MAY 1977 VOL. THREE, NO. FIVE onservation is the major theme in the excerpts C from President Carter's landmark energy mes­ sage carried in this issue of EPA Journal. So at long last conservation is receiving the high priority that environmentalists have urged. This issue also reviews the role EPA' s re­ search program is playing in helping to develop knowledge about energy systems and the latest technology for controlling their harmful effects on the environment. Another article in the energy-environment area is a report on an aerial survey EPA helped to sponsor in Minnesota to discover homes and busi­ nesses leaking heat. The subject of another article is a poll revealing that despite the economic recession and the energy shortage Ame1icans are still accepting environmen­ tal protection as one of their basic national goals. The views of Dr. Barry Commoner and others on environmental cancer are reported in an article about a recent Washington conference that EPA helped sponsor. Also included in this issue is a report on the massive permit program established to help control the discharges of cities and industries into the Nation's waterways. Another research article gives details on an artificial 1iver developed at EPA 's Environmental Research laboratory in Athens, Ga., for research on river ecology. The number of enforcement actions taken by EPA in its more than six years of existence totals nearly l 9,000, an article on the Agency's enforce­ ment program repo11s. Converting pollutants to useful ingedients for growing trout, shrimp and other aquatic life is the subject of the concluding article. U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL ARTICLES PROTECTION AGENCY WAR ON WASTE PAGE 2 President stresses conservation Douglas M. Costle, in his major message on energy. Administrator

Marlin Fitzwater, EPA'S ROLE IN ENERGY RESEARCH PAGE 4 Acting Director of A two-day scientific conference on energy and the Public Affairs environment is being sponsored by EPA June ~7 in Charles D. Pierce, Washington. Editor AERIAL SURVEY FINDS WASTED HEAT PAGE 6 Van Trumbull, Ruth Hussey, Photographs taken from low-flying planes have helped David Cohen, detect buildings leaking heat in Minnesota. Staff

Cover: Towering transmission lines stalk NEW VIEWS PAGE 8 across landscape near Searchlight, Nev. Excerpts from speeches by Administrator Douglas M. Costle Documerica photo by Charles O'Rear. and Deputy Administrator Barbara Blum.

Photo Credits: John L. Alexandrowicz*, PROGRESS ON THE ENFORCEMENT FRONT PAGE 10 Lyntha Scott Eiler*. Les Henig, PEPCO. Don Emmerich, Ernest Bucci. Edison Electric Institute, Lowell Georgia*. Public ENVIRONMENTAL CANCER ------­ PAGE 12 Service Electric and Gas Company. A discussion of carcinogens at a Newark, N.J. conference EPA helped sponsor. * Documerica Conservation illustration by John Heinly STATUS OF PERMIT GUIDELINES------PAGE 16 POLL REAFFIRMS ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT_ PAGE 18 The EPA Journal is published monthly, with combined issues July-August and November-December, by the U.S. OUR INDOOR RIVER ------PAGE 19 Environmental Protection Agency. Use of funds for printing this periodical has EPA'SEYESINTHESKY ______PAGE 20 been approved by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. UNDERWATER FARMS ______BACK COVER Views expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect EPA policy. Contributions and inquiries should be addressed to the Editor (A-107), DEPARTMENTS Waterside Mall, 401 M St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. No permission NATION ------PAGE 14 necessary to reproduce contents except copyrighted photos and other materials. UPDATE ______PAGE 22 Subscription: $8. 75 a year, $. 75 for single copy, domestic; $11.00 if mailed to a foreign address. No charge to ALMANAC PAGE 23 employees. Send check or money order to Superintendent of Documents, U.S. PEOPLE PAGE 24 Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. NEWS BRIEFS ______PAGE 25 WAR ON WASTE

rotection of the environment is one of Earth. We waste more energy than we stronger in Carter than in any past Presi­ P the fundamental principles on which import. With about the same standard of dent," Kraft said. "Clean-air standards are President Carter has based his landmark living, we use twice as much energy per to be maintained at high levels .... Part of national energy plan. person as do other countries like Germany, the argument for conservation has to do In his energy message to Congress on Japan. and Sweden." with preserving ecological balance. Clearly April 20. the President declared that "the Stating that the struggle for successful res­ those who thought the energy crisis-cum­ heart of our energy problem is that our olution of the energy problem "would be recession killed the environmental cause demand for fuel keeps rising more quickly the moral equivalent of war," President have got it wrong." than our production, and our primary means Carter said "if successful, this effort will Earlier in April. Mr. Costle had announced of solving this problem is to reduce waste protect our jobs. our environment, our na­ at a White House press conference that the and inefficiency ... " tional independence, our standard of living President had asked him to disclose the EPA Administrator Douglas M. Castle in and our future. Administration's support for maintaining urging strong support for the President's "Our energy policy will be innovative, but rigorous standards in the Clean Air Act. energy program noted that it "gives to con­ fair and predictable. It will not be easy. It · · ... Senator Ed Muskie and Congressman servation the priority which environmental­ will demand the best of us-our vision. our Paul Rogers. and their respective subcom­ ists have long urged. To the extent that we dedication, our courage, and our sense of mittees, have been working on clean air reduce our demand for energy we reduce common purpose. legislation over the last six weeks." Mr. the burden that energy production places on "This is a carefully balanced program, Costle said in his April 18 statement. "The the environment." depending for its fairness on all its major President and I share their commitment to In a televised address to the Nation on component parts. It will be a test of our achievement and maintenance of our clean April 18. President Carter warned the Na­ basic political strength and ability. air and public health goals, and appreciate tion about the seriousness of the energy "Bui we have met challenges before and the leadership they have provided on this problem. and said development of his en­ our Nation has been the stronger for it. That legislation. ergy policy had been guided by these princi­ is the responsibility that we face-you in the ''Clean air is essential to the health and ples. Congress, the members of my administra­ welfare of all Americans. Scientific studies These principles are: tion, and all the people of our country. I am show a direct relationship between exposure • . . . "we can have an effective and com­ confident that together we will succeed." to polluted air and the incidence of heart prehensive energy policy only if the Gov­ Mr. Costle said "It's clear from the Presi­ disease, nervous system disorders. lung ernment takes responsibility for it and if the dent's energy message to Congress that cancer, emphysema. asthma, and other res­ people understand the seriousness of the EPA will be in the mainstream of his energy piratory diseases, especially among infants challenge and are willing to make sacrifices. program. It will be largely our responsibility and the elderly. Air pollution is also costly • ..... healthy economic growth must to make many aspects of his program to property, materials, and vegetation. continue ..." work." "We have made significant progress in • ·'The third principle is that we must On the proposed greater use of coal. the cleaning up the air. Recent studies indicate protect the environment. Our energy prob­ Administrator said this program "will con­ that emissions of several pollutants from lems have the same cause as our environ­ stitute an important challenge for EPA. It is power plants, factories, and automobiles mental problems-wasteful use of re­ critical that the best available control tech­ have begun to decline. The quality of our air sources. Conservation helps us solve both nology be employed and that air quality has made a small but important reversal at once." standards be maintained as the President toward healthiness. Many millions of Amer­ Other principles spelled out by President requests.·· icans. especially in large metropolitan areas, Carter included: .. reducing our vulnerability Commenting on the emphasis on reducing are beginning to see and feel the difference. to potentially devastating embargoes," gasoline consumption, Mr. Castle said "There is still, however, much to be done treating everyone fairly. reducing demand "EPA will play a major role in supporting before we can say we have fully achieved through conservation, ensuring that prices this program by measuring the fuel effi­ our clean air goals. Clean air is not an should generally reflect the true replace­ ciency of new cars as part of the auto ae.sthetic luxury; it is a public health neces­ ment costs of energy. providing Govern­ certification program ... sity. Many regions of the country have not ment policies that are predictable and cer­ The Administrator declared that President yet met the health-based primary ambient tain, conserving fuels that are the scarcest Carter's energy program "provides the lead­ air quality standards. The legislative recom­ and making the most of those that are more ership we have needed and merits the strong mendations the President has asked me to plentiful, and developing new and uncon­ support of the American people." explain today will help provide the frame­ ventional sources of energy. Meanwhile, Joseph Kraft, a widely known work for attaining these standards. The President said "With the exception of syndicated columnist, expressed the opinion "Environmental issues do not exist in a preventing war. this is the greatest challenge in a recent column that the energy drive has vacuum. Environmental requirements must our country will face during our lifetimes. not sunk the environmental movement. be carefully examined and related to our The energy crisis has not yet overwhelmed "Concern for the environment is probably economic and energy goals. The President us, but it will if we do not act quickly. and l are fully committed to the principle ··ours is the most wasteful Nation on that our Nation must have a strong environ- PAGE 2 mental program as a necessary pre requisite qua lity require me nts sho uld be met with has asked me to review this issue to recom­ to future progress in solving our ene rgy and stacks no tall er tha n no rmall y would be built mend a strateg which wi ll lead to the econo mi c proble ms. unde r good e ngineering practice. T he instal­ attainment of o ur nationa l health sta mlard -. latio n of the best avail able control techno l­ We will be asking the Congress to defer Auto Emissions ogy for ne w facilities will provide a basis for action in this a rea for one year. to permit " We a re committed to maintain ing mo­ orderly economic growth which will help us fu ll study of this complex issue. a nd the me ntum in cleaning up pollution from a uto­ meet our air quality goals . development of a fai r a nd effective policy mobiles. The sta ndards we a re recommend­ for the future. ing today a re to ugh but fair. They a re Prevention of Significant Deterioration consistent with our fuel standards. They will ··our effort to control air pollution must Coal Conversion help reduce urba n smog and protect public in clude protection o f ai r that is already ·'This Administralion is committed t > the health. clea n. We cannot afford po li cies whi c h achievement of our energy goals in a man­ " The President and I are recommending would c reate new proble ms in areas whi ch ne r which will not compromise the a tt ain­ that: are now meeting the a mbie nt air quality ment of our enviro nme ntal objectives. T he .._ The statutory s tanda rd for hydrocar­ standards . The Preside nt suppo11s inclusion President has stressed the need to switch bons of .4 1 grams per mile be met beginning in the Act of a provisio n to limit additions of from scarce oil and gas to coal. oal con­ with the 1979 model yea r. new polluta nt s in areas whic h are alread y version can be accompli shed without sacri­ "'-The sta ndard fo r carbo n monoxide clean to certain specified levels. We also fi cing environme nta l q ua lity provided we should be set at 9.0 gra ms per mi le in 1979. suppo rt mandatory protection for National have sound c lean air requirements. T he with the statutory standards of 3.4 grams Parks and othe r significa nt natio na l a reas. Preside nt is recomme nd ing amend me n ts per mile in effect beginning with the 1981 w hi ch would require a converting facili ty to model year. Growth in Non-Attainment Areas attain a ll applicable Federal standards at the ··-The sta nda rd fo r nitrogen o xides ·'The Natio n faces a diffic ult problem in time of conversion. a nd to conform wi th sho uld be set at 2.0 gra ms pe r mile in 1979. deciding how to accommodate new indus­ app li cable State ai r pollution regulatio ns b a nd 1.0 grams pe r mil e for 1981 and there­ trial growth in a reas that are now in viola­ January I. 1980. after unless the Administrator decides by tion of the health-based standards. We must '" In conclusio n. let me say that these rec­ 1980. based on health impacts. that the 0.4 find a fair a nd equita ble way to furthe r o mmendations to the ongress are the re­ gra ms pe r mile statutory level is needed reduce e missio ns from existing source so sult of an intense. cooperative re-examina­ beginning in 1983 . as to permit new g rowth while keeping o n a tio n o f the Clean A ir Act by the new path which will result in a ttainme nt of the Administration. T hey provide a solid envi­ Standards for New Facilities hea lth s ta nda rds . Altho ugh E PA has ronme ntal fou ndati on for the e nergy po licy "The Presid e nt a nd I be lieve tha t ne w adopted a policy requiring that emissions for whi c h the President will propose to the power pl ants a nd new industria l facilities new sources be mo re than offset by a reduc­ Congress on Wednesday. T hey constitute a sho uld be required to use the best a vailable tion in e missions from exis ting sources strong reaffirmation of our Nat ion· s commit­ control technology to limit emissions. Air within a non-attainment area. the Preside nt ment to environmental protection ... • PAGE 3 EPA'S ROLE IN ENERGY RESEARCH

