FEBRUARY 1976
VOL TWO. NO. TWO
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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"A growing number of Americans are now more
concerned about the consequences of nuclear accidents
than they are about the need for nuclear energy. To
them, the menace presented by the Nation's 56 operating
nuclear power plants and the 64 now under construction
is greater than the threat of a renewed oil embargo and
energy crisis. Their fear is the driving force behind the
bills now before Congress and 24 State Legislatures to
slow the spread of nuclear power."
—Time Magazine. Dec. 8. 1975
This quote from a Time article headed "The Great
Nuclear Debate" helps illustrate why EPA's Office of
Radiation Programs plays an increasingly significant role.
It is the responsibility of this Office to help protect man
and the environment from the harmful effects of radia-
tion.
It can do this to some degree by Agency comments on
environmental impact statements required when permis-
sion is sought to build new nuclear plants.
The Office of Radiation Programs can also help assure
that adequate steps are taken to prepare for nuclear
accidents and to handle disposal of high-level radioactive
wastes. Both of these concerns are the subjects of articles
in this issue of EPA Journal.
An over-all view of the Agency's role in radiation is
given in an interview with Dr. William D. Rowe, Deputy
Assistant Administrator for Radiation Programs.
A separate article discusses diagnostic x-rays and the
need for standards to protect patients from excessive
exposure.
Other subjects in this issue include a letter from
the Administrator to EPA employees disclosing that
they will be given briefings on a proposed new design
plan for the Agency's printed materials and other
graphics.
As EPA Journal reported last May the program to
provide better design for improved communication with
the public is part of an effort started three years ago by
the National Endowment for the Arts to upgrade all
Federal design, including graphics.
The New York design firm of Chermayeff & Geismar,
Inc., retained by the Public Affairs Office, has proposed
a unified visual communications plan for EPA.
Action being taken by EPA to protect man and the
environment from dangerous chemicals such as Kepone,
PCBs and vinyl chloride is the subject of another article.
Continued in this issue as part of the Agency's
observance of the Nation's Bicentennial is the second
installment in A Parade of the Regions. Region II is
spotlighted in this issue of the magazine.
Other articles include:
A review of the surprisingly favorable impact environ-
mental regulations are having in helping the Nation's
economy.
A report on the program for regular inspection and
maintenance of air pollution controls on privately owned
cars started last month in the greater Phoenix and Tucson
areas in Arizona.o
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u-s-
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
AGENCY
Russell E. Train
Administrator
Patricia L. Cahn
Director of Public Affairs
Charles D. Pierce
Editor
Staff:
Van Trumbull
Ruth Hussey
Cover: A cask of spent nuclear fuel is low-
ered into water tank at General Electric's
major facility for used radioactive fuel rods
at Morris. III.
PHOTO CREDITS
COVER,3 ,6,7 ERDA
PAGE 9 James A. Parcel!,
Washington Post
PAGE 10,12,15 Ernest Bucci
PAGE II Flip Schulke*
PAGE II Lookout Mountain Laboratory.
U.S. Air Force
PAGE 19 New York Convention
and Visitors Bureau
PAGE 24 Alan Wilson
* DOCUMER1CA photos
Printed on recycled paper.
The EPA Journal is published
monthly, with combined issues for
July-August and November-Decem-
ber, for employees of the U.S. Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency. It does
not alter or supersede regulations,
operating procedures or manual in-
structions. Contributions and inquiries
should be addressed to the Editor, (A-
107) Room 301, West Tower, Water-
side Mall, 401 M St., S.W., Washing-
ton, D.C. 20460. No permission nec-
essary to reproduce contents except
copyrighted photos and other mate-
rials.
CONTENTS
ADMINISTRATOR'S MESSAGE
EPA employees will receive briefings on proposed new
design for the Agency's graphics.
RA DIOACTIVE WASTES
Development of an acceptable method for
permanent disposal of radioactive wastes is a critical need.
IS THIS X-RAY REALLY NECESSARY?
You may want to ask your doctor, because we receive
most of our exposure to manmade radiation from x-rays.
PREPARING FOR NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS
EPA is advising States and local governments how to
prepare for nuclear accidents.
CURBING CHEMICAL THREATS
Several steps have been taken recently by EPA to
control use of chemicals.
WHAT IS EPA'S ROLE IN RADIATION?
An interview with Dr. William D. Rowc. Deputy
Assistant Administrator for Radiation Programs.
12
ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP AIDS
ECONOMY
Instead of hampering the Nation's economy, anti-
pollution rules have spawned a new industry.
16
REGION II ON PARADE
NEW YORK AND COMPANY by Max Friedman 20
ARIZONA ACTS TO PROTECT CLEAR SKY
BACK PACK
DEPARTMENTS
PEOPLE
15
AROUND THE NATION
INQUIRY
NEWS BRIEFS
PAGE 1
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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WASHINGTON. D.C 20460
THE ADMINISTRATOR
Dear Fellow Employees:
During the past several months the OtTiee of Public Affairs has
carried out a study of all the printed materials prepared anil
distributed by this Agency. 1 received recently several
recommendations resulting from this study concerning the
format, style, and over-all appearance of our numerous
publications. I believe that as we implement many of these
recommendations we wilt he able to improve markedly the
effectiveness and appearance of our communications.
One of the recommendations was a proposal that we change
the emblem of KPA from its current floral design. I know that
many of you may have your own opinions with respect to the
F.PA symbol, and 1 believe that any design change of the
symbol should attempt to reflect generally preference among all
of us who work for EPA. 1 have arranged for a full briefing on
the study to be given widely through the Agency, including our
Regional Offices and field laboratories as well as Headquarters.
1 hope that all of you will attempt to receive this briefing, and 1
want to know what your opinions are. I hope you will send
your comments to me directly or to Pat Cahn. Director of our
Office of Public Affairs.
1 look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely vours.
Russell H. Train
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Radioactive Wastes
Wanted: A permanent storage place
for vast quantities of radioactive mate-
rials that will retain their toxicity for
thousands of years. Must he earth-
quake-proof, leakproof. and foolproof.
This is a need that must he met.
because failure to find a solution could
threaten the future of the nuclear
power industry.
Roger Strelow. Assistant Administra-
tor for Air and Waste Management.
told the Joint Committee on Atomic
Energy last November that "HPA
believes the rapid development of at
least one environmentally acceptable
method for the permanent disposal of
radioactive wastes is essential for the
continued development of nuclear
power."
Mr. Strelow stressed that KPA is
"totally committed to finding a means
to ultimately dispose of high-level
wastes."
He also said that the inventory of
wastes from weapons production is
presently in interim storage in leaking
tanks, and wastes from nuclear power
plants are expected to exceed current
temporary storage capacity.
"The question then is not if. hut
when will we have an acceptable
ultimate disposal method, how good it
will be. and how much will it cost."
Some fission products which must he
stored are cesium-137. strontium-90.
iodine-131 and plutonium-239. Some
decay rapidly in hours or days. Others
take up to thousands and millions of
years to lose their radioactive po-
tency.
A proposal for permanent disposal of
radioactive wastes is expected to he
made this year by the Knergy Re-
search and Development Administra-
tion, one of the successor agencies to
the Atomic Knergy Commission.
Many Options
Some of the possibilities which had
been considered by AHC included:
Geologic Disposal: Burial in bedded
salt deposits or bedrock caverns.
AHC' had proposed at one point use
of a salt mine near Lyons. Kansas, for
disposal of all commercial radioactive
waste. However, this proposal was
later abandoned when il was learned
that nearby mining activities might
have caused leaks in the abandoned
mine. Another possibility, (.lumping
wastes into a manmade cavern near
I his abandoned sail mine near 1 ...
permaneni storage of high-level radioactive waste. Other sall-bct
sHklieil for a Pilot Plant Repository.
.\iins. Kansas, uas considered bill rejected Kir
• '--' " ' ' sites'are being
the AHC's property on the Savannah
River was also dropped because of
concern that the wastes might reach
the nearby Tuscaloosa aquifer, a huge
underground reservoir that supplies
fresh water to much of Georgia and
South Carolina.
Outer S/xicc: Questions of cost and
safety now appear to rule out this
alternative. The great concern was
that wastes rocketed from earth might
unexpectedly return as a result of
launching or rocket malfunction.
I'olar Disposal: Could the wastes be
placed in uninhabited hind masses
such as Antarctica? Wouldn't they
just melt their way down to bedrock?
However, this alternative would re-
quire amending an international treaty
that now bars the disposal of atomic
wastes there. Also, scientists argued
that too little is known yet about the
movement of glaciers.
Transmutation: The concept was to
bombard the wastes with neutrons
inside a reactor and thus chanue them
into shorter-lived or even harmless
substances. However, some of the
radioactive waste products, such as
cesium-137 and strontium-90, cannot
be easily changed In this bombard
merit process.
Si'tihci/ />/'.\/KM(f/: European nations
and the United States used to deposit
relatively low-level wastes in the
oceans. However, the U.S. stopped
doing this many years ago. Now inter-
est is mounting in resuming ocean
dumping of radioactive wastes. The
.Inly-August issue of HPA Journal
carried the first published account by
Robert S. Dyer, an HPA oceanogta-
pher. with the Office of Radiation
Programs, on his successful search for
radioactive wastes dumped in the Pa-
cific Ocean some 20 years ago. Since
then. Mi'. Dyer, who used deep sub-
mersibles to find and photograph ra-
dioactive wastes dropped on the
seabed, has found radioactive wastes
deposited in the Atlantic.
»n />
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"These surveys." Mr. Strelow said.
"were the tlrsi successful attempts at
finding the actual drums of radioactive
wastes, some of which had lain there
for almost 30 years at depths of over
9.(XK) feet.
"We have taken extensive photo-
graphic documentation of the dump-
site areas and have collected many
sediment samples for radioanafysis.
We are still tabulating our results and
hope to issue one or mote technical
reports in the near future and present
our findings to the International
Atomic Hnergy Agency."
Costs Will Soar
In his Congressional testimony. Mr.
Strcknv emphasized that interim stor-
age of high level wastes "with only
minimum planning for eventual final
disposal is unacceptable because of
the potential enormity of the costs that
may have to he incurred."
The cost projections for interim stor-
age of high-level wastes and for burial
of low-level wastes will he about $7
billion by the year 2000. he noted.
Therefore, he added, explicit attention
should he given to the possibility that
an interim engineered storage system
may become permanent solely due to
economic costs.
Noting that this point has been de-
veloped in detail by Dr. Kowe. in a
paper entitled "The Hidden Commit-
ment of Nuclear Wastes." Mr. Stre-
low said that "these potentially large-
costs could eventually dictate use of
an interim storage method as a perma-
nent repository, contrary to the envi
ronmental need lor ultimate disposal."
The cost for ultimate disposal of
high-level wastes could exceed SI bil-
lion by the year 2(MH). he said.
