— I
EN VIRONMENTAL
NEWS
SUMMARY J"""1*17-1974
Office of Public Affairs U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460
EPA SHELVES PARKING SURCHARGE
Heeding "'firm congressional guidance1" in stalemated emergency energy legis-
lation, Train pigeonholes commuter parking tax regs, delays complex sources(parking
construction!review a year, reports Wash. Star (1/11/74). Taxes had been set for Wash.
D.C., L.A., San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, San Joaquin Valley in Calif., Boston,
Newark. Train's action is "'open and shut recognition of political situation, '" says
EPA official. Train states, "'I do not believe I may properly ignore such strong ex-
pressions of intent on the part of Congress as those expressed during formulation of
the energy act,1" but notes nothing to prevent states, cities from adopting own measure
EPA parking surcharge was "naively advanced" says Wash. Star (1/13/74). "The trou-
ble is that most transit systems today are not nearly up to the task EPA would thrust
upon them, and car-pooling is just beginning to advance...The saddest thing about all
this is that the collapse of an overly zealous proposition could undercut the need to
do something about dirty air...If the Administration is serious about this subject..."
it should make "public transit more effective. Thus far there has been a lot of lip-
service leadership, and not much else."
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NIXON TO ENCOURAGE MASS TRANSIT
Administration developing methods for encouraging switch from private'autos to
public transportation, involving: (1) Soon-to-be-announced Transpo Dept. plan for stim-
ulating car pools; (2) Putting more emphasis on mass transit (enhancing programs like
exclusive bus lanes); (3) Permitting cities for first time to use federal money for
subsidizing transit sustem operating deficits, rather than spending funds for buses,
subways, roads. No increased financing for existing and new rail-transit systems,
however, since these entail huge money commitments. (Wall St. Journal,1/2/74).
IN RELATED TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENTS. Car-pooling meets "resistance, slug-
gish acceptance," in many smaller, rural areas, says Christian Science Monitor
(12/31/73). Viewed as '"regimentation1" and "governmental intrusion into private
rights.".... "Unfurtunately," says Rocky Mountain News(1/8/74), "There is little evi-
dence that car-pooling, despite its obvious benefits, is becoming a popular pastime a-
mong commuters. Given a choice, most...probably would prefer to ride a bus rather than
rely on the travel habits and punctuality of friends, neighbors and fellow workers."...
Much to surprise of Delaware River Port Authority, Philidelphia Inquirer (1/4/74) notes
13% of commuters (between Philidelphia and Jersey, across Delaware River) with choice
between decal and car-pool plan chose latter. Authority had resisted plan, expected
only between 4 and 6% participation In Rocky Mountain News (12/28/73), syndicated
columnist Martin Nolan, citing the freezing car he rode in on Boston-Wash. Metro!iner,
doubts "whether the railroads have not been fossilized into irredeemable stupidity...
[and whether] a republic that managed to so ensnarl its ways of moving about has any
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS SUMMARY
prospect of surviving an 'energy crisis'" ---- In'revised plan to meet" Phil i del phi a air
pollution standards, Philidelphia Inquirer (1/4/74) says EPA has "wisely" decided to re-
place original windshield sticker plan (banning autos on certain days) with more "con-
structive" plan improving mass transit.
SETBACK FOR CLEAN WATER?
Train allegedly requests all of Congressionally-authorized $7 billion for water
cleanup in FY '75, but Nixon directs EPA allocate only $4 billion, relates Wash. Post
(1/11/74). Nixon tells Train cut is justified. to avoid renewed inflation, increased
taxes. EPA spokesman says secondary sewage treatment programs would be delayed from
1981 till '83. Third time in as many years Nixon has withheld about half of congres-
sional authorization for sewage treatment, yet in six cases lower courts have ruled
against him ---- "With only half as much federal [sewage treatment] aid available,"
opines Wash. Post (1/13/74), "many jurisdictions are likely to take longer and settle
for less... It also will compound the problems. . .where growth has already overloaded
sewage treatment facilities, and where the desire to control development and protect
the environment; has already produced construction halts and other drastic curbs. Unless
such jurisdictions can find other ways to provide the treatment works they need, they
will face the unpleasant choice between continuing pollution and perpetuating building
freezes indefinitely and indiscriminately with all the inflation in housing costs that
portends."
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CUT IN SAFETY BUDGET SHAKES AEC
Ten million dollar cut in AEC safety budget (hot appealed by agency commissi oners
opens "deep split" between regulatory staff, top management, notes Wash. Post (1/11/74).
Five chief regulatory aides have threatened resignation, feel regulation issues "have
been laraely ignored by top management and when not ignored. . .dealt with in cavalier
fashion." Commissioner Dixy Lee Ray is "said to have no real feeling for the regulatory
side of the agency."
IN OTHER RADIATION DEVELOPMENTS^ Despite two suits against EPA challenging de-
cision not to regulate radiation wastewater discharges from nuclear plants, agency
approves discharge permit for Ft. St. Vrain nuclear generating station near Denver.
Suit charges EPA ignores "letter" of '72 amendments to Clean Water Act by giving AEC
sole jurisdiction. EPA justification, "considered political by many critics, was that
Congress didn't actually mean for the EPA to regulate these discharges." (Rocky Moun-
tain News. 1/1/74).
