by
the owner and operator of a site. In addition, the Regional
Administrator, at her discretion, may waive the public notice,
comment and public hearing recommendations.
Recommendations:
Given the location of the feedlot in the semi-arid area in Southwestern
Kansas, where the depth to groundwater can be a considerable distance,
a facility (existing landfill or new site) should be able to be located
which would provide excellent protection of the health and environment
from PCBs. If such a site is located, then the KDHE will have to issue
a permit for a landfill if a new site or a special waste disposal approval
to an existing site. The Regional Office will cooperate with the KDHE
in the determination of the reasonable considerations from Annex II
which must be required. Such a site should be able to meet the soils
and flood protection requirements with a minimum of earth work.' The
-------
site should be selected to meet the hydrogeologic and topographic
requirements. The need for monitoring (surface and groundwater) and
leachate collection deserve careful scrutiny due to their cost and
natural conditions. Development of the operation plan will have
to be accomplished by the owner and operator. The supporting facilities
and marking of the facility will have to be examined on the actual site.
The burial of cattle with the strong possibility of gas generation must
be considered and the long-term maintenance and monitoring of the site
must be considered as additional requirements. If such a cooperative
activity were undertaken by September 1, 1979, the approval by the
Regional Office could be completed in 30 days providing the process
proceeded smoothly, the site was properly located, and the
discretionary actions are effected.
-------
> APPROVED PCB
DISPOSAL SITES
-------
HAVE ANY DISPOSAL SITES BEEN APPROVED FOR PCBs? WHERE ARE
THEY?
Yes, eight chemical waste landfill sites have been ap-
proved. No incinerator sites have yet been approved, but three
sites are currently being considered.
The landfill locations are as follows:
1. Facility! General Electric Co., Silicone Products
Division.Facility Address:260 Hudson River Rd., Waterford,
New York 12189. Facility Telephone Number (518) 237-3330. Type
of Facility Approved: Incinerator. Type of PCB Waste Handled:
Approval allows G.E. to incinerate only those PCB wastes which
are generated on site, i.e., G. E. can not accept PCBs for
incineration from any other company or any other G.E. facility.
Expiration Date of Approval: September 1, 1981. EPA Regional
Office Contact: Wayne Pierre. EPA Telephone Number: (212) 264-
0505.
2. Facility; Newco Chemical Waste Systems, Inc. Facility
Address: 4526 Royal Avenue, Niagara Falls, New York 14330.
Facility Telephone Number: (716) 278-1811. Type of Facility
Approved: Chemical Waste Landfill. Type of PCB Waste Handled:
Capacitors (small and large); Properly drained transformers:
Contaminated soil, dirt, rags, and other debris; Dredge spoils;
Municipal sludges; and Properly drained containers (drums).
Expirationd Date of Approval: August 18, 1981. EPA Regional
Office Contact: Wayne Pierre. EPA Telephone Number: (212) 264-
0505.
3. Facility: SCA Chemical Services, Inc. Facility Address:
1550 Baimer Rd., Model City, New York 14107. Facility Telephone
Number: (716) 754-8231. Type of Facility Approved: Chemical
Waste Landfill. Type of PCB Waste Handled: Capacitors (snail
and large); Properly drained transformers; Contaminated soil,
dirt, rags, and other debris; Dredge spoils; Municipal sludges;
and Properly drained containers (drums). Expiration Date of
Approval: October 2, 1981.
4. Facility; Chemical Waste Management Facility
Address: 2131 Kingston Court,"S.E., Suite 112, Marriet^^AFacility
Telephone Number: (404) 952-0444. (Site located in Livingstone, Alabama)
Type of Facility Approved:
Chemical Waste Landfill. Type of PCB Waste Handled: Capacitors
(small and large): Properly drained transformers; Contaminated
soils, dirt, rags, and other debris; Dredge spoils;^ Municipal
sludges; and Properly drained containers (drums). 'Expiration
Date of Approval: Open-ended. EPA Regional Office Contact:
Mr. James Scarbrough. EPA Telephone Number (404) 881-3016.
5. Facility; Casmalia Disposal. Facility Address: 539 Ysidro
Rd., P.O. Box 5275, Santa Baroara, California 93108-main office
(site located near Casmalia in Santa Barbara County). Facility
Telephone Number: (805) 969-4703. Type of Facility Approved:
-------
Chemical Waste Landfill. Type of PCB Waste Handled: Capacitors
(small and large): Properly drained transformers; Contaminated
soil, dirt, rags and other debris; Dredge spoils; Huncipal
sludges; and Properly drained containers (drums). Expiration
Date of Approval: Open-ended. EPA Regional Office Contact:
Raymond Seid, EPA Telephone Number: (414) 556-3450.
6. Facility; Nuclear Engineering Co., Inc. Facility
AddreTs!9200 Shelbyville Rd., Suite 526, P.O. Box 7246, Louis-
ville, Kentucky 40207, main office (site located near Beatty,
Nev. in Nye County). Facility Telephone Number: (502) 426-
7160. Type of Facility Approved: Chemical Waste Landfill. Type
of PCB Waste Handled: Capacitors (small and large); Properly
drained transformers; Contaminated soil, dirt, rags and other
debris; Dredge spoils; Municipal sludges; and Properly drained
containers (drums). Expiration Date of Approval: Open-ended.
EPA Regional Office Contact: Raymond Seid. EPA Telephone
Number: (415) 556-3450. •
7. Facility: Chem-Nuclear Systems, Inc. Facility Address:
P.O. Box 1269, Portland, Oregon 97205main office (Site located
in Arlington, Oregon). Facility Telephone Number: (503) 223-
1912. Type of facility Approved: Chemical Waste Landfill. Type
of PCB Waste Handled: Capacitors (small and large): Properly
drained transformers; Contaminated soil, dirt, rags, asphalt, and
other debris; and Properly drained containers (drums). Expira-
ation Date of Approval: January 1, 1980. EPA Regional Office
Contact: Mr. Roger Fuentes. EPA Telephone Number: (206) 442-
1260.
8. Facility; Wes-Con., Inc. Facility Address: P. 0. Box 393
Grand View, Idaho 83624.
. Facility Telephone Number: (208) 834-
83624. Type of Facility Approved: Disposal in Missile* Silos.
Type of PCB Waste Handled: Capacitors (small and large);
Properly drained transformers; Contaminated soil, dirt, rags,
asphalt, and other debris; and Properly drained containers
(drums). Expiration Date of Approval: January 1, 1980. EPA
Regional Office Contact: Mr. Rogers Fuentes. EPA Telephone
Number: (206) 442-1260.
CAN A COMMON CARRIER (E.G., TRUCK LINE) TRANSPORT PCBs FOR
A COMPANY TO A DISPOSAL FACILITY IF THE TRANSPORT IS NOT
WITHIN THE INDUSTRY?
If the common carrier complies with the Hazardous Materials
requirements set by the Department of Transportation, and the
vehicle is properly and visibly labeled on its exterior with a
PCB label it can be used to transport PCBs to a disposal site.