ore than 1.500 per ons represent­ effects. It will focus, he aid, on three tal Research Laboratory in Cincinnati. M ing both industry and government major questions: For the second day's discussions of are expected to attend a two-day scien­ health and environmental effects, the tific conference on energy and the envi­ * What are the major research accom­ leaders will include Dr. Delbert S. Barth, ronment in Washington June 6 and 7. plishments? Deputy Assistant Administrator for It will be the second annual meeting on * How has new information influenced Health and Ecological Effects; George energy-environment research to be spon­ decision making in energy systems? Morgan, Acting Director of the Environ­ sored by EPA. with the cooperation of 11 * What should be the emphasis of future mental Monitoring and Support Labora­ other Federal agencies. research? tory at Las Vegas, Nev.; and Dr. A. P. Stephen J. Gage, Deputy A sistant Ad­ Altshuller, Director of the Environmental mini trator for Energy. Mineral . and In­ Discussion leaders for the first day's Sciences Laboratory at Research Trian­ dustry in the Office of Re earch and session on control technology will include gle Park. N. C. Development. aid the conference will Gage, Frank Princiotta. and Steven R. Discussion leaders from other agencies deal with the environmental effects of all Reznek of the Office of Energy, Min­ will be Marvin Singer, Energy Research kind of energy systems and with the erals, and Industry. and Dr. David G. and Development Administration; Dr. late t technology for controlling harmful Stephan of EPA's Industrial Environmen- John F. Finklea, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health ; and Dr. Alan Hirsch, Fish and Wildlife Serv­ ice. Other Federal agencies cooperating in the conference are the Bureau of Mines, National Aeronautics and Space Admin­ istration, ationaJ Bureau of Standards, National In titute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Tennessee Valley Authority, Department of Agricul­ ture, and the Geological Survey. Conference proceedings will be pub­ lished by EPA and are expected to be available from the Office of Research and Development in September. EPA plans and coordinates a Federal interagency program of research and de­ velopment on the production of energy and its environmental effects. This coop-

Dr. Joh11 Chilgren. phvsiologist at EPA ·s Enl'iro11111 e11ta/ R esearch Laboratory at Con ·al/is, Ore .. examines vole trapped at research site 11 ear Co/scrip. Mo11r. EPA is co11d11cti11g 11 major research project at rhis /ocatio11 to assess the impact off11111 es ji'Ol11 a coal-huming po 11·er plam. PAGE 4 Power lines rnt across a cloud-streaked sky.

and Development Admin istration * Through central planning and coordina­ (ERDA). The Act called on the Adminis­ tion, to facilitate the prompt and full trators of EPA and ER DA to make agree­ communication of results to the public ments between themselves and with and the research commun ity. other Federal agencies that deal with energy development or the environment Over the last three years, EPA has to cooperate in their research work. The spent more than $100 million annually on resulting interagency program is designed energy research, and from 35 to 40 per­ to accomplish three things: cent of this money has been to support erative program, under which 18 different work in other cooperating Federal agen­ departments and bureaus pool their re­ * To permit existing research centers to cies. sources and expertise, under the guid­ concentrate on their specialties, helping Coordination of the interagency pro­ ance of EPA, is now in its third year. assure efficient use of funds; gram is the responsibility of the Office of It was launched by Congress in the * To assure that there are no gaps in the Energy, Minerals, and Industry, headed Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, over-all program and that overlapping ef­ by Gage, who said that EPA' s role re­ which established the Energy Research forts are held to ·a minimum; and flects the need for sound environmental protection to be given equal priority with the Nation's develop ment of needed en­ ergy resources. ·•Because of the pressure to develop new energy sources and technologies," he said, ''ERDA cannot be expected to focus as intensely on the environmental aspects as it does on its primary energy development responsibilities. " EPA's primary mission is environ­ mental protection. and our objective in the energy area is to enable ER DA's efforts to progress as rapidly as possible while assuring that national environmen­ tal goals are maintained. "Through this division of effort there develops a healthy. creative tension be­ tween the two agencies to ensure well­ supported planning and strategy deci­ sions." •

Glen Canyon Dam in northern Ari;:,ona rises 583 feet abm·e !he Colorado Riw:r and creates Lake Powell, which extends 186 mi/eJ upstream into Utah. Lake's 11·ater is used fbr irriRCllion, recreation, and elecrric power. PAG E 5 AERIAL SURVEY FIMJS WASTED BEAT

his spring residents. of 26 Minnesota Sets of the heat-loss photos, with ings," said Dr. Maxine Savitz, Director of · Tcommunities can consult aerial pho­ matching conventional photos, are being ERDA's Division of Buildings and Com­ tographs to see whether their homes and made available to the public in each of munity Systems. The heat-scanner pho­ businesses have been leaking heat. the surveyed communities. Local officials tos can warn consumers of possible prob­ The pictures, taken from a low-flying are being trained by EPA specialists to lems, she pointed out, even though they airplane on cold winter nights, make the interpret the photos for their fellow citi­ cannot provide information on specific lost heat visible in great detail. Houses zens. These representatives will use the amounts of heat lost from buildings. with poor insulation can be distinguished pictures to point out heat-loss problems, She said the project would help edu­ from well-insulated ones. Heat escaping advise on insulation or other remedies, cate consumers on energy conservation from exposed pipes and industrial equip­ and answer general questions on fuel as well as demonstrate the usefulness of ment can be spotted. In parking lots, the conservation. Any action taken is en­ aerial surveying to spot energy waste. cars that have been there long enough to tirely voluntary. E'PA researchers have high hopes that cool off can be distinguished from newly­ Aerial scanning cannot be used to the heat-scanner technique will have parked ones. measure actual amounts of heat lost; this other uses in environmental control. The aerial heat survey was a joint can be done only with ground-based in­ Many types of air and water pollution project of EPA, the Energy Research and struments and a thorough knowledge of enter the environment in fluid "plumes" Development Administration, and the inside and outside temperatures, wall and that are hotter than their surroundings. Minnesota Energy Agency. The Project roof materials, and other engineering Oil spills, heated waste water, and com­ may well become a model for other cities data. Some of the scanning flights over bustion gases are obvious examples that and States as a key initial step in efforts St. Paul last winter were made while show up in heat pictures. The technique to control energy waste. teams from the University of Minnesota has also been used experimentally to The heat pictures were made with a took simultaneous measurements on the detect underground oil leaks and septic thermographic scanner, originally devel­ ground and on the roofs of University tank seepage. It is regarded as a promis­ oped by the Air Force for military pur­ buildings. These measurements are being ing new weapon in EPA's arsenal of long-. poses, and lent to EPA for experimental correlated with the aerial scanning data. range pollution detection equipment, use in pollution spotting and control. The survey flights started in November which now includes many kinds of color The scanner is sensitive to infrared and did not end until mid-March. All photography, infrared photography, and radiation (heat) and not to light. The flights were made at night from an alti­ absorbed and reflected laser beams. sensitive "eye" of the instrument sweeps tude of about 2,000 feet. Not every night More information on the thermo­ rapidly across the field of view in much was suitable for a flyover; the weather graphic scanner program may be ob­ the same way a TV camera does, and the had to be cold, with low humidity and tained from Thomas Osbert at EPA's heat signals received are processed to clear skies. No flights were made soon Environmental Photographic Interpreta­ form a TV-like picture of high resolution. after heavy snowfalls. Since snow acts as tion Complex, Box 1587, Warrenton, Va. In the pictures, cold areas are dark, hot an insulation, accumulated snow on roofs 22186. areas light, with a wide range of gray could mask some of the heat-loss evi­ The Minnesota communities surveyed tones in between. dence sought. were · Minneapolis, St. Paul, South St. After each flight. specialists at EPA's To support the project Minnesota and Paul, Duluth, Hibbing, Little Environmental Photographic Interpreta­ ERDA each provided $50,000. EPA's . Falls, St. Cloud, New Ulm, Sauk Rapids, tion Complex at Warrenton, Va.. proc­ contribution was $43,000, including per­ Austin, Stillwater, Shakopee, Faribault, essed the pictures and compared them sonnel and equipment. Litchfield, Hutchinson, Chisholm, Eve­ with conventional aerial photographs of "Since escaping heat is invisible to the leth, Virginia, Cloquet, Albert Lea, the same areas to identify individual eye, consumers may not be aware that Northfield, Winona, St. Peter, Grand buildings and objects. energy is being wasted in their build- Rapids, Hopkins, and St. Louis Park. • PAGE 6 Thermograph of a four-block area in Hib­ some buildings are owlined h_1· hem leaking bing, Minn., shows hear radiating f rom from ll'al/s and window . Plou·ed streets and buildings and land. Dark areas are rela- alleys and sho l'e/ed side1,•a/ks show up 1ivelv cold. light areas hot. White rectangle warmer than snow-co1·ered vards. Heat pic­ near center is a greenhouse. Mosr buildings tures like this one are m•ailable in 26 Minne­ have well-insulated roofs and therefore ap­ sota communities to help residents deter­ pear dark. Bright dots mark chimneys, and mine how best to consen •e Ju el .

...... - . , -· - .~ • . ~ ... ·- . ~ .. ~d .- ! PAGE 7 NEW VIEWS

"I pledge to you that EPA will be persistent and consistent in carrying out our environmental laws."_ cos11e

