MARCH 1975
VOL. ONE. NO-THREE
PROTECTING AMERICA'S DRINKING WATER
BY JAMES L. AGEE
IS YOUR DRINKING WATER SAFE?
INTERVIEW WITH JAMES H. McDERMOTT
Z U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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The vastness of this country and the complexity of its environmental
problems are reflected in an informal survey made by EPA Journal at six
widely separated Agency laboratory and field installations.
Since the main theme of this issue of the magazine is drinking water,
we used our Inquiry section (Page 18) to get some random opinions
about drinking water from EPA people in Honolulu, Hawaii; San Juan,
Puerto Rico; College, Alaska; Ada, Oklahoma; Duluth, Minnesota; and
Gulf Breeze, Florida.
The comments ranged from concern about possible cancer-producing
contaminants in the water in Duluth, Minnesota, to pride in the drinking
water in Honolulu and Ada.
Of course, water may appear attractive, taste good and still be con-
taminated. Until about a year ago Duluth residents had always assumed
that Lake Superior was providing them with some of the purest drinking
water in the world.
Making this survey, we were reminded how difficult it is to develop
sound regulations in Washington for the entire country. This is why
EPA, one of the most decentralized of Federal agencies, places so much
importance on its regional and field offices and laboratories.
These EPA outposts provide the Federal Government's frontline fight-
ers in the battle against pollution.
GUARDING THIS
LAND OF OURS
Just call the roll of our regional headquarters—Boston, New York,
Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Denver, San
Francisco and Seattle. All cities which have played a major role in the
history and development of this country.
Add to them the other places we have not mentioned where EPA has
laboratories or field offices: Baton Rouge and Bay St. Louis, Wenatchee
and West Kingston, Edison and Ely and nearly 150 others sprinkled
across the Nation.
This is an impressive network, but the challenge of dealing with the
diversity, breadth and magnificence of the American continent is stag-
gering.
When the rising sun touches the granite headlands of the Maine coast,
stars still bejewel the night sky above Hawaii and the Pacific crashes on
moonlit beaches. At the same time that blizzards howl across the Great
Plains, bees may be sipping the nectar of orange blossoms blooming in
Florida.
It is EPA's challenge to help protect our environment with its almost
incredible variety of land, water, life and weather conditions.
EPA Journal recognizes that EPA's most important work is done in our
regional and field offices and laboratories. We hope to include articles
about their activities whenever possible.
We are all watchmen together with a heavy responsibility to guard the
natural beauty of a land that, in the words of a Woody Guthrie folk
ballad, "was made for you and me."
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A
332
United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Russell E. Train
Administrator
Patricia L. Cahn
Director of Public Affairs
Charles D. Pierce
Editor
Staff:
Van Trumbull
Ruth Hussey
PHOTO CREDITS
Page 2, Don Moran
Page 3, California State
Water Resources
Control Board
Page 4, Nancy Quilhot
Page 5, Steve Budman,
Page 6, Ernest Bucci
Page 8, Gary Almskaar,
Don Moran
Page 12, Don Moran
Contents
Protecting America's Drinking
Page 2 by James L. Agee
Water
^~ Is Your Drinking Water Safe?
Page 6 • Interview with James H. McDermott
Page 8 PEOPLE People
Page 9 Around the Nation
Page 12 Jf Profile
^^
Page 13 Photo Essay
Page 18 Inquiry
4?
Page 20 /?y EPA'S New Budget
Page 21 News Briefs
-w
Back Page ^^^^^ Scouting for Pests
"The EPA Journal will be published monthly, with combined issues for July-August and November-
December, for employees of the U.S. Enviromental Protection Agency. It does not alter or supersede
regulations, operating procedures or manual instructions. Contributions and inquiries should be addressed to the
Editor, (A- 1 07) Room 209, West Tower, Waterside Mall, 401 M St., S.W. Washington. D.C. 20460. No
permission necessary to reproduce contents except copyrighted photos and other materials.
PAGE
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PROTECTING AMERICA'S
DRINKING WATER our
responsibilities under the safe
drinking water act
The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974
pin into motion a new national program
to reclaim and ensure the purity of the
water we consume. Under the Act, each
level of government, every local water
system, and the individual consumer
have well-defined roles and respon-
sibilities. But both the opportunity and
the challenge of implementing the Act
begin with each of us in EPA.
The urgency of the task is under-
scored not only by stringent deadlines
in the Act but by recent questions about
the health effect of chemicals in drink-
ing water.
President Ford signed the Safe Drink-
ing Water Act Dec. 16, 1974, in the
wake of newspaper headlines, televi-
sion documentaries, and magazine fea-
tures warning that our old assumptions
about the quality of our drinking water
may no longer be valid. Potential
cancer-causing chemicals have been
found in trace quantities in New Or-
leans' and Pittsburgh's drinking water.
In Boston, lead from water supply pipes
has been found in water drawn from the
tap. Viral or bacteriological contamina-
tion of drinking water has resulted in
communication of disease, often in
smaller, more rural communities where
treatment works are outdated or modern
techniques are not available.
In other cities and towns, foul odors
and tastes make the water unpalatable.
While the overall quality of this na-
tion's drinking water is well above that
supplied in any other country, profes-
sional waterworks operators, govern-
ment, and citizens all agree that a much
better job must be done in guarding our
supplies.
•^^^^^^^^•^^•••••••••••••i
proposal
this month
EPA was to propose interim primary
drinking water standards by March 16.
These standards, called the National In-
terim Primary Drinking Water Regula-
tions, will specify maximum levels of
drinking water contaminants and
monitoring requirements for public
water supply systems.
The contaminant limits are to be set
at levels to protect public health to the
extent feasible, using available
techniques. A critically important part
of establishing these regulations in final
form will be the comments of all con-
cerned parties—States, public utilities,
the scientific and environmental com-
munities, and the consumers. Final in-
terim regulations are to be issued by
June 6 after these comments are consid-
ered.
This first set of regulations is the
foundation upon which State, local, and
citizen participation begins. The Act
places the primary responsibility for en-
forcement and supervision of public
drinking water supply systems and
sources of drinking water clearly upon
the State.
As a safeguard, however, the Act re-
quires that the States assuming primary
enforcement responsibility demonstrate
their competence in enforcing standards
at least as stringent as the National
Primary drinking water regulations, in-
cluding procedures for monitoring and
inspection, and adopt plans for the pro-
vision of safe drinking water should an
emergency arise.
In no case, however, can the interim
primary regulations go unenforced
beyond December 1976, when they be-
come law for every public water supply
system regardless of whether a State has
assumed enforcement responsibility. In
cases where a State fails to assume this
authority, or fails to exercise it
adequately, the Administrator may,
after notice to the State, seek mandatory
compliance with these standards
BY JAMES L. AGEE
Assistant Administrator for Water
and Hazardous Materials
PAGE 2
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through the courts. In any case, the
non-complying system must give public
notice of its non-compliance to each of
its users and to the news media.
Thus, the consumer becomes an en-
forcer and can exert pressure on the util-
ity, the local government, and the State,
demanding water that complies with the
Federal and State regulations. The Safe
Drinking Water Act has real "teeth"
from the Federal level down to each of
us as consumers.
Getting minimum standards into ef-
fect quickly is a major thrust of the Act,
and the Congress has mandated that in-
terim primary regulations be promul-
gated within six months. They recog-
nized, however, that all of the research
and analysis needed to set ultimate
standards for drinking water could not
be completed in 180 days.
health study
set
Over the next two years, the National
Academy of Sciences, under contract to
EPA, will conduct an in-depth study of
the maximum contaminant levels which
should be set to protect human health
and will identify those contaminants
whose levels cannot be determined but
which may have adverse health effects.
Based upon this report and comments
on it, EPA will issue recommended con-
taminant limits th'it are fully protective
of human health, allowing an adequate
margin of safety against known or an-
ticipated adverse effects. At the same
time, EPA will propose Revised Na-
tional Primary Drinking Water Regula-
tions that are as close to this recom-
mended list as possible, taking into ac-
count technical and economic feasibili-
ty.