-------
PCB CONTAMINATED CATTLE AND SOIL TRANSPORTATION,
STORAGE AND DISPOSAL COST ESTIMATES
FIRM NAME
Newco Chemical
Waste Systems,
Inc.
LOCATION
OF SITE
Niagara
Falls, New
York
DISPOSAL
COST
ESTIMATE
$30,000
($60/drum)
TRANSPORTATION
COST ESTIMATE
$12,150
(1,350 miles)
($2.25/load-mile)
(4 trucks)
LIME OR
MISCELLANEOUS
COSTS
ESTIMATED TOTAL
COSTS EXCLUDING
LABOR FOR PREPARATION
$42,150*
SCA Chemical
Services, Inc.
Model City,
New York
$37,300
($ll/ft3)
$12,150
(1,350 miles)
($2.25/load-mile)
(4 trucks)
$49,450
(Cattle could be
shipped to site)
Chemical Waste
Management
Livingston,
Alabama
$31,000
($8.16/ft3)
$9,000
(1,000 miles)
($2.24/load-mile)
(4 trucks)
$100
$40,100*
Casmalia
Disposal
Casmalia,
California
$12,500
($150/ton)
$11,700
(1,300 miles)
($2.24/load-mile)
(4 trucks)
$24,200*
* Containers, about 500, are required also.
-------
FIRM NAME
Nuclear
Engineering
Company
LOCATION
OF SITE
Beatty,
Nevada
DISPOSAL
COST
ESTIMATE
$15,000
TRANSPORTATION
COST ESTIMATE
$10,400
("1,300 miles)
($2.00/load-mile)
(4 trucks)
LIME OR
MISCELLANEOUS
COSTS
$100
ESTIMATED TOTAL
COSTS EXCLUDING
LABOR FOR PREPARATION
$25,500*
Chem-Nuclear
Systems, Inc.
Arlington,
Oregon
(They cannot accept PCB wastes from as far east as Kansas*)
Wes-Con, Inc.
Grand View,
Idaho
$10,000
($.06/lb. or
$120/ton)
**
~$10,000
(~1,150 miles)
(4 trucks)
$10,000***
or
~$20,000
(Cattle could be
shiped live to
the site.)
* Containers, about 500, are required also.
** Cattle can be transported live to the site in cattle semi-trailers.
*** Plus transport (live) costs, plus clearance by the governor of Idaho
is required.
-------
USDA LETTER
-------
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE I'. >•
SCIENCE AND EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION K- \)
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
NORTHEASTERN REGION
BELTSVILLE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER
BELTSVILLE. MARYLAND 20705
August 23, 1979
Dr. Wolfgang Brandner
Toxic Substances & Pesticide Branch
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7
324 East llth
Kansas City, Missouri 64106
Dear Dr. Brandner:
This is to confirm our recent phone conversations concerning the PCB
contaminated cattle. I am enclosing copies of the references cited
in this letter so that my assumptions and conclusions can be checked
if desired.
Information on the half-life of PCB in cattle is limited to lactating
dairy cattle. In our studies with 9 lactating cows (J. Agr. Food Chem.
21:117, 1973) the average half-life was 70 days. The half-life was meas-
ured during the first 60 days after exposure ended. We followed ther
residue level in 2 of these cows for a year (Environ. Health Perspect.
23:43, 1978) The half-life was 85 days in both milk fat and body fat.
It would require about 9 to 10 half-lives for an animal with 800 -
1000 ppm residue in fat to decline to an assumed 1.5 ppm tolerance.
Thus, even using the values for lactating cows, it would require 2 to
3 years for the animals to be marketable.
However, lactation is the major route of PCB excretion from animals.
Therefore, the animals with which you are concerned can be expected to
have half-lives that are much longer than half-lives for lactating
cows. Regardless of what this precise half-life is, it is reasonable
to assume that these animals would not be marketable within any realis-
tic time.
In general, the concentration of halogenated hydrocarbons, including
PCB, is quite uniform throughout the fat of the animal body. For any
given tissue the concentration in the whole/tissue is inversely propor-
tional to the fat content. This is illustrated in some of the enclosed
publications (Environ. Health Perspect. 23143, 1978 and J. Animal Sci.
45:1160, 1977). Therefore, one can calculate the approximate PCB
concentration in the entire animal body by making a reasonable assumption
about the amount of fat in the animal body.
The research on animal body composition was reviewed in 1955 (J. Dairy •
Sci. 38:1344, 1955). The composition data was obtained from analysis
of the total animal carcass after the gastro-intestinal tract contents
-------
were removed. The average percent fat of 139 beef animals was 16%. As
you can well understand, the percent fat in an individual animal can
vary a great deal depending upon the age and how well the animal was fed.
I have discussed the condition of the animals in Kansas with Dr. Anthony
of Kansas State University. We concluded that there is no basis for using
an assumption about fat content other than average (16%).
1 calculated the concentration of PCB in the total body for the two animals
at the extremes in concentration. I am using the metric system ease of
calculation. The average animal weighs about 400 kg. The Gl-tract contents,
water and undigested feed, accounts for about 10% of the live animal weight.
Thus, the empty body will weigh about 360 kg. The total fat in the body is
about 58 kg. The amount of PCB in animal #10 with 130 ppm in fat is approx-
imately 7500 milligram (58 kg x 130 mg/kg). The concentration in the total
animal will be 18.8 ppm (7500 mg/400 kg). The analogue calculation the
animal with the highest residue (#7 1100 ppm) would give 158 ppm.
An animal containing 50 ppm in a total body would contain approximately
20,000 mg of PCB (50 mg/kg x 400 kg). This is equivalent to approximately
345 ppm in the fat (20,000 mg/58 kg).
From these calculations it is apparent that the average of the herd, assum-
ing that the 15 animals sampled were representative, is somewhat above the
50 ppm limit. About half of the animals fall within the limit while several
animals are close and a few are well above it.
Since my discussions with you I have done a little more digging concerning
the half-life of chlorinated hydrocarbons non-lactating animals. I did
find one study in which heptaclor residues were followed for 530 days on a
presumably clean diet (J. Animal Sci. 33:177, 1971). The results were
somewhat erratic. One group of animals actually increased in residue
concentration, while 3 of the groups declined significantly. An important
factor in the decline appears to be the great increase In body weight that
occurred. This, of course, would dilute the residue. I also obtained
some data on Michigan animals exposed to PBB. These are condemned animals
that are being held in a clean environment pending burial or incineration.
While 12 of the 17 animals did show declines in residue concentration, some
animals showed no decline or an increase even after one year.
1 conclude that there is a chance that some of the animals 350-500 ppm range
could drop below 350 ppm in 6 months to a year if the animals were fed well
enough to maintain or increase weight. The higher level animals with resi-
dues above 500 ppm do not show promise of dropping below 350-ppm in a
reasonable length of time.