Excerpts from remarks of Administrator in Washington today. Each organization may From a speech by Deputy Administrator Douglas M .. Costle before the National Asso­ look at the mission and impact of the EPA Barbara Blum to the American Paper Insti­ ciation of Manufacturers, Washington, D.C., from a different perspective. but both. I am tute and the National Forest Products Asso­ March 25. Later that morning he gave the certain. would agree that environmental deci­ ciation, Washington, D.C., April 13: same speech to the National Wildlife Federa­ sion-making is emphatically not something tion. separate from all its other concerns. .. During my confirmation hearing, one of " When the Environmental Protection ··During my tenure as Administrator. I the Senators referred to a bumper sticker Agency was created in 1970. the . . . degra­ intend to do a ll in my power to improve the which read, ·Hungry and out of work? Eat dation of our air. land. and water. which performance of thi agency. I want the an environmentalist.' Bumper stickers and had been going on for decades. was clearly agency's work to be marked by balance and other graffiti are not to be dismissed lightly. out of hand. Since then. we have enjoyed a judgment. scrupulou credibility. thorough as­ With humor and irony. they often reflect good deal of success in bringing the belching sessment . and tough but fair enforcement. some of our most deep-seated fears and smokestacks and grossly polluted waters Our deci ions may not always please every­ frustrations. Anxiety that pollution control under control. Airsheds that were once a one. but no one will be able to say that we may cost jobs and undermine the economy is disgrace to the senses and a hazard to health are arbitrary. that we discourage diversity of understandable. But it is also unfounded and have seen remarkable improvement. and opinion. and that we do not do our home­ hurtful to the consensus we need if we are to many waters that had been thought biologi­ work. EPA's existence is justified primarily make progress in environmental protection. cally dead are seeing the return of pollution­ on the basis of our protection and enhance­ energy conservation. unemployment. or any sensitive fish and other biota ... ment of life. I hope you wi ll hold us account­ of the complex and interrelated crises we are "We have also learned some sobering able to that rigorous standard. facing as a nation. le ssons. The dimensions of our commitment ··A my predecessor, Russ Train. once "The blunt truth is that if we do not put to clean up the environment are awesome. said. ·Environmental concern-the concern our environmental ho use in order. it is inevit­ In water use alone-on which the paper for the basic integrity of our natural life ably going to become a miserable habitation. industry is so heavily dependent-the nation support system-is not something separate And issues of jobs or economic growth will must carefully husband its resources. We from all other concerns. It includes and en­ become academic. now use about 400 billion gallons of water compasses them all.· each day. an amount whi ch will double by " In thi context. then. I find it very appro­ " ... I would like to give you ... my own the end of the century. The demand for priate that my first formal remarks as Ad­ priorities for this Agency. drinkable water for municipalities is proj­ ministrator wi ll be delivered- within the pe­ ·'I pledge to you that EPA will be persist­ ected to increase from 30 billion gallons riod of less than two hours--to two groups ent and consistent in carrying out our envi­ daily to 50 billion gallons. highl y sensit ive to the popular dichotomy ronmental laws. "We are also learning of some unantici­ which has been imposed on the issue of " We will be thorough and fair. pated problems ... o ur water supplies. environmental protection. I am giving this .. And we will vigorously pursue our man­ even relatively deep aquifers . are vulnerable same message to the National Wildlife Feder­ date to protect the integrity and health of the to contamination. We know now that some ati on. and to the NAM which is also meeting biosphere upon which all human life. growth families of chemicals must be kept out of and activity depend ...

PAGE 8 "No one industry-or municipality or citizen-should be exempt from its responsibilities to help toward the common goal.'' Blum

natural cycles to the greatest extent possi­ inevita ble. What we at EPA can do. to the mee1ing this goal of fairnes is no simple ble. T his is becau e of their tendency to benefit of both industry and the agency. i matter. About half of one percent of the accumula te in the bodies of li ving creatures. to help e nsure that disagreements are not inflation we have experienced in recent We know now that some pollutants. o nce based on misunderstandings or mispercep­ years can be attributed to environmental conside red annoyances or inconveniences. tions o n anyone·s part. ontrols. We knov. now that pollution are in fact threats to human a nd e nvi ron­ ··For our part. we will try to understand abalement ultima1ely creates more j bs lhan mental well-being. Acid rains can spo il as thoroughly as pos ible the realiti es that it dislocates. These figures make ii appear crops miles from the source of the o rigina l face you. and to implement regulations with that pollution control can happen without pollutant. and can lower the pH level of an awareness of those realiti e . To a large significant d islocati on. waters to the po int that desirable forms of extent. our success in this regard wil l de­ .. But we at EPA do not overlook the fact aqua ti c life perish .. . pend not onl y on what E PA does. but on that a broad spectrum of industries ha e .. You should know that I come to EPA as your continued active partic ipa tion as we devoted. and must continue to de ote. a someone who has been involved w ith ma ny propose guidelines a nd institutional struc­ substantial portion of the ir available ·apital efforts to preserve a nd protect the integrity tures. and as we draft regul ations . to pollution abatement . Among o lhers. of our environmental heritage. Equa ll y im­ .. EPA's continued effectiveness will de­ these include power generaling companie · . po rtant. I ha ve a lso had a good deal of pend on how well we do our homework. smelters. organic chemical producers. auto­ experience as a businesswoman. I know Part of that homework is to become inti­ mobile makers-and !he pulp a nd paper about the realities of cash fl ow. a mortiza­ ma te ly fa miliar with every aspect of your industry. or are 1,.1e overlooking the fact tio n. and the bon·owing market. I a m now in need a nd practi ces as an industry . that pollution abatement will affect the cost the federal governme nt. but both Doug Cas­ Another. perhaps mo re important. part of of your products. Speaking as a business­ tle and I have been on the other end of the homework . . involves the way we woman. I can understand the reluctance to Federal regulations . I know very well the model projected induslry cosls and needs as commit large amounls of mone} in 1,.1a ys impact laws and regulations-even the best we try to set up rea li stic guidelines a nd that do not immediately improve one·s mar­ intentio ned-can ha ve on the day-to-day goals. It sho uld go without saying that E PA ket positi on. business of getting things done. I have heard has been. and wi ll continue to be. scrupu­ ··As I said. fai rness is difficull to atta in in many complaints about a n excess of red lously careful to cost out the impact of it s an i mperfecl world. But ii shou Id be a tape and regulations in many areas of fed­ decisions on industry a nd on con umer touchstone for our decisions. I want to e ral invo lveme nt. and I can ofte n ympa­ prices . a 'Su re you that we wil l continue to ·1ct as thize with those complaints. .. Lastl y. I think it is of paramo unt impor­ fairly and impaniall y as possible in imple- "Everyone he re knows. however. that tance that the cost of meeting o ur national . menting the laws e ntrusted to us. This \\ill the tensio ns that sometimes exist between environmental goals should be distribuled mean that. just as we do our best not to gi e E PA and industries regulated by pollution­ fai rl y. No one industry. or portion of the one company within an industry a competi­ control laws go beyond red tape. Disagree­ econo my. or c lass of citizens . o r geographic ti ve ad antage by dehying nr 1-vai ing its me nts between the Environme ntal Protec­ region should have to assume an unfair e nvironmental 1·espon ·ibilitics. no one in ­ tion Agency and the industri es it is charged proportio n of the burden . dustry-or municipalit y. or c itizen- sho uld to regulate. and a lternative interpretations " I a m s ure !hat you understand that be exempt from its r esponsibilitie~ lo help of the same set of ·facts .· a re perhaps toward the common goal. ..

PAGE 9 PROGRESS ON 'I'HE: ENFORCEMENT FRONT

total of 6.613 actions was taken by A EPA during the first nine months of last year in enforcing the Nation·s Federal environmental protecti on law~. These activi­ ties. which occurred in the pesticide. air. and water pollution control area . are docu­ mented in a recently-published Progress Re­ port by the Office of Enforcement. T he report a l ~l.l i nc l ude~ updated information on the noise pollution enforcement program . .. The new report. which is the fourth in a series. out lines enforcement acti vities for 1976 over the Janua ry I through September 30 period to coincide with the recently modi­ fied Federa l f iscal year... explained Stanley W. Legro. EPA Assistant Administrator for Enforcement. ··Thi s b1ings th e total number of such actions taken in the Agency·~ six year~ of existence to nearly 19.000. ··The report documents enforcement ac tiv­ it i c~ carried out directly by EPA. and as <;uch. it enumerates only the Federal portion of the envi ronmental enforcement activities in thi ~ country. T he enforcement of the Na­ ti on·s environme ntal laws is a task shared by the Federal. State. and local governme nt . A cont inuat ion of that strong partner hip re­ mai n ~ one of the Agency's highest p1io1ities / 111 ·es riMa tor ,fi-om EPA 's National £11force- than 200.000 stationar y sources are now sub­ in accomplishing the task of improving the 111e11 1 lm ·es1ixorio11 s Ce111 er in De111·er 11 ses ject to emiss ion limitations. Nearl y quali ty of our Nation's environment ... said protmdinx meas11 r i11~ de 1·ice ro tesr e111is­ 22.000 of these are . .. facilities individually Legro. sio11.1· in rhi s indusrrial smoke srock. capable of emitting more than 100 tons of a From EPA"s beginnings in Dece mbe r 1970 pollutant each year.... By September 1976. to Septe mber 1976. over$ 11.7 mi llion in f ines the States and EPA had brought 20.0 IO (92 and penalties have been imposed. not includ­ will res ult in the recall of 530 .000 automo­ percent) of these into final compliance. or ing ove r $ I million assessed on M ay 4. 1976 biles: another recal l order recently issued to had placed them on f irm schedules leading to agai nst th e Rese1ve Mining Compan y. which Chrysler Corporation in volves 208.000 vehi­ compliance in the very near future . .. The is appealing that decision. Maj or enforcement cles. compliance level is expected to climb to actions which have occun·ed in the interval And on October 5. 1976. Allied Chemical about 95 percent by the end of Fiscal Year from Septembe r 1976 'to present include Corporation was fined $13.28 million for dis­ 1977." criminal action against the Semet-So lvay charging the pesticide Kepone into Vi rginia's T he report es ti mates that air pollution con­ coke plant at Ashland. Ky.. for air pollution James River- the largest fine ever imposed trol measures taken to abate stationar y regulation violations. which led to a fine of for violation of environmental regulations source emissions keep 22.4 million tons of $925.000. U.S. Steel and EPA signed a con­ (that fine was later reduced to S5 million particulate matter and 7.4 million tons of ~e nt order to control particulate pollution dollars in re ponse to Allied's efforts to alle­ sulfur ox ides out of the ai r annually. from the lairton Coke works in Pennsylva­ viate the effects that had occ u1Ted. incl uding The Progress Report also observes that nia (th e J a rge~ t coke oven plant in t he world). payment of $8 million to a trust.) " compliance in the steel industry still Jags far which will re ·ult in a pa rticu.late emission behind most other stationary sources. I n red uction to less than half of th e present AIR enforcement act i vities were ad­ October 1976 , 489 (49 percent) of the major level -. A nother con~en t order containing a dressee! by the 1976 report under two ca te­ s

PESTICIDE enforcement activiti es re­ vealed violations whi h resulted "in the issu­ ance of 269 civil complaints. 2)7 stop sale. use. or removal orders. n::., recall requests and 717 notices of warning. ··The violations involved ... inc lude non­ registration; false registration; misbranding .; adulteration or contamination of con­ tents: false claims as to effectiveness: and contents diffe ring from those represented at the time of registration . The Progress Report also discusses the use surveillance program. which is a relatively new program implemented to focus on those areas where the opportuni t for adverse ef­ fects from pesticide rnisuse cu·e greatest. As a result of violations found under th is prograrn. 56 civil penalty warnings and 19 stop sale. use. or removal orders were issued. Also. an enforcement strategy for the con­ trol of toxic substances was developed. and a cooperative State enforcement grant program plants with at least one battery equipped with C eorge Srone (/(1regro1111d) and Pa11/ De­ was introduced. a pushing emission control device has risen Perci11 1~( EPA's National £11fvrce111e11r from less th an three in 1972 to nearly 20 at /n1 •esrigario11s Ce11rer in De111•er operating NOISE enforcement regulations for ne~' the present time ... a ll"ater .rn111pli11g cle1·ice. medi um and heavy dut 111.1cks and por1ahlc Anoth er area of attention in the stationary air compressors were promulgated during the source category is power plants. The report first th ree quarters of 1976. Additional stand­ states that about 59 percent of the Nation· s bly line was conducted on a trial basis (since ards arc presentl y be ing developed for motor­ coal- and oi l-fired capacity now operates in January I. 1977. the audit program has been cycles. buse" wheel and crawler tractor~. ful l compliance with sulfur oxide limitations in fu ll operation). In addition. some 23.400 truck refrigera1i on units and truck mounted or meet Federally enforceable schedules. inspections of service stations to ensure soli d waste compactors. Also. a new noise Regarding mobile source enforcement. compliance with unleaded fuel regulations enforcement facility was opened in San­ EPA secured the recall by automobile manu­ were conducted. dusky. Ohi o. in late October of 1976. facture rs of 620,000 vehicles to correct emis­ Copies of the 1976 Progress Report are sion-related defects. Beside testing the emis­ WATER-Over 2.400 enforcement acti ons available by writing: U.S. Environmental Pro­ sion levels of vehicle prototypes, a Selective were initiated by EPA during the time span tection Agency. Public Informati on Center Enforcement Audit Program designed to te ·t covered in the new report. which states. (PM-215). 401 M Street. SW. Washington. emissions of vehicles coming off the assem- "compliance of major industrial and mun ici- D.. 20460. • PAGE 11 ENVIRONMENTAL CANCER