Full public knowledge of the level of
protection offered by the revised regula-
tions is guaranteed by these require-
ments. EPA must publicly issue the
"ideal" drinking water standards—in
effect, what the standards would be if
treatment were always economically
and technically possible—and it must
issue enforceable standards that are as
close to this ideal us can be achieved,
taking cost and feasibility into account.
For both the interim and the revised
regulations, the Act recognizes possible
This is an aerial view of a
portion of the 580 miles of
aqueducts in California used to
bring water from the northern part
of the State to the San Joaquin
Valley and the Los Angeles area.
situations where compliance with the
standards will be difficult for various
reasons. In cases where a State has as-
sumed primary enforcement responsi-
bility,it can grant variances and exemp-
tions from the regulations.
A variance could be granted because
of inability to comply due to the charac-
ter of the available water source, or be-
cause the raw water is of such good
quality that a required treatment is un-
necessary. Exemptions of up to seven
years (nine years for regional systems)
could be granted for systems unable to
comply due to compelling reasons, in-
cluding economic factors.
If a variance or exemption is granted,
compliance schedules must be issued
and agreed to so that the system may ul-
timately comply. Full public notice and
an opportunity for public hearing must
be provided prior to the time that either
type of exception takes effect.
guarding
ground water
In implementing the Safe Drinking
Water Act, EPA must go beyond the
immediate question of the quality of the
water at the tap. Prevention of source
contamination is as important as the
treatment or cure at the waterworks
stage. Therefore, the Act sets up, for
the first time, a comprehensive program
to protect underground water resources
(aquifers).
Over one-half of the nation's popula-
tion is dependent on groundwater, and
EPA estimates that 80 percent of the na-
tion's 40,000 community water supply
systems are totally dependent on this
source. As surface water resources be-
come more scarce, underground aquif-
ers will become more important in sup-
plying potable water.
The Act requires EPA and the States
to establish programs to control the un-
derground injection of brine, wastewa-
ter, gases, or any other fluids that might
affect ground water supplies. By June
16, EPA will propose regulations for
State control programs to prohibit, start-
PAGE 3
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ing in December, 1977, any under-
ground injection without a permit. Ad-
ditional provision is made for situations
where earlier protection is needed.
Any persons may petition EPA to
designate an area in which no new un-
derground injection well may be oper-
ated unless the Administrator has issued
a permit.
The Act also provides EPA with au-
thority to conduct broadscale research
and individual studies on problems re-
lated lo water supply, including health,
technical, and economic problems.
Nationwide monitoring of organic
chemicals has already been started, fol-
lowing the discovery of some 66 such
chemicals in New Orleans drinking wa-
ter. EPA will submit preliminary results
of this program to Congress in June.
In consultation with State officials,
EPA selected 80 cities throughout the
country whose water supplies will be
sampled and analyzed for the presence
of organic chemicals. The study is di-
vided into (wo parts—in 10 of the cities,
extensive and detailed analysis is under
way; in the remaining 70 cities, EPA is
testing for six specific compounds.
some of which may be formed in the
process of chlorinution, a widely used
technique for disinfecting water. The
Agency also has asked that a special
committee of the Science Advisory
Board be set up to assess the health risk
posed by these chemicals.
iMBBMBBH-—
putting it
together
The reader might well ask, "How is
EPA ever going to put ail of this to-
gether within the times required?"
My first answer must be: This is an
EPA-wide job. The Wafer Supply Pro-
gram has major responsibility for im-
plementing the Act, but many other of-
fices will feel the impact of this man-
date, in one way or another.
Already the Office of Planning and
Evaluation is deep into the development
of a basic strategy, both long- and
short-term, for meeting the various re-
quirements of the Act. The Office of
Research and Development has had a
king involvement with developing
drinking water standards and
guidelines, and this role must intensify
PAGH 4
as the interim standards are put into
final form. This Office also will have a
critical task in contracting for and
shepherding the numerous essential
studies and research projects which are
essential to underpinning standards and
regulations for drinking water and un-
derground injection.
Interpreting the many provisions of
the Act will be the responsibility of the
General Counsel's Office, and the new
standards will be based on knowledge
and data from the Office of Toxic Sub-
stances.
As important as any other aspect will
be the leadership of our Regional Of-
fices in working with States to develop
State programs and encourage assump-
tion of enforcement responsibility, with
local water supply systems to assure
their understanding and cooperation.
and with community groups and the
public. As a former Regional Adminis-
trator, 1 have a deep personal commit-
ment to assuring the fullest degree of
regional partnership in this endeavor.
A major advantage and a continuing
asset in our efforts are the State and
local organizations which have had a
long involvement in the problems of
providing pure drinking water.
The aim of the Act is not to create
new institutional systems but rather to
reinforce and strengthen the programs
that are already monitoring and enforc-
ing water supply standards. During the
first year of the Act's implementation,
EPA is placing highest priority on
communication with and assistance to
the States to get a vigorous start in their
assumption of enforcement responsibili -
ty-
-------
ten million
sought
The President's budget proposes
some $10 million tor program grants to
the States to guarantee that they have
the resources needed to build up their
programs. Three-quarters of this money
is to be used by the States for develop-
ing and improving their capabilities for
surveillance of public drinking water
systems. The remaining $2.5 million
will permit the establishment or
strengthening of underground injection
control programs.
EPA will maintain constant and close
communication with States and local
communities. A series of regional
seminars is being held to brief State
water supply officials on the require-
ments of the new Act and EPA's plans
for developing regulations. Regional
and State officials will work with the
American Waterworks Association and
communities to ensure effective, two-
way communication at each level of re-
sponsibility.
The National Drinking Water Advis-
ory Council, established by the Act, is
an important channel for advising EPA
on standards and regulations, and for
addressing potential problems before
they reach critical proportions. This
15-member group consists of represen-
tatives of the public. State and local
water supply agencies, and private
groups which have been active in the
drinking water field.
As EPA pursues its safe drinking
water mission, several basic principles
should be guiding. First public health
has the highest priority, over and above
questions of esthetics, taste or odor.
The adequacy of the State plans to pro-
tect health will be paramount when ap-
proval of the plans is considered.
Second, we will tackle the worst
problems first after assessing hazard of
the contaminant and the size of the af-
fected population.
Third, the role of States, local gov-
ernments, and citizens in advising the
Agency in enforcement must be encour-
aged to the hilt.
Fourth, paperwork and red tape must
be held to an absolute minimum. This
may seem to be a restatement of the ob-
vious, but it is a principle all too often
violated by the Federal government.
Paperwork cannot protect health—only
action can. a
Much of the research that
identified potentially dangerous
chemicals in municipal drinking
water and thus prompted EPA's
nation-wide survey of water
systems was done by the Water
Supply Research Laboratory,
headed by Gordon Robeck, at the
Cincinnati National Environmental
Research Center. In this photo, Dr.
Robert Melton, Research Chemist,
is testing to detect the presence of
volatile organics in a drinking water
sample.
PAGES
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Is Your Drinking Witer Safe?
Interview with James Me Dermott, Director Water Supply Division
Q. How safe is drinking water generally in the United
States?
A. While it is true that most Americans have a good
and adequate supply of drinking water, many Ameri-
cans do not.
Generally, we find most problems in the small towns
and smaller systems across the nation. These are the sys-
tems that receive the least amount of technical assis-
tance and surveillance from State and local agencies,
and all too many of these systems do not follow good
practice.
Q. Are there cinv instances of people getting sick from
drinking water in the United States recent I v?
A. Yes, overt illness has occurred and continues to
occur across the United States; for instance, we know-
that between 1961 and 1970, at least 43,000 people be-
came sick from drinking water. This occurred as a result
of 130 reported outbreaks.
It is possible that a significantly larger number of
people were subjected to acute bacteria! or viral infec-
tion or chemical poisoning that was not reported.