Discussing the disposal of low-level
wastes. Mr. Strelow said that FPA. in
conjunction with the States involved,
has been conducting environmental
studies at the Maxey Flats site in Ken-
tucky and the West Valley site in New
York, where low-level wastes are
buried in large earthen trenches.
He said that studies supported by the
Office of Radiation Programs have
shown that rainfall seeping through the
earthen caps over these trenches can
cause some leakage of radioactive
material from the wastes.
"HPA believes it is necessary to
place a high priority" on establish
men! of additional regulations control-
ling the burial of long-lived waste in
shallow surface trenches. Mr. Strelow
said.
PA (if 4
Million-gallon storage tanks for liquid radioactive wastes Null at Hanford. Wash.
Steel-lined tanks are surrounded by thick concrete ami buried 7 10 14 feet below ground
surface.
Natural Radioactivity
In addition to manmade radioactive
wastes, there are naturally occurring
radioactive materials. This area in-
cludes the problems of radioactivity
from uranium mine and mill tailings
and from the mining of such materials
as phosphates, fossil fuels, vanadium
and other ores.
Mr. Strelow said KP.A is conducting
a number of projects designed to
provide a comprehensive assessment
of this problem, including field meas-
urement of radioactivity at mill tailing
piles.
One of these projects is the develop-
ment and testing of a model to esti-
mate population exposure from radon
and its decay products or "daughters"
to human beings.
EPA is also involved in assessing the
radioactivity from phosphate mining
and milling. The Agency recently in-
formed the Governor of Florida that a
preliminary HPA studs' showed the
presence of high levels of radioactive
radon and its decay products in resi-
dential buildings constructed on re-
claimed phosphate mining lands in
Polk Count),.
Although the health risk involved
will not be fully known until further
studies are completed. KPA scientists
believe that continuous exposure for
ten years to the highest level of
radioactivity found at the Polk County
site could double the normal risk of
lung cancel' for people living in these
buildings.
Mr. Strelow emphasized that HPA is
concerned with proper management
and containment of all types of radio-
active wastes, n
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IS THIS X-RAY REALLY NECESSARY?
How arc you most likely to be
exposed to radiation?
If you answer "an accident at a
nuclear power plant" or "the outbreak
of nuclear warfare." you're wrong.
The odds-on chances are that your
radiation exposure \\ill come from an
x-ray examination given by your doc-
tor or dentist or in a hospital or clinic.
At least 90 percent of the total
"dose" of manmade radiation to peo-
ple in the United States comes from
diagnostic x-rays, according to a re-
port made to EPA three years ago by
a special committee of the National
Academy of Sciences.
EPA is developing guidance to Fed-
eral agencies for diagnostic x-ray
usage to protect patients receiving
health cure from these agencies from
unwise or excessive exposure. The
first public announcement of the EPA
plan rs being made this month by Dr.
James H. Martin of the Office of
Radiation Programs at a meeting of
the Health Physics Society in Denver.
The plan, called "Federal Radiation
Guidance for Diagnostic X-Rays."
will be formally proposed by publica-
tion in the Federal Register after
completion of technical review and
Presidential approval. This review
process is expected to begin in March.
The guidance recommended by EPA
will take effect when it is implemented
by various Federal agencies—such as
the Department of Defense, the Vet-
erans' Administration, and the Public-
Health Service—which provide medi-
cal services and operate hospitals and
clinics. Dr. Martin.explained.
There is a broad consensus that
many unproductive x-ray examina-
tions are given, he said.
Advising the President
"EPA has no authority to tell doc-
tors how to treat their patients nor do
we want such authority." Dr. Martin
said, "but we do have a statutory1
responsibility to 'advise the President"
on radiation health matters and. with
his approval, to provide guidance to
'all Federal agencies in the formula-
tion of radiation standards.' With the
population exposure to x-rays as high
as it is and the potential reductions
available, we feel compelled to work
with Federal agencies and to recom-
mend national goals to the President."
This power goes back to the Atomic
Energy Act which was amended in
1959 (PL 86-273) to establish the Fed-
eral Radiation Council and its func-
tions. These functions were trans-
ferred to EPA. when the Agency was
formed.
170 Millirems
In general, for population groups, the
current Federal recommended limit is
170 millirems per year to the average
individual. (A millirem is a measure of
radiation's effect on living tissue.) The
limit is about twice the natural back-
ground radiation to which everyone is
unavoidably exposed: an average of 84
millirems per person annually in the
United States. This radiation comes
from minerals in the earth and from
cosmic rays, so it varies in different
parts of the country and at different
altitudes.
<•*
"Our aim in proposing diagnostic x-
ray guidance is simple." Dr. Martin
said. "We want to try to make sure
that x-rays are used in Federal health
care activities with a minimum risk
and maximum benefit to the patient.
"We believe there is no 'safe' level
of radiation: all radiation is assumed
to have some potential effect, and the
effects are cumulative; the\ add up
over the years. One x-ray or fluoro-
scopic examination can give you as
much radiation exposure as several
years of natural background.
"Most people don't realize that an x-
ray involves a small but definite risk.
Many doctors use x-rays routinely.
like a blood pressure or urine test.
even when there is no real indication
that an x-ray is needed for the particu-
lar patient.
Dr. Martin and his colleagues. De-
Vaughn R. Nelson and Harry J. Pet-
tengill. have been working for a year
and a half with medical representa-
tives of the Army. Navy. Air Force.
Veterans' Administration and with
consultants from universities and the
Public Health Service in developing
the guidelines.
3 Steps to Take
The group agreed it was desirable
and possible for Federal facilities to
reduce diagnostic x-rav exposure in
three ways:
• Fewer x-rav examinations, elimi-
nating those that are "clinically unpro-
ductive." The total medical x-ra\
usage in the United States has been
increasing at about 4 percent each
year. In WO the abdominal dose was
estimated to be about 72-miHirem to
the average person. No x-ray should
be made unless ordered by a qualified
physician for a specific purpose. X-ray
screening of groups of people—as
chest x-rays for tuberculosis—should
he avoided, likewise routine dental x-
rays and breast x-rays for women
under 35 who have no symptoms of
possible breast cancer.
• Better techniques to assure mini-
mum exposure when x-ravs are taken.
These include proper maintenance and
calibration of equipment, better train-
ing of technicians, and use of image
intensifiers for fluoroscopy. The
guides will include recommended ex-
posure, levels for several x-ray views.
• Equipment standards. All x-ray
equipment manufactured after Aug. 1.
1974. must conform to standards set
by the U.S. Food and Drug Adminis-
tration, but most of the equipment
now used in Federal facilities ante-
dates these standards, and variances
can he obtained for some new equip-
ment. The guides for all Federally-
owned equipment will recommend
conforming to key portions of the
equipment performance standards as
soon as practicable; in the interim
minimum levels of performance neces-
sary to protect both patient and opera-
tor will be recommended.
Although EPA's guidance would ap-
ply only to activities of Federal agen-
cies, it is expected to have an influ-
ence on private medical practice and
general hospitals by setting an exam-
ple. Q
PA OF 5
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PREPARING
FOR
NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS
"The phone call came in mid-after-
noon of Wednesday, October ?. 1966.
The exact time is not recorded, he-
cause it was never entered officially
on the \o# of the Sheriff of .Monroe
County. Michigan. An unidentified
voice on the other end of the line
spoke sharply and hrie/Jy. There was
something wroiii; at the new Enrico
Fermi Atomic Power Plttnt. The voice
said that the situation should not he
[>iiven. More information would
follow ..."
This is an excerpt from a new fast-
selling hook about the hu/ards of
nuclear power titled "We Almost Lost
Detroit" hy John G. Fuller. The book
begins with a report on what hap-
pened on that October afternoon in
1966 when the control panel inside the
Fnrico Fermi atomic reactor near De-
troit suddenly registered high radiation
levels, a sign of critical danger.
The problem at this experimental
breeder reactor was finally controlled,
but this plant, which continued to be
troubled by mishaps, was finally or-
dered closed.
Hven though the title is exaggerated.
the book does raise in a dramatic
fashion a problem KPA believes must
be faced and dealt with.
This is why KPA has prepared
guides advising States and local gov-
ernments what should be included in
their emergency plans to prepare for
nuclear accidents.
The types of accidents that must he
planned for include those in nuclear
power reactors used for generating
electricity, in plants that reprocess fuel
for nuclear reactors and in the trans-
portation of spent fuel and high-level
radioactive wastes.
The nuclear power industry has de-
veloped elaborate safety measures to
prevent accidents and to reduce the
consequences of those that occur.
Because of this effort the industry has
avoided any targe release of radioac-
tivity to the environment, and it
claims to be one of the Nation's safest
industries.
Accident Odds
The probability of a serious accident
PACK 6
Baltimore (ias ami Kleetrie Co.'s
l.usbv. Md.
Calvert Cliffs Plant is on the Chesapeake Bay near
such as a core meltdown is estimated
to be one in 20.(XX) per reactor per
year. There are also possible accidents
of lesser consequences with increased
probabilities (about one in 2.KK) over
the 30-year life time of a power reac-
tor), according to Dr. William I).
Rowe. Deputy Assistant Administra-
tor for Radiation Programs.
"Some States." he said, "with only
one or two reactors have been reluc-
tant to spend money on the develop-
ment and maintenance of an effective
radiological emergency response plan
for a very unlikely serious reactor
accident within their State.
"However, there are about 55 oper-
ating reactors in the United States.
Therefore, a serious hut not catas-
trophic accident at a power reactor dur-
ing the next 10 to 20 years is a definite
possibility and the probability is increas-
ing as the nuclear industry continues to
grow.
"Furthermore, the possibility of
other types of nuclear accidents, in
transportation of radioactive material.
for example, must be added to the
growing probability of a nuclear power
plant accident."
The need to protect the population
within several miles of a reactor from
a serious nuclear accident has
prompted responsible State and local
officials to seek guidance from Federal
agencies for improving their radiologi-
cal emergency response plans.
These plans must cover several types
of nuclear accidents, because each
type may require a different response.
Emergency Plans
As part of a Federal interagency
program for emergency response plan-
ning. EPA is preparing a manual for
use by State agencies in developing
their emergency response plans. The
first portion of the manual has been
issued. It provides guidance for pro-
tection of the population from expo-
sure to airborne release of radioactive
gases and iodine. This section of the
manual was written first, because'
large airborne releases of radioactive
materials would require immediate
protective actions to minimize popula-
tion exposure.
People living near or immediately
downwind from a power reactor from
which radioactive gases have escaped
would be soon exposed to radioiodine
and to gamma radiation from the
gaseous cloud.
What should be done to avoid a
radioactive cloud? The individual may
be told to leave home at once and go
to a designated safer area or be ad-
vised to remain indoors until the ra-
dioactive cloud has passed by and
been dispersed.
The protective action guides recom-
mend that action be taken when antic-
ipated exposure reaches certain levels.