ecause of "the unquestionable scientific cause the human population is so variable, it from a particular substance is worth the risk, B evidence that most of the U.S. cancer will contain some individuals who react like however small it may be . . . Accordingly incidence is due to environmental agents, the one species, some who react like the other, there is a scientific support for the scientific only possible prevention for the disease is to and many who occupy the whole range in assumption inherent in the Delaney Amend­ reduce contact with these agents," Dr. Barry between. Once it is established that a sub­ ment-that a positive animal test for carcino­ Commoner emphasized at a recent two-day stance is carcinogenic toward any species of genicity is evidence of a risk to people. In conference on cancer which EPA helped to laboratory animal, it is likely that it will effect, then, this approach involves no fur­ fund. cause cancer in some individuals in the ther evaluation by society, other than the Speaking at the meeting in Washington human population .... assertion that no risk of cancer to people is D.C., Dr. Commoner, Director of the Center "The over-all annual incidence of cancer ever, under any circumstances, to be deliber­ for Biology of Natural Systems, Washington in the United States is about 0.3 percent; ately induced .... University, St. Louis, said, ''Tests on labora­ and at that rate cancer is the second highest tory animals, particularly rats and mice, cause of death ... In order to measure such "2. RELATIVE (i.e. risk/benefit evalua­ have produced a list now approaching a a small statistical effect in a laboratory tion): This approach is now being urged in thousand substances known to cause cancer experiment, huge numbers of animals would opposition to the Delaney Amendment ... in one or more species. What does this be needed. Therefore much higher doses of This method asserts that action should be information tell us about the likelihood that carcinogen are used, so that the cancer based on the socially perceived balance be­ a particular substance will cause cancer in incidence among the test animals is usually tween the carcinogenic risk of exposure to a people'? between 50 and 100 percent. substance, and the benefits to be derived .. A basic fact about animal tests is this: "The purpose of the animal test is not to from using the substance.... Laboratory animals are strains which have determine whether people would get cancer "For example ... the social benefit of an been intentionally bred into highly uniform from such high exposures, but only to decide anti-leukemia drug which is itself carcino­ populations. Most laboratory animal strains in a feasible, statistically significant way. genic may be quite high, whereas the social are highly uniform in their sensitivity to whether or not the substance will cause benefit of a carcinogenic food dye is very carcinogens. cancer in the test animal. Such tests can low.... "One of the most important factors that usually give an unequivocal answer, at the "In effect, then, if the risk/benefit ap­ determines the sensitivity of a species or large doses that are customarily used. For proach is adopted, it means that society must strain of animals is the activity of the enzyme example, animals fed large amounts of sugar, undertake to determine on the basis of their system which converts environmental carcin­ aspirin or sulfa drugs do not develop cancer. value to society, what chemical substances ogens into active metabolic products that It is therefore scientific nonsense to assert, are to be produced, and are to be permitted actually trigger the cancer.... as some people have, that ·any chemical to come into contact with people. This will "Human populations are. of course, much given in a sufficiently high dose will cause require social governance of decisions­ more variable in their characteristics than cancer' .... about what chemicals to produce and for inbred strains of laboratory animals. There is "Animal tests tell us that the risk is not what purposes-which, in our present eco­ now specific evidence that this greater varia­ zero, but do not tell us the size of the risk nomic system, are governed not by social. bility occurs in the enzymes that are involved . . . Once the attempt is made to weigh the but by private interests." Dr. Commoner in activating environmental carcinogens.... risks against the benefits of a food additive­ concluded. .. People then .. are more variable than or of any of the numerous synthetic chemi­ purebred strains of laboratory animals in cals introduced into the environment-very The following excerpts in this article­ their genetically determined level of enzyme far-reaching economic. social, and even po­ taken from an environmental cancer confer­ activity (this may well explain why not all litical questions are raised. In practical ence which EPA helped fund-were selected smokers develop cancer). In addition, peo­ terms, a substance is designated as a 'car­ because they represent important areas of ple are exposed to a much more variable cinogen' by animal testing ... Once this concern in the continuing debate surround­ environment of substances (such as tobacco information is in hand, a decision regarding ing the topic of environmental carcinogens. smoke) that can stimulate the carcinogen­ whether and how human exposure to it is to It must be noted, however, that these re­ activating enzymes. be controlled becomes inescapable. Such a marks do not refer to EPA's regulatory "This very different range of variability decision can be made in two alternative authorities for the control of suspected car­ among populations of laboratory animals and ways: cinogens, nor do they address the Agency's of people must be carefully considered in current approach in making rigorous as­ interpreting animal tests on carcinogens. In 1. ABSOLUTE (i.e. the Delaney Amend­ sessments of health risk and economic im­ the absence of direct data on people. there is ment, which forbids the addition to food of pact in developing regulatory decisions little point in comparing the entire human any amount of a substance known to cause where cancer risk is a key factor. The population to either a population of carcino­ cancer in any species of animal): This ap­ Agency's approach to regulatory action for gen-sensitive rats or to a population of car­ proach involves the decision that, given the suspect carcinogens will be reviewed in a cinogen-resistant guinea pigs, Rather, be- disastrous health effects of cancer, no benefit fwure issue ofthe EPA Journal. PAGE 12 Dr. Barry C om111011er

tics apply only to the white population: "The smaller number of no nwhite in the U.S. make modification of the mapping technique necessary to ensure reliable results. Another mapping tudy now under way will examine geographical difference in cancer death rates for nonwhites ... Since the writing of the paper. the Alias of Cancer Morwlicy Among U.S. 01111·hi1es 1950-1969 has been pub­ li shed. Speaking on behalf of industry. Christian Hansen. Vice-Chairman. Chemical Industry Council of ew Jersey. said. "The chemical industr would like to reiterate its interest and concern with a ll aspects of safety and Over 20 leading authorities from govern­ mental factor in common with cancers of the health on the job and in the safety of sur­ ment. industr y. labor. a nd the scientific large intestine. rounding communities. We want to deter­ community participated in the environme n­ .. High rates in the ortheast for cancers of mine as much as anyone the causes of can­ tal cancer conference. Dr. Lawrence Plum­ the esophagus. larynx. mouth. throat. and cer. At this point. we are not a\ are of any lee. EPA Medical Science Advisor. served as bladder were li mited to males. suggesting the problems for which remedies have not al­ a panel moderator. influence of occupational factors. In a corre­ ready been set in motion. lf new problems Along with EPA . the National Cancer In­ lation study. the National Cancer Institute are found. prompt. effective action will be stitute a nd the National Inst itute of Environ­ identified high rates of cance1 of lung. liver. taken by industr in cooperati n ith gov­ menta l Health Sciences helped fund the and bladder in counties with ignificant em­ ernment. We strongly support the idea of March meeting. which was sponsored by the ployment in the chemical industry. Additional continuing studies to insure that there are no Urban Environment Conference. studies are needed to clarify any occupa­ factors unknown to u and we pledge coop­ ln a nother presentation. Dr. Robert Hoo­ tional 1isks. " e ration with any res ponsible groups a nd ver of the National Cancer Institute. analyzed agencies . ... the occurrence of environmental cancer us­ t is nearly certain. according to the ··Tue industry's most important asset is its ing ma ps he had helped to plot as one of the I report. that "industrial exposure have employees and we want to protect them. The a uthors of the A rlas of Cancer Morralitv for produced the striking geographic concentra­ c hemical industry has a fine safety record. U.S. Co1111ries, 1950- 1969. The maps. which tions of bladder cancer deaths in males in the a mong the best in Ame1ican indu ·try... . show levels of cancer death rates (deaths East. ··chemical workers a re healthier than the per I 00.000 popula ti on) over th e geographi­ ·· ational Cancer Instit ute scie ntists have general populace. The have longer life ex­ cal Un ited States. tend to suggest both also found above-average lung cancer death pectancies. and lower rates of cancer than general environmental factors and possible rates in counties where a significant percent­ the population in general ... occupational factors for the prevale nce of age of the work force is engaged in s melting "We believe that e mi ssi ns from c hemical cancer. and refining of copper. lead. and zinc ores. industry operations are adequately con­ ··Melanoma [a rare skin cancer] death · Arseni c. a known human cance1:producing trolled. Each vent. and all effluents from occurred predominantly in the southern agent. is an airborne by-product of the smelt­ each plant must have permits from either United State. . In areas of the Southwest ing operation for these ores. Above-average State or Federal governments. o r both. We bordering Mexico. rates were somewhat rates we re fo und for females as well as males don't think responsible operator in the lower... an HEW report o n the cancer atlas in these counties. suggesting spread of a n chemical industry have any uncontrolled or states. ··Scie ntists have known for many occupational 1isk to the surrounding commu­ unknown emissions which might be causing a years that sunlight is a major cause of skin nity. problem. cancer. and that darkc1:skinned persons are Dr. Hoover cautioned that such e pide­ ·'The re are many other and differe nt less susceptible. miological studies should not be considered sources of emissions; from cars. from planes. ··cancers of the colon and rectum. be­ the final word. "We consider this material to from power plants. va porization. pain ting. lieved to be related to diet. were found in gain clues.·· he said. ""The chief value of the and on and o n. These coul d be causing a both sexes a t above average rates in the maps will be to stimulate scientists and other problem since New Jersey is a highly urban­ Northeast and in urban areas along the Great health professionals to conduct studies of ized State ... Hansen said. Lakes. Low rates we re found in the southern intriguing . cancer patte rns in their own lo­ Copies of the full proceedings for the con­ a nd central parts of the U. S. Surprisingly. cales. ·· ference are available by w1iting the Urban breast cancer showed a simila r pattern. sug­ Dr. Hoove r's paper notes that these statis- Environme nt Conference. 1714 Massachu­ gesting that thi s disease may have an environ- setts Ave.. .W. . Washington . D.C. 20036. • PAGE 13 timetable set The U.S. District Court has set deadlines for carrying out four controversial measures to reduce auto traffic (and air pollution) in New York City. By Sept. 14 this year. taxi cruising variance for tva must be reduced at least 5 percent. by Feb. Another court fight seems likely over at­ 14. 1978. ten percent. and by a year later 20 tempts to let the Tennessee Valley Author­ AROUND percent. The city must submit plans to EB\ ity's coal-burning power plants emit more to reduce and manage parking in southern sulfur dioxide than air pollution regulations and midtown Manhattan so as to cut morn­ allow. THE ing auto entries into the area by the same Region IV has issued draft administrative percentages and dates. orders to the power agency to move toward Also the city must submit to EPA by July 14 compliance at seven big plants. four in Ten­ detailed schedules for at least two demon­ nessee, two in Alabama. and one in Ken­ NATION stration projects aimed at relieving conges­ tucky, The Tennessee legislature and various tion from delivery trucks. Finally. by August industry groups have asked the State's Air 31. 1978. the State and city must establish Pollution Control Board to grant TVA a tolls at the presently free bridges across the variance. EPA had previously rejected a TVA Harlem and East Rivers and use the net request to use tall smokestacks to disperse earnings for mass transit subsidies. the sulfur dioxide pollution. Regional Administrator Jack Ravan has ex­ dealer charged pressed concern to several State agencies At the request of EPA. the Justice Depart­ over what he termed "delaying tactics" by ment recently filed a civil complaint against TVA. In a telegram to Tennessee Gov. Ray Stanley Motors. Irvington. N.J .. for discon­ Blanton, Ravan asked support for the Clean necting a car's emission control system. Re­ Air Act and its public health goals. gional officials said the Chrysler dealer had knowingly rendered the control system ino-; perative while trying to correct a stalling tendency that had existed since the car was first sold by Stanley Motors. Maximum pen­ discharge permits alty for each proved violation is $10.000. Region I has approved a water discharge permit for Boston Edison's proposed Pilg1im nuclear power plant at Plymouth. Mass .. although construction has not begun. The preplanning plant will use ocean water to cool its con­ Region V officials' advice was sought re­ densers and will release the warmed water cently by planners ofa new industrial com­ into Plymouth Bay. The plans were judged plex proposed for Conneaut. Ohio. on the sufficient to protect fish. shellfish. and wild­ shore of Lake Erie in the northeast corner of life. the State. U.S. Steel. which is considering Other recent discharge permits in the Region vinyl chloride building the world's largest steel-making facil­ included three that will require capacitor Enforcement personnel have completed in­ ity at Conneaut. met there with EPA. the manufacturers to restrict their output of specting all facilities in Region Ill that pro­ Army Corps of Engineers, and Ohio and polychlorinated biphenyls ( PCBs). They duce vinyl chloride. None of the six plants in Pennsylvania officials to discuss en vi ronmen­ were issued to Sprague Electric Co .. North Pennsylvania. Delaware. Maryland. and West tal protection requirements before making Adams. Mass .. and Aerovox Corp. and Cor­ Virginia was found to pose an immediate their final site selection. nell- Dubilier. New Bedford. Mass. public health hazard because of emissions of the toxic chemical. All plants, however, have scientists on air recycling list been placed on compliance schedules de­ Researchers at EPA's laboratory in Duluth, A directory of recycling centers in New signed to meet the EPA's emission standards Minn .. were interviewed by explorer England has been published by EPAs Region to insure against long-term health effects. All Philippe Cousteau for the first program of a I Office. It lists where the centers are. what six plants are expected to achieve compliance television series ... Oasis in Space." to be mate1ials they recycle. hours of operation. by Oct. 21. 1978. shown soon on the Public Broadcasting Sys­ etc. It also tells how to prepare va1ious waste tem network. The laboratory workers at materials for salvage and gives tips on how to Duluth first found asbestos fibers in the mill start a recycling center.. waste discharged into Lake Superior by the PAGE 14 Reserve Mining Co. plant at Silver Bay. Minn. In the taped program Cousteau also talks to mining company officials. environ­ mentalists. and Duluth citizens who are ex­ posed to the mineral fibers in their drinking water. phosphate ban Legislators in two more States want to re­ las vegas jackpot strict the growth of algae in the Great Lakes All industrial process wastes formerly dis­ by banning phosphates from household de­ charged into the Las Vegas Wash have been tergents. completely eliminated. Nine companies The Michigan House of Representatives· near Las Vegas and Henderson, Nev., have Conservation Committee has held hearings railroad fined eliminated their discharges by recycling, on two bills to bar the sale of phosphate The Chicago. Rock Island and Pacific Rail­ evaporation or other treatment. and by in­ detergents, and a proposed ban in Ohio was road Co. recently pleaded guilty of failing to plant process changes. The Wash drains into discussed recently by the Water Quality report an oil spill and was fined $3.500 by Las Vegas Bay. a heavily used arm of Lake Board of the International Joint Commis­ Federal District Court Judge Edward Mc­ Mead. sion (UC), the Canada- U.S. Great Lakes Manus. The spill had occurred at Manly. Cleanup by municipalities in the area is policy body. The Ohio EPA supports such a Iowa, into Rose Creek, a tributary of the progressing. aided by $34 million in EPA ban. as do the IJ C and Region V officials. Shellrock River. Failure to report is a crimi­ construction grants to the Clark County In Indiana, which already has a phosphate nal offense under the Federal Water Pollution Sanitation District. ban. an effort to repeal the law was defeated Control Act and carries a maximum fine of In December 1971 EPA started its enforce­ in February. $10,000. Charles V. Wright, Acting Regional ment actions to clean up the Wash. The Administrator. said, "The person in charge of elimination of the industrial discharges com­ any facility from which there is a discharge of pletes a major portion of the program. oil in harmful quantities ... must notify the Coast Guard ... or an EPA Regional Of- fice ...