Q. How does drinking water in the United States
compare generallv with drinking water in other coun-
tries''
A. We believe the drinking water systems in the
United States arc among the best in the world, serving
more good water to more people than any other nation.
Perhaps this is because so many people live in large
metropolitan areas served by major systems which can
provide for good operation and maintenance of their
facilities. But as 1 said before, many of our small sys-
tems are in bad shape.
Q. What are carcinogens'.' Wh\ are the\ found in
drinking water supplies'.'
A. Carcinogens are cancer-causing agents. There are a
number of organic chemical compounds found in some
drinking water systems that have produced cancer in
small experimental animals during laboratory testing.
Principal sources of these compounds are industrial
waste discharges and agriculture and urban run-off to
surface water streams. Communities use these streams
as sources for their drinking water supplies.
Q. Wh\ is the public just now hearing about the pres-
ence of these chemicals in drinking water?
A. In recent years improved analytical techniques
have enabled us to detect these trace amounts of organic-
compounds in drinking water. These compounds are
found in such small amounts they have to be measured
in parts per billion parts of water. Because of improved
analytical techniques and because the lower Mississippi
River is one of the streams in the U.S. most affected by
industrial waste discharges, a recent EPA sampling
study found 66 organic compounds in the New Orleans
water supply. This was the first such comprehensive
sampling survey which indicated the levels of organics
in drinking water and brought the problem to the pub-
lic's attention for the first time.
Q, What is heing done to determine what the health
effects are?
A. EPA is currently evaluating all of the evidence
PAGE 6
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available from the experimental animal tests and has
asked the National Cancer Institute to review available
evidence of the cancer-causing potential to help EPA
estimate the risk of cancer from the compounds. EPA is
also undertaking a nationwide study to determine just
how widespread is the occurrence of certain organic
chemicals in drinking water.
Q. Some cities have particular drinking water prob-
lems. For example, I understand that Boston has a
problem because some of its drinking water is delivered
in old lead pipes. What is being done about the Boston
situation, and are there other examples of unusual local
drinking water problems?
A. In the case of Boston, the technical solutions are
known: adding chemicals to condition the water and
make it less reactive to lead in the old pipes. Our Boston
Regional Office has been providing technical assistance
to the State and City.
Just about every system has one type of problem or
another. I think it is to the credit of our metropolitan
systems, the larger systems across the country, that
when the problem is identified they generally move to
correct it as quickly as possible. As a consequence,
most people are not aware of these problems.
Q. Some cities like New York go to a great expense to
pipe in drinking water from remote sources rather than
use polluted water such as the Hudson River flowing
right through! the city. When will technology be able to
make sources such as the Hudson River safe for drink-
ing?
A. The technology exists today to make the Hudson
River safe to drink. One need only look at cities like
Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Kansas City, which use
grossly polluted river waters, to realize that the technol-
ogy does exist.
You have to consider why New York chose the type of
system it has. Back in the 1880's and 1890's we didn't
know how to apply coagulation and filtration, and disin-
fection was just being thought of.
So New York City went to upstream reservoirs which
promised the best in both quantity and wholesomeness.
Now they have a substantial investment in dams, and we
would expect New York to continue to use the upstream
reservoirs.
Q. Do any major American cities still use water that
has not been treated, and what cities are they?
A. To the best of my knowledge, all large cities in the
United States now provide at least disinfection and most
also apply coagulation and filtration to treat surface
water prior to distribution.
New York City and Portland, Oregon, draw from up-
land reservoirs which are not subject to major pollution.
As a consequence they get by with just chlorination.
Q. How would you rate the drinking water in
Washington, D.C., on a scale of 1 to 10?
A. I would rate Washington as Number 10, the best.
Q. Is it true that in the Washington area we are drink-
ing the water discharged by Cumberland, Md., and
other cities upstream on the Potomac?
A. Yes. Whether people realize it or not, most drink-
ing waters contains a fraction previously discharged as
either municipal or industrial waste. This is true in
Washington as it is in New Orleans and any city on a
major river.
Q. Can sewage be recycled directly as drinking water
after treatment?
A. As a matter of policy, EPA is opposed to such recyc-
ling. We do encourage reuse or recycling of almost all
resources where the knowledge of how to operate, main-
tain and monitor the adequacy of recycling facilities is
known.
However, we believe there are many items that are yet
to be investigated and many questions to answer before
direct recycling is sanctioned for drinking water sys-
tems.
Legislation passed by Congress provides specific au-
thority to begin to answer these questions involving not
only health effects of individual contaminants including
alleged carcinogens mentioned earlier, but also how to
measure for numerous contaminants and how to design
and operate facilities to protect public health.
Q. Didnt a city in Kansas, during a drought, actually
use recycled sewage for drinking water after treatment?
A. Yes, 15 or 20 years ago, the people of Chanute,
Kansas, did in fact recycle sewage through their com-
munity drinking water system. It is said that no one got
sick. It is also said that few people actually drank the
water, although many used it for other purposes around
the home. The reason the people didn't drink the water,
we understand, is that it didn't look or taste good.
So, although the water was recycled and no one got
sick, the Chanute case is not a practical example of
either the technology or the reality of such reuse at the
present time.
Q. Are the increasing number of chemicals and pes-
ticides getting into our waterways a threat to drinking
water?
A. Yes they are, for a couple reasons.
First, we don't know just how effective some of our
conventional systems are. We talk of coagulation and
filtration removing chemicals, but we really have to do
definitive studies to establish how effective these pro-
cesses are relative to the chemicals of concern.
Second, we now have legislative authority to proceed
to answer these questions, so we are discouraging the
idea of reuse until we know what new approaches are
available to minimize the threat of chemicals to public
health.
Q. Does current water treatment remove viruses from
drinking water?
A. We honestly don't know. All we do know is that,
except for outbreaks which can be traced by
epidemiologists, water supplies do not appear to be a
major vehicle for transmitting virus disease.
We should be aware, however, that there are a number
of well-documented instances where people have con-
tracted viral disease and the authorities have concluded
Continued on page 16
PAGE 7
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Loren Russell has an eight-legged
paperweight on his desk at the National
Environmental Research Center in Cor-
vallis, Oreg., a live tarantula about six
inches long. The pet spider is a 17-year-
old female named Fang, who eats only
once a month (a large cockroach or a
grasshopper) and is quite timid as far as
humans are concerned, says Mr. Russell.
a biology technician for Northrup Serv-
ices, an EPA on-site contractor. Fang
rests in her plexiglass paperweight box
most of the time, but occasionally she's
allowed to prowl. A tarantula's venom-
ous bite would probably cause only a
local swelling in a human, Russell says,
and she has not bitten him in the eight
years he has had her.
Dr. Shelley M. Mark has been named
to head the new land use policy office,
which Administrator Russell E. Train
announced last summer would be formed
to coordinate EPA programs related to
land use and to strengthen ties with State
and local governments on land use mat-
ters. Dr. Mark has been director of
Hawaii's Department of Planning and
Economic Development since 1962. Dur-
ing the previous decade he had taught
economics at the University of Hawaii
and headed its Economic Research Cent-
er. He is 52 years old, a graduate of the
University of Washington, where he won
his doctorate in economics. He also
studied at Columbia and Harvard. He is
married and the father of five children.
Roger L. Williams has been named As-
sistant to the Deputy Administrator and
Director, Office of Operations Coordina-
tion, in the Deputy Administrator's Of-
fice. Williams, 36, who began his Fed-
eral service with the Bureau of Mines in
1958, has served since 1970 as Director
of the Office of Program and Manage-
ment Operations in the Office of En-
forcement and General Counsel of EPA.
In his new post Williams succeeds Jack
Flynn, who is now a member of the Ad-
ministrator's staff of the newly formed
Energy Research and Development Ad-
ministration.