There is a final matter that is of some concern if the farmer decides to
return to livestock production. The farm environment may be contaminated
at a level that could lead to contamination of subsequent animals brought
to the farm. I have had extensive experience with a number of Michigan
farms that have residual contamination of polybrominated biphenyl. From
our experience, I conclude that a dirt lot with soil concentrations of PCB
above 5 ppm could pose the possibility that animals raised on these lots
would pick up enough PCB to -produce residues that would exceed regulatory
-------
guidelines (assuming 1.5 ppm). Hogs are much more serious consideration
than cattle. From our experience it is very likely that hogs exposed to
dirt lots above 1 ppm could have unacceptable PCB residues. Therefore,
I feel that it is Important that a good environmental sampling program
be carried out on this farm before attempting to return to livestock
production. It could also be important to sample those areas where the
waste oil had been used and could have been introduced into the feed
or the feed-handling systems.
I hope this letter has answered most of your questions and that it will
help you in the difficult decesions ahead. Do not hesitate to call me if
you have further questions.
Sincerely yours,
GEORGE F. FRIES, Animal Scientist
Pesticide Degradation Laboratory
Agricultural Environmental
Quality Institute
Enclosure
A-ARHM/r,
AUG27 1979
-------
Changes in polyborroinated biphenyl concentration in body of non-lactating
cows held in a clean environment (Michigan Department of Agriculture data),
Animal
number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Days in
clean environment
55
77
104
137
166
240
271
272
278
280
307
313
314
325
340
351
354
Initial, ppb
26
33
44
54
21
660
140
57
26
120
100
45
55
52
27
190
46
Final, ppb
20
29
46
91
46
200
120
26
25
81
51
64
38
62
42
110
43
-------
FDA Tolerance
-------
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C11011
C11011 190623 A 1-00-01-050373
PAAUIJAZ RUCHMBE0002 2561345-UUUU--RUCHNtV.
HWFD :-; . -. - :.'.. -..- -.. . .'
FM FDA/KAN-DO/J A ADAMSOM/DISTRI CT DI RECTOR/HFR-7100
TO NR-l/Krt*SAS STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT/
ATTN: MELVILLE GRAY/DIR AND CHIEF ENG DIV OF ENVIRONMENT
BT ._ . . . • ...; •_;,.."... .....'.,../..•,:,:.. .-...-..
WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH OUR HEADtUARTERS OFFICES REGARDING THE
DISPOSITION OF SWINE AT THE BUS EN ITZ FARM. WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT
USDA'S FOOD SAFETY AND ftUALITY SERVICE HAS BEEN APPLYING FDA»S TO-
LERANCE FOR PCS RESIDUES IN POULTRY TO SWINE AND CATTLE TISSUE
FOUND TO CONTAIN DETECTABLE PCB RESIDUES. CURRENTLY THE TOLERANCE
FOR PCB'S lit POULTRY IS 3 PPM ON A FAT BASIS. FDA WOULD NOT OBJECT
TO APPLYI3BTHIS TOLERANCE TO SWINE STILL LOCATED AT THE BUSENITZ
FARM.
WE HAVE EEEU ASSURED THAT USDA/FSftS WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO
INSURE THAT SWINE OVER THE 3 PPM LEVEL IN PAT DO NOT ENTER FOOD
CHANNELS. FSGS WILL ALSO NOTIFY FDA OF ANY FINDINGS IN THESE SWINE
ABOVE THE 3 PPM LEVEL.
PAGE TWO HUCHMBE0002 2561345
ACCORDINGLY* THE SWINE THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN TESTED AND FOUND TO
EXCEED THE 3 PPM LEVEL ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR USE AS HUMAN FOOD AND
SHOULD NOT BE SO OFFERED. IF NECESSARY/ THEY SHOULD BE DESTROYED
AND DISPOSED OF IN A MANNER TO PREVENT SUCH USAGE.
FDA IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT RENDERING THE SWINE THAT HAVE BEEN EX-
POSED TO PCB'S. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO INSURE THAT
THESE ANIMALS DO NOT INTRODUCE PCB CONTAMINATION INTO THE RENDERING
PLANT OR THAT RENDERED BY-PRODUCTS DO NOT EXCEED FDA'S TOLERANCE
OF 2 PPM FOR PCB'S IN ANIMAL FEED INGREDIENTS.
GR:240/JAA/MEC
BT
NNNN
050873 ACPT
-------
FR Notice
-------
54296 FeScral Register / "Vol. 44, No. 383 / Wednesday, September 19, 3979 / Rules and Regulations
40 CFR Part 761
|FRL 1325-1; OTS/62002(PCB/RR-2)J
•Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB's);
Disposal Requirements
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Immediately Effective
Amendment to Final Rule Applicable to
Chemical Waste landfill in Sedgwick '
County, Kansas.
.'——________^__^________ i
SUMMARY: The final PCB regulation (44
FR 31514. May 31,1979) requires that
thirty days written notice be provided to
<:?plicabie state and local jurisdictions
before a PCB chemical waste landfill is
first used for disposal of PCBs. The
proposed amendment, which is being
made immediately effective, allows the
Regional Administrator to shorten the
.notice period to five days to allow
p:\pedited approval of one chemical
waste landfill. The amendment is
applicable solely to one facility in
Sedgwick County. Kansas. Although the
amendment is immediately effective, the
Regional Administrator will not exercise
her discretion under the amendment
until an informal hearing is held on the
amendment in Sedgwick County on
September 17.1979.
DATES: "Written comments are being
received by the Regional Office until the
close of business on September 19,1979.
Pursuant to Section C(d)(2)(B) of the
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
.an informal hearing will be held by the
EPA Regional Office in Sedgwick
County, Kansas on September 17., 1979.
Persons are being allowed to appear at
the hearing without prior notification to
the Regional Office. This notice is being
published in a newspaper of general
circulation in Sedgwick County.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Dr.
Kathleen Q. Camin, Regional
Administrator, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 324 East llth Street.
Kansas City. Missouri 64106, Attn:
Sedgwick County PCB Chemical Waste
Landfill Application. Comments may
also be submitted at the hearing on
September 17,1979. The hearing will be
held on September 17,1979 at 7:30 pm.at
the City Commission Chambers, City-
Hall. 455 North Main Street, Wichita.
Kansas.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
David Wagoner, Director, Air and
Hazardous Materials Division. U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 324
East llth Street Kansas City, Missouri
64106. Information may also be obtained
by calling Mr. Wagoner at 816-374-5971.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May
31,1979. EPA published its final
regulation for PCBs (44 FR 31514)
pursuant to Section 6(e) of TSCA. The
regulation establishes requirements for
disposal facilities for PCBs. See § 761.10
(44 FR at 31545-48) and Annexes I and II
(44 FR at 31551-55)."Section
761.10(f)(l](i) (44 FR at 31547) requires
the operator of a disposal facility to give
written notice to applicable state and
local jurisdictions "at least thirty (30)
days before a facility is first used for
disposal of PCBsTequired by these
regulations... .."
EPA has been engaged in the approval
of PCB disposal facilities since 1978
under the present regulation and its
predecessor (43 FR 7150, February 17.
1978). It has become apparent that the
previously-mentioned thirty day notice
requirement should be reduced in the
case of the pending application of a
chemical waste landfill in Sedgwick
County, Kansas. Approximately one
hundred head of cattle in the State of .