city cited Region VI officials have formally charged Houston, Texas, with violating the Federal pulp mills cited unleaded fuel regulations in the operation of Region X officials have started enforcement police cars. The complaint served on Mayor actions against six pulp mills in western Fred Hofheinz. alleges that leaded gas was coping with drought Washington: Boise-Cascade Corp.. Steila­ used in vehicles that require unleaded fuel to The Mountain States have had an unusually coom; Crown Zellerbach. Port Angeles and protect their emission control systems. that dry winter, resulting in lowered reservoirs. Port Townsend; Georgia-Pacific. Bel­ small nozzles for unleaded fuel were attached snowmelt, and groundwater levels. Some lingham; ITT Rayonier. Port Angeles; and to pumps dispensing leaded fuel. and that the communities may have to restrict water use. Scott Paper. Everett. The mills were cited city failed to post the required notices and starting this spring, and others may run either for operating without a valid dis­ labels at its pumps. Civil penalties totalling completely out of water. Charles W. Murray, charge permit or for failure to comply with $46. 750 for ten violations were proposed by Water Division Director for Region VI II. schedules for installing secondary wastewa­ EPA. The city may request a hearing. heads a Drought Task Force that includes ter treatment equipment. representatives named by the six governors Regional Administrator Donald P. Dubois quality awards of the Region's States to make plans for said the State Department of Ecology had Awards for outstanding environmental work coping with the drought. Two major pres­ issued the mills' discharge permits between in Region VI were recently awarded by Re­ sures are expected: to develop new water August 1974and May 1975and that the gional EPA officials as follows: State govern­ resources and to relax EPA requirements plants were from nine to 14 months behind ment, Dick Whittington, Deputy Director of and discharge permit conditions. in their compliance schedules. Apparently. the Texas Water Quality Board; local govern­ Drought increases the potential for severe Dubois said. they cannot now meet the July ment, Henry Graeser, retired Director of the public health problems. Murray pointed out. l deadline set in the Federal Water Pollution Dallas Water Department; educator, Dr. Ear­ and States and communities are likely to Control Act for applying the· ·best practica­ nest Gloyna. University of Texas College of seek more technical assistance than usual ble" pollution control techniques. Engineering; media, Harold Scarlett, Hous­ from EPA. Regional officials are also study­ Dubois said the six cases have been referred ton Post reporter; citizen group, the Aquifer ing how best to implement EPA's proposed to the U.S. Attorney's office in Seactle for Protection Association. San Antonio, Texas; regulations for "general" discharge permits. possible civil action. He noted that 28 other youth group. Students Concerned Over Pol­ These rules, proposed in February. would pulp mills in the Region.are complying with lution of the Environment. Leonville High primarily affect irrigation farming. The Re­ their discharge limitations and schedules. School. Opelousas. La.; institution, Corpus gion has more than 10 million acres of Christi Area Oil Spill Control Association; irrigated land. General permits may be re­ and special recognition. Cliff Harris of the quired for each irrigated farm's return flow Dallas Cowboys football team. outlet. PAGE 15 STATUS OF PERMIT GUIDELINES

ive years ago Congress decreed that Discharge permits are difficult to frame less. not many of those permits had to be every known polluter of the Nation's without knowing what pollutants and how changed later. Fwaterways must have a permit. The permits much of each kind are in the plant's waste "Even the industries being regulated would set limits on each kind of pollutant water. There was. of course. some general tended to agree with us on what the best discharged. and the limits would grow pro­ knowledge: paper mills discard a lot of cellu­ technology was. Most responsible industries gressively stricter to achieve the goal of no losic material; cannery wastewaters contain~ promptly began the construction work and man-made water pollution by 1985. All this a lot of organic material, peelings. hulls, etc.; the process changes needed to comply with was spelled out in the Federnl Water Pollu­ petroleum refineries are heavy on phenols their permits... tion Control Act of 1972. and sulfides, steel rolling mills on acids for Effiuent guidelines are supported by de­ Known polluters. called .. point sources." cleaning the finished metal. tailed technical manuals that survey an indus­ include every facility that has a definite But without detailed knowledge of an in­ try and its processes with particular attention outlet where pollution-bearing waste water dustry's operations. not only at one plant but to controlling and reducing water pollution. can enter a stream, a lake, or coastal ocean at similar plants throughout the country. it They are compiled in draft form by inde­ water. About 20,000 of them are municipal was difficult to decide what pollutant levels pendent engineering firms under EPA con­ sewage systems. but the big majority-more reflected the best practicable control meth­ tract. Each document undergoes extensive than 40.000-are industries that use water in ods to be reached by July 1977. Even more review and revision before it is adopted by their operations and discharge it. with added knowledge of research advancements and EPA. Copies are sent to State environmental pollutants from their processing. directly into trends in technical development was needed agencies. other Federal departments, public a waterway. to set the discharge levels that would repre­ interest and environmental groups. and in­ Pollution from sewage is being reduced by sent the best available methods that would be dustrial and trade groups for comment and building new treatmenr works and upgrnding economically achievable in that industry six criticism. EPA staff members and a scientific old ones with massive subsidies from the years later. advisory committee established under the Federal Government. These construction Act also review the proposed guidelines. grants will total about $4.5 billion annually. PA officials in all ten Regions set about They are made available to the public at or five times the Environmental Protection Ethe gigantic task of listing all point EPA's Regional Offices and libraries and Agency's operating budget. sources and issuing permits as fast as sensi­ through publication in the Federal Register. Jndustiial point sources, the law says, must ble specifications could be made. They also The Act itself named 28 categories of pay for their own pollution control. There is encouraged States to set up the legal and industry. ranging from asbestos manufactur­ no EPA subsidy. The Agency's role is limited regulatory mechanisms to qualify them to ing to timber products. for which EPA was to technical assistance. guidelines and stand­ take over administration of the permit pro­ required to develop effluent guidelines. And ards. plus research and demonstration of new gram within their own boundaries. Twenty­ it ordered EPA to add other categories when control techniques. eight States and territories have now assumed it felt that was desirable. Twenty-four have By July I .this year. according to the Act. this function. and EPA issues permits only in been so added: petroleum extrnction as well all industries must achieve the "best prnctica­ the remaining 26jurisdictions. as petroleum refining, concrete products as ble pollution control technology available." At the outset the permit program concen­ well as cement manufacturing. Almost all of By July 1983 all industries must improve trated on the largest polluters. industries the 52 broad categories have been divided their pollution control performance to the known to contribute heavily to water pollu­ into subcategories. For example. nonferrous "best available" methods "economically tion. and the largest plants in those indus­ metal manufacturing now includes seven dif­ achievable.·· tries. Only when the big offenders were ferent sections. each with its own set of By setting two target dates. the second gathered in did the regulators turn to mop­ effluent guidelines: bauxite (aluminum ore) s11icter than the first. Congress recognized ping up the little ones. refining. primary and secondary aluminum that there would be advances in the technol­ The hard. nuts-and-bolts work of analyzing smelting, primary and secondary copper ogy of pollution control. and the law was particular industries and deciding what was smelting. zinc. and lead. framed to anticipate them. Congress also good pollution control practice for each fell Altogether EPA has developed more than recognized that the costs required of indus­ to the Effiuent Guidelines Division in the 500 subcategories, because each one differs try should not be excessive; benefits should Office of Water Planning and Standards in from the others in the types of pollutants be worth the money spent for them. Washington. now headed by Robert Schaffer. produced and in the best methods of control. To carTy out the Act's requirements for .. During the first round of issuing permits Each guidelines document is based on a curbing industrial pollution EPA undertook EPA people often had to guess what the best thorough engineering study of a particular two big tasks simultaneously: issuing more practicable technology was and set the dis­ type of industry. its processes, its typical than 40.000 discharge permits (at the start no charge levels accordingly." said Schaffer. waste products. and the methods available to one knew how many industrial dischargers .. This was before much work had been done control or treat these wastes. including new there were) and writing "effiuent guidelines" on industry effluent guidelines. Neverthe- technology that is still in the development or for each type of industry. pilot stage. PAGE 16 Permits 10 discharge waste ll'ater i1110 rii•ers mus1 be monitored regularly 10 insure com­ pliance. Here a Pennsyli·ania S1a1e em­ ployee samples th e water from an i11d11s1rial outfall 011 the Monongahela Rirer at West Mifflin, near Pir1sburgh.