Dr. John D. Finklea, Director of the
National Environmental Research Center
at Triangle Park, N.C., has resigned to
become Director of the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health,
headquartered in Rockville, Md. He suc-
ceeds Dr. Marcus M. Key, who left the
Institute post last fall. Dr. Finklea was
scheduled to start work at Rockville in
March and be "on detail" from EPA for
several months. EPA's research opera-
tions at North Carolina will be under an
acting director at least until Dr. Finklea's
new appointment is confirmed, said Dr.
Wilson K. Talley, EPA's research and
development chief. Dr. Finklea, 41, was
a pediatrician and medical school profes-
sor before joining EPA. He had headed
the EPA North Carolina center since
1972.
Peter J. Black, known to almost all
EPA employees at the Waterside Mall
building in Washington, died unexpec-
tedly of a heart ailment Feb. 1. He was 52
years old. In his job as chauffeur, Mr.
Black had driven scores of Agency offi-
cials, but he was best known for his ur-
banity and cheerfulness to everyone he
met.
I'ACil- X
-------
transportation plan
Region I will hold public hearings
March 19-21 at the Transportation Sys-
tems Center Auditorium in Cambridge,
Mass, on the transportation control plan
for Metropolitan Boston. The hearings
were scheduled to be held in February,
but the Region requested the Justice
Department to petition for a month's ex-
tension to allow the Agency time to
gather additional technical data and to
compile a more comprehensive techni-
cal support document.
The hearings were ordered by the First
Circuit Court of Appeals last September
to allow both the Court and the public to
examine the technical data used to de-
velop the carbon monoxide and hy-
drocarbon reduction strategies con-
tained in the Boston plan.
dumping fine
The Region II office recently received
a $40,000 check paid as a civil penalty
for two violations of ocean disposal
permits issued to Pollution Control In-
dustries, Inc.
The Delaware-based firm took legal
responsibility for two cases of "short
dumping" of chemical wastes off the
north coast of Puerto Rico. A "short
dumping" is the discharge of wastes
into the sea closer to shore than is al-
lowed under the EPA dumping permit.
Under the terms of a contract between
Pollution Control Industries and McAl-
lister Brothers, Inc., owner of the tow-
ing vessels involved in the two inci-
dents, the towing company paid the
total amount of the penalty assessed.
PHILADELPHIA
auto testing
Region III was scheduled to present
special awards to the Maryland Au-
tomobile Club and the Maryland Lung
Association on March 5 for their
cooperative automobile emissions test-
ing program.
Two series of tests were run, one in
1972-3 and a second in 1974. The first
series resulted in 47.5 percent of all
vehicles passing emissions tests for hy-
drocarbons and carbon monoxide, while
52.5 percent failed. The 1974 series had
worse results, with only 33.9 percent
passing and 66.1 percent failing. All
tests were done in commercial shopping
centers on vehicles supplied by volun-
teers.
The organizations concluded that test
failures were a result of poor vehicle
maintenance due largely to owner neg-
lect. However, part of the blame was
laid to a lack of the necessary test
equipment and properly trained
mechanics needed to adjust motor vehi-
cle engines for emissions standards.
The results reinforce the need for State
inspection and maintenance programs if
clean air standards are to be attained.
PAGE 9
-------
phosphate mining
EPA has recommended that long-
pending industry proposals for surface
mining of phosphate rock in the
155,000-acre Osceola National Forest
in northern Florida be rejected as "un-
satisfactory from the standpoint of en-
vironmental quality and public wel-
fare." Phosphate is used principally in
the production of fertilizer. Adminis-
trator Russell E. Train recommended
that the Council of Environmental Qual-
ity deny the applications, which came
from several large chemical and fer-
tilizer companies. The recommendation
also suggested that a nationwide en-
vironmental impact statement be pre-
pared, assessing the overall impact of
phosophate mining, processing, use,
and exportation. Jack E. Ravan, Region
IV Administrator, strongly opposed
granting mining rights in the National
Forest.
in the news
Six Tennessee rural electric co-ops
took a two-page ad in a Sunday issue of
the Nashville Tennessean to speak up
for the Tennessee Valley Authority's
proposed Hartsville nuclear power
plant. Sponsors of the ad urged citizens
to back the project for its "$65 million
annual payroll."
The Miami Daily News reported that
"suspect levels" of DDT were found in
bass, snook, and mullet taken during a
gathering of dead and ailing fish in
south Dade County. The newspaper said
the fish showed DDT levels ranging
from 2 to 10 parts per million. Two
University of Miami pathologists had
no immediate conclusions. One of
them, Dr. Bennett Sallman, said little
could be concluded about the effects of
the DDT level since there were many
other variables involved: temperature,
oxygen content, chemicals, bacteria,
and parasites.
meetings set
An environmental workshop will be
held March 12-15 at Manatee Junior
College in Florida, sponsored by county
health departments in Bradenton and
Sarasota . . .A seminar on strip mining
is planned for early April in Birming-
ham, Ala., by the Alabama Environ-
mental Quality Association and the
State Attorney General's office . . .Dr.
Wernher Von Braun will be the featured
speaker at the Governor's Environmen-
tal Quality Awards Program April 30 in
Montgomery, Ala.
ohio waters
The Ohio Environmental Protection
Agency has adopted new regulations
revising Lake Erie and general water
quality standards.
The revisions and additions establish
specific standards and alter certain
existing standards for effluents such as
phenols, phosphorus, copper, and zinc
to conform with Federal recommenda-
tions. EPA recommended the revision
of these standards in December, 1973,
to include more specific toxicity limits
of certain pollutants.
vehicle recycling
The State of Illinois has set up a Vehi-
cle Recycling Board to seek ways of
getting the 400,000 cars and trucks
abandoned each year in Illinois on their
way to the recycler.
The State estimates each car recycled
could save about 15 tons of iron ore, a
ton of coke and a half a ton of limestone
if shredded and sold to a steel mill for
scrap.
The Board's job is to get more aban-
doned cars to a recycler faster by rec-
ommending changes in state law. These
include offering a "bounty" to anyone
who takes an abandoned vehicle to a re-
cycler and more state control over
abandoned car removal.
hearings in texas
Hearings were held in some major
Texas metropolitan areas in February to
determine whether these areas should be
designated as eligible to receive Federal
waste management and planning grant
money.
The hearings were conducted in Dal-
las, Fort Worth, Houston, Beaumont-
Port Arthur and San Antonio. To re-
ceive Section 208 .funds the Governor of
Texas and the EPA Administrator must
designate the areas as meeting certain
criteria such as substantial water quality
control problems.
Elsewhere in Region VI, public hear-
ings were held in Oklahoma City and
Tulsaon final designation of these areas
for Section 208 aid.
grants seminar
Hard on the heels of President Ford's
release of $4 billion in construction
grant funds for waste treatment
facilities, Region VII held a seminar on
the grants program in cooperation with
Associated General Contractors.
The one-day event at the Alameda
Plaza Hotel in Kansas City attracted
more than 200 contractors, consulting
engineers, building materials suppliers,
local and State pollution control offi-
cials, municipal and state government
officials, AGC officers from Kansas
City and Washington, and regional EPA
personnel.
Keynoter for the day was Jerome
Svore, Region VII Administrator, who
PAGE 10
-------
outlined to the group how EPA plans to
keep the cash flow going in the grants
program and eliminate bottlenecks and
delays.
Grant applications, priorities,
guidelines and regulations, funding,
competitive bidding, and hiring of
minorities by contractors were among
the subjects discussed with the industry
representatives.
hong kong
The Kansas City Customs Office re-
cently contacted Region VIl's John
Wicklund about a pesticide control de-
vice received at that Office. The device
was seized and held until Region VII
personnel determined that it was inef-
fective when tested according to printed
directions. The product was denied
entry into the U.S. and returned to
Hong Kong.
During 1974 the Region VII Pesticide
Branch issued 65 complaints against
producers or distributors of pesticides in
this country for various pesticide viola-
tions and assessed nearly $100,000 in
fines.
Colorado permit
As early as the first week in April the
Colorado Department of Health could
take over a program regulating pollutant
discharges into Colorado waterways.