Kansas have been found to be
contaminated with PCBs and have been
condemned by the State. However,
because of the PCB levels in the cattle
when they are destroyed, they .can only
be disposed of in -a chemical waste
landfill approved for PCB disposal under
EPA's regulations.'The only close
landfill that would otherwise be suitable
for such disposal has not yet been
approved by EPA and under the present
regulations cannot be approved until the
county has received thirty days notice. If
the State must wait 30 days to dispose '
of the cattle, .serious in jury-to health or
the environment may occur-Some of the
condemned cattle have already died.
Additional cattle may die. If these
carcasses of the PCB-contaminated
cattle are not properly disposed of, the
carcasses may become a source of
disease. In addition, the live PCB-
, contaminated cattle are producing
j wna>p which may fllco contain PCTRc
Accordingly, EPA "has determined that
permitting the Regional Administrator to
reduce the thirty day notice requirement
to five days in the previously-discussed
.situation meets the criteria of Section
6(d)(2)(A)(i) of TSCA. A thirty day delay
in disposal of the PCB-contaiminated
cattle would cause an "unreasonable
risk of serious or widespread injury to
health or the environment" (Section
6(d)(2)(A)(i)(I)). Similarly, the decision to
make the rule effective immediately for
the Sedgwick County facility "is
necessary to protect the public interest
..." (Section 6(d)(2)(A)(i)(II)) by
avoiding delay in disposal.1 EPA did not
anticipate a situation such as this When
it included the thirty day notice
provision.
Although the amendment is effective
immediately, the Regional Administrator
will not exercise her discretion to
shorten the notice period until after
completion of the informal hearing on
the amendment in Sedgwick County on
September 17, 1979 and the close of the
comment period on September 19. 1979.
If after the hearing and reviewing any
written comments, EPA believes this
amendment is inappropriate, the rule
will be revoked.
EPA plans to grant interim approval to
the Sedgwick County facility solely for
disposal of the PCB-contaminated
animals, waste and related
contaminated items. Subsequently, EPA
plans to hold a public comment period
in the EPA Region for the full approval
of the Sedgwick County facility.
September 14, 1970.
Steven D. JeUiaek. • •
Assistant Administrator for Toxic
Substances.
Pursuant to the Toxic Substances
Control Act, 15 U.S.C. 2605 and pursuant
to authority delegated in the Background
section of the preamble to the Final PCB
regulation (44 FR 31514, May 31, 1979),
40 CFR Part 761 is amended by adding a
new (f)(lj(iii) to read as follows:
9761.10 disposal requirements.
(iii) The Regional Administrator may
reduce the notice period required by
§ 761.10(f)(l)(i) from thirty days to a
period of no less than five days in order
to expedite interim approval of the
chemical waste landfill located in
Sedgwick County, Kansas.
JFR Doc. n-xnii Filed a-l*-»» MS an)
BtLLMQ CODE MCO-QHH
'The PCB-Conlaminaled cattle are lubject to
TSCA became they are no longer being held "for
use as a food . . ." under Section 3[2)rB)(vi).
•Written notice of the pending PCB chemical
waste landfill application In Sedgwick County it
deemed to have begun on the date when the written
notice wai delivered to the Board of Commiiiionen
by the applicant for the PCS chemical waitc
landfill.
-------
\
September 14, 1979
2o^rd of County Commission
iedgvick County, Kansas
525 Xorth Main, Suite 320
Wichita, Kansas 67204
Re: Notification of Intent
Gentlemen:
At the request of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Topeka,
Kansas, we have made application with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Kansas City, Kansas, to receive and provide disposal for cattle
and other articles which have become contaminated with the chemical, Poly-
chlorinated Biphenyl.
A- you are aware, our facility is located approximately twelve miles
Xo-^heast of Wichita and is the only licensed disposal operation within the
:itatc. Our facility has been inspected and approved by numerous Federal,
itato, ana Local regulatory agencies, as well as private industries and
s-ganizaticns. It is physically and environmentally sound and utilizes
••'•euhods which are approved and applied according to the current state of the
art. We are confident in our ability and take pride in the leadership we
have taker, in a field which is somewhat controversial at times but is
and will continue to be a much needed industry for our area.
federal regulations require that local jurisdictions must be notified
prior to the disposal of articles contaminated with PCB's.- It is currently
v:.y understanding that due to the nature of the project a shorter notification
per_ca :v.ay be given. The Kansas Department of Health & Environment have
researched the various aspects of the project and requested that we
proceed a- ezoediticusly as possible. This letter should serve to advise
the ccrr-vsiusicn of cur intent to provide our service to the State of Kansas
concerning this project. »
'..y.i:'; IL; ,•.:'. unfortunate situation which occurred through the mis-application
of c:.^.-.i:.c..lu uuriiv; agriculture. All viable alternatives have been
r^-j^arch^d ana ultimately led to our firm and its capabilities. We cannot
change what occurred and can only hope that similar situations can be
avoided in the future.
-•. .......-..I.: .c;.:.i.K MAIIIKO AOJAISS
clZi .\G.-.r. 127;:- Sires: East / Wichita. Kansas / 316/744-1286 • P.O. Box 745 / Wichita. Kansas 67201
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i.?o.-.rd oi7 County Coir-uission1
^oircoiv.bor 1-1, 1979
p.--..-.-> ">
Should you havo any questions regarding this notice or the project,
please fool free to .contact me at any time.
Sincerely,
e Deets, General Manager
LD/js
cc: Mr. Tom Scott - Commissioner, 2nd District
Chairman of the Board
Mr. Don Gragg - Commissioner, 1st District
Mr. Everett Patrick - Commissioner, 3rd District
Mr. Mel Gray, P.E., Director - Division of Environment
Environmental Protection Agency, Kansas City, Missouri
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Waiver
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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION VII
324 {AST ELEVENTH STREET
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - 64106
September 20, 1979
Mr. Lee Deets
General Manager
Kansas Industrial Environmental Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 745
Wichita, Kansas 67201
Dear Mr. Deets:
Pursuant to Section 6(c) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (Public
Law 94-469), regulations were promulgated in Title 40 of the Code of
Federal Regulations, Part 761 (Vol. 44, No. 106, May 31, 1979) setting
forth the requirements for the formal approval of chemical waste landfills
for the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These regulations
prohibit the disposal of PCBs at any site not approved by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). These regulations also require that the owner
and/or operator of a chemical waste landfill planned for the disposal of
PCBs submit information in accordance with 40 CFR Part 761.41 Chemical Waste
Landfill to the Regional Administrator for review.
In accordance with the above-referenced regulations, by letter dated
September 5, 1979, Kansas Industrial Environmental Services, Inc., (KIES)
made application to Region VII for the.disposal of PCBs on a one-time
basis in the southerly 20 feet of trench D-23 at a chemical waste land-
fill located in the North 1/2 of the Southwest 1/4 of Section 26, Township
25S, Range 2E Sedgwick County, Kansas.
The EPA, Region VII office has reviewed the application with its supporting
documentation. In addition a site visit and evaluation were made on
September 6, 1979.