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EPA REAFFIRMS MAZDA CRITICISM
Reacting to Mazda charge that EPA m.p.g. figures misleading, agency Mobile
Source head Eric Stork says that car's rotary engine an "inefficient" gasoline user.
Mazda cites research firm report showing majority of Mazda owners getting at least six
more miles-to-gallon than EPA tests indicate. Stork concedes possibility of higher
mileage figure under different test circumstances. (N.Y. Times. 1/10/74).
IN OTHER EMISSION DEVELOPMENTS. Columbus, Ohio mechanical engineer, will start
business removing emission controls, reports Hilmington Journal (1/2/74). 3an Furey says
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS SUMMARY
7 to 20% of fuel feeds anti pollution equipment, and after 10,000 miles equipment causes
residue build-ups which negate effect of controls. Furey's attorney says nothing in
EPA regs prohibiting vehicle owner from modifying own equipment. .
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SEWER SLUDGE THREATENS EAST COAST
Five million cubic yards of organic, inorganic solid waste is dumped annually
10 miles off New York, Jersey coast, yet conservationists say city, state, federal of-
ficials moving "'tortuously slowly1" against problem. Sludge could poison seafood,
produce other "disastrous" effects, but EPA concedes government just starting five-
year program analyzing problem- Dr. Willian Harris, marine scientist at Brooklyn
College, says sludge may hit Long Island, beaches in three months (Wash. Post,(i/fl/7* )
____ Newsday_(12/27/73) feels EPA responds with a "ya'"n." "The agency, said EPA, viever
the situation with 'concern but not with alarm!'rilhether the EPA views this potential
menace with 'alarm' or with 'concern' is immaterial. What counts is what the agency
proposes to do about it. So far the" answer seems to be nothing."
IN OTHER OCEAN DEVELOPMENTS. Seven oceanographic institutions join in multi-
million international effort to assess long-term effect on ocean of pollution levels
permissible in drinking water, yet high enough to wreak possible havoc in the seas.
Off British Columbia. Scotland, six plastic bags filled with sea water will be sus-
pended, stocked with marine plants, animals, plus pollutants. (N.Y. Times. 1/2/74).
ARMAGEDDON FOR NATION'S COAST?
"Time is rapidly running out for the protection of America's coastal areas,"
warns N.Y. Times (1/7/74). "A growing population, increasingly prosperous and leisured,
puts the pressure of intensive recreational use on the thin strips of beach and the
adjoining estuarine wetlands. ..Ecological experts and plain citizens have been ming-
ling their voices in warning and exhortation for many years, but Federal and state
governments have been agonizingly slow to respond."
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JERSEY BANS DUMPING
New Jersey passes law banning dumping in state of solid and liquid wastes
collected in other states, but John Ruf, EPA Solid Waste Branch, Region 2, says law
could be violation of Interstate Commerce Act permitting an exchange of business among
states. (Bergen County, N.J. Record, 1/3/74).
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HOPE FOR VANISHING SPECIES
The overall outlook for all species of endangered animals '"looks very encour-
aging,1" says Ray Erickson of Patuxent, Md. Wildlife Research Center in Christian
Science Monitor (12/24/73). "'There's been a great deal of progress when you consider
"ow much more oublic awareness there is now compared with ten years ago."' Monitor also
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS SUMMARY
J
cites species recovery plan" being worked out in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, whicl
will list all actions necessary to effect recovery of species; to be implemented by re-
covery team of professionals drawn from federal, state, private organizations.
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RUCKELSHAUS URGES TEMPORARY EASING OF AIR STANDARDS
Former EPA chief Ruckelshaus says government should not sacrifice anti-pollution
progress made in the last four or five years by refusing to enforce clean air legisla-
tion, but adds, "'The danger is if you don't relax the standards and let people get col
in their homes, the backlash could be so bad that you could lose the entire clean air
act '"(Indianapolis Star. 12/13/73).
IN OTHER "ENERGY VS. ENVIRONMENT" DEVELOPMENTS. "Environmentalists face a for-
midable challenge. But many of them are reacting somewhat timidly. They fear that if
they protest too vehemently, environmentalists may be blamed for the energy shortage—
an anxiety that may well be justified..." Lee Lane of Coalition to Tax Pollution, says,
"'We allowed ourselves to fall into a pattern of^opposition and reaction without co-
herently offering alternatives. We developed out own crisis mentality and never real-
ized the potential for losing everything '"(Wall Street Journal, 1/2/74)..."Environmen-
talists have been under almost no pressure to rigorously justify the standards they in-
sist are necessary. And they've been politically absolved of the need to fit their
timetables and cost-benefit ratios to the total framework of national priorities. They'l
have to do so now. They'll have to refine and justify the standards they want the na-
tion to accept instead of throwing out numbers that have more reality in the Garden
of Eden than in a modern industrial society" (Wall St. Journal 1/3/74). ...£EQ head Rus-
sell Peterson says ecology movement will lose momentum, but "the sobering experience of
shortages and conservation will lead to a cleaner environment." Also believes "from
talking to people here in the administration and in Congress that they are going to de-
mand that in the future we provide for clean ways of producing energy." (Chicago Tribune^
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