This program is currently administered
by EPA in Denver.
A public hearing was held in Denver in
January to consider the State's request
for assumption of the program and to
hear citizen comments or objections. If
Colorado takes over the permit pro-
gram, it will be the third state in Region
VI11 to do so. Montana and Wyoming
took over their permit programs last
year.
In Colorado approximately 760 dis-
chargers have applied for permits. EPA
has issued permits for 515. The State's
pollution control agency would take
over monitoring these permits and pro-
cess the approximately 245 remaining
permit requests.
SAN FRANCISCO
san francisco
Calming public concern about asbestos
in San Francisco's drinking water has
recently posed a problem for Region
IX. High levels of natural asbestos have
been found in San Francisco's drinking
water. But regional officials pointed out
that there is no solid evidence at this
time that it is a hazard to public health,
that the asbestos is a different type from
that found in Lake Superior, that
adequate systems to filter out the asbes-
tos are not yet available, and that EPA
found the asbestos in the first place.
Perhaps the most telling point made to
press and public has been that EPA
employees drink the water every day.
car tampering
Responding to a request by EPA, the
U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle has
filed action in U.S. District Court to
impose a $30,000 civil penalty on an
Olympia, Wash., imported car dealer
for allegedly tampering with emission
control devices on a car sold to one of
his customers.
The defendant is Werner Scharmach,
owner and manager of European
Motors. He is charged with removing
pollution control devices on a new Saab
in violation of Section 203 of the Clean
Air Act of 1970, which is administered
by EPA.
Under that section of the statute it is
illegal "for any person to remove or to
render inoperative any device or ele-
ment of design installed on or in a motor
vehicle or motor vehicle engine . . .prior
to its sale and delivery to the ultimate
purchaser, or for any manufacturer or
dealer knowingly to remove or render
inoperative any such device or element
of design after such sale and delivery to
the purchaser."
Clifford V. Smith, EPA's regional
administrator, said the U.S. Attorney's
action is the first such case brought to
court by EPA in the Pacific Northwest.
northwest grants
More than 1,400 man years of
employment in the construction trades
were created in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon
and Washington by the $57.1 million
the EPA granted last year for con-
struction of wastewater treatment
facilities, according to figures released
by EPA's Northwest regional office in
Seattle.
The $57.1 million was awarded by
EPA during calendar year 1974 to pay
for 75% of the eligible costs of actual
construction work on sewer interceptor
lines and wastewater treatment projects
in the four states. Also, EPA's regional
office awarded $7.2 million for plan-
ning and design of new treatment
facilities and $24 million to reimburse
communities for wastewater improve-
ment projects they financed themselves.
In all, according to Regional Adminis-
trator Smith, the Agency obligated
more than $88 million to units of local
government in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon
and Washington during 1974.
PAGE 11
-------
f
I
EPA's new general counsel, Robert V.
Zener, is a calm, methodical, scholarly
lawyer who "likes lots of action."
In his new post he will certainly get it,
since there are now approximately 560
law suits pending against the Agency,
mo.st of them filed by industries objecting
to various rules and regulations.
"Actually," Mr. Zener said, "the
number of lawsuits against us is some-
what misleading because some of them
involve the same area. For example,
there are 125 suits against the 21 effluent
guidelines issued by EPA for various in-
dustries."
Suits by citizens groups demanding that
HP A take one action or another are prob-
ably the next most numerous category of
legal complaints against the Agency, Mr.
Zener said.
Asked if the 40 lawyers in the General
Counsel's office would be able to handle
these suits and all the other functions of
his office, Mr. Zener replied "I think
they can. They are good lawyers. We
have a lot of men and women with ex-
perience and this contributes to the over-
all high quality of the staff."
Me also pointed out that the Justice De-
partment, where the 39-year-old Mr.
Zener formerly worked for eight years,
actually represents EPA in court "al-
though we play a major role in develop-
ing the briefs used by Justice."
Mr. Zener was named General Counsel,
effective Feb. 1, by Administrator Rus-
sell E. Train after a reorgani/.ation sepa-
rated the offices of General Counsel and
Enforcement.
Discussing his new role, Mr. Zener said
that it is his responsibility "to provide
legal advice to the Agency as promptly
and objectively us possible."
Commenting on the reasons for separat-
ing the offices of General Counsel and
Enforcement, Mr. Zener said that he be-
lieved there were two main reasons for
this action.
"First," he said, "there was a feeling
that the General Counsel should be inde-
pendent of any particular operating pro-
gram so that there would be no suspicion
that he was biased in favor of a particular
activity.
"Also, as EPA's regulatory program
became established its enforcement pro-
gram has grown to the point that the
combined job of enforcement and general
counsel is too big for one person to han-
dle."
In his spare time, Mr. Zener plays the
piano. A classical music buff, Mr. Zener
played the piano for a dancing school
while in college. Asked if he ever played
publicly, he admitted, somewhat reluc-
ROBERT V ZENER
tantly, that he is going to accompany a
singer at a public recital on April 27 at
Barker Hall in the District.
He joined EPA in March, 1971, as As-
sociate General Counsel for Water. In
this position, he was responsible for the
legal aspects of the Agency's water pro-
gram, the EPA role in the environmental
impact statement process and the ad-
ministration of the Freedom of Informa-
tion Act.
His experience with the Freedom of In-
formation Act, left him, he says, "par-
ticularly sensitive to the need for Federal
agencies to be responsive to public criti-
cism and to operate in an open fashion."
Mr. Zener had served as Deputy Gen-
eral Counsel for EPA since April 30,
1973.
Prior to his EPA appointment, Mr.
Zener had spent eight years at the De-
partment of Justice where he was Assis-
tant Chief of the Appellate Section of the
Civil Division. From 1958 to 1963, he
was with the law firm of Cravath, Swaine
& Moore in New York City.
A 1954 honors graduate of the Univer-
sity of Chicago, Mr. Zener attended the
London School of Economics and the
University of Chicago Law School. He
was Editor-in-chief of the University of
Chicago Law Review, and a member of
the Order of the Coif.
Awarded the EPA Gold Medal for Ex-
ceptional Service in 1973, Mr. Zener was
also the recipient of the Department of
Justice Special Commendation Award in
1968 and the Younger Federal Lawyer
Award by the Federal Bar Association in
1969. He is the author of the chapter on
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
in "Federal Environmental Law," a
book recently published by West Publish-
ing Company, edited by the Environmen-
tal Law institute.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Zener
lives now with his wife and two sons in
Washington, D.C.
FAGH 12
-------
CONTROVERSY SWIRLS AROUND AUTO
POLLUTION HEARINGS
Television cameras cover hearings.
Issues of critical importance to
the future well being of the Nation
were argued at hearings com-
pleted last month in Washington
on requests by automobile man-
ufacturers for a one-year sus-
pension of the 1977 model year
emission standards. Testimony
was also presented on the auto-
mobile industry's ability to achieve
a 40 percent fuel economy
improvement by 1980 as called
for by President Ford. Repre-
sentatives of industry and
various citizens groups pre-
sented often conflicting tes-
timony.
An observer standing in the door.
Spectators listen to testimony.
PAGH 13
-------
"The record shows that to help
the country reach its clean air go-
als, the automobile industry has
committed more of its resources
to emission control than to any
other single engineering project."
—S. L. Terry, Vice President,
Chrysler Corp.
"It is the (Delaware Valley Citi-
zens') Clean Air Council's feel-
ing that if the automobile indus-
try would put more emphasis on
the smaller, more efficient
engine, we could achieve fuel
economy very close to the 40
percent gain and not give up the
very important goal of improved
public health and welfare. The
hope that the automobile indus-
try will cooperate on a voluntary
basis is very unlikely."
—Kaysl Farrell, Executive Direc-
tor of the Delaware Valley
Citizens' Council for Clean
Air.
Sydney L.Terry, Chrysler Vice President.
Kaysl Farrell, Executive Director, Delaware Valley Citzens' Council for Clean Air.