On the basis of the Region VII review, the proposed landfill will
meet the requirements for a chemical waste landfill as mentioned in
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40 CFR Part 761.4l(b) when constructed androperated in accordance with
the conditions enclosed with this approval except for the following:
1. Hydrologic Conditions, Section 76l.4l(b)(3). The bottom of the landfill
liner system or natural in-place soil barrier shall be at least 50 feet
from the historical high water table.
2. Monitoring Systems, Section 761.41(b)(6). Sampling frequency for monitoring
ground and surface water quality shall be monthly for chlorinated organics,
specific conductance, pH and FCBs during disposal operations and shall
be bi-annually (once every six months) after final closure of the disposal
area.
•
3. Leachate Collection, Section 761.41(b)(7). A leachate collection and
monitoring system shall be installed above the landfill and leachate
shall be monitored monthly for quantity and quality of leachate produced.
4. Supporting Facilities, Section 761.41(b)(9). A six foot woven wire
mesh fence shall be provided around the perimeter of the site to
prevent unauthorized persons and animals from entering.
The hydrologic, leachate collection and supporting facility requirements are
hereby waived for the reasons given in the enclosed technical review. Part
of the monitoring system requirement is waived; however, additional analyses
and the frequency of these analyses are specified in the enclosed conditions
for site approval. I have determined that waiving these requirements will not
present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment from
PCBs.
Accordingly, the southerly 20 feet of trench D-23 at the Kansas Industrial
Environmental Services, Inc., chemical landfill located near Furley, Kansas, is
hereby approved (subject to the enclosed conditions) for the one-time disposal
of the following items:
a. One hundred twelve head of live cattle of approximately 1,000 pounds
each contaminated with PCB accumulations in their tissue.
b. Two carcasses of above mentioned animals which have died.
c. One lot of processed beef, approximately 400 pounds, contaminated with
PCBs.
*
d. Two cattle back rubbers.
e. One lot of soil suspected of being contaminated with PCB material,
the quantity could possibly be as much as 800 cubic yards.
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Kansas Industrial Environmental Services, inc., Furley, Kansas is the owner
and operator of this PCB approved chemical waste landfill which will be
utilized on a one-time basis for the disposal of the referenced items.
In the event there is a transfer of the property, you should ensure that
the conditions of Section 761.41(c)(7) are met.
If you have any questions about this approval, please contact Mr* Robert L.
Morby, Chief, Hazardous Materials Branch at (816) 374-3307.
Sincerely yours,
/hleen
Regional
Enclosures
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TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Disposal of PCB Contaminated Cattle and Related Items
at Kansas Industrial Environmental Services, Inc.
Hazardous Waste Disposal Site
Furley, Kansas
September 18, 1979
This document sets forth the requirements and conditions that must be
met for EPA Region VII approval for PCB waste disposal of cattle and
related items at the Kansas Industrial Environmental Services, Inc.
disposal site identified as the southerly 20 feet of Trench D-23 located •
in the North 1/2 of the Southwest I/A of Section 26, Township 25 S,
Range 2 E, Sedgwick County, Kansas. The report is divided into Parts
A, B and C. Part A addresses the technical requirements set forth in
Section 761.41 (b) and includes a determination as to whether each specific
requirement has been met. Part B addresses waivers granted for specific
technical requirements not met in Part A along with the rationale for
granting the waiver. Part C sets forth special conditions that must be
met for the one-time disposal of the PCB contaminated cattle and related
PCB contaminated items.
Part A; Technical Requirements
The Environmental Protection Agency, Region VII has determined that the Kansas
Industrial Environmental Services, Inc., PCB disposal site identified as the
North 1/2 of the Southwest 1/4 of Section 26, Township 25 S, Range 2 E,
Sedgwick County, Kansas has met the technical requirements set forth in
Section 76l.41(b) of Title 40 unless otherwise indicated. Requirements not
met are addressed in the waiver section, Part B.
1. Soils (Section 761.41(b)(l))
Requirement - The landfill site shall be located in thick, relatively
impermeable formations such as large-area clay pans. Where this Is not
possible, the soil shall have a high clay and silt content with the
following parameters:
a. In-place soil thickness, 4 feet or compacted soil liner thickness,
3 feet;
b. Permeability (cm/sec), equal to or less than 1 x 10~7;
* *
c. Percent soil passing No. 200 Sieve, •> 30;
d. Liquid Limit, > 30; and
.e. Plasticity Index > 15.
Determination - This requirement has been met since the site is located in
an area that is underlain by about 75 feet of soil that consists primarily
of clay and silt. The soil permeability in typical test holes in the
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vicinity of the proposed PCB disposal .area is less than 1 x 10~8 cm/sec.;
numerous soil samples exhibit permeabilities less than 1 x 10~9 cm/sec.
The percent of soil passing the No. 200-sieve for typical test holes ranged
from a low of 83 percent to 96 percent?. The liquid limit values for typical
test holes ranged from a low of 30 to a high of 52. The plasticity index
values ranged from a low of 10 to a high of 28. The plasticity index on nine
samples averaged 20 with only one sample value below 15.
2. Synthetic Membrane Liners (Section 761.41(b)(2))
Requirement - Synthetic membrane liners shall be used when, in the judgment
of EPA, the hydrologic or geologic conditions at the landfill require such |
a liner in order to provide at least a permeability equivalent to the I
soils in (1.) above. I
t
Determination - A synthetic membrane liner is not necessary since the site
is located in an area where the thickness and quality exceeds that specified
in requirement one (1) above.
3. Hydrologic Conditions (Section 761.41(b)(3))
Requirement - The bottom of the landfill shall be above the historical high !
groundwater table as provided below. Floodplains, shorelands, and I
groundwater recharge areas shall be avoided. There shall be no hydraulic I
connection between the site and standing or flowing surface water. The site
shall have monitoring wells.and leachate collection. The bottom of the land-
fill liner system or natural in-place soil barrier shall be at least fifty
feet from the historical high water table.
Determination - This requirement has been partially met. The site is not i
located in a flood plain, shoreland or ground water recharge area. The area I
surrounding the test site is described in Bulletin 176 of the State J
Geological Survey of Kansas as being the most difficult area in Sedgwick f
. County in which to obtain a ground water supply. Wells yielding more than •
a few gallons per minute were not observed. On-site test borings confirm |
and expand on the data in Bulletin 176. Small perched water lenses occur j
at various depths below the surface. These lenses are approximately 0.5 I
to 1.0 foot in thickness and do not have known hydraulic connections •
to flowing surface or ground water. The only limited source of water,
which is used for sanitary purposes and fire protection is from a limestone \
seam approximately 70 to 115 feet below the surface in.the Wellington ^
formation. The soil thickness from the bottom of the excavated trenches
to the perched water lenses in the vicinity of the proposed PCB disposal [
area is approximately 14 feet* •-. i
Using the known soil permeabilities of 1 x 10 ~ to 1 x 10 ~* cm/sec. J
calculations indicate that the site has a minimum of 1300 years of protection
to the unused perched water lenses. The in-situ soil thickness and permeabilities '
to the water currently used for sanitary purposes provides a minimum protection j
of 60 feet of 1 x 10 ~8 cm/sec, or the equivalent of 5800 years. !
i
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Calculations for the minimum protection required by the regulation indicate that
the 50 feet of 1 x 10 ~? cm/sec, soil will provide a minimum of 500 years
protection. f
Since the trench bottom is less than 50 feet from the perched lenses, a waiver
is required for a fifty foot separation between the bottom of the trench and
the historical high water table. This hydrologic waiver request is addressed
under Part B.