Merely publishing advice, however,
will not ensure that effective plans will
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0
" '
"" . I
::::::....!. i t
:>-;
!!!"•••
Control room of the Commonwealth Edison Company's Dresden Nuclear Power
Station near Morris. III. Three General Electric boiling water nuclear reactors are in
operation at this location.
be developed by each State. The
States must decide how to apply this
guidance to the different needs of their
communities.
Details in the State plans will vary
depending on the number of people
involved, the weather conditions.
available transportation and many
other considerations that should be
worked out carefully by the responsi-
ble State officials and tailored to each
locality where an accident might oc-
cur.
EPA's goal is to help each State
develop emergency response plans
that will save lives. This will require
prompt communication between plant
operators and State authorities, train-
ing of emergency workers, and testing
of the whole emergency response sys-
tem.
Training Courses
EPA personnel have assisted in de-
veloping courses of study for State
planners at the Staff College of the
Defense Civil Preparedness Agency at
Battle Creek. Mich. In addition. EPA
is developing a program for training
State emergency response coordina-
tors and their staffs on implementing
State plans. EPA personnel are also
observing and commenting on tests of
State plans.
EPA's Region VIII Office in Den-
ver has taken the lead in developing
guidance for handling accidents in-
volving the transportation of radioac-
tive materials.
A 40-minute video tape. "The 5th
Line of Containment." produced by
F.PA's Audiovisual and Public Sup-
port Branch, will be made available
to the Regions to help explain EPA's
emergency response roles.
The film is introduced by Dr. Roue
and involves a panel discussion on the
protective action guides. Panelists in-
clude John Abbots, National Public-
Interest Research Group: Ralph
Lapp, nuclear energy consultant and a
former member of the AEC: Margaret
Reilty. Pennsylvania's emergency re-
sponse coordinator; John Robinson.
Yankee Electric Power Corp.: and
David Smith. Director, Technical As-
sessment Division. Office of Radiation
Programs. Carroll James, a profes-
sional actor, is moderator.
While the current issue of the manual
issued by EPA on protective action
guides deals only with exposures to
airborne releases from nuclear power
facilities, similar guidance on other
types of accidental releases of radioac-
tivity will be distributed by the
Agency in the near future.a
PAGE 7
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CURBING CHEMICAL THREATS
Several steps to control chemical
threats to the environment have been
taken recently by EPA.
The Agency:
• A nnounced plans to curb the re-
lease of polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs)—industrial chemicals that per-
sist in the environment and enter the
food chain;
• Proposed air emission standards
for vinyl chloride, a widely used syn-
thetic compound that has caused can-
cer in workers handling it;
• Proposed regulations to protect
waterways from spills of more than
300 chemicals that are "hazardous
substances";
• Placed an immediate ban on most
uses of the pesticides heptachlor and
chlordane. each regarded as an "im-
minent hazard" for causing cancer;
• Reported on environmental con-
tamination by Kepone. a pesticide, in
and around Hopewell. Va.. informa-
tion that caused State officials to ban
fishing in the James River.
• Issued a report on the economic
effects of controlling chemicals be-
lieved to deplete ozone in the upper
air.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PCBs are chemicals with a number
of adverse environmental and human
health effects, and they "must be
immediately and effectively controlled
by every means at our disposal."
Administrator Russell E. Train de-
clared at a press conference Dec. 22.
He said EPA will use all its existing
regulatory authorities as well as its
powers of persuasion and publicity to
get voluntary action by industry, pend-
ing the passage of new legislation to
control toxic substances.
Working through Regional Offices
and in cooperation with States. EPA
will seek to have PCBs eliminated
from manufacturers' waste and to
have all makers and users develop
substitute compounds as soon as pos-
sible. Mr. Train said. "It will not be
possible to eliminate the use of PCBs
overnight. With all we can do. it may
take many years before we are able to
see a significant decline in the levels
of PCBs in the environment. Never-
theless, we must begin at once."
PCBs are a family of synthetic, oily
liquids that are highly stable and
flame-resistant, good electrical insula-
tors, and good conductors of heat.
PAGE 8
PCB HISTORY IN THE U.S.
700 MILLION LBS.
PRODUCED FOR USE
IN THE U.S. SINCE 1929
400 MILLION LBS.
HAVE ENTERED
THE ENVIRONMENT
300 MILLION LBS.
ARE NOW IN SERVICE
200 MILLION LBS.
IN LANDFILLS
100 MILLION LBS.
IN AIR. WATER. SOIL.
BOTTOM SEDIMENTS
100 MILLION LBS.
HAVE DEGRADED
They have been used for more than 40
years in electrical equipment, paints,
plastics, adhesives, and in many other
ways. When discharged to the envi-
ronment, usually in waterways, they
persist and are absorbed in the fatty
tissues of fish and other aquatic life.
Already their levels in certain fish
taken from the Great Lakes, the up-
per Mississippi River, and the Hudson
River, exceed the limits set by the
Food and Drug Administration.
Although no human ailments have
yet been traced to PCBs in the environ-
ment they have caused tumors, gastric
disorders, and reproductive failures in
laboratory animals.
Vinyl Chlonde
Emission standards for vinyl chloride
were formally proposed Dec. 16. and
are expected to be adopted within six
months, after the usual period for
public comment and hearings. Vinyl
chloride was designated the fourth
"hazardous air pollutant" under the
Clean Air Act. (The others are asbes-
tos, beryllium, and mercury.)
The standards would apply to all
plants that manufacture or process
vinyl chloride—a gaseous compound
of chlorine, carbon, and hydrogen—
that is used to make thousands of
common plastics known as polyvinyl
chlorides. All emissions from vents or
leaks in the chemical plants would be
limited to not more than 10 parts per
million of vinyl chloride in the exhaust
gases. A similar limit would be set for
plant wastewater.
Elaborate procedures are listed for
process improvements, enclosure of
fugitive leaks, and treatment of the
captured gases before they can reach
the environment. The regulations also
would require monitoring of all emis-
sions by plant operators and periodic
reporting to EPA or State officials.
The proposed regulations were
'drawn up by the Emission Standards
and Engineering Division, Office of
Air Quality Planning and Standards.
Research Triangle Park. N.C. Don R.
Goodwin is Director of the Division.
As of last June, the National Cancer
Institute had confirmed 27 cases of a
rare form of liver cancer among work-
ers who had been exposed to vinyl
chloride. As little as 50 parts pet-
million of the gas in air has caused
liver cancer in small laboratory ani-
mals. EPA monitoring indicates that
people living near vinyl chloride plants
are generally exposed to less than one
part per million, but 24-hour levels can
range between one and three ppm.
-------
with occasional peak exposures as
high as 33 ppm.
EPA estimates that 4.6 million per-
sons live within five miles of the 58
plants that would be affected hy the
proposed regulations. Thirteen of the
plants are in Louisiana, nine in Texas.
six in New Jersey, and four each in
California and Ohio. The 22 other
plants are scattered among 14 States.
Chemical Spills
A list of more than 300 chemicals
regarded as hazardous to human
health and the environment when
spilled into waterways was proposed
by Mr. Train on Dec. 22. They
include such common industrial chem-
icals as nitric and sulfuric acids: caus-
tic soda: hen/ene and its derivatives;
ammonia; chloroform: certain com-
pounds of arsenic, antimony, and mer-
cury: and many others.
All are considered "nonremovable"
once spilled, although dischargers can
mitigate a spill's harmful effects hy
proper planning and emergency ac-
tion. Mr. Train said.
The proposed regulations define how
much of each substance is considered
dangerous—one pound for the most
toxic substances, larger' amounts for
others—and set penalties for viola-
tions. The scale of tines ranges up to
$5 million, but any fine over $5.000
\\ould be assessed only where gross
negligence is shown.
The new regulations, to be adopted
after a 60-day period for public com-
ment, complement the oil spill control
program now conducted by EPA and
the Coast Guard.
Heptachlor and Chlordane
Heptachlor and chlordane are chlori-
nated hydrocarbon pesticides that
have been found to cause cancer in
laboratory animals. Administrator
Train on Dec. 24 suspended all but a
few speciali/ed uses of these chemi-
cals, saying their "imminent hazard"
of causing cancer in people far out-
weighs their benefits to farmers. Mr.
Train had announced last July his
intention to suspend all uses of the
two chemicals, except for termite con-
trol.
About two million pounds of hepta-
chlor and 21 million pounds of chlor-
dane were manufactured in 1974. all
by the Velsicol Chemical Corp, Chi-
cago. III. They are marketed by many
other firms under hundreds of differ-
ent brand names.
Mr. Train said residues of the two
chemicals are found in air, water, and
soil: in meat. fish, and poultry; in
human tissue and human milk; and to
a lesser extent in raw agricultural
produce.
A sign al Life Science Products C'o. in
Hopewell. Va.. which manufactured Ke-
pone. gives a warning apparently followed
by few.
Kepone
An outbreak of illness last summer
among workers at a small pesticide
plant at Hopewell. Va.. caused State
officials to shut down the plant.
I P.Vs Region III Office ordered the
manufacturer to halt the sale, use or
removal of Kepone from the plant and
F. PA scientists launched extensive
tests iif air. soil, water and plant life in
and around the city just south of
Richmond on the James River.
Teams led by Dr. Carl G. Haves.
Chief. Air Pollution Branch. Health
Hffects Research Laboratory. Re-
search Triangle Park, N.C.. com-
pleted their sampling by the end of
August. Samples were analy/ed in the
Laboratory under the direction of Dr.
Kdward Oswald, Chief. Analytical
• Chemistry Branch, and the results
announced Dec. 16 hy Dr. John Knel-
son. Health Hffects Research Labora-
tory Director.
Detectable levels of Kepone. the
pesticide that had been manufactured
at Hopewell. were found in the Appo-
mattox and James River-
Virginia Governor Mills L. Godwin
promptly ordered a halt to the taking
of all fish and seed oysters from the
lower James River until July I. 1976.
Mature oysters have not been har-
vested there for more than a decade
because of a virus infestation, but
taking seed oysters for transplanting to
other waters has been a thriving local
business.
An extensive cooperative experimen-
tal program has been launched to
determine the degree of environmental
contamination and whether oysters
transplanted to clean areas will purge
themselves of the Kepone.
Fluorocarbons and Ozone
About 310.000 metric tons of the
gases used in spray cans and refrigera-
tion machinery escape each year to
the air. rising to the stratosphere and
causing chemical changes that threaten
to reduce the earth's protective layer
of o/one. according to an HPA-com-
missioned study announced Dec. 10.
The study by Arthur D. Little. Inc..
of Cambridge. Mass.. said the United
States accounts for 45 percent of the
worldwide discharge of these fluoro-
carbon gases to the atmosphere.
About 70 percent of the U.S. emis-
sions come from aerosol spray cans.
20 percent from refrigeration and air
conditioning equipment, and the re-
mainder from plastic foams.
