ENVIRONMENTAL
NEWS
SUMMARY June 7, 1974
Office of Public Affairs U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460
AUTOS
Up to 10 million '75-model car owners may be without vital unleaded gas if sup-
ply and distribution problems not solved shortly, says AAA (AP story in Wash. Star, 5/27/
74, Wash. Post, 6/2/74). AAA contacts with industry officials reveal back-logs in pro-
duction of special nozzles, low fuel supplies and higher demand than expected. EPA's
distribution formula called inadequate, particularly for rural areas. FEO and EPA play
down report, FEO predicts adequate supplies, fears shortage of retail outlets, an EPA
responsibility.
IN RELATED DEVELOPMENTS, 5 oil companies representing 10-157, of service sta-
tions in Md. & Va. announce elimination of premium gas at pumps to make room for unlead-
ed gas by July (Wash. Post, 5/29/74) EPA's Norman Shutler outlines unleaded gas
regs to Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America, showing "tough," "unyield-
ing" EPA regulatory pattern, at same time quieting some dealer apprehension (Oil Daily,
5/22/74) Texaco predicts significant fuel penalty from refining of unleaded gas,
in testimony to a Senate panel (Energy Resources Report, 5/10/74). American Petroleum
Institute expects closure of 20 small refineries in lead phase-down (Report, 5/10/74);
API's W.L. Walker also fears large fuel losses due to phase-down, calling health ration-
ale "very speculative...more imagination than reality"(0il Daily, 5/16/74).
IN OTHER AUTO DEVELOPMENTS, Phila. Inquirer(6/2/74) reports possibility that EPA
ozone regs in transportation control strategies invalid after new study by Bell Labora-
tories, "one of the nation's most prestigious scientific teams," shows atmospheric con-
centrations not related to level of auto emissions. Cites EPA's (Reg. II) concern on
study's impact FEO's Sawhill asks auto manufacturer's for cars with increased mile-
age from national average of 13^- mpg to 17 mpg by '80, 19 mpg by '85 (Wash. Star, 5/23/
74); asks voluntary cooperation, threatens "compulsory standards." Remarks hailed in
Star editorial (5/28/74) EPA concedes its '74 fuel economy data meaningless and
confusing to average car buyer, announces changes to include more specifics on gas mile-
age when adding, subtracting options, data on highway mileage (in addition to present
urban-suburban data)(N.Y. Times, 5/30/74). Present test procedures using dynamometers
would not change A Harrisonburg, Va. company is offering a $10.95 Emission Bypass
Control Manual, showing "...in explicit and photographic detail how to by-pass the con-
trols and re-tune each 1973 and 1974 GM, Ford, Chrysler, and AMC automobile engine,"
also applicable to '70-'72 cars (AP story in Richmond Times-Dispatch, 5/24/74)
EPA announces Texas company's mixed success with automotive steam engine—meets emission
standards, but fuel economy poor(N.Y. Times, 5/28/74, Wall St. Journal. 5/28/74).
OIL
Jack Anderson charges secret NAS study disputes oil industry claims that petro-
leum production won't cause environmental damage(Wash. Post, 5/30/74). Report says 5
million tons of oil wastes are dumped into ocean annually, U.S. coastal waters suffer
8,000 oil spills a year, seriously damaging commercial fisheries and threatening certain
oird, fish species wi-1- extinction. "In follow-up column'6/1/74), Anderson says exten-
sive damaging data on carciogenic qualities of oil-polluted seafood "censored" from
final MAS report, replaced with substitute statement: "the effect of oil spills on
human health appears to be negligible." He also says, "It may only be a coincidence
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS SUMMARY
that scientists from Shell and Chevron oil companies helped prepare the report."
IN RELATED DEVELOPMENTS, Southern Californians joining together to protest pro-
posed oil drilling off Santa Barbara coast(Baltimore Sun, 5/22/74). Described by Sun as
"epic," fight pits oil companies and fuel-hungry supporters against environmentalists
and users of "...some of the most heavily-used bathing beaches in the world." Most
likely drilling areas, to be leased by Interior Dept., located in shallow waters within
sight of beaches. Politicians, though concerned about fuel shortages, calling for ex-
tensive environmental controls, with L.A. Mayor Bradley asking for 2-year moratorium on
leasing pending state coastal conservation plan Santa Barbara ranks tenth in oil
industries' assessment of prime resource areas, with Central Gulf of Mexico No. 1, Gulf
of Alaska, No. 2, and Mid-Atlantic, No. 5 (Energy Resources Report survey, 5/24/74).