4. Flood Protection (Section 761.41(b)(4))
Requirement - If the landfill is above the 100-year floodwater elevation
the operators shall provide diversion structures capable of diverting
all of the surface water runoff from a 24-hour, 25-year storm.
Determination - This requirement has been met. The disposal site is
located above the 100-year floodwater elevation; it would not be subject
to flooding from stream overflow. The retention ponds and bypass channels
were designed to accomodate two 10-year frequency storms back to back.
This would be the equivalent of 12" of water in a 24-hour period or 4"
more water than the runoff expected from a 100-year frequency storm.
5. Topography (Section 761.41 (b)(5))
Requirement - The landfill site shall be located in an area of low to
moderate relief to minimize 'erosion and to help prevent landslides or
slumping.
Determination - This requirement has been met.
6. Monitoring Systems (Section 76l.4l(b)(6))
(a) Water Sampling
(1) Baseline Data (Section 761.41(b)(6)(i)(a»
Requirement - Ground and surface water from the disposal site
shall be sampled for baseline data purposes.
Determination - This requirement has been met since baseline surface water
and ground water data is available.
(2) Monthly Sampling (Section.761.41(b)(6)(i)(b))
Requirement - Defined surface water courses shall be sampled
at least monthly when the landfill is being used for PCB disposal
operations.
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Determination - This requirement has been met since no surface water leaves
the site without sampling and analysis followed by evaluation for accepta-
bility for discharge. .r
(3) Sampling After Closure (Section 761.4l(b)(6)(i)(c))
Requirement - Defined surface water courses shall be sampled
for a specified length of time at a frequency of at least
every six months after final closure of the PCB disposal site.
Determination - This requirement has been met since no surface water leaves I
the site and the main drainage pond without sampling/ analysis and evalua-
tion for acceptability for discharge as required by the KDHE permit.
i
•
(b) Ground Water Monitoring Wells
(1) Monitoring Wells (Section 761.Al(b)(6)(ii)(a))
Requirement - Three ground water monitoring wells shall be
provided equally spaced on a line through the center of the '
disposal site from the area of highest water table elevation to
area of lowest water table elevation.
I
Determination - This requirement has been met. Ten monitoring wells meeting
the construction specifications are located on site. Three of these wells,
Wells 6,7, and 10 are located to the east of the proposed burial site and
in the direction the perched ground water would travel if it moves.
(2) Monitor Well Construction (Section 761.41(b)(6)(ii)(b)) \
I
Requirement - Monitor wells shall be cased and the annular I
space cemented with portland cement to prevent percolation of !
surface water into the well bore. '
!
Determination - This requirement has been met. i
(c) Water Analysis (Section 761.41(b)(6)(iii)) |
i
Requirement - Water samples must be analyzed for PCBs, pH,
specific conductance, and total chlorinated organics. Data j
and records shall be maintained as required in Annex VI 761.45(d)(l).
Determination - The KDHE permit requires the storm drainage pond water and (
the 10 monitoring wells on and around the facility be sampled and tested '
for PCBs annually. The 10 monitoring wells are sampled and analyzed for j
specific conductance and pH quarterly, In addition, background data on
chlorinated organics, PCBs, pH and specific conductance has been developed '
over the past three years, thus, alleviating the need for background sampling. I
i
t
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5 •
7. Leachate Collection (Section 761.41(b)(7))
Requirement - A leachate collection andrmonitoring system shall be
installed above the landfill and leachate monitored monthly for
quantity and quality of leachate produced.
Determination - The leachate collection requirements are waived as is
discussed In Part B.
8. Chemical Waste Landfill Operations (Section 761.41(b)(8))
(a) PCB Handling (Section 761.41(b)(8)(i))
Requirement - PCBs and PCB Items shall be placed in a landfill in
a manner that will prevent damage to containers or articles.
Other wastes placed in the landfill that are not chemically
compatible with PCBs and PCB Items including organic solvents shall
be segregated from the PCBs throughout the waste handling and
disposal process.
Determination - These requirements will be met as described in Special
Conditions 1,2,3,9, and 10 in Part C.
(b) Operations Plan (Section 761.41(b)(8)(ii))
Requirement - An operations plan shall be submitted to EPA for
approval.
Determination - Such a plan has been submitted by the applicant Kansas
Industrial Environmental Services, Inc., and is hereby approved.
(c) Ignitable Wastes (Section 761.41(b)(8)(iii))
Requirement - Ignitable wastes shall not be disposed of in chemical
waste landfills. Liquid ignitable wastes are wastes that have a
flash point less than 60 degrees C. (140 degrees F)
Determination - This requirement has been met. The KDHE limits the materials
handled and disposed of at this site. Ignitable wastes are not allowed or
admitted for disposal.
(d) Records Maintenance (Section 761.41(b)(8)(iv))
Requirement - Records shall be maintained for all PCB disposal
operations and must include three-dimensional burial coordinates.
Additional records must be maintained as required in Annex VI-761.45(d)(l).
Determination - This requirement has been met in accordance with records
maintained in accordance with the KDHE Permit 193 operating requirements.
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6 '
9. Supporting Facilities (Section 761.41(b)(9))
(a) Fencing (761.Al(b)(9)(i)) •<".
Requirement - A six foot woven wire fence shall be provided
around the perimeter of the site to 'prevent unauthorized persons
and animals from entering it..
Determination - This requirement has been partially met. A waiver
addressing this requirement is discussed under Part B.
(b) Road Maintenance (761.41(b)(9)(ii))
Requirement - Access and on-site roads shall be maintained in a
safe manner.
Determination - This requirement has been met.
(c) Site Operations (761.41(b)(9)(iii))
Requirement - The site shall be operated and maintained in a safe
manner.
Determination - This requirement has been met.
Part B: Waivers of Specific Technical Requirements
The following technical requirements under Section 761.41(b) are hereby
waived.
(1) Hydrologic Conditions (natural in-place soil barrier shall be at least
•50 feet from the historical high water table requirement only). Because
of the fine grained soil at the site, the protection to the perched
water lenses, from infiltrated water reaching the bottom of the trench
is significantly greater than the regulations specify. The regulations
specify the equivalent minimum protection of 500 years. This site will
provide the equivalent of 1300 years of protection to the perched water
lenses because of the extremely low permeability of the soil. The site
will provide the equivalent minimum protection of 5,800 years to the
water used on the site for sanitary purposes.