Robert A. Low, New York City EPA
Administrator
"He (President Ford) is quite
right, we think, in proposing to
modify and defer automotive pol-
lution standards for five years, so
that this sizable fuel saving can
be achieved."
—Washington Star-News, Jan.
16,1975
PAGE 14
-------
Administrator Russell E. Train
"The economic vitality of the auto
industry is closely related to the
economic health of the
nation At the same time the
continued reduction of pollution
from autos is vital to the physical
health of the American people,
and public health must be our
highest priority. Finally, unless
we achieve substantial improve-
ment in fuel economy in our cars,
the nation cannot even begin to
come to grips with the energy
crisis."
—Administrator Train, opening
statement.
"President Ford's proposal for
lowering automobile emission
standards set under the Clean Air
Act offers the car manufacturers
a big quid for an insignificant
quo."
—New York Times—Jan. 18,
1975
Eric O. Stork confers with a colleague.
-All photos by Don Moran
PAGE 15
-------
Continued from page 7
that the virus was transmitted by the water system.
The problem here is several fold. Principally it is a
question of analytical methodology. There are few, if
any, dependable methods of counting viruses in drink-
ing water.
Lacking hard evidence and analytical data, health offi-
cials seldom report drinking water as the means of dis-
ease transmission.
The Holy Cross football episode of several years ago
clearly indicates what can happen when the water in the
drinking system is contaminated with virus. About 90
percent of the football team and athletic staff contracted
infectious hepatitis.
"... we will see improved drinking
water at the consumer's tap within
the immediate future!'
Q. What is being done about asbestos fibers in the
drinking water in Duluth, Minn., and other com-
munities on Lake Superior near the Reserve Mining
Company discharge point?
A. In response to the asbestos issue, EPA has been
operating pilot plant facilities in conjunction with the
Corps of Engineers at the request of the City and the
State of Minnesota. We have found several innovative
approaches that result in substantial removals of asbes-
tos. As a result of these pilot plant studies, Duluth is
learning what options are available.
Q. Is bottled drinking water safer than tap water?
A. The safety of any water, bottled or not, has to be
judged by bacterial and chemical analysis and a variety
of other standards of good practice. The individual buy-
ing bottled water should determine whether it has been
analyzed by competent authorities and judged against
requirements of State and local regulatory agencies.
Q. Then there is no complete guarantee that bottled
water is safer than tap water?
A. Frankly, there is no complete guarantee. There are
many bottling facilities across the country. Some of
them use community tap water as a source of supply.
Other bottlers use their own wells. In most instances the
bottlers do apply one type of water treatment or another
prior to filling the jugs.
Q. Arc there any brands of bottled water that carry on
their labels the name of the organization that tested the
purity of their water?
A. The Food and Drug Administration requires that a
chemical analysis be stated on the label. The question
then is whether and how frequently the water is
analyzed, because source quality varies and effective-
ness of treatment varies.
If there is a bad batch of raw water or if the treatment
processes were to fail, you can receive bad water from
either a bottle or a community system. Clearly, there
must be frequent quality monitoring to establish that the
quality on the label is the quality being distributed.
Q. In terms of advising consumers, do you think there
is any sound reason for buying bottled water?
A. I think each individual should have freedom of
choice. Some people buy bottled water for medical
reasons. Some buy bottled water for esthetic reasons.
In any event I think most Americans can and should
support their local public water supply system to make
sure that it does the very best job possible and at a cost
of between 10 and 70 cents per 1000 gallons. Since each
of us uses 100 to 200 gallons a day for a variety of pur-
poses, including drinking, people should support public
systems for both health and economic reasons.
Q. Does the application of chlorine add cancer-
causing chemicals to the water?
A. There is some recent evidence that chlorine, used
to disinfect drinking water, may combine with man-
made organic compounds, as well as those occurring
naturally, and result in a slightly increased level of a
variety of chlorinated organic compounds. The public
health significance of such increases is being evaluated.
It must be remembered, however, that effectiveness of
chlorination to prevent water-borne bacteriological dis-
eases such as typhoid, cholera, salmonellosis.and
shigellosis, and the infectious hepatitis virus, is well
documented. EPA believes that, with the knowledge we
have today, the immediate benefits of continued use of
chlorine for the disinfection of drinking water outweigh
the potential health risks from chlorine-derived organic
compounds.
Q. Are other methods available to disinfect water?
A. To date no acceptable substitute has been dem-
onstrated to be as satisfactory as chlorination in disin-
fecting large volumes of drinking water. Other disinfec-
tants have been employed from time to time but these
generally find a suitable application only at the smallest
systems. Ozone is a disinfectant that can be utilized on a
large scale; however, there is some evidence that ozona-
tion may produce some organic compounds of concern.
Nevertheless EPA recognizes the importance of explor-
ing other means of disinfection. Until more definitive
information becomes available, the use of chlorination
as an effective means for disinfection of drinking water-
should be continued.
Q. / imagine the cost of treating drinking water is
probably going to go up in the future. If that is true, 1
wonder if there 'may be some advantage in supplying two
types of water to households: one for drinking and one
for flushing toilets or washing the car.
A. That is a distinct possibility to be considered in a
number of places in the United States. I believe it is
Colorado Springs which now has two water systems. A
secondary system supplies water that meets health stan-
dards, but not necessarily esthetic standards, and is used
for industrial purposes. The primary system serves resi-
dential areas and is both esthetically and bacteriologic-
al ly safe.
What you are suggesting is two tap-water lines into
each house. I doubt this will materialize except where a
new city is to be built. The cost of repiping existing
communities probably would be prohibitive.
PAGE 16
-------
Q. As I understand it, the States have the major re-
sponsibility for the safety of drinking water within their
boundaries. How effective are the States in carrying out
this responsibility?
A. Our studies show, by and large, the States have not
given drinking water an adequate priority in the past.
This is why we find poor quality relative to past Federal
recommendations. We find all too many Americans are
drinking water that is sub-standard in both healthfulness
and esthetics.
The reason for poor quality, more often than not, is
inadequate operation and maintenance of facilities by
iil-trained operators. We have found operators who can-
not remember being visited by a county or State
employee with a view to either technical assistance or
enforcement. Clearly, State programs should be sub-
stantially improved. Under the new Safe Drinking
Water Act, the States have the option to establish drink-
ing water standards at least as stringent as the Federal
standards, and then to implement these standards for all
public water systems within their jurisdictions.
Q. Which cities in the United States have the best
drinking water and why?
A. As a class, the "interstate carrier systems" are the
best. These are some 700 drinking water systems cer-
tified for use by buses, trains, and commercial aircraft.
These systems have been subjected to both Federal
standards and State inspection for over 50 years.
The priority that the Federal Government and the
States have given to these systems, which serve some 80
million people, has probably caused the smaller systems
to be given inadequate attention by State regulatory
agencies.
Q. So generally the cities with the worst drinking
water are the smaller communities?
A. Correct. There are many of them. We currently es-
timate that !80 million Americans are served by some
40,000 conventional public water systems. Another 25
to 30 million Americans are served by private wells or
cisterns, mainly in rural areas.
Q. If you had to single out any city as having the best
drinking water in the United States, which one would
\oii nominate?
A. I think each of us thinks of his own home town as
having the best drinking water. We have been con-
ditioned to its taste and we judge all other waters by
what we're used to. While esthetics are important, it's
more important to have water that's safe and healthful to
drink. This can only be established by adequate bacte-
rial and chemical analysis and frequent evaluations by
State or county officials.
Q. Is fluoridation of drinking water still desirable and
safe?
A. Yes. I believe that fluoridation is highly desirable
in that it does substantially reduce the number of dental
caries.
Children are the major beneficiaries. It is the policy of
the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to
encourage fluoridation, throughout the country. Where
local jurisdictions elect to begin fluoridation, the States
and EPA function to provide technical assistance to
make sure that fluoridation is practiced properly.