"How much pollution can be tolerated in this waterway?" wa the basic question. ow It s "What are the specific pollutant source and how can we curb them before they reach the river? "This approach puts the job of monitor­ ing progress on the polluter. An indu try with guideline and a permit must keep track of its discharges and report peri di­ call y to the State or EPA. "The de ired water quality in a particular lake or river is till important. however. Per­ mit for discharging into the Finger Lake in upstate ew York would be a lot more stringent than for the Hudson River to pro­ tect established quality tandards ... Schaffer thinks a ignificant long-nm bene­ fit will come a l o from the "new ource performance standards" that are included in the guidelines. These de cribe the pollution controls requi red of all polluting facilities on which construction begins after publication of the proposed standards. In ome ca ·e the new source standard may be more stringent than either the 1977 or 1983 limitations on existing sources. because better sy te rn for reducing or treating wastes, or both. can be The analysis also considers costs. How based on common sense. a survey of the built right into new plants. much new investment is needed for different plant's wastewater. and perhaps some tech­ The level of control for new sources i. methods of control? How much expenditure niques borrowed from the guidelines for the described in the Act in different words from for operation and maintenance? How much leather tanning and fini shing industry. the 1977 and 1983 limitations: "the be ~ t energy? What will happen to product costs Have effluent guidelines and discharge per­ available demonstrated control technolog . and bu iness profits? mits helped improve the quality of our water­ processes. oper-ating methods or other alter­ For most of the industrial categories and ways? natives including, \\'here pmcticable, a sw11d­ subcategories. EPA publishes a separate eco­ "Of course they have," said Schaffer. ard permirri11g 110 discharge ofpol/111 c1111s. " nomic analysis document. which is also given "though I cannot tell you how much. We in "Many industry representatives have an exhaustive review both inside and outside the Eftluent Guidelines Division know that worked with us on developing the effiuenl the Agency and i available for public inspec­ where the guidelines are applied and permits guideli nes. The more progressive and en i­ tion and criticism before publication. are in force. there i much less pollution ronmentally conscious have been helpful lo pouring out of indu trial outfall into the EPA and it contractors in drafting the tand­ he effluent guidelines furnish a sound rivers. Thousands of industrial plants wi ll ards." said Schaffer. "We hope this will T technical base for the discharge permits. soon be required to ·pretreat' wastewater continue as we work lo revise the 1983 They also provide guidance to the permit­ that they discharge into public sewer sys­ standard to focus on the most noxiou~ pollu­ issuing authorit y. either a State government tems. Such wastes are often incompatible tants . or EPA Regional officials. for judging the with normal sewage and can disable or spoil .. Most industries are going to meet this degree of pollution control the plant is able to the purification processes in the treatment year' s goal of 'best practicable technology.' achieve at a reasonable cost. plants. In this way, the guidelines for indus­ Those that lag are under pressure to catch The 500-odd guidelines documents already trial pollution control can help improve mu­ up. and this pressure come from their com­ publi shed cover an esti mated 95 percent of nicipal pollution control. .. petitors as well as from EPA and State American industry. For the small minority EPA's whole approach to water pollution regulators. I think thi s is a very healthy of industries remaining. the permit-issuing control was changed by the 1972 Act. Schaf­ situation. which will continue th rough the a uthorities still have to "wing it." For exam­ fe r pointed out. The quality of the water in a six-year drive to meet the 1983 goals and ple. a buggy-whip manufacturer applying for river or lake used to be the base on which through the constant. natural process of a permit would get one with pollutant limits EPA and its pr!!decessor agencies worked . building new production facilities ... • PAGE 17 POLL REAFFIRMS ATTITUDE WATER AIR 1972 1974 1976 1972 1974 1976 Favors increased spending 64% 56% 59% 61% 47% 52% ENVIRONMENTAL Keep at present level 26 36 30 28 42 34 Reduce 4 2 6 4 4 8 End altogether I I I I 2 2 SUPPORT "Don't know 5 5 4 6 5 4

Noting a downward shift in the intensity of public support for mericans have accepted environmental protection as one of government spending on the environment from 1972 to 1976, the Alheir basic national goals. and even the combined pressure of an authors point out that in both cases-water and air pollution-such economic recession and energy shortage over the 1974-76 period changes took place from 1972 to 1974. From 1974 to 1976, support has not shaken that commitment. for government spending on the environment remained relatively This is the conclusion of a newly released study-"' Protecting the stable. Also, such shifts were consonant with the majority of other Environment: Progress. Prospects, and the Public View"-prepared government spending progrnms similarly rated . by Potomac Associates. a Washington, D.C.-based policy research .. The over-all decline here does not mean that Americans are no organization. The study involves public opinion findings obtained longer interested in paying for government actions aimed at im­ from a May 1976 survey of 1,071 Americans. proving the environment," the authors contend, stating that their The study was prepared and published with the support of the analysis indicates "unmistakable public support for increased Rockefeller Foundation, the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, the spending to reduce water and air pollution. Institute for International Social Research, and other organiza­ ·'To sum up ... U.S. public attitudes toward reducing water and tions. air pollution display a distinct pattern. Most Americans tend to Similar surveys were conducted by Potomac Associates in 1972 believe that progress has been made recently in both areas, but and 1974. enabling the authors to define trends in public perception nevertheless remain deeply concerned about environmental prob­ of environmental issues over the past few years. The following table lems and are strongly in favor of increased government spending to shows how respondents viewed the progress the Nation has made in help move quickly toward their solution. Our citizens. in short, see reducing water and air pollution: cleaning up the environment as a national task of first priority, and they show no interest in easing up on abatement programs now," the OPINION WATER AIR study states. 1972 1974 1976 1972 1974 1976 However. on the environmentally-related topics of limiting popula­ Made much progress 4% 6% 5% 3% 7% 5% tion and economic growth. the results indicate a greater disparity of Made some progress 45 49 54 46 50 54 opinion. When asked if world population and economic growth will Stood still 23 19 21 25 21 22 have to be regulated to avoid serious shortages of national re­ Lost some ground 12 10 9 11 9 8 sources, the results were as follows: Lost much ground 8 7 3 7 5 3 Don't know 8 9 8 8 8 8 1974 1976 Yes 64% 67% ··Americans in general feel that the Nation has taken some No 29 25 worthwhile steps toward eventual solution of the problems of water Don't know 7 8 and air pollution." the study states. ··Despite a distinct sense of environmental progress. however, But when asked "Do you. yourself, feel that population and responses to other questions in our survey show that Americans are industrial growth in this area where you live should or should not be far from convinced that all of our problems are solved. Indeed. they regulated?" the results were: continue to demonstrate an extremely high level of concern about the task of cleaning up our environment." 1974 1976 The following table from the study shows the level of concern Growth should be regulated 54% 44% among the respondents about water. air. and solid waste pollution: Should not be 37 44 Don't know 9 12 CONCERN AIR WATER SOLID WASTE " ... the conclusion most worthy of note here may not be that 1972 1974 1976 1972 1974 1976 1972 1974 1976 there has been a drop of 10 percentage points between 1974 and 1976 A great deal 61% 51% 57% 60o/o 46% 55% 53% 46% 48% in the proportion of Americans who believe that growth should be A fair amount 29 35 32 28 36 32 34 33 32 controlled. but that even in 1976---as the Nation continues to struggle Not very much 7 10 7 9 12 8 10 16 14 out of a painful recession-half of those who expressed any opinion Not at all 2 2 3 3 3 5 on this question continued to feel that the interests of environmental Don't know 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 protection and preservation of the quality of life require some curbs "Corroboration of this strong public concern about environmental on population and economic growth," the study states. problems was provided by the November 1976 Hanis Survey ... The study also found that 69% of all those asked favored trying to which reported that the number of Americans who are now worried reduce the growth of the national population through encouraging about water and air pollution has reached record peaks. birth control. This figure was two percentage points lower than the In a third measure of the American public's attitudes toward one obtained in the 1974 sampling. environmental issues, public willingness to devote tax dollars to Authors of the study were Gladwin Hill of The New York Times, programs designed to curb water and air pollution was tested. Lloyd A. Free of the Institute for International Social Research, and These are the results: · Donald R. Lesh of Potomac Associates.• PAGE 18 OUR INDOOR RIVER

hen rain washe~ pollutant s from large W areas of land into the Natio n· · rivers. what becomes of them·1 Do they harm the river water and it s plant and animal life·1 What changes are worked by the river eco­ system on the pollutants the mselves. the silt. the nutrient chemicals. the pesticides? To help answer such questions. EPA has a small. indoor· river at its Environmental Re­ search Laboratory at Athens. Ga .. that can duplicate most of the conditions found in nat ural rive rs. It is call ed the Aquatic Ecosy ·tern Simula­ tor. and it cost about $ I million when it was built four years ago. The heart of this system is a nan-ow tank about 20 meters (64 ft.) long in which the simulated rive r fl ows under carefully con­ trol led conditions. Pure water containing arti­ fici all y introduced che micals is generally used. or natural water from a particular river The ef]i'cts of 1111trie11 ts and other polluram.1· compounds on the oxygen balance of or lake can be brought to the laboratory in 011 aquatic life are sr11died in this 64'.fi}()f­ streams. tank trucks. /0 11u artificial rii·er essential for intel lige nt con­ A wide range of environmental conditions In the river simulator. EPA scientists are trol. .. he said. can be main tained. The temperature of the trncing th e conversion of a mmonia to ni trates .. This kind of re~earch produce' compli­ water. and the air above it. can be va ried by bacteiia in the water under various envi­ cated and apparent! ' conflicti ng conclusions from 0 to 40 degrees C (32 to I 04 degrees F). ronmental conditions. that are best cast into ·models·-mathemati­ Relati ve humidity of the air in the laboratory The bacteria float in the wate r and form cal formulas that describe what can happen can range from 20 to 80 percent. colonies on the wa ll s and paddle wheels. under various conditions ... said Dr. Sander, . An overhead bank of 833 fluor-escent They carry out two processes in the ni trogen .. We have already modeled pesticide and lamps of different colors and I 00 infrared cycle: first they convert the ammonia to ferti lizer transport in particular \latershed' in lamps simulates the sunlight necessary for nitrites (compounds with two oxygen atoms) the Midwest nm Helt and the Southeast the natural growth of water plants. then to nitrates (three oxygen atoms). Piedmont sections of the country." The maximum flow rate is 7 .570 liters .. Both processes are call ed nitrification. "The a11ifi cial ri ver i:-- used tn check and (2.000 gall ons) per day. taking about 12 hour5 and both tend to take free dissolved oxygen re fine the mathematical model~.·· ~a i d Dr. for water to trave l the lengt h of the channel. from the water. .. said Dr. Lassit er. "They David W. Dutt weiler. lahoratory Di rector. It This short residence time is somewhat offset can cause localized wate r pol lution problems bridges the gap between small-scale labora­ by submerged paddle wheels that can stir the when an overload of nitrogen-rich organi c tory experiments. which can be carefu lly channel up to whi te-wate r turbulence if de­ materials from farm fields. for example. en­ controlled but may not be realistic, and stud­ si red . te rs a stream. Bacteiial action on this mate­ ies in the fie ld where the problems are real The simulated river is now being used in a ri al can deplete the oxygen balance in the but lit tle experimental control is possible. one-year study of what happens to pla nt stream. often kill in g fish and other o rga­ .. Although this system cannot reprodu e nutrients in a river. Suc h nutrients a re a nisms. all conditions fou nd in the natural environ­ principal cause of algal growth and the pre­ The studies are part of a conti nuing effort ment . it gives EPA aquati c re~earch capabil­ mat ure aging of la ke and ii ve rs. Runoff from IO characterize the complete nitrogen cycles ity that. to our knowledge. i~ not duplicated cultivated land is believed to be one of the and the effects of different kinds of nitrogen anywhere in the world.··• PAGE 19 EP~S EYES IN THE SKY