FPA recently urged pesticide manu-
facturer's to volimtarih refrain from
using fluorocarbons as propellant
gases in their spray products.
Fluorocarbons arc used as propel-
lants because they are nontoxic. sta-
ble, and do not interact with the
perfumes, paints, or soaps thev carry.
The> are efficient refrigerating agents
because their temperatures of evapora-
tion can he closely controlled and they
curry a lot of heat.
Only in recent years have scientists
found that these compounds migrate-
to the stratosphere and break down
under ultraviolet radiation. This break-
down releases free chlorine that is
believed to react to deplete the strato-
sphere's ozone layer. The ozone,
thinly spread between 15 and 30 mites
high, keeps much of the sun's ultravi-
olet rays from reaching the earth.
Last October in Brussels, Adminis-
trator Train said o/one depletion was
possibly the "first truly global envi-
ronmental problem" and urged inter-
national efforts to forestall it. Al-
though the chemistry of the strato-
sphere is not yet fully known, he said.
it is likely that air pollutants that carry
chlorine to the upper air may have
long-term adverse effects, including
increases in skin cancer, crop damage.
and climatic changes.
The F.PA study concludes that ban-
ning the most common fluorocarhon
gases would reduce U.S. emissions by
92 percent, but would have a severe
economic impact on affected indus-
tries. I!
PACii: 9
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COMMON RADIATION SOURCES
These photos show common
radiation sources and their
approximate average rnillirem
(mrem) yearly doses to hu-
mans. A millirem is a measure
of radiation's effect on living
tissue. In general, for popula-
tion groups, the current Fed-
eral recommended limit is 170
millirems per year to the aver-
age individual. EPA gathers
information about radiation
produced by many sources
through a national monitoring
network.
Diagnostic X-rays—72 mrem.
Radiation generated by consumer products such as a tv set—1.6 mrem.
PA oil-: IQ
-------
Annual external radiation dose from nuclear tests' fallout —.9 mrem.
Cosmic and terrestrial radiation—
84 mrem.
Average radiation dose within 50 miles of a nuclear power plant—.1 mrem.
PACil I I
-------
What is EPA's role in radiation?
An interview with Dr. William D. Rowe,
Deputy Assistant Administrator
for Radiation Programs
What are the health hazards of radiation? Who monitors
the radiation levels in the United States? How much
radioactive wastes are being stored now? Will radiation
problems block growth of the nuclear power industry? Dr.
Rowe answers these and other questions.
QUESTION: What is EPA's basic role in the field of
radiation?
DR. ROWK: We are responsible for overseeing all
aspects of radiation protection. Both ionizing radiation.
which is what we usually associate with nuclear power
plants, medical x-rays and cosmic rays; and non-ionizing
radiation, which we are more familiar with in the form of
rays from radio and TV transmitters and microwave
devices.
In carrying out this role, we examine all aspects of
radiation including uses which are not strictly environmen-
tal. For example, presently we cover medical x-ray, and
occupational uses of radiation under this broad responsibil-
ity.
In addition, we have specific legislative authority in
specific areas.
PAGE 12
QUESTION: Do you see this role growing or diminishing
in the next five years? And why?
DR. ROWE: I think we see the role growing because of
the expanded uses of radiation—nuclear power and emerg-
ing problems of natural radiation such as in the phosphate
industry. There is also an increasing awareness of the risks
incurred by radiation exposure.
I think EPA's role will grow. I don't think it will grow
enormously, but I think there will be steady growth in the
field since we have to cover more problems.
QUESTION: What is the most serious problem in the
radiation field today?
DR. ROWE: Well, that is hard to answer, since there are
many problems, and they fall into two classifications.
Those which are not problems now, but which if we don't
do something about them, could potentially become very
great problems, such as the disposal of radioactive wastes
from nuclear power plants.
And, secondly, those which we have identified as existing
problems which need control.
Much of our efforts are focused on the emerging
problems, especially in relation to nuclear energy. There
are few immediate problems with nuclear energy; but as
these uses expand, there are going to be tremendous
amounts of radioactivity produced by man, and we.
indeed, want to assure that controls are adequate.
In other cases where man is already exposed, such as
excess exposure to medical x-rays, and certain aspects of
naturally occurring radiation, we're addressing these kinds
of problems directly. Radium in drinking water is a good
example.
QUESTION: Does EPA have a national monitoring
network to check on radiation?
DR. ROWE: Yes. we do. We call it by an acronym.
ERA MS. which is the Environmental Radiation Ambient
Monitoring System. It measures ambient radiation levels
from different sources around the country.
In addition, we will in the near future issue a State of the
Radiation Environment Report which will report all as-
pects of radiation throughout the country and summarize
total exposure from all sources. This report will be
published annually and will be based on data from other
agencies and States as well as on data that we obtain
ourselves.
QUESTION: Is the level of radiation growing? Have any
hot spots been found by this network?
DR. ROWE: Well, we are finding hot spots, caused
primarily by man's efforts, and in many cases in unsus-
pected areas.
These are occurring because of leaks to the environment
from various activities, or the fact that man has upset
nature's natural barriers in extracting materials from the
earth which are themselves radioactive. The mining of
phosphate is a good example.
QUESTION: What are EPA's main accomplishments in
radiation control?
DR. ROWE: We've had some success in two areas.
The first is reviewing all environmental impact statements
involving radiation. We have had considerable influence in
persuading other agencies to take steps to assure that
-------
radiation protection is enhanced. This has been particularly
true in the nuclear energy areas of waste disposal and
Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactors.
In the second area, we are setting radiation environmen-
tal protection standards directly for the protection of
individual members of the population.
In 1971 we initiated standards to protect uranium miners
from overexposure to radon in the mines. These rules are
now enforced by the Department of Interior's Mining
Enforcement and Safety Administration.
In May, 1975, we issued proposed standards for the
uranium fuel cycle. Last September we issued proposed
standards for radiation in drinking water; these should be
promulgated early this year.
QUESTION: What is the approximate quantity of radioac-
tive wastes now being held in this country?
DR. ROWE: There are a number of different kinds of
wastes, and different ways of summing this up, but first of
all let's talk about those wastes which are generated by the
Government for weapons production.
In 1974, there were about 85 million gallons of this waste
in liquid form. A great deal of this waste has been
solidified into cake and crystal form in a program carried
out by the Energy Research and Development Administra-
tion.
-The level of wastes that are being produced by nuclear
energy are now rather small compared to that left from our
weapons program.
In the nuclear energy industry there are about 400 gallons
of high level waste produced for every ton of fuel. We
have about 100,000 to 200,000 gallons of waste from this
industry.
But with the growth of nuclear power we expect the
commercial wastes to begin to exceed those from the
weapons production by the year 2000. In addition to this,
we have even larger volumes of low-level wastes, but
these are a separate problem.
QUESTION: How do you distinguish between high-level
wastes and low-level wastes?
DR. ROWE: High-level wastes are produced directly in
the reprocessing of fuel from nuclear reactors. Their
wastes are active—"hot" both from a radioactive point of
view and a thermaKpoint of view.
Low-level wastes are generated as by-products of the
nuclear industry. Included are contaminated clothing,
contaminated resins used to extract radioactivity, labora-
tory glassware, contaminated equipment, etc.
QUESTION: Is the amount of wastes over-all going to
grow in the future?
DR. ROWE: Very definitely. Our projections show that
wastes from weapons have generally leveled off. but the
growth of miclear power is going to increase the volume of
wastes at all levels—high-level, low-level, long-half-life
wastes of transuranic materials. By the year 2000 we
estimate the total commitment for waste management will
be about $7 billion which includes some allowance for
inflatio/i over this period.
QUESTION: Where are the high-level wastes being kept
now?
DR. ROWE: Those associated with the weapons program
are stored in three Government facilities: IHanford, Wash.,
Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Savannah River, Ga. These are
large underground tanks which are. considered temporary
storage. And, as many of your readers may have read, the
tanks in Hanford have had a variety of leaks over the past
few years.
Wastes from nuclear power plants are presently being
stored at the power plant, in the form of spent fuel rods.
Until new capacity to reprocess spent fuel is implemented
in the next few years, this will be the primary storage
mechanism.
QUESTION: What are the feasible options for permanent
disposal of these wastes?
DR. ROWE: There are many options being looked into:
geologic disposal in a variety of different formations,
including salt beds, dry rock, under old known aquifers,
and geologic disposal under the seabed. This does not
mean disposal in the ocean but underneath the seabed with
the ocean as an extra environmental barrier. Separation of
isotopes is being explored; the high-level wastes would be
reduced in volume so they can be handled more easily,
and at the same time separated from the long-half-life
materials.
QUESTION: When is a decision going to be made as to
which options will be the most advantageous?
DR. ROWE: That decision is initially up to the Energy
Research and Development Administration (ERDA), and
we hope it will be soon. But that decision has not been
made.
QUESTION: EPA, I presume, will have an opportunity
to comment on proposed final disposal options?
DR. ROWE: Not only will we have the opportunity, we
are involved in developing criteria to determine if these
methods will be acceptable. We have been working very
closely with both ERDA and the Nuclear Regulatory
Commision (NRC) to develop a program to take care of
these wastes and dispose of them in a manner we know
will be safe for generations to come.
Then when the plan is drafted we will be involved in
reviewing not only the general methods to be used, but
also the specific disposal methods when we review
environmental impact statements.
QUESTION: How long a storage period are we talking
about?
DR. ROWE: Well, it will have to be tens of thousands of
years for long-lived wastes. However, if we go to isotopic
separation, we are talking of 300 to 400 years for those
fission product wastes which are very hot.
QUESTION: How about the low-level wastes, where are
they being stored now?
DR. ROWE: They are now stored in six commercial
burial sites throughout the country. The adequacy of the
methods used for low-level storage is open to question,
and we have been actually surveying some of these sites to
determine what problems may be involved and what
corrective action should be taken.
The present method uses open trenches which when filled
are covered with soil.
QUESTION: There has been concern, has there not,
about possible leakage at the Maxey Flats storage area in
Kentucky?
DR. ROWE: This is one we've been investigating, and
we are compiling considerable data on it.
QUESTION: Do you still see nuclear power as providing
a major part of the answer to our energy needs?
DR. ROWE: I don't see any alternative in the near
future. I think we will have to depend upon nuclear power
as one low-cost form of energy until new, renewable
sources, such as solar and geothermal energy; are devel-
oped.
PAGE 13
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I feel strongly that, with the proper environmental
regulations and controls, certain forms of nuclear power
can be environmentally acceptable.
QUESTION: Generally, what are the health hazards of
radiation? What happens to the person who is exposed?
DR. ROWE: Well, we have to talk about exposure to
radiation of two different types. First there is very high-
level exposure in which there are acute effects which
include radiation sickness, such as that experienced by the
Japanese after the dropping of nuclear weapons at Hiro-
shima and Nagasaki in 1945. While we are always
concerned with these, they are different than the effects
which we are concerned with in most environmental
sources of radiation.