(2) Monitoring Systems (Monthly sampling of total chlorinated organics
requirement only). The monitoring requirements according to the
regulations are apparently designed to provide information in those
instances where PCBs are disposed of in conjunction with other
chlorinated organics. Since no other chlorinated organics are being
disposed of, it appears unnecessary to analyze for chlorinated organics
monthly during disposal operations. However, special conditions requir-
ing limited long-term monitoring for total chlorinated organics have
been specified in Part C, Special Conditions*
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7 '
(3) Leachate Collection. Lcachate collection is required for chemical waste
landfills. As explained in (1) above, the separation from perched
lenses of ground water is greater thanftjhat required In terms of the
time for water to permeate from the trench to the lenses. In addition,
the ground water in the perched lenses is not usable and lime will be
added to the trench to assure degradation of the organic material
without formation of acids which could assist the mobility of the FCBs.
Further, a venting system will be installed to allow gases from degrad-
ation to escape without damaging the integrity of the cover material and
ten monitoring wells are in place to detect movement of the PCBs,
however, remote that may be. The nearest of these wells, Well 7, is A95
feet from the proposed trench. The trench will receive for a one-time
disposal a limited quantity of PCB contaminated materials. It will be
covered by a minimum of five feet of 1 x 10~° cm/sec, permeability clay over
a thickness of perhaps six feet of animals, meat and back rubbers which
should degrade to a very thin lense of material. Site maintenance will
be required as the cover settles to prevent moisture infiltration. It
will be as specified in Part C, Special Conditions.
(A) Supporting Facilities (fencing requirement only). A six foot woven wire
fence is not provided around the specific PCB disposal area. However,
such a fence is located around the KIES facility. An electronic gate
controls access by the public. The existing and complete site fencing
will control access and meet the regulation requirement.
Part C; Special Conditions
(1) Disposal of PCBs is restricted to the southerly 20 feet of Trench
D-23, located in the North 1/2 of the Southwest I/A, Section 26,
T25S, R2E, Sedgwick Co., Kansas.
(2) The designated portion of the south end of the site, Trench D-23, is
to be operated for the one-time disposal of the PCB wastes as identified
in the September 5, 1979 letter from Lee Deets to Dr. Kathleen Q. Carain,
Regional Administrator.
(3) Disposal of the cattle requires that approximately a six inch layer of
lime be placed in the trench bottom prior to deposition of the cattle.
The sides and top of the filled trench will receive an additional layer
of lime to form a complete layer surrounding the cows and articles prior
to backfilling with clay.
* •
(A) Gas vents, two inch diameter PVC pipe or equivalent, with charcoal filters
are required to scrub the exhaust gases of decomposition. These vents
shall be provided and placed from the top of the disposed material to the
surface of the cover. Crushed limestone is to be placed on top of cattle
to form a gas collection conduit and mechanism to allow the decomposition
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8
gases to enter the gas venting tubing. The vents shall be maintained and
charcoal replenished as often as necessary until degradation is judged
complete or for a minimum of two years.r .The vents and tubing shall then
be removed and the holes backfilled with clay which has a permeability
equal to or less than the cover material (1 x 10~& cm/sec.).
(5) Wells 6,7 and 10, and the main drainage pond, shall be sampled and
analyzed for PCBs and chlorinated organics during the month of
disposal and every six months thereafter on a schedule compatible with
the KDHE permit special conditions for environmental monitoring.
The specific conductance and pH sampling and analysis shall be conducted I
in accordance with the requirements of the KDHE permit number 193. [
Prior to obtaining a sample from each well, the well shall be pumped to I
remove the volume of liquid initially contained in the well. This ,
volume of water shall be handled such that it does not enter Trench D-23
and does not violate applicable state or Federal discharge standards.
(6) Sampling methods and analytical procedures for the parameters specified
in Special Condition 5 shall be as described in 40 CFR Part 136 as
amended in 41 FR 52779 on December 1, 1976. In addition, any '
laboratory performing chemical tests for the operator of the disposal
site shall be participating in EPA's Quality Assurance Program for I
analytical quality control. I -
(7) All monitoring results obtained in compliance with these Special Conditions
shall be submitted bi-annually to the Hazardous Materials Branch, EPA
Region VII, 324 East llth Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
(8) The approved trench shall be maintained in a manner which prevents I
ponding of rainfall, uneven settling, cracking or other condition which I
could admit surface water to the burial zone. Seeding shall be carried I
out to minimize infiltration or water erosion as soon as feasible. '
i
(9) The applicable provisions of the KDHE Permit Number 193 shall be adhered
to and become conditions of this approval as well. Any deviation from those
conditions regarding PCBs shall be reported to the Regional Administrator
immediately, including a finding of PCBs or chlorinated organics in J
the monitoring wells or main drainage pond. , •
(10) An impermeable dike of the natural clay soils of at least ten feet
in width shall be maintained between any other wastes disposed of in I
the south end of Trench D-23. Further, no wastes chemically compatible !
with PCBs or soluble in or by PCBs -shall be disposed of in the south end
of Trench D-23 (or in adjacent trenches) within 50 feet of the approved i
disposal area.
(11) The backfilling of the approved trench shall be conducted with lifts j
of soil two feet or less in thickness. The soil shall be compacted
as much as practicable to minimize settlement. The final cover shall
overlap the edges of the trench in such a manner to minimize cracking of
the cover soil along the edge of the trench walls. This may be accomplished
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9 '
with a two or three feet overlap of the top edges of the trench with the
in-place soil.
.r,
(12) Approval of the above described site will continue until January 1, 1980,
unless otherwise extended or modified*
(13) Access to the disposal site during normal working hours for the purpose
of EPA inspections and sampling conducted pursuant to Section 11 of
the Toxic Substances Control Act shall not be denied.
NOTICE
Pursuant to section 15(1) and 16(a) of TSCA, (15 USCA SS 2614 and 2615(a))
the recipient hereof is advised that penalties not to exceed $25,000 per
day may be administratively assessed for any failure to comply with
requirements of this document imposed by the authority of, or the
regulations prescribed pursuant to, section 6(e) of the Toxic Substances
Control Act (15 USCA S 2605(e)).
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PUBLie
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PUBLIC INQUIRIES
NEWS MEDIA
Approximately 50 calls from various media including:
The New York Times
Kansas City Star/Times
Wichita Eagle/Beacon
Omaha World Journal
Television stations in Wichita, Topeka, and Springfield
Radio stations in Wichita, Manhattan, and Omaha
FARMERS - 1
Concern re purchase of surplus World War II oil and possibility
PCB content.
CONSUMERS - 8
Concerning pet food manufactured in Omaha.
Chickens purchased from and processed by Hudson Food, Rogers,
Arkansas.
Possibility of meats containing PCB's sold in Kansas City,
Kansas area.
Re Blue Ribbon Quality Meat Company and Rodeo meats sold by them.
INDUSTRY - 11
Danters to employees of aircraft parts manufacturer using
transformer oil as coolant in machine shop.
Transformer oil used at radar site in Olathe, Kansas.
Oil from R & K Manufacturing Company used in running engine lathes.
Request for general information on PCB's from owner of construction
business•
Privately owned machine shop operator has been using transformer oil.
Destruction of elevator — concern about workers and oil used in
operation of electrical machinery.
Effects on persons cleaning transformers.
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OUTLINE - 4
If transformer oil gets into streams, is water contaminated?
Holder of mortgage on parcel of land from which an oil had
been cleaned concerned about earth contamination.