he white chopper hovers low over a backup for the other fixed-wing aircraft; ver the last seven years the nucleus T bayou backwater and gently settles its and a Douglas Monarch, a converted B-26 0 represented by those first planes has pontoons into a secluded stretch of the river. that carries the heaviest payload, flies the expanded into an important tool that gives A side panel bearing the blue and green EPA fastest, and has the longest range of all the Agency the means to find the source of symbol slides back. and several scientists EPA's aircraft. EPA also owns two Sikorsky pollutants, track their movements, and doc­ lean over the side with technical equipment S-58 helicopters and is using three Huex ument their evolution over periods of time and clipboards. Here in the Atchafalaya helicopters on loan from the Department of and through changing conditions. Many of River Basin EPA is monitoring water quality Defense. EPA's major research projects depend on to assess the environmental impact of water The Las Vegas· Lab has a staff of 11 pilots the air force to collect the data they need. management measures used on the river. and technicians who fly and maintain the The Regional Air Pollution Study that The UH-IH (Huey) helicopter used to planes. These people spend as much time was conducted in St. Louis. Mo., from 1972 reach this rural Louisiana area is part of away as they do at home, according to Dr. to 1977 used the Laboratory's Sikorsky S- what is often referred to as the EPA "air McNelis, because their missions take them 58 helicopters to collect information on the force." The Agency currently operates eight all over the country from New England, to processes that determine the concentrations aircraft through the Environmental Moni­ Florida, to the Pacific Northwest. of air pollutants so that they can be de­ toring and Support Laboratory at Las Ve­ They are part of an organization of over scribed in a system of mathematical models. gas. The fleet of five helicopters and three 200 scientists, technicians. and support per­ The aircraft were fitted with instruments fixed-wing aircraft is based at McCarran sonnel who work in the five buildings the that measured ozone. oxides of nitrogen, Field there. Lab occupies at the University of Nevada. non-methane hydrocarbons, carbon monox­ At times EPA has had as many as 11 The laboratory staff analyzes and interprets ide, sulfur dioxide, and particulates. They aircraft, but the size of the fleet changes to the information collected by their high-flying also had equipment to measure temperature. meet program needs. The aircraft serve as colleagues, making the data available to envi­ dew point, and altitude. Special air samples an arm of the Lab's research mission by ronmental specialists throughout the Agency. were collected in large plastic .bags at var­ collecting data that could not be gathered The planes and helicopters serve as "plat­ ious altitudes. effectively any other way.A plane or heli­ forms" fo~technical.devices or instruments The information collected by these instru­ copter that cannot be modified to gather the that identify and measure pollutants and ments will be converted into data to validate necessary information is phased out of the other indicators of environmental quality. the computer models EPA is using to predict fleet. EPA-owned aircraft are turned over to They also carry a wide variety of photo­ the behavior of air pollutants in the atmos­ the General Services Administration for sur­ graphic equipment to record visual aspects phere. plusing. and those on loan from the military of the landscape for later interpretation. The Agency's three Huey helicopters are returned. When no other means can be With the bird's eye view provided from have been used extensively over the last found to complete the mission the Agency the air. EPA scientists can document the four years to sample lake water as part of sometimes leases aircraft for short periods impact of industrial air emissions on the the National Eutrophication Survey. Heli­ of time. surrounding countryside. locate oil storage copter teams of a pilot. a limnologist. and a "In each mission the aircraft provide facilities that must be checked for compli­ technician visited some 820 lakes all over some unique service." says Dr. David Mc­ ance with oil spill prevention regulations, aid the country. The helicopter landed at prese­ Nelis of the Las Vegas Lab. ··Although in the assessment and cleanup of oil spills, lected sites and members of the team meas­ some photographic missions are contracted. outline thermal mixing zones in water bod­ ured the temperature. conductivity, turbid­ most air and water monitoring missions are ies, and check rivers for sources of munici­ ity. acidity. and dissolved oxygen content of perfor~ed by Agency aircraft. This is not pal or industrial pollution. the water with an electronic sensor package. like having a car and a driver on call. The EPA inherited some aircraft when the The sensor also took water samples at se­ people and aircraft are part of an integrated Southwestern Radiological Health Labora­ lected depths for later laboratory analysis. system that depends on a mission-trained tory came into the Agency from the Depart­ The information assembled from those sam­ pilot. an aircraft that provides an instru­ ment of Health. Education, and Welfare in ples is being interpreted now by the Las mented platform for necessary research, 1970. Small airplanes had been used in Vegas laboratory staff. and a mix of scientists on board to complete connection with nuclear testing. to collect Not all Las Vegas aircraft monitoring is by the work." air samples and locate and track radioactive direct sampling. The fixed-wing aircraft are McNelis. the Deputy Director of the Moni­ clouds. also involved in remote sensing research. The toring Operations Division at Las Vegas. This work is still being carried on by the Douglas Monarch carries an infrared scanner continued. "The aircraft provide a highly Volpar. The plane is used almost exclusively that measures temperature differences in day­ cost-effective method of collecting informa­ on work accomplished under a memoran­ light or darkness. It can be used to detect tion or performing analyses over a large area. dum of understanding between EPA and the and map heated water discharges or oil spills. They give us access to areas that would Energy Research and Development Admin­ The Monarch also carries two aerial pho­ otherwise be difficult, if not impossible, to istration. The plane is in the air whenever tography devices. One is a mapping camera reach." underground testing takes place at the Ne­ that photographs large areas without distor­ The Agency now owns a Volpar Turboli­ vada Test Site. It is equipped with a scintil­ tion in color, black and white, or infrared ner. a converted Air Force C-45 with two lator, Geiger counter, and other more sensi­ false-color. The other is a reconnaissance turboprop engines; a second C-45 equipped tive radiation instruments. camera that compensates for the speed of the with two piston engines. which serves as plane, giving clear detailed photos. These PAGE 20 A specially-equipped EPA Sikorsky H-34 helicopter measuring sulfur dioxide in a plume from a 600-fi. high smokestack at a copper smelter in Anaconda, Montana. The data will be used by R egion VII/ to assess tire smelters impact on air quality in tire area.

oil flows downstream with the river thereby endangering the lower part of the scream and ewark Bay. Lab personnel took aerial photographs over a 50- quare-mile area along the Hack­ ensack that showed the effe ts of wind and tidal action in the spread of water pollution. ln addition to local site damage and the expected down ·tream impact. the photo­ graphs showed that strong tidal flows from the Atlantic. aided by the wind. had pu ·heel the oil up tream on the Hackensack Rive r and the Passaic River. The oil a lso back­ washed into the Hackensack Meadowlands between Jersey City and Secaucus upriver from the site of the break. Another attempt to meet the emergency needs raised by spill disasters is the En vi ro­ Pod. a compact. low-cost unit that will ena­ ble pollution officials to cake clear photos pictures are valuable since they can· be used terpreter can pinpoint and inventory waste from medium or low altitudes. The pod wa · for evidence in legal proceedings. o utfalls. industrial facil ities. solid waste developed by the U.S. Air Force Avionics dumps. feedlot s. and water pollution Laboratory a t the request of EPA. The nfrared scans collected and analyzed by sources in mining and lumbering areas. Pho­ program is being supervised by a field sta­ I EPA experts were key evidence in a tographs of oil storage facili ties a re used to tion of the Las Vegas Lab. at Warrenton . Chicago water pollution t1ial in 1974. The assess spi ll prevention needs and aid en­ Va. State of Illinois sued Inland Steel Company forcement efforts. When a n oil spil l does The Enviro-Pod is a light portable unit that on charges that the industry polluted Lake occur. whether on land or at sea. aerial can be temporari ly attached to a light air­ Michigan, the source of Chi cago's drinking reconnaissance helps map the spread of the plane such as a Ce sna 172 and take high wat.er. At the Region· s request the Las Vegas contaminant. locates access routes for resolution photos from medium altitudes or aerial surveillance team flew over the Lake cleanup crews. and aids in the assessment of low level close ups. Dr. Wilson Talley. EPA Michiga n shoreline where Illinois and Indi­ the long-term ecological effects. The plane Assistant Administrator for Research and a na meet a nd obtained infrared scanning carries closed-circuit television equipme nt Development. anticipates that the En vi ro­ imagery. The scan s howed heated water that can record the scene for li ve transmis­ Pod w ill pro vide the best means yet for d ischarged from the Indiana Ship Canal in sion to ground-based viewers for rapid as­ photographing such environmental disasters East Chicago where Inland Steel has a big sessment of oi l and hazardous materi als as oil spills. forest fires. and water pollution. mill.