John Whitaker of Interior Dept. notes Gulf of Alaska, Mid-Atlantic (Baltimore Can-
yon) first "frontier" areas to be leased, possibly by "end of 1975" Gulf of Alaska
ranked earlier by CEQ as "most environmentally dangerous offshore area for oil and gas
drilling" Whitaker, in Senate testimony, condemns legislation against Outer Con-
tinental Shelf (OCS) drilling, assures adequate environmental safeguards (ERR, 5/10/74);
testimony against necessity of further safeguards echoed by EPA deputy administrator
John Quarles (Wash. Star, 5/7/74) New York Times (5/14/74) asks Interior to heed
CEQ's advice on OCS drilling, postpone all leasing until long-range effects known, to
"...preclude the hasty gobbling up of a resource which once gone, can never be replaced
--not to mention...a coastline..." Newsday(5/22/74) in study of "pros and cons" of
offshore drilling, finds "few hardliners on either side" --drilling acceptable to most
people if safety assured.
IN OTHER OFFSHORE DEVELOPMENTS, House Rules Comm. has sent to floor two bills
authorizing deepwater ports (Clean Water Report, 5/24/74). Public Works Committee bill,
which is first scheduled for debate, leaves federal licensing to special commission in-
cluding EPA administrator, grants states licensing preferences, contains cost recovery
provision, gives neighboring states veto power (Wash. Post, 6/2/74, Clean Water Report,
i5/24/74). Merchant Marine & Fisheries Committee bill, which can be debated only if
Public Works bill defeated, is supported by Administration, and would give licensing
authority to Interior, operating authority to Coast Guard (Post, 6/2/74, CWR, 5/24/74).
Sierra Club, in its National News Report (5/24/74), supports Merchant Marine & Fisheries
version for its "stronger provisions for public participation, judicial review and lia-
bility."
IN RELATED DEVELOPMENTS, Interior Dept., in completed environmental impact
statement on deepwater ports, urges greater dispersal of resultant industrial develop-
ment (crude oil delivery, storage, refineries, transportation facilities) to minimize
impact (Land Use Planning Reports, 5/27/74) Natural Resources Defense Council is
assisting three Puerto Rico-based conservation groups in suit against EPA Administrator
Russell Train and members of P.R. government, including Gov. Colon, for failure to file
environmental impact statements on impending superport construction. Plaintifs charge
"environmental colonialism," saying port and refineries will be used to benefit U.S.
east coast cities, with Puerto Rico suffering consequences (San Juan Star, 5/21/74).
MFINERIES
Fourth New England Coastal Zone Management Conf., in refinery issue debate,
heard MIT professor point out refineries' poor use of labor, and capital intensiveness
which benefits private corporations, not state; drew sharp retort from Exxon--"New
England had better hurry up..."(Coasjial^ Zone Management, 5/22/74). In consideration of
siting factors, EPA Reg. I rep Wally Stickney "sounded less encouraging," citing gaps
in federal regs on noise, illumination, odor & solid waste; Arthur D. Little rep stated
refineries may provide jobs, but tax benefits small, social impacts great, doubtful
whether states can enforce pollution laws. Interior's Frank Kelly "typified the federal
heavy hand by intimating that New England had better take its refinery or there could be
a stronger law soon about siting facilities."
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS SUMMARY I I
IN RELATED DEVELOPMENTS, Vermont Governor Salmon calls for joint New England
commitment to seek refinery construction (Burlington Free Press, 5/8/74) Gordon
Bishop, columnist for Newark Star-Ledger (5/8/74), calls for deepwater port construction
off New Jersey coast, but asks for state legislation prohibiting any new on-shore con-
struction, since already has more than any other state.
ENERGY VS. ENVIRONMENT
The environmental movement, "far from becoming the scapegoat in this national up-
heaval...is emerging with wider respect than it has enjoyed at anytime in history," re-
ports the National Observer (5/18/74). "The issue of resources and the environment has
broken through to touch the rank-and-file citizens," says ecologist Barry Commoner,
"...they have a very skeptical attitude toward the oil companies.,. [they are~\ able to
analyze things, so that today the oil companies are facing an environmentally educated
public." Observer finds four major reasons for new trend: 1) "kooks" of environmental
movement have been replaced by economists and planners; 2) public believes environmental-
ists' warnings that resources are finite and should be wisely used; 3) because of appar-
ent ineptness and confusion displayed by federal government and oil companies, public
beginning to listen to other "experts"; 4) public becoming aware of interrelationship of
economics, energy and the environment. Observer says many conservation and environment
groups reporting considerable membership increases, yet these groups remain cautious,
warning of "more stormy weather" to come.