Auctioneer concerned about identifying transformer oil. Concern
re some PCB oil might be included in farm sales he conducts.
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NEWS MEDIA INQUIRIES ABOUT PCB CONTAMINATED CATTLE
August 20-23, 1979
MEDIA
Garden City Telegram
Garden City, Kansas
St. Louis Post Dispatch
St. Louis, Missouri
Hutchinson News
Hutchinson, Kansas
Missouri Ruralist
Fayetteville, Missouri
Lawrence World-Journal
Lawrence, Kansas
Doane Agricultural Service
St. Louis, Missouri
Kansas Farm Bureau
Topeka, Kansas
Successful Farming
Des Moines, Iowa
United Press International
Kansas City, Missouri
KSAC - Kansas Extension
Service Radio
Manhattan, Kansas
KAKE T.V. News
Wichita, Kansas
KARD Channel 13 T.V. News
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita Eagle
Wichita, Kansas
Kansas City Star
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City Times
Kansas City, Missouri
REPORTER
George Pyle
Harry Wilensky
Randy Atwood
Hank Ernst
Jeff Collins
Wayne Ritchie
John Schlagick
Bill Miller
Bob Inderman
Sam Brownback
Terry Atherton
Porter Versselt
Karen Freiberg
John Wylie
Art Brisbane
TELEPHONE NUMBER
(316) 275-7105
(314) 621-1111 Ext. 229
(816) 248-3338
(913) 843-1000
(314) 968-1000
(913) 537-2261 Ext. 120
(515) 284-2802
(816) 677-1212
(913) 532-5851
(316) 943-4221
(316) 265-5631
(316) 268-6467
(816) 234-4428
(816) 234-4333
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MEDIA
Food Chemical News
Washington, D.C.
McPherson Daily Sentinal
McPherson, Kansas
Omaha World-Herald
Omaha, Nebraska
Wichita Beacon
Wichita, Kansas
Kansas Information Network
Network (Radio)
Topeka, Kansas
New York Times
New York City, New York
KTSB - Channel 27 T.V. News
Topeka, Kansas
REPORTER
Patti Mitchell
Allen Montgomery
Dan Cattau
Mike Berry
Joel Bore
Donald McNeil
Kansas City Times
Lawrence, Kansas
Wichita Beacon
Wichita, Kansas
KYTV
Springfield, Missouri
KRNY Radio
Kearney, Nebraska
Chemical Regulation Reporter
Washington, D.C.
Dick Howes
Martin Donsky
Joyce Reed
Jim Garfield
Ms. Worober.
TELEHONE NUMBER
(202) 783-7472
(316) 241-2422
(402) 444-1000 Ext. 356
(316) 268-6581
(316) 943-6181
(913) 843-1611
(316) 268-6390
(417) 866-2766
(308) 234-1977
(202) 452-4583
Half of these reporters called daily for latest information.
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ADDENDUM - PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES
The Public Involvement Staff made personal contacts with:
Farm Publications
Business Farmer - Scottsbluff, Neb.
Capper's Weekly Topeka, Kan.
Doane's Agricultural Report - St. Louis, Mo.
Farmland News - Kansas City, Mo.
High Plains Journal • Dodge City, Kan.
Kansas Farmer - Topeka, Kan.
Missouri Rural1st - Fayette, Mo. .
Nebraska Fanner - Lincoln, Neb.
Successful Farming - Des Molnes, Iowa
Today's Famer - Columbia, Mo.
Wallace's Farmer - Des Molnes, Iowa
Farm Bureaus
Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman
Kansas Farm Bureau News
Missouri Farm Bureau News
Nebraska Agriculture
Farm-Rural Magazines
Farm Weekly - Sioux City, Iowa
Iowa/Farm Business Des Molnes, Iowa
USDA Cooperative Extension Service
Kansas
Missouri
Iowa
Nebraska
Agricultural Departments
University of Missouri - Columbia
Iowa State University
Radio
Wichita
KAKE
KARD
KBUL
KFDI
KFH
KICT
KLEO
KMUW
KWBB
Kansas Information Service
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Radio
Kansas City
KFIX
KCMO
KMBZ
KMBR
WHB
KCUR
KCEZ
Television
Wichita
KPTS-TV
KTVH-TV
KAKE-TV
KARD-TV
Kansas City
KCMO-TV
WDAF-TV
KMBC-TV
Newspapers
Kansas City Times
Kansas City Star
Associated Press
United Press International
Newton Kansan
Emporia Gazette
McPherson Sentinal
Garden City Telegram
Public Service Announcement
Sent to all radio stations in region.
News Release
Sent to all media in region.
State Public Information Offices
All four state Public Information Offices were notified.
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CONTACTS
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PCB CONTAMINATED CATTLE
CONTACT LIST
Owner of Cattle
Donald Busenltz
Newton, Kansas
316/283-6713
EPA
Dr. Kathleen Q. Carol n
Regional Administrator
324 E. llth Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816/374-5493
Wolfgang Brandner
Toxics Coordinator
324 E. llth Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816/374-3036
John C. Wlcklund
Chief, Toxics and Pesticides Branch
A1r and Hazardous Materials Division
324 E. llth Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816/374-3036
FDA
Cliff Shane
Regional Food & Drug Director
1009 Cherry Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816/374-5521
Mary Woleske
Acting Director of Investigations
1009 Cherry Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816/374-5623 (FTS 758-5723)
J1m Adamson
District Director
1009 Cherry Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816/374-5521
KDH&E
Melville Gray, Director
Division of Environment
Forbes Field
Topeka, Kansas
913/862-9360, Ext. 283
Howard Duncan, Director
Bureau of Environmental Sanitation
Forbes Field
Topeka, Kansas
913/862-9360, Ext. 290
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USPA
Dr. George Fries
Pesticide Residue Laboratory
Beltsville, Maryland
FTS 344-3076
USDA/APHIS
Dr. 0. F. Clabough
District Veterinarian
P.O. Box 1518
Topeka, Kansas
FTS 752-2760
Dr. H. A. Nelson
National Veterinary Services Lab
P.O. Box 844
Ames, Iowa
FTS 862-832!
Kansas Animal Health Service
Dr. Gerald D. Gurss
Livestock Commissioner
535 Kansas Avenue, 7th Floor
Topeka, Kansas
FTS 757-232R
Kansas State University
Dr. H. D. Anthony
College of Veterinary Medicine
Manhattan, Kansas
913/532-5650
University of Missouri
Dr. Gary Oswleler
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Columbia, Missouri
314/882-6811
Principles
Pawnee Valley Feedlot
Burdett, Kansas
316/525-6271
Mr. Taylor - Manager
Dr. Dennis Huck
Lamed, Kansas
316/285-3153
Dr. A. E. Wesley
AssaMa, Kansas
913/664-4241
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Principles
Jayhawk Rendering Plant Southwest By-Products
Garden City, Kansas Springfield, Missouri
316/276-7618 417/833-1214
Control Action Division
Hal Snyder or Lucy Slbold
Office of Toxic Substances
EPA - Headquarters
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C.
FTS 755-1188
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