Fluoride is a rather unusual chemical. At one concen-
tration level it reduces dental decay. At less than the
critical concentration the reduction in dental decay falls
off very rapidly. Good operation and maintenance are
essential in order to supply the precise concentration
that is beneficial. As a consequence, surveillance and
technical assistance are vital.
Q. Is water from private wells safe?
A. Generally speaking, well water is safe if palatable
and our studies of chemical quality support this conclu-
sion. Most people find well water palatable. Occasion-
ally there will be a bad taste, but generally speaking the
chemical quality is adequate.
On the other hand, we have noted a substantial number
of wells, particularly shallow wells, that are polluted
with bacteria.
For systems which serve individual farms and resi-
dences, generally speaking, the individual who has such
a system can call upon the County Health Department
for advice.
"... the States have not given
drinking water an adequate priority
in the past.."
Q. How helpful do you think the new Act will be gen-
erally in providing safer drinking water?
A. I noted earlier that technology exists today to solve
most of our current problems.
Given the technology and the new priority this Act es-
tablishes at the Federal, State and local level, 1 believe
we will see improved drinking water at the consumers'
tap within the immediate future. There will be more
technical assistance at the local level from State and
county personnel. As a consequence we should see bet-
ter operations and maintenance of existing facilities.
Where existing facilities are inadequate, there will be a
new effort to make improvements as quickly as possi-
ble.
Q. What should an individual do if he or she has
doubts about the safety of the drinking water?
A. 1 would suggest they contact either the local water
supply superintendent or the local Health Department to
find out what quality is being served. If this information
is not available, they should encourage their local polit-
ical structure to require the local water works to begin
sampling as soon as possible. After all, people pay for
their drinking water, and those who supply it have a
responsibility to identify what the quality is. Under the
Safe Drinking Water Act this will become a legal re-
quirement.
Two years from now all public water supply systems
will be required to regularly analyze the quality of their
drinking water and report to the consumer if it does not
meet the State standards, which are to be established
and implemented under the Act.o
PAGE 17
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PAGK IK
-------
do you ever have
any problems with
your drinking water ?
"We have never had any pro-
blems with drinking water!'
Ms. Vicki Tsuhako, secretary. Re-
gion IX Pacific Islands Contact Of-
ficer, Honolulu, Hawaii: "We have
never had any problems with drink-
ing water. We have a unique source.
Our water is pumped from deep un-
derground where it flows between
layers of centuries-old lava flows. I
visited the main pumping station
just outside of Honolulu once and
they gave us pennies to throw in the
water pool. The pool is lighted and
we could see the pennies way down
below because the water is so pure.
Incidentally, the pennies have been
treated with chlorine to avoid any
contamination. We are very lucky to
have such a good water supply."
'' We have had our problems
with drinking water."
Ms. Racqueline Ruiz, Programs
Adviser, San Juan Field Office,
Puerto Rico: "We have had our
problems with drinking water. Last
summer we had a drought and they
were turning off the water during
certain times of the day. There was a
negative pressure in the system and
so we had to ban use of this water
for interstate carriers. Then after the
drought ended we had a strike of the
Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer
Authority. So the Puerto Rico health
authorities directed that drinking
water should be boiled and we had
to ban the water for use by interstate
carriers again. Now the strike is
over and the drinking water here is
conditionally approved for use by
planes and other interstate car-
riers."
". . .water from this spring
just tastes delicious."
Mrs. Yvonne Roddy, secretary,
Robert F. Kerr Environmental Re-
search Laboratory, Ada, Okl.: "Our
water comes from an artesian spring
which flows near Ada. It has a
capacity of 10.5 million gallons a
day. The water from this spring just
tastes delicious. The only problem is
that the water is a little hard and it
wears out hot water heaters faster
because of the mineral buildup. But
we like the taste so much we leave
the water that way. We had a break
in the main water line last summer,
but we have three wells we can use
as an emergency source of water.
Our only problem is when we travel
to big cities we can't get used to the
taste of their water. It sure would be
nice if everyone had good tasting
water like we do."
' 'It's good water, about half
way between hard and soft.
Mrs. Cynthia Herndon, secretary,
Gulf Breeze Environmental Re-
search Laboratory, Gulf Breeze,
Fla.: "We are located on Sabine Is-
land in the Gulf of Mexico and we
get our drinking water from Pen-
sacola by a pipe which reaches us on
a causeway. The water cornes from
deep wells at Pensacola, is piped to
storage tanks at Pensacola Beach
and then is sent to us. The water has
to travel 12 miles from Pensacola to
reach us. It's good water, about half
way between hard and soft. Some
times when we have droughts they
do cut the water off for a couple of
hours. Outside of that we don't have
any problems."
". . .the iron content is high
and the water smells
bad. . ."
Ms. Carolyn McClintock, Ad-
ministrative Assistant, Arctic En-
vironmental Research Laboratory,
College, Alaska: "We have prob-
lems. The water at the Laboratory is
part of the supply treated by the
University of Alaska. It's hard, but
not all that bad to drink. Generally,
outside of Fairbanks the water
comes from wells and it's pretty
bad—the iron content is high and the
water smells bad, doesn't taste good
either. A study by our Laboratory
has shown that some of the water in
our area has a very high nitrate con-
tent. A number of people who live
outside Fairbanks put filters on their
house water intakes, but that's an
extra expense."
.asbestos particles have
been found in the raw wa-
ter. . ."
Mrs. Norma Jean Nordin, Ad-
ministrative Officer. National Water
Quality Laboratory, Duluth, Minn.:
"We have a problem with our drink-
ing water because asbestos particles
have been found in the raw water we
get from Lake Superior and there
has been concern that these particles
could cause cancer, but nothing has
been proved so far. Our drinking
fountains at the Laboratory have fil-
ters on them because the Duluth
water intake does not have a filtra-
tion system yet to screen out the as-
bestos. The City is going to build a
filtration system but, meanwhile,
many people in the area go to the
fire stations which have filters on
their water lines and people can get
water free of charge for drinking.
Many people are buying bottled
water for children six and under and
some have bought filters and put
them on their kitchen sink faucets as
health measures. While the water
tastes all right there is quite a bit of
concern here at the Laboratory be-
cause EPA people are more know-
ledgeable about these problems than
the general public."
PAGE 19
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$46.8 MILLION INCREASE SOUGHT IN FISCAL '76
An increase of $46.8 million for EPA's
operations in fiscal 1976 was sought last
month in President Ford's budget mes-
sage to Congress. If Congress approves,
the Agency's 1976 authority would rise
from $696 million to $742.8 million.
This does not include construction grants,
which are budgeted separately.
A detailed breakdown—by program and
function—of the President's fiscal 1975
budget with that proposed for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1976, is given in
Table 1. The corresponding manpower
budget comparisons are listed in Table 2.
"The most significant increase is $25
million and 97 new positions for the
Water Supply Program," said Adminis-
trator Russell E. Train. These are needed
to enable EPA to establish national stan-
dards for drinking water and to perform
research as called for in the Safe Drink-
ing Water Act of 1974. Mr. Train noted
that the budget proposals also reflect the
high priority on air pollution enforcement
and pesticides.
A major objective in the next fiscal year
is to improve the management of sewage
treatment construction grants, he
said.For this reason EPA proposes to
reassign more than 150 positions and al-
Table I,EPA's Budget Authority
Current Year and Fiscal 1976 Proposed
by Program and Function
(dollars in thousand*)
locate $2.9 million to expedite an esti-
mated 8,535 construction projects that
will be under way next year.
The $10-million increase for pesticides
will be used to improve the registration
process, establish certification programs,
and train applicators.
The budget preparation process, Mr.
Train said, "included an open discussion
of environmental budget issues with the
President, which resulted in an equitable
balance not only among environmental
objectives, but between those objectives
and other national concerns."
Program
Air Pollution
Water Quality
Water Supply
Solid Waste .
Pesticides
Radiation . ...
Interdisciplinary
Toxic Substances
Noise
Energy Research & Devel . .