Michael Frome, in Field & Stream interview with Russell Train (June, 1974) gives
Train "high marks" for successfully overcoming challenges to environmental laws, esp. in
energy/environment conflicts. Says "...Train, through both his strengths and weaknesses,
has shown that we must continue with courage to fight for environmental protection as an
integral part of all national policies,"
IN OT1ER ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS, the National Academy of Engineering, in a study
conducted by its Task Force on Energy which included top industry executives, has con-
cluded that U.S. energy self-sufficiency by 1985 is not likely even if "the federal gov-
ernment immediately undertook a comprehensive 'wartime crash-type1 energy program, and
private industry commits a total of $600-billion or more"(Energy Resources Report, 5/17/
74). N.Y. Times, in 5/27/74 editorial, complains of lack of energy policy in Washington,
citing "...inter-related problems which turn...policy into something requiring far more
coordination than the Administration has yet been able to provide. More than forty
Federal Government agencies, bureaus and commissions play their separate and distinct
regulatory roles in energy policy-making, often in ignorance of what the others are doing
and without any clear guidelines of national policy against which to measure their indi-
vidual decisions" One-half of all power plants that were given variances to switch
from oil to coal, will be back to oil this summer, says director, Bur. of Mines (Oil
Daily, 5/10/74) and National Coal Association President Carl Bagge (Energy Resources Re-
port, 5/17/74); FEO's Sawhill expects to grant more variances to offset those switching
back to oil (ERR, 5/17/74).
Senate passes bill providing program to demonstrate solar heating technology
within 5 years (Energy Resources Report, 5/24/74) Senate Government Operations Comm.
has approved House-passed legislation creating Energy Research & Development Agency (WS
Journal., 5/30/74).
OIL SHALE
The Univ. of Denver finds carcinogenic substances "more than double levels known
to induce malignancy in laboratory animals" in shale processing waste water, fears large-
scale shale oil development "could create serious pollution threats to air, underground
water, plants and livestock"(L.A. Times, 5/12/74). Notes more carcinogenic the substance
the more soluble in water it is, substances will be present "long after shale industry
has ceased." Asks for adequate protective measures. Story also in Clean Water Report,
5/14/74 Environmental Defense Fund undertaking program to monitor water, air, land
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS SUMMARY
use problems in Colo, shale development (Water Newsletter, 5/30/74) Interior's Bur.
of Land Mgmt. has begun issuing various land-use permits in connection with shale leases
(Denver Post, 5/22/74). Director, Colorado Health Dept., Edward Dreyfus tells a Senate
public works subcomm. that "Oil shale development should be stalled until its environ-
mental consequences are clearly understood..."(Denver Post, 5/16/74). Citing unavoid-
able devastation to land, severe impact on air, water quality, Dreyfus says "hysterical
speed could produce irreversible consequences." Asks EPA, state agencies be funded on
level of private industry to do job adequately.
STRIP MINING
House Interior Comm.-approved strip mining legislation draws fire from both coal
industry and environmentalists. Controversial amendments include those requiring restor
ation of strip-mined land, and banning "high-wall" cuts. Nat'l Coal Assoc. says reclam-
ation provisions could prevent production of 60/ of western low-sulfur coal, all eastern
coal; environmentalists oppose "interim" standards which could give coal industry 40 mos.
more under standards virtually unchanged from present (Energy Resources Report, 5/17/74).
Interior Sec. Morton, and FEO head Sawhill also oppose House comm. bill as unacceptable
ifor meeting national energy needs (N.Y. Times, 5/31/74). Rep. Udall of Ariz, calls
:Morton's data "full of distortions and inaccuracies," called Administration opposition
'"...almost total capitulation to the most conservative and backward segment of coal in-
dustry."
Wall St. Journal^ (5/28/74) supports House comm. legislation as a "quite reason-
able start," "certainly much more reasonable and realistic" than Senate bill. Journal
also considers requirements to obtain written consent from owners of surface land
j "reasonable." "Actually, it isn't at all clear that industry will be unduly handicapped
by the regulations embodied in the House committee bill. Pennsylvania has somewhat
similar laws, supposedly the toughest of any state in the nation, yet strip mining pro-
I duction has actually increased in that state." Louisville Courier-Journal (5/18/74)
!opposes bill as "weak and ineffectual." Believes strip mining ''not necessary," says 30
times more low-sulfur, deep-mine coal than strippable coal in national reserve. Fears
"continued rape and ruin of Appalachian coalfields," if interim standards allowed.
David Ross Stevens, in Courier-Journa1 column (5/19/74) considers anti-pollution stan-
dards in House bill "extremely weak...it appears that Kentucky's standards are stiffer."
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