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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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-

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        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

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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

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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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 Return this page if you do NOT wish to receive this publication (  ), or if change of address is needed (  ). list change, including zip code.

 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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