At low levels we consider that all exposure to radiation
carries some hazard proportional to the dose received. The
ionizing radiation acts upon the various organs of the
body, and the ceils in the organs, to cause changes in the
cells that may develop as cancer sites. This can be caused
not only by radiation itself but radiation acting with other
potential carcinogens in a synergistic manner to possibly
cause cancer over a long time period. It may be anywhere
from 10 to 20 years from the initiation of the radiation dose
till the cancer develops.
A second aspect is cellular damage to the chromosomes.
There is a possibility of genetic effects occurring both in
the person exposed and in subsequent generations.
QUESTION: What sources of man-made radiation do you
think are most dangerous?
DR. ROWE: Well, all sources of radiation are essentially
equally dangerous in terms of the relation seen between
exposure and dose. Alpha particles from heavy radioactive
elements are much more damaging to human tissue than
gamma rays. We feel that some of the long-lived alpha-
particle materials, such as plutonium and radium, can
indeed be very dangerous because of their long half-lives
and ability to enter the body and remain there for long
times.
QUESTION: What can individuals do to reduce their
exposure?
DR. ROWE: Since radiation is unseen and people are not
aware of it, it is very difficult for an individual by himself
to reduce his radiation exposure. Therefore, it becomes the
role of EPA to intercede for individuals, to explain to
people what some of the risks are and what actions they
may take.
QUESTION: Do you think there is adequate public
understanding of the radiation received from x-rays and the
possible damage?
DR. ROWE: Obviously not. x-rays are probably the
single largest source of man-made radiation exposure in
our country. We personally feel that we can receive the
benefits of x-ray diagnosis and therapy with much lower
exposures.
Many x-rays do not directly benefit the patient. These
ought to be eliminated.
QUESTION: What steps could EPA take to implement
those precautions?
DR. ROWE: Well, in acting for the general public, EPA.
under its Federal guidance function has undertaken to look
at the way x-rays are prescribed. Several Federal agencies
have helped us: the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Veterans
Administration hospitals and radiologists. We have come
up with some general guidelines for use in Federal facilities
to assure that x-rays are administered properly and with
minimum exposure.
PAGE 14
What is
EPA's role
in radiation?
QUESTION: What research work in radiation is EPA
doing now?
DR. ROWE: Our Office of Research and Development is
primarily directing their resources into two areas. One is to
investigate the health effects of non-ionizing radiation, that
associated with television, radio frequency sources, micro-
wave ovens, and radar systems. The second area is
investigating the biological effects from exposure to low
levels of krypton 85 and tritium.
We've also been investigating the possibility that very-
high-voltage power lines might have health effects We
have been measuring such power-line fields around the
country and exchanging data with other investigators.
We've been a central source for gathering information in
this area, which may or may not be a problem, depending
upon the results of our findings.
QUESTION: What other Federal agencies are concerned
with the radiation problem?
DR. ROWE: Well, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
is, of course, the specified regulatory agency involved with
licensing nuclear energy and with radioisotopes used in
medical research and therapy.
The Energy Research and Development Administration
is responsible for developing our weapons systems and for
conducting research and development activities towards
development of new energy sources which include nuclear
power and fusion energy as part of their activities.
The Bureau of Radiological Health of HEW is responsi-
ble for electronic equipment that involves radiation, includ-
ing x-rays, and microwaves, lasers, and other aspects of
non-ionizing radiation.
The Food and Drug Administration of HEW is responsi-
ble for specifying the limits of radioactivity in food,
although EPA is responsible for specifying the limits of
radioactivity in drinking water.
QUESTION: How would you describe EPA's mission in
the radiation field?
DR. ROWE: The difficulty about radiation is that people
cannot see it. You can't feel it; you can't know it is
happening. It is also associated with nuclear weapons so
people are indeed frightened of it.
The role that we have to play at EPA is one of assuring
the public that they are adequately protected from this
radiation they cannot see. We must make certain that all
possible steps are being taken to reduce exposure. While
there are some risks to any exposure from radiation.
radiation can also provide benefits which are often well
worth minuscule exposures.
We have a responsibility to inform the public about all
aspects of radiation, and assure that regulatory actions are
taken only after participation by all parties affected by the
decisions.0
-------
DPLIPEOPLEPH
Robert
Baum
Jack D. Tarran
Dr. Burton I-cvv
Robert I,. Baum, Deputy Assistant
Administrator for General Enforce-
ment, has resigned to accept a posi-
tion with Mission Viejo Company, the
firm that is building the new planned
city of Mission Viejo. near Laguna
Beach. California. Mr. Baum will be
involved in environmental and other
planning for the new city and for other
projects the firm has under way near
Phoenix. Ariz.; Denver. Colo.: and
Fresno. Calif.
Mr. Baum joined KPA as Associate
General Counsel for Air Quality.
Noise, and Radiation when the
Agency was formed five years ago.
Since 1973 he has been responsible for
supervising all KPA enforcement ac-
tivities except those in water pollu-
tion. He has taken a leading part in all
Federal actions in the implementation
of the Clean Air Act.
He previously had served for three
years in the General Counsel's Office
of the Department of Health. Educa-
tion, and Welfare and for eight years
in general law practice in Rockville.
Conn.
Jack I). Tarran, manager of EPA's
Executive Communications unit, has
been selected as the ne\\ Director.
Facilities and Support Services Divi-
sion. Office of Administration.
Mr. Tarran has occupied the Execu-
tive Officer position for approximately
one year. He had previously served as
executive assistant to Fit/hugh Green,
Associate Administrator for Interna-
tional Activities.
Before joining KPA in September.
1971. Mr. Tarran spent 20 years in the
Navy, where he was a Chief Petty
Officer serving as communications di-
rector for three secretaries of the
Navy.
In his ne\\ position. Mr. Tarran will
succeed Arthur Nies. who is now
special assistant to Fdward Rhodes,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Administration.
Mr. Tarran will officially assume his
new responsibility as soon as a re-
placement is named to succeed him as
Executive Officer.
Dr. Burton Ix-vy, Director of Admin-
istration at KPA's Research Triangle
Park. N.C.. facility is taking a one-
year leave of absence to teach at the
University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill. N.C.
He will he a member of the political
science faculty at the University and
also will do research work.
Dr. Levy has been stationed at Re-
search Triangle Park for the past four
years. Before joining EPA he was a
member of the political science de-
partment at Wayne State University in
Detroit.
Gary N. Dietrich
Gary \. Dietrich, former special as-
sistant to the Assistant Administrator
for Water and Ha/.ardous Materials.
has been named Director. Program
and Management Operations, for the
Water and Hazardous Materials Of-
fice.
Mr. Dietrich had occupied the spe-
cial assistant post since November,
1974. Previously he had served as
Associate Deputy Assistant Adminis-
trator for Resources Management.
Mr. Dietrich joined KPA in 1971 as
Director. Division of Program Analy-
sis in the Office of Resources Man-
agement.
His earlier experience included var-
ious positions with the Federal Water
Quality Administration, one of EPA's
predecessor agencies, the Public
Health Service, the Los Angeles
County Sanitation District and the
Dallas. Tex.. Water Department.
Mr. .Dietrich, a graduate of the Cali-
fornia Institute of Technology, re-
ceived a B.S. in Civil Engineering in
1957. Born in Butte, Mont., Mr. Die-
trich lives in Arlington, Va., with his
wife and four daughters.
PAGK 15
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ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP
AIDS ECONOMY
Despite dire industry predictions of
widespread layoffs because of envi-
ronmental controls, the loss of jobs has
been much less than forecast and an
entire new antipollution equipment in-
dustry has been spawned.
In commenting on the results of
HPA's latest quarterly report to the
Department of Labor on economic
dislocation as a result of antipollution
measures. Deputy Administrator John
R. (Diaries. Jr.. said:
"The closings resulted in the loss of
far fewer jobs, for example, than are
lost through normal industrial obso-
lescence. Moreover, they are more
than offset by the creation of an entire
new industry—an industry devoted to
the production, installation, and opera-
tion of antipollution equipment."
The report showed that during the
past five years (January 1971 through
September 1975) actual closings or
curtailments of production in 75 plants
have resultcu in the loss of 15.700
jobs.
Mr. Quarles cited a study by a firm
of Wall Street analysts for the Council
on Environment Quality which found
that environmental legislation has gen-
erated an industry employing I.I mil-
lion workers. Industry spending on
antipollution devices totaled $15.7 bil-
lion, the analysts reported.
In a tetter accompanying the HPA
economic dislocation report—sent
quarterly to the Secretary of Labor-
Administrator Russell E. Train noted
that "in most cases, pollution controls
were one of a number of factors
involved in the managements' deci-
sions to discontinue operations.
"Other factors appear to be outdated
facilities, marketing problems and
OS HA (Occupational Safety and
Health Administration) regulations."
Roy N. Gamse. Director of HPA's
Kconomic Analysis Division, said that
the "public has been misled by indus-
try statements suggesting we must
choose between environmental im-
provements and jobs."
Assessing the total impact of envi-
ronmental regulations on employment
is very complicated. Mr. Gamse said.
because there are several ways in
which jobs are both created and elimi-
nated.
I'AC.l. 16
The FPA Regional Offices keep
track of plant closings affecting 25 or
more jobs, and the Economic Analy-
sis Division tabulates the quarterly
report for transmittal to the Secretary
of Labor.
The latest quarterly report, prepared
by Christina Moore, lists two shut-
downs: 300 jobs involved in the clos-
ing of some U.S. Steel open hearth
furnaces in Alabama, and 600 jobs at
a Mead Corporation iron pipe foundry
in Texas. An unknown number of the
steel workers may be transferred or
retired. Ms. Moore noted, and the
foundry suffered from competition
from plastic pipe.
The industries most affected over the
last five years have been primary
metals (16 closings; 3.020 jobs), pulp
and paper (10 closings; 3.227 jobs),
food products (10 closings; 610 jobs).
and chemicals (8 closings; 4.115 jobs).
The Regions most affected have
been II (21 closings; 5,002 jobs); III
(10 closings; 1.860 jobs): V (13 clos-
ings; 3,735 jobs); VI (5 closings; 1,440
jobs); and X (8 closings; 1.381 jobs).
"While these employment losses are
of concern." Mr. Gamse said, "they
are not nearly as numerous as indus-
try spokesmen have alleged, and some
new jobs will be created at other
plants which pick up the lost sales.
"Further job losses have undoubt-
edly resulted from higher prices due to
pollution control costs, which result in
lower sales, lower production levels.
and fewer jobs. And in the future we
may have fewer jobs than would have
existed otherwise, because investment
in plant and equipment is slightly
reduced now while pollution control
investments are made, resulting in
slightly less industrial capacity and
slightly fewer jobs a few years from
now.