Program Mgt. & Support . . .
Agency & Regional Mgt
Total
Research and
Development
1975 1976
S 59326 $ 51 345
46.053 44,553
4,518 12.118
10,214 5,014
10,747 10,747
2,764 1,764
15.362 17.362
2 000 2 000
513 13
134,000 112,000
18,660 18,484
S304 157 S275 400
Abatement and
Control
1975 1976
S 87,040 S 76,985
111,961 145,173
3,261 20,109
10,329 11.618
19,691 29,683
4,787 4.303
6827 6837
4.729 9.658
29.863 35.334
S278 488 S339 700
Enforcement
1975 1976
S10456 $12002
24.751 21,138
100
3,569 3,745
22 532
14,045 16,383
S52 843 S53 900
Agency and Regional
Management
1975 1976
$60507t $73 800 1
$60 507 $73 800
Totals
1975 1976
$156822' $140332
182 765' 210,864
7,779 32,327
20543' 16,632
34,007' 44,175
7551 6067
15362 17,362
8 827 8 837
5,264 10,203
134,000 112.000
62,568 70,201
60 507 73 800
S695 995 $742 800
'Includes congressional add-ons totalling $30.6 million (or the lour programs.
N.B. Table does not include construction grants or areawide planning grants.
•(•Includes Buildings and Facilities and Scientific Activities Overseas totalling $1.4 million in 1975 and S8.1 million in 1976.
Table 2, EPA Manpower Budget
Current Year and Fiscal 1976 Proposed
by Program and Function
Program
Air
Water Quality
Water Supply
Solid Waste .
Pesticides
Radiation
Interdisciplinary
Toxic Substances
Noise
Energy Research & Oevel . .
Program Mg|.& Support
Agency & Regional Mgt —
Reimbursements and
Allocations
Totals
Research and
Development
1975 1976
451 449
588 581
74 85
24 24
150 150
74 59
251 251
3 1
40
219 179
115 85
1 949 1 ,904
Abatement and
Control
1975 1976
708 752
1 ,677 1 ,739
99 180
151 161
668 668
201 174
44 44
45 75
202 202
20 20
3815 4015
Enforcement
1975 1976 '
410 450
892 741
5
151 151
1 10
143 168
1 597 1 525
Agency & Regional
Mgt. & Other
1975 1976
1.826 1.840
16 16
1 .842 1 ,856
Totals
1975 1976
1 569 1 ,651
3,157 3,061
173 270
175 185
969 969
275 233
251 251
44 44
49 86
40
564 549
1 ,826 1 .840
151 121
9.203 9,300
PAGE 20
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briers
HEADQUARTERS PERSONNEL SURVEY
A comprehensive survey of all Headquarters positions and
organizations was started last month as part of a program to
achieve recommendations made by the U.S. Civil Service Commission.
Alvin L. Aim, Assistant Administrator for Planning and Management,
said in a memorandum to all Headquarters personnel that the survey
would take 18 months and would be conducted by officials of three
divisions in his office. "Organizations will be reviewed to
determine whether functions are properly aligned and manpower and
monetary resources are being effectively utilized," Mr. Aim said.
MOST MAJOR INDUSTRIES, CITIES GET DISCHARGE PERMITS
At the end of 1974, EPA and 20 States had issued wastewater
discharge permits to 95 percent of major industrial polluters and
88 percent of major municipalities. The permits specify what kinds
and amounts of pollutants may be discharged into the Nation's
waterways to meet the 1977 clean-up goals and other Federal and
State water quality standards. Ten more States are expected to
win EPA approval to take over permit authority by the end of June.
PESTICIDE REGISTRATION TOTAL PASSES 34,000
The Office of Pesticide Programs had registered 34,029 products
produced by 3,534 firms through fiscal 1974. During the year
1,370 registrations were cancelled and 33 suspended. Both
actions prohibit sale of the product because of adverse health
or environmental effects.
EAST AND WEST -- AUTO EMISSIONS TAMPERING
Auto dealers on both the East and West coasts got into trouble
recently for allegedly tampering with emission control devices.
In Larchmont, N.Y., Hory Chevrolet, Inc., signed a consent
decree and paid $1,000 for installing uncontrolled, Corvette-
type engines in new Vega coupes. In Tacoma, Wash., at the
request of EPA, the U.S. Attorney's office filed a court
complaint against European Motors, Olympia, charging the firm
removed emission controls from a 1972 Saab. The Justice
Department seeks a $30,000 civil penalty.
PAGE 21
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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (A 107)
WASHINGTON. DC. 204«)
POSTAGE AND FEES PAID
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
EPA-335
THIRD CLASS BULK RATE
Return this page if you do NOT wish to receive this publication! ), or if change of address is needed ( ITTist change, including zip code.
SCOUTING FOR PESTS
WANTKD! This insect is dangerous. He is a notorious destroyer of young pea plants.
If seen, please report him to the nearest county agricultural agent. He is
widely known as the pea leaf weevil, alias Sitona lineata.
The Office of Pesticide Programs has
taken up "scouting." This is not
hikes or merit badges but a method
of surveying an area threatened by a
particular pest to determine if chemical
controls are needed and, if so, where
and how much.
Pest scouting is helpful to the envi-
ronment (pesticide use is specific, more
effective, and minimal) and to the
farmer (his costs are kept down).
A recent EPA pest scouting project
concentrated on the pea leaf weevil in
northern Idaho and eastern Washington.
where 95 percent of America's dried
peas are produced. Since 1970 this area
has been repeatedly infested by the pea
leaf weevil, and the only effective pes-
ticide has been DDT.
EPA cancelled most uses of DDT in
1972. Because no adequate alternative
control was available for the recent in-
festation, however, EPA granted
emergency permission to use the chem-
ical on the dry pea crop during the 1974
growing season. The Agency required
that great care be taken to minimize the
amounts applied and continued making
extensive studies to find other, less en-
vironmentally hazardous methods.
The weevil scouting project was con-
ducted by EPA pesticide experts, uni-
versity scientists, pea growers . and
pesticide manufacturers.
A 15-minute, sound-and-eolor film of
the project was produced by EPA's Of-
fice of Public Affairs,
The weevil scouting involved sifting
soil and young pea shoots from sample
rows and counting the weevils. Aerial
spraying of DDT was limited to fields,
or parts of fields, where the weevil
count per plant exceeded a certain
number.
The scouts were trained in carefully
standardized sifting procedures and
record-keeping, under the direction of
Dr. Larry O'Keeffe, University of
Idaho entomologist.
The documentary film includes inter-
views with Dr. O'Keeffe, pea growers.
scouts at work in the fields, and shots of
controlled aerial spraying.
The scouting records determined
which fields could be sprayed and
which could not. Only about 12 percent
of some 89,000 acres surveyed were
certified for spraying.
Pest scouting is a vital part of the pest
management programs that are being
evaluated under an interagency agree-
ment between EPA and the Department
of Agriculture. Pest management in-
volves more than the use of pesticides.
Cultivation methods, crop rotation.
natural controls, and many other factors
can also be used to reduce pest infesta-
tions.
The case of the pea leaf weevil illus-
trates how knowledge of an insect's life
cycle can help in its control. The weevil
lives through the winter on alfalfa and
other leguminous plants. A pea field ad-
joining an alfalfa field may need to be
sprayed only along its edge.
Titled. "Man Is Responsible to the
Earth," the film was produced and di-
rected by T.M. (Chuck) McDaniel. The
script was written by McDaniel and
Barbara Paul, both of the EPA Public
Affairs Office. Other EPA people ap-
pearing in it include Thomas Holloway,
entomologist, and Janet Moore, field
biologist of Region X.
The Department of Agriculture has or-
dered 55 prints of the film for distribu-
tion to state and county agricultural
agents. The movie is also being distri-
buted by EPA Public Affairs to all Reg-
ional Offices to encourage similar sc-
outing programs for other agricultural
or forest pests when needed.
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