"On the other hand the environmen-
tal program has created a large num-
ber of new jobs. An entire new indus-
try has developed—the environmental
control industry—employing more
-------
than one million people in more than
600 firms (not counting waste collec-
tion companies), according to a report
prepared by two Wall Street analysts
for the December 10. 1975 CEQ En-
vironmental Industry Conference in
Washington."
The antipollution program which un-
doubtedly employs the most people is
the wastewater treatment plant con-
struction grants program. Mr. Gamse
said. "Each billion dollars of grants
leads to roughly 20,000 year-long on-
site construction jobs and 20,000 re-
lated off-site jobs. Hence, the S3.6
billion in EPA grants to State and
local governments through Fiscal 1975
has generated well over 100,000 jobs.
"So the environmental program adds
a lot of jobs to the economy to
counterbalance the ones that are lost.
How do the positive and negative
effects on employment balance out?
More jobs exist now than otherwise
would because pollution control in-
vestments are adding more investment
to the economy than are being lost
due to delayed investment in other
plant and equipment."
Russell W. Peterson, chairman of the
Council on Environmental Quality.
said at the (Environmental Industry
Conference in Washington that "CEQ
estimates that U.S. expenditures for
environmental improvement as a re-
sult of Federal legislation will amount
to about $200 billion over the 10-year
period from 1974 through 19X3.
"This includes both public and pri-
vate expenditures, and covers envi-
ronmental legislation related to air,
water, noise, radiation, solid wastes
and strip mining. Approximately 25
percent of these expenditures will rep-
resent capital investments in plant and
equipment; the rest will go for operat-
ing and maintenance."
Mr. Peterson said that "while it is
difficult to evaluate the health benefits
of environmental measures, it is clear
that those measures are producing
direct savings in the industrial sec-
tor—by stimulating innovations that
increase the productivity of materials
and energy.
"A prime example of this is the
paper industry. Roughly 60 percent of
a tree is worthless for paper—and in
the past, paper companies have
dumped their mill wastes or sold them
very cheaply.
"But with the rise in chemical prices
over the last several years; the in-
creasing cost of pollution control
measures; and a desire to squeeze as
much profit as possible from existing
\
facilities, paper companies have begun
taking a harder look at their industrial
garbage—and they've found some
money in there."
Citing other examples in industry of
companies turning their wastes into
profits, Mr. Peterson recalled that
Philip Hanes, chairman of Hanes Dye
and Finishing, has testified that
"cleaning up our stacks and neutrali/-
ing our liquids was expensive, hut in
the balance v\e have actually made
money on our pollution control ef-
forts. EPA has helped our bottom
line."0
PAG I- 17
-------
REGION II
Region II of the United States Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency is di-
verse culturally, economically, and
physically—and, in many ways, repre-
sents a microcosm of the Nation's
environmental problems, achievements
and challenges.
The Region embraces New York,
New Jersey, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
The area's history and early develop-
ment have contributed to its phenome-
nal growth, particularly over the past
hundred years. Nearly 17 percent of
America's population is packed into a
region which occupies only 1.6 per-
cent of the Nation's land mass.
How is Region II EPA attempting to
solve environmental problems and
provide for the environmental needs
of the future?
It is working hard, with citizens,
State and local agencies, to bring the
region up to acceptable Federal stand-
ards.
It once was inadvisable to open
one's window to the outside air in
New York City—white would turn
grey, soot would float into food, and
blacken flowers. Then, with the
elimination of open burning of wastes
and the use of low sulfur fuels for
electric power generation and the
elimination of most municipal and
many private incinerators—things
have gotten better.
Between 1970 and 1973. reductions
in paniculate matter were reported in
80 percent of the stations in New
York State. A 95 percent reduction
was reported in New Jersey. Sulfur
dioxide reductions totaled 35 percent
in New York from 1971-73; in New
Jersey, they equaled 22 percent.
In Puerto Rico, EPA enforcement
against a number of electric generating
stations for excessive smoke emis-
sions, plus new regulations limiting
sulfur in fuel burned, on a source-by-
source basis, should put a dent in
Puerto Rico's air pollution problems.
Twelve areas in Puerto Rico have
been identified as having difficulties in
maintaining air quality standards for
paniculate matter and/or sulfur oxides
PAGE 18
through 1985. In New Jersey, 15 such
areas were noted; in New York, nine.
In the Virgin Islands, primary and
secondary air quality standards for
sulfur and particulates have been met.
There are miles to go before we can
rest in the environmental movement.
Transportation control plans for highly
urbanized areas in New York and
New Jersey will control hydrocar-
bons, nitrogen oxides and carbon
monoxide problems.
Plans for City
The New York City plan, formulated
by the State and subject to recent
enforcement orders by EPA, includes
charging tolls on bridges into Manhat-
tan, limits on taxi cruising, plans for
limiting parking in the central business
district, more express buses, better
traffic management and enforcement,
emissions inspections for cabs, and
consolidation of deliveries. When fully
implemented these will mean more
good breathing days in an area that
could certainly use them.
In New Jersey's central and northern
portions, other transportation control
strategies, promulgated by EPA for
the State under the Clean Air Act.
require transit incentives to be offered
by large employers. In addition, an
inspection and maintenance program
for auto emission devices has reduced
carbon monoxide readings by 21 per-
cent from 1973 to the first six months
of operation in 1974.
The Region's waters had become
dumping grounds—cesspools where it
was getting far easier to catch an oil
slicked piece of refuse than a healthy
fish. The Passaic River in New Jersey
gained a reputation as the most pol-
luted in the nation. The lower reaches
of the Hudson or the Mohawk Rivers
and Lake Erie in the Great Lakes,
were not much better. The beaches in
San Juan and the Condado Lagoon
were posted.
However, things have changed.
There are reports that fishing has
improved in the Hudson and in the
Mohawk Rivers and that with new
sewage treatment collection systems,
Condado Lagoon in Puerto Rico is
now open for recreational use.
The 32 significant dischargers on the
Hudson River for which water
cleanup permits have been set will.
when the permits are fully effective,
remove a total of 50.000 pounds of
total suspended solids from their daily
discharges.
Lake Erie Improving
There has been a reversal in the
destruction and premature aging which
Lake Erie, perhaps the most heavily
polluted of the Great Lakes, has expe-
rienced.
Nearly 2100 permits to about 1000
major dischargers and 1100 minor dis-
chargers have been issued in the re-
gion. Compliance with the permits
plays a significant role in the regional
enforcement program. EPA's con-
struction grants are also aiding signifi-
cantly in the water cleanup by munici-
palities. Over $1.3 billion has been
obligated thus far. Last year the Re-
gion awarded 86 grants for a total of
$460 million. This year the goal is 160
grants totaling over $1 billion. The
National Science Foundation water
quality indicators show water quality
improvement trends highly evident in
New York and the Virgin Islands,
with improvement on a slightly lesser
scale being seen in New Jersey and
Puerto Rico.
Those figures will become even more
significant as the Region moves past
its period of rapid growth, and begins
to scrutinize itself closely. A new set
of problems is becoming evident and
new means of attack are necessary.
Comprehensive planning, under the
208 program will mean more meaning-
ful appraisals of over-all water quality
management in particular problem
areas in New York, New Jersey and
Puerto Rico. Over $23 million has
been obligated for these local planning
efforts.
Pesticides, radiation, noise and solid
waste present serious environmental
questions. All four Region II jurisdic-
tions have certification programs for
pesticides applicators. Our roles under
our noise and radiation statutes have
been primarily advisory.
Solid waste has become a serious
hazard in the Region with landfill
space diminishing and the solid waste
load increasing geometrically.
-------
The Brooklyn Bridge, still handsome after 93 years of service, spans East River
between Brooklyn anil Manhattan. Twin towers of World Trade Center. 110 stories
high, loom behind bridge center.
Twelve-lam: New Jersey Turnpike cuts a wide swath through industrial area and forest
of power lines near Elizabeth, N.J.
Condado Lagoon in Puerto Rico's San
Juan has been made fit for boating and
water skiing because of construction of
new sewage treatment facilities.
Recycling on Rise
Recycling and reuse, converting solid
waste into energy, is becoming a
popular option in ureas ranging from
Middlesex County. N.J. to Staten
Island. Hempstead and Rochester.
N.Y.
Disposal of sludge in the ocean has
created some controversy. Region II
has maintained that while ihc sludge
dumping has not harmed area beaches
it certainly is not a positive environ-
mental practice. EPA has pledged to
seek alternatives and to phase out all
ocean dumping hy 1981.
New dilemmas are developing in the
Region—poly chlorinated hi phenols
(PCBs) and their presence in fish in
quantities up to 350 parts per million
where the acceptable limit in fish, set
by the FDA. is 5 ppm. The regional
engineers and enforcemenl division
are working through the permit pro-
gram to limit the discharges of PC Ms
into the Hudson and other area water-
ways. Other problems include the
transport of photochemical oxidants to
formerly untouched areas from heavily
polluted regions. Concentrations at ur-
ban and rural areas in the Region
often exceed the national ambient air
quality standards. Polyvinyl chloride
emissions, under review by an EPA
task force, may present additional
hazards.
The Region is coping with its envi-
ronmental problems and attempting to
find ways to correct pollution prob-
lems without causing economic hard-
ship. The status of the environment in
Region II: difficult, but getting bet-
ter. D
PAG i-
-------
New York & Company
\fn\
by Max Friedman
i\ n Rfvton 11 /tith/ic ,it'/nir\ of'tict
Region II abounds in superlatives.
New York — the leading State in
manufacturing industries (in number.
employees, payrolls); New Jersey—
the most densely populated: Puerto
Rico — the nation's oldest settled area
(discovered by Columbus in 1493,
settled by Ponce do Leon in 1509),
and the Virgin Islands — the most east-
erly land in the U.S. and a tourist
mecca.
These superlatives can present prob-
lems as well as benefits — pollution can
come quickly with heavy manufactur-
ing, rapid growth can breed inade-
quate sewage facilities and increased
air pollution in densely populated re-
gions. Much work and money are
necessary to correct environmental
abuses in areas where pollution prac-
tices are entrenched.
Meanwhile, the Region has seen bet-
ter days. The Great White Way
doesn't glisten in the same way it did
in the old George M. Cohan and Fred
Asia ire era.
Fiscal crises throughout New York
C'ity and State and in neighboring
Neu Jersey . peaks of unemployment
in Puerto Rico and dropping tourism
rates in the Virgin Islands. High taxes
and fewer services.
Watch carefully and someday in the
centei of limes Square, where mov-
ing lights spell the news, you will
read. "Crisis Number 1032 Averted.
Watch out for 1033."
Population
What links the Region together. . . .
sets its mood, is a strange trade of
population that is constantly occur-
ring, sometimes slackening, sometimes
increasing in pace. Millions have mi-
grated from the South, from Puerto
Rico, from the rest of the country to
New York City and parts of New
Jersey to find work. Ninety percent of
the 870,000 hierto Ricans— twice San
Juan's population — in New York
State, live in the City. Fifteen percent
of the population of the Virgin Islands
is from the U.S. mainland. New Jer-
sey serves as a bedroom community
for many New York City workers.
The same co/.y relationship exists
among New York City and Long
Island and surrounding counties in
upper New York State. The move-
ment of people and goods all around
PA (IF 20
New York City—a city of superlatives.
Transportation control plans, elimination
of open burning, use of low-sulfur fuels
by power utilities, elimination of most
municipal and many private incinerators—
these measures, backed or ordered by
F.I'A. are making the city's air cleaner
and more healthful.
the Region makes for a kind ot vari-
ety, dynamism and tension that one
will not find in any other Region.
The man-made and natural specta-
cles of the Region accentuate this—
from the needle-like skyscrapers and
Ms. Liberty's torch to the stillness of
the Hackensack, N.J.. meadow -
lands—acres of swamps and dumping
grounds with strings of cars on turn-
pikes circling the vast expanse of open
land, Niagara Falls, near Buffalo. N. Y.
once a honeymoon haven, crashes in
rhythm to the movement of harnessed
energy. The sand dunes and beaches
of the New York. Long Island, and
New Jersey shorelines roll and shift in
a ballet of wind. F.xotic birds screech
in Puerto Rico's rain forest.
The Region is also rich in history.
New York and New Jersey played
important roles in the American revo-
lution and the events that led up to it.
New York City served as the Na-
tion's Capital for four years (1785-
1789) under the Articles of Confedera-
tion. George Washington was inaugu-
rated as the first President of the
United States in Federal Hall on Wall
St. on April 30. 1789.
All Kinds of People
The richness and variety extends to
the farming communities upstate, to
southern New Jersey, once the site of
plantations and slave holdings, to
northwestern New Jersey, where a
frontier of sorts is still being carved.
to Long Island, where American In-
dian tribes still harvest potatoes.
Why link these two mid-Atlantic
States with Puerto Rico and the Vir-
gin Islands, two mid-Caribbean areas'.'
Probably for simple bureaucratic rea-
sons—direct flights between New
York City and the two island areas in
case of emergency.
The cohesiveness of the New F.ng-
land States in cultural background or
tradition is not to be found in this
Region.
The essence of Region II is difficult
to grasp. You can count the neon
lights, peruse the crime statistics, enu-
merate the smells that emanate from
parts of New Jersey, the Garden
State, or defend the State for all the
beauty it still preserves. You can talk
about dense population or heavy man-
ufacturing, unparalleled views of cul-
ture and the arts. You have not yet
captured the essence. It lies in a
complex uniqueness, something that
defies description and definition, ten-
sions that many thrive on. whether
those tensions are natural or man-
made. To try to escape from that
uniqueness is. for many, trying to
escape from life as they have come to
know it.
These are hard times and the North-
east is not in its rising sun. Puerto
Rico, where emigration has stabilized,
still maintains vigorous exchanges
with the mainland. Yet. for all the
problems, the area has a quality that
makes those that leave it. miss it.
High kicking Rockettes, Finger
Lakes, sleazy Times Square, jokes in
the Yiddish Catskills, the borsht belt
and barrios, the U.N. and theater, the
Mets and Museum of Modern Art.
shorelines, chorus lines, farmers har-
vesting—a catalog that would leave
Whitman exhilarated.
There are still canyons of tall build-
ings to be walked through, forests and
waterfalls to marvel at, and, to fill our
emptiness, expanses of land that wait
for visitors, that rarely see human
tracks. There are precious moments of
art to be experienced unlike anywhere
else. Most of all. there is a population
of 32 million people who survive, even
thrive, in spite of adversity—some say
because of it. a
-------
REGION 11
Leadership
Team
(iiTiild M. llanskT
Regional Administrator
\\ecins
Director. San ,|min l-ield OITice
X
Herbert Barrack
Director. Management l)i\ iiion
David I.uiiina Conrad Siituin
Director, Kacilities Technolonv Division Director, Environmental I'roni-am l)i\ision
\Mlliiiin.l. IJbrizzi Jr. MCUT Soil nick
Director. Sur\fillaiK'e ;ind \nalvsK Di%ision Director, Kiil'iirceiiient Division
Kenneth SmalJnoo:! Kenneth \\alker
Director. ( i\il Kijjhts and I'rhiin AITnirs Division Director. Rochester I ield Office
PACJK 21
-------
higher sulfur coal
EPA has approved a request from
Massachusetts to permit the use of
higher sulfur coa! by five power plants
and 26 other sources in the Boston area
through June 1977. Technical reviews
indicate that this fuel can be burned
without violating primary air standards.
Each plant will have to meet rigid
monitoring requirements. If standards
violations occur, the offending plant
must immediately cease burning the
higher sulfur fuel.
It is estimated that this change will
save $30 million in fuel costs, and that
the individual consumer will save an
average of $8 to $10 annually in
electrical costs.
incinerator closing ordered
Region I has issued an Administrative
Order to the town of Winchester,
Mass., for the violation of State and
Federal air pollution regulations by its
municipal incinerator. The Order sets
July I, 1976 as the final compliance
date when the incinerator must be shut
down and replaced by a dual-
compactor transfer station to dispose of
the town's solid waste.
Regional Administrator John A. S.
McGlennon said that the closure will
reduce paniculate levels within
Metropolitan Boston, where the
national public health standard for
participates is being exceeded.
oil facilities penalized
Regional Administrator Gerald M.
Hansler announced that civil penalties
exceeding $250.000 have been imposed
against 84 owners and operators of oil
storage and processing facilities. The
fines were levied because of violations
of oil pollution regulations under the
Federal Water Pollution Control
Amendments of 1972.
Mr. Hansler noted that 35 percent of
the 339 oil facilities inspected in Region
II were in violation of the regulations,
either for failure to prepare or
implement oil spill plans.
unleaded gas available
Almost aJl of Region II's gasoline
stations are providing unleaded gas in
compliance with EPA regulations. New
figures show that of 2.038 stations
sampled since June 1975. only 31
stations were not in full compliance.
This is a failure rate of less than 2
percent. For the most part failures
were caused by improperly flushed out
storage tanks, or by failure of quality
control in the refineries, trucks or in
station tanks.
The inspection tests are being made-by
EPA's Surveillance and Analysis
Division, based in Edison. N..1. and by
the Rochester. N.Y. Field Office.
children's breathing
Following the major air pollution crisis
in Pittsburgh last November. EPA
conducted an on-the-spot study of the
effect of the incident on the breathing
of 270 school children.
This was the first time (hat a
physiological examination of this type
was made, according to Dr. James
Stebbins, an epidemiologist with the
Health Effects Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park. N.C., who
directed the study.
The purpose of the testing by Dr.
Stebbins and the Emergency Air
Pollution Episode Team was to
determine the effects of high air
pollution levels on the lungs of the
average child.
The preliminary analysis of the data
suggests that the episode had no
significant effect on the majority of the
children, but further analysis is required
to determine whether a minority of
especially susceptible children might
have been adversely affected. Region
III played a major role in controlling
the air pollution crisis that began with
an air inversion over Pittsburgh on
November 17 and within two days
caused pollution readings to hit a high
of 251 (on a scale of 300. a reading of
35 is considered satisfactory). At the
request of State and county officials.
Regional Administrator Daniel J.
Snyder and a five-man staff went to
Pittsburgh and helped convince
company officials to cut back their
industry operations. The cutbacks were
crucial in limiting pollution and
protecting health. Improved weather
conditions ended the emergency on
Nov. 20.
progress in alabama
In November, 1971, an air pollution
crisis in Birmingham, Ala., attracted
nationwide attention. On November 18
EPA attorneys and scientists from
Region IV and Raleigh-Durham
obtained an injunction at 2 a.m. from a
Federal judge to shut down 23 of the
city's largest industries.
The air pollution paniculate count had
risen to a critical level but the industry
shutdown, aided by a clean cold front
and rain, brought an end to the crisis.
NQW the Jefferson County
(Birmingham) Health Department
reports a dramatic cleanup in the past
three years—a reduction in particulates
spewed into the county's air from
155,000 tons a year to 29,000 tons.
sulfur oxide hearings
Hearings were held in several major
Ohio cities in December and January
PAGE 22
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on proposed EPA regulations to
control sulfur oxide emissions in that
State.
A decision by the U.S. 6th Circuit
Court and an adverse ruling by the
Ohio Board of Review on the
enforceability of State regulations have
prohibited EPA and its State
counterpart from issuing sulfur oxide
emission cleanup orders until now.
Ohio has a significant sulfur oxide
problem caused by a high concentration
of power plants and industries that
currently use high-sulfur Ohio coal.
The new EPA-proposed Ohio cleanup
plan was developed by Region V's Air
Programs Office.
great lakes
The Region V Office of Public Affairs
has published a special 32-page issue of
its monthly newsletter, "Environment
Midwest," on the Great Lakes.
The Great Lakes issue reviewed the
current status of Great Lakes cleanup.
the fate of commercial fishing on the
lakeft EPA's research programs and
concerns of environmental scientists for
the future of the lakes.
underground reservoir
The Edwards Underground Reservoir,
recently designated by EPA as the sole
or principal source of drinking water
for the San Antonio, Texas, area, was
the subject of an informal "town
meeting" in that city Jan. 7. Regional
Administrator John C. White was host,
and EPA officials undertook to answer
any citizens' questions about the
designation and about Federal
protection of sole-source water
supplies.
The reservoir is a water-bearing
limestone formation, the Edwards
aquifer, underlying south central Texas.
it contains an estimated three million
acre-feet of pure water and supplies
San Antonio, five large military bases,
16 smaller cities, and many farms and
ranches.
The Safe Drinking Water Act provides
that no Federal aid may be given for
"any project" that EPA determines
might contaminate a sole-source water
supply.
water quality course
A recent week-long course in "Water
Quality and Pollutant Source
Monitoring: Field and Laboratory
Analysis" filled the Regional Office
hearing room with attendees from the
Corps of Engineers, private industry,
and EPA personnel.
Instructors included Bill Reefer. Chief
of the Water Section, Surveillance and
Analysis Division; Charles Hensley,
inorganic chemist; Steven Sisk.
hydrologist; Bruce Littell, aquatic
biologist; Dr. Robert Kloepfer, organic
chemist; Joseph Joslin, sanitary
engineer; and Tom Lorenz, biologist.
Dr. Lawrence Schmid of Kansas State
University, lectured on "Sampling
Agricultural Wastes."
beet processor fined
Pollutant discharges into the
Yellowstone River from last year's beet
processing at the Holly Sugar Sidney
refinery have cost the company $47,500
in fines, and it will be subject to further
fines if violations occur during the
1975-76 processing.
The violations of wastewater discharge
limits were documented during the
1974-75 season by EPA, the Montana
Department of Health and
Environmental Sciences and Holly's
own sampling program. The U.S.
Attorney for Montana filed court action
that sought penalties totalling $190,000
or $10,000 for each of the 19 days of
violations.
However, all parties agreed to a
negotiated settlement that provides that
Holly will forfeit $10,000 per month for
any month it exceeds permitted levels
of BOD during this year's processing.
BOD, biological oxygen demand, robs
water and aquatic life of oxygen, thus
reducing a stream's natural cleansing
ability.
bacteria in bay
All three of San Francisco's sewage
treatment plants have been discharging
excessive amounts of disease-causing
bacteria into San Francisco Bay. This
was announced by the Bay Area
Regional Water Quality Board after a
10-day study of plant discharges made
by EPA's National Field Investigation
Center at Denver. EPA divers found a
bank of sludge 600 feet long near
Fisherman's Wharf, a city landmark.
The study has been made part of an
inquiry into San Francisco's failure to
keep to its sewage treatment
improvement timetable.
The Bay has nevertheless shown
considerable improvement in recent
years, and Regional Administrator Paul
DeFalco observed: "This is a good
example of what can happen in a
regional situation when one
municipality or discharger does not
meet its commitments. Other parts of
the Bay are looking good, but the
discharges from San Francisco are
causing problems for us all."
spill-plan fines
Civil penalties totalling $1,500 were
assessed recently by Regional .
Administrator Clifford V. Smith against
five oil storage facilities that had failed
to prepare or to implement plans to
prevent and contain oil spills. All firms
have signed settlement agreements and
are now in compliance with the law.
They are: Naumes Fuel and
Equipment, Medford. Ore.; Empire
Fuel Co. and Sause Brothers Ocean
Towing Co., both of Coos Bay, Ore.;
and Standard Oil Co., Everett and
Mount Vernon, Wash. Naumes Fuel
paid $500 and the others $250 each.
Spill prevention and control plans are
required for any facility storing more
than 1,320 gallons of oil above ground
or 42,000 gallons underground.
PAGE 23
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Mtt*T 1$ TTt MOST IMPORTANT
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM
E4OINO U$ IN THE EINAL OD/tETER
OE THE 2CTH CENTLCT?
QIQOO
Dr. Thomas I). Bath, Staff Director
Science Advisory Board, Office of the
Administrator, Headquarters:
"In my opinion, one of the key
issues over the next 25 years will he
the effectivenesx of the institutions
and policies now being set in motion
to protect our environment. In order
to understand whether these ap-
proaches are appropriate to the needs
which they seek to address, measures
of effectiveness will have to be devel-
oped. Eventually, society will be con-
cerned with the best way to live in
harmony with our environment, rather
than protecting environmental quality
by frantically trying to correct past
abuses. This, in turn, implies a search
for an optimum approach through a
period of feedback between environ-
mental quality and environmental in-
stitutions."
Dr. William J. Lacy, Senior Engineer-
ing Advisor. Office of Research and
Development, Headquarters:
"The Environmental Protection
Agency must aim at cost effective
closed loop industrial technology. This
will result in zero discharge of pollut-
ants and ha/.ardous wastes. There-
lore, the problem will be controlled at
its source and no adverse health ef-
fects will result.
"However, one of the most serious
problems facing the pollution control
movement over the next ten years is
not scientific: it is the issue of envi-
ronment vs economy. In an effort to
become energy independent and re-
cover from an economic recession.
many opponents to the environmental
movement will cite the costs of clean-
up as outlandish and non-productive.
"However, the investment in envi-
ionmt:ntal clean-up can contribute to
economic growth and make new jobs
in all disciplines—engineers, excava-
tors, planners, cement and steel work-
ers, etc.
"Our concern for a clean environ-
ment is practical and is based on
sound economics."
Paul A. Brands, Deputy Assistant
Administrator for Planning and Evalu-
ation. Office of Planning and Manage-
ment. Headquarters:
"Rather than single out one environ-
mental problem. 1 believe the most
important environmental issue con-
fronting us in the next two decades
involves more 'process related" con-
cerns. I think we all generally agree
that as a Nation we must achieve a
hdlfiiicc among our very real environ-
mental concerns and other national
goals such as continued economic de-
velopment and an improved standard
of living and some form of energy
independence. The issue confronting
us is how to achieve a situation where
this balancing will occur.
"I would argue that we can help
insure this situation is achieved if the
following actions occur. First, we
must do our part to insure that the
public is informed and fully appreci-
ates the environmental impacts of var-
ious actions or inactions, particularly
the longer-run health impacts. Second.
as an Agency we must proceed with
the development of our scientific anal-
yses, regulations, and programs in an
open, systematic manner. We must
invite and encourage and perhaps in-
sist upon public participation in their
development—including environmental
groups, industry, and government at
all levels."
Dr. Alan P. Carlin, Economist. Office
of Health and Ecological Effects.
Headquarters:
"One of the major, largely unsolved
problems facing us in the foreseeable
future is what is to be done about the
many man-made chemicals not occur-
ring in nature that have been and are
being introduced by man. in ever
proliferating forms, combinations and
amounts, into the environment. We
now know that a number of them
have adverse effects on living things in
general and on man in particular.
"Evidence is mounting that some of
these chemicals are cancer-producing,
cause deleterious genetic changes, or
have other adverse effects."
Michael K. Glenn, Special Assistant to
the Administrator. Headquarters:
"Answering that question is a bit like
playing Russian roulette. Specific al-
ternative "bullets" quickly come to
mind: environmental carcinogens; de-
struction of wetlands and other life-
sustaining habitat; ozone depletion;
nuclear facilities proliferation; and so
on. Any one or more of these or other
issues might emerge as uniquely life-
endangering (and therefore presumably
dominant) environmental issues during
the next 25 years.
"In my opinion, however, the one
issue cross-cutting all of the above—
and forgive me if this sounds like a
typical lawyer's response—is a "pro-
cedural" issue. Namely, whether we
will extend a full presumption of inno-
cence to environmental contaminants
(broadly defined) unless it can be
shown conclusively that they are
harmful to humans, or , as stated in the
Administrator's December 31. 1974
'Year-End Report," 'whether we should
from now on insist that the presence or
introduction of these environmental
contaminants into the human environ-
ment must depend upon a determina-
tion that they do not constitute unwar-
ranted hazards to human health and
life.'"
JflL
Dr. Thomas I). Hath
Dr. William J. l.acv
Paul A. Brands
Dr. Alan P. t'arlin
Michael K. Glenn
PACK 24
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briefs
EPA'S NEW BUDGET TOTALS $718 MILLION
The proposed EPA operating budget for Fiscal Year 1977 is $718
million, a decrease of $53 million from the current budget for
1976. Administrator Russell E. Train said that while the budget
reflects cuts in some areas, it "will enable the Agency to continue
most of its programs at current levels. It also provides for
increases in some high-priority programs." The major increase is
$10.6 million for the Water Supply Program to double the level of
grant funding to States to help them in assuming primary enforcement
responsibility for their drinking water programs. The budget also
calls for reprogramming of more than 100 positions from Headquarters
to the Regional Offices as part of the Agency's continuing policy
of decentralization.
EPA OPPOSED SUPERSONIC AIRLINER SERVICE
Applications to allow the British-French supersonic airplane, the
Concorde, to serve airports in New York City and Washington, D.C.,
were opposed by EPA at public hearings last month. Roger Strelow,
Assistant Administrator for Air and Waste Management, said the
Concorde is too noisy, pollutes the air, endangers the earth's
ozone shield and is wasteful of fuel.
AIR STANDARDS SET FOR COPPER, LEAD, ZINC SMELTERS
Final regulations to control air pollution from plants producing
copper, lead and zinc have been adopted by EPA. They limit the
amounts of dust, smoke and sulfur dioxide that can be emitted
from new or substantially modified existing smelters. The new
rules are expected to reduce emissions of particulates and sulfur
dioxides by approximately 95 percent from previous uncontrolled
levels.
HEARING ON PROPOSED URANIUM STANDARDS
A public hearing was scheduled for February 17 in Washington on
EPA's proposed standards to protect the public from releases of
uranium used in nuclear power production. The standards would
cover the uranium fuel cycle processes from the time uranium ore
leaves the mines.
PAGK 25
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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (A 107)
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
EPA-335
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ARIZONA ACTS TO PROTE* :T
CLEAR SKY
Arizona has taken a major slop to-
ward protecting the clear sky and
healthy climate which have been the
State's trademark throughout the
world.
It opened last month a vehicle emis-
sions inspection network in greater
Phoenix and Tucson which is ex-
pected to reduce pollution from in-
creasing motor vehicle traffic by 20
percent in these areas by the end of
1977.
To help ease the program's impact.
while motorists will be required to
have their cars inspected annually.
passing the emissions test for carbon
monoxide and hydrocarbon pollutants
will not become mandatory until Jan.
1. 1977.
The purpose of the inspection and
maintenance program in Arizona and
elsewhere in the country is to ensure
that cars being driven meet standards
established to protect and improve air
quality.
The inspection facilities in Arizona.
owned and operated by Hamilton Test
Systems, Hartford, Conn., but under
State control, will be supported by an
annual $5 inspection fee from motor-
ists.
HP A is encouraging similar opera-
tions as one method of establishing
inspection and maintenance in other
parts of the country where they are
needed.
"Numerous other areas of the coun-
try should also have inspection and
maintenance in effect right now as a
basic step in protecting public health
from air pollution hazards," according
to Stanley W. Legro, Assistant Ad-
ministrator for Enforcement.
"Arizona is setting a laudable exam-
This station in metropolitan Phoenix is one
which have started testing cat's tor air pollutii
iif I- in the Phoenix and I UCMHI areas
>n emissions.
pie for many other States to follow in
our nationwide effort to control motor
vehicle air pollution."
Mr. Legro said that inspection and
maintenance offer real benefits by
conserving fuel and providing more
reliable motor vehicle performance in
addition to the primary target of pro-
tecting the public health from air pol-
lution.
Paul DeFalco. Jr.. Region IX Ad-
ministrator, described the inspection
program as "the backbone of the
State plan to control auto-related pol-
lutants in Phoenix and Tucson.
"Successful implementation will take
these urban areas a long way toward
attaining and maintaining national am-
.bient air quality standards for carbon
monoxide and oxidants. We anticipate
that in the future main States will
follow Arizona's example."
Motorists could save between $20
and $25 in gasoline costs per year by
regularly maintaining their auto pollu-
tion control equipment. HP A esti-
mates.
Arizona was the sixth area in the
country to establish an inspection and
maintenance program for privately
owned cars. Other areas with similar
programs in effect are: the State of
New Jersey; Chicago; Cincinnati and
Hamilton County. Ohio; Portland, Or-
egon; and Riverside and Los Angeles.
California.1:
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