Your Drinking Water (April 1977) A Environmental Research Informa­ 10-page reprint from the EPA Journal FEDERAL REGISTER tion Center Seminar-Small Waste­ that reviews some of the problems NOTICES water Treatment Systems, San Fran­ and opportunities !or providing better cisco, CA., May 24-26; Denver, CO., drinking water in the United Stales June 7-9. and abroad. For copies of Federal Register No­ tices, write Office of the Federal Reg­ Environmental Research Informa­ EPA Enforcement, A Progress Report ister, National Archives and Records tion Center Seminar-Sludge Treat­ 1976 (January 1977) This 210-page Service, Washington, D.C. 20408. ment and Disposal, Atlanta, GA., document is the fourth report on en­ May 11-12; Boston, MA .. June 14-15. forcement actions. It covers air, Medium and Heavy Trucks. EPA noise, water, and pesticide actions adopts noise emission standards, ef­ Environmental Research Informa­ initiated by EPA. fective 5-31-77. Tuesday, March J. tion Center Seminar-Water Treat­ ment, Portland, OR., May 25-26; Oil Spills and Spills of Hazardous Phosphate Fertilizer Plants. EPA an­ Washington, D.C .. June 1-2. Substances (March 1977) An illus­ nounces availability of final guide­ trated 100-page booklet that de­ lines for the control of atmospheric scribes spill effects, prevention, re­ fluoride emissions. Tuesday, March 1. sponse, legislation. and several spill MOVIES incidents. Toxic Substances. EPA proposes in­ Speak Up. This IO-minute, 16-mm ventory reporting requirements as color film is designed to alert people Pesticides Safety Tips (Reprinted prescribed by the Toxic Substances to the issues which may be consid­ March 1977) A handy 4 x 9 card that Control Act. Wednesday, March 9. ered during 208 planning and how lists important things to remember these issues may affect their lives. To when using, storing, and disposing Pesticide Products. EPA issues na­ be used as an introduction to pro­ of pesticides. tional list of priority needs for minor grams that discuss specific local use registration. Thursday, March 10. issues and local planning processes. The Clean Water Report to Con­ (Single copies of this film may be gress. 1975-76. This 75-page book is Pesticides. EPA establishes toler­ borrowed from: EPA, Office of Public . the third annual report describing ances for thiophanate-methyl in or Affairs(A-107). Washington, D.C. measures taken to implement the on raw agricultural commodities, ef­ 20460.) Federal Water Pollution Control Act. fective 3-17-77. Thursday, March 17. Among the topics it covers are water Can We Fish Again? A little boy and quality monitoring, municipal con­ Pesticides. EPA changes effective his father go fishing on the Great struction, the nonpoint source pro­ date to 4-15-77 for labeling statement Lakes and later find out that certain gram, and public participation. on aerosol products regarding chlo­ fish are contaminated by hazardous rofluorocarbons. Monday, March 21. chemicals. This 14-minute, 16-mm Wastewater: Is Muskegon's Solution color film looks at the effects of toxic Pesticides. EPA establishes toler­ substances and describes the need Your Solution? (MCD 34) A 50-page ances for aldicarb in or on raw agri­ book prepared by EPA's Region V for regulation. (Single copies of this · cultural commodities. Monday, film can be borrowed from : Film­ that looks at wastewater utilization March 21. and renovation through land treat­ Comm, 208 South Lasalle Drive, Chi­ ment. It shows a cost-effective way to cago, IL.. 60604.) PAGE 22 ENVIRONMENTAL ALMANAC A GLIMPSE OF lliE NATIJRAL WORLD WE HELP PROTECT I MAY I

BLOSSOMS IN THE TREES

arly May is often the time ovary at the base of the blossom spring flowering of such trees as E when orchards in the major grows into the seed-bearing apple. oak, elm, and maple. The aerial apple-growing areas of the Shenan­ In nature's plan the apple is merely displa.y of. these trees is rarely seen doah Valley in Virginia, Washington a lure to help spread the seeds because their wind-pollinated flow­ State, and the New York-New Eng­ within and thus continue the spe­ ers hanging high in the bare land area reach full bloom. cies bmnches are so tiny. Hillsides and ridges are decked Most blossoms end up in the Some of these trees such as the with aromatic white and pinkish dust because this system of pollina­ elm have undressed flowers with no blossoms. Although the exact timing tion is complicated and not very petals, leaving bare the essential of the blooming is controlled by efficient. Only 2 to 5 percent of the stamens that manufacture the pol­ weather conditions, the apple blos­ apple blosso111s develop into fruit, len and the pistil that produces the soming- is the last of the season for providing a yield of 15 to 30 bushels seed after it is fertilized. the major fruit trees. The peach, of apples from a mature tree. If all Showy petals could hinder the pear, and cherry trees have all the blossoms produced apples, the breezes from delivering the pollen bloomed earlier in clouds of white trees could not supply them with which is distributed in great clouds and pink flowers. the necessary nutrients or bear their from the elm's dangling anthers or Leading the world in the produc­ weight. the swaying catkins of the oak, tion of apples is the United States. The apple and most of our no11h­ poplar or walnut. The success of each multi-million em fruit trees are members of the Wind-pollinated trees far out­ dollar apple crop is of major impor­ rose family, which also includes the number insect-pollinated kinds, but tance to the agricultural economy. ornamental rose plants. The liber­ because their masses of blossoms Yet, as in most farm crops, the tine mating behavior of this family are inconspicuous they are not usu­ fate of the apples depends on the has long been a scandal in botanical ally thought of as flowering trees. vagaries of the weather and the circles. The petals of insect-pollinated grower's success in enlisting the Much more sedate, far less color­ flowers are often marked with lines cooperation of some insects and in ful, and rarely noticed is the early or spots that point the path to the fighting off others. nectar. The tulip poplar's green tu­ The key factor in the production· lip-shaped blossoms, for example, of the apples is the development of. carry an orange target circle near the blossoms. If there are no flow­ the inner t1ower base. ers, there will be no seeds. Flowers Insect-flower trees which will are the reproductive organs of a bloom this summer include the plant and their function is to pro­ basswood whose creamy and fra­ duce, nurture and distribute the grant blossoms attract swarms or seeds of their species. bees. The flowers of horse chestnut Each spring a good-sized apple and catalpa will stand erect against tree produces from 50,000 to masses of foliage. The :Franklinia 100,000 blossoms whose fragrance will wait until late summer or early and color attract bees, which are autumn and barely has time to often rented from apiarists and ripen its fruits before the onset of placed in the orchards during the cold weather. pollination period. A bee lands on a Last of all comes the flashing petal and while sipping the nectar yellow of the witch hazel whose from the flower cup transfers the little yellow ribbon-like flowers­ pollen picked up on its body from easily seen in the bare November the last drinking stop. woods-offer the final provisions for After receiving the pollen, the Apple blossoms late-working bees.-C.D.P. PAGE 23 PBOPLB

Harold P. Cahill Jr., Di rector of sion·s national training staff. John M. Ropes was recently ap­ the Municipal Construction Di­ McCarthy has been with the pointed Di rector of State and vision. has been cha en as one Civil Serv ice Commission for Local Programs in the Office of of the .. top ten men-of-t he-year .. two years. worki ng with com­ Noise Abatement and Control. in the public works field . The mission teams that give advice He previously had been assigned awards are given each yea r by and assistance to selected agen­ to the Office of Fede ral Activi­ the American Public Works As­ cies on thei r employee traini ng ties where he headed EPA' s sociati on in recognition ofout­ problems. Before that he manpower development and standing service'by public works worked with the President's training programs in water pollu­ offi cials in all levels of govern­ Com mis ion on Personnel Inter­ tion control fo r the last three ment. according to John J. change. She is 35 years old. a years. Roark . Association president. native of New York Cit y and a He joined the Federal service in ahill' s award will be presented graduate of the State University 1968 as Chief, State and Local later thi s month at a ceremony of New York. She earned a mas­ Manpower Development . in the to be held in Washington in con­ Mary K. McCarthy has been ter's degree at Manhattan Col­ Federal Water Quality Adminis­ juncti on with National Publi c appointed Headquarters Train­ lege. Ri verdale. . Y.. and has tration. an EPA predecessor Wo rk~ Week. May 22- 28. ing Officer. replacing James E. done graduate work at Col umbia agency. Before that he served John T. Rhett . Deputy Assistant Guy. who has been moved to the and George Washington Uni­ three years as assistant to the Ad ministrator for Water Pro­ ~rsonnel Management Di vi- versities. governor of Iowa and di rector of gram operations. said Cahi ll was the executi ve staff of the lowa fir. t recommended for the Manpower Development Coun­ APWA awa rd by the Manage­ cil. ment Ad visory Group of E PA's Mr. Ropes. 52. is a native of onstruction Grants Progra m Onawa. Iowa. and earned a B. A. particularl y for his .. outstanding in sociology and political science record of managing E PA' can­ and an M.S. in sociology and st ruction grants program" and secondary education from Drake for his notable abili ty "in bri ng­ Uni versity. Chicago. He and his ing together all the groups. pri­ wife. the former Mary Lou Gar­ vate and public. to jointly work dow. have one son. Dr. Milton 8. out equitable solutions" to the Ropes. technical and managerial prob­ lems of this multi-bill ion-doll ar Donald A. Townley, Acting Dep­ effort to clean up po ll ution from uty Administrator in Region Y ll, municipal ewage. Kansas City. has reti red. Town­ ley had previously headed the Dr. A. F. Bartsch, Director of Region's Surve illance and Anal y­ E PA's Corvallis (Ore.) Environ­ sis Di vision and its Air and Haz­ mental Research Laboratory, These 10 EPA women at the other women from EPA and ardous Material s Division. A pent two weeks in South Africa Jefferson Memori al comprised other Federal agencies. Dennis Public Health Service offi cer. he recentl y survey ing water re- E PA's first women's running finis hed in fi rst place over-all had also served as enforcement urce and recommending a team which participated in the and was also fi rst in the cate­ chief for Kansas City's Di vision work program fo r the South Af­ lnteragency Jogging Meet held gory for women 30 to 39 years of Water Supply and Pollution ri can Water Research Commis­ in Washington recently. They are old, Matasonn i was second over­ Control and as Supervisor of sion. He then visited Nai robi. (from left) Carol Dennis, Paula all and first in the race for those Environmental Sanitation fo r Kenya. to confer with Or. Mos­ Bass, Jo-ann Bassi, Claire Gesal­ 20 to 29. and Marvin. who is the Missouri Division of Health. tafa Tolba . Executi ve Director of man, Merie Clark, Anne " Sam" holding the trophy given the first He and his wife wil l continue to Uni ted ation Envi ronmental Marvin, Barbara Mayo, Jana women's team in the meet. was live in Liberty, Mo. Program. which has it head­ Scott, Ma rie Perez, and Claire first for those bet ween 40 and q ua rte r ~ in airobi. Matassoni. In competition with 49. PAG 24 news briefs

LEAD STANDARD BEING PREPARED

EPA officials are reviewing comments received at a public hearing held last month to assist in developing information for a national ambient air quality standard for lead. Under a court order EPA must propose a lead standard by Aug. 10 and promulgate a final standard by Nov. 10.

FLUOROCARBON MEETING

EPA, the Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Product Safety Commission hosted an international meeting on fluorocarbon regulations April 26-28 at the State Department in Washington. Purpose of the meeting attended by major fluorocarbon producers and international organization representatives was to share information on the global problem of ozone depletion resulting from fluorocarbon emissions. Chairman of the meeting was Administrator Douglas M. Castle.

PAPERWORK CUT ORDERED

EPA Deputy Administrator Barbara Blum has ordered a 30 percent cut in paperwork related to Agency reporting requirements. Blum has convened a special task force of EPA and State officials to develop recommendations for reducing reporting requirements involving EPA regulations. The cuts will be ordered as part of the Agency's Fiscal Year 1978 operating guidance to regional offices.

ROUSH NAMED EPA STAFF DIRECTOR

J. Edward Roush, a former U.S. Congressman from Indiana, has been named by Administrator Douglas M. Costle as Director of EPA's Office of Regional and Intergovernmental Operations. Roush, who succeeds Peter L. Cashman in this EPA post, served eight terms in Congress. Castle said "Ed Roush brings a wealth of experience in local and Federal government to this key position."

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Reium !his page if you do NOT wish 10 receive this publication ( ), or if change of address is needed ( ), list change, including zip code. UNDERWATER FARMS

he use of polluted wastes to he lp grow the power plant. shrimp have so far been used for research T trout. shrimp. and other fish on under­ The warm water used at the plant is needs at nearby institutions and for market­ water farms is covered by new regulations diverted in a constant fl ow to artificial ponds ing evaluations by restaurants a nd project issued by EPA. a nd raceways where its warm temperature personnel. Under the Agency'~ rules. permits wi ll be (40"-96° F) stimulates rapid growth in the The practice of aquatic husbandry dates i~sued by EPA Regional Administrators to trout and shrimp. from ancient times in the Middle East. Inter­ in~urc that safe levels of usable pollutants The trout are raised in the cooler winter est in this form of protein production has are not exceeded. months. from November to April . a nd toler­ been increasing in recent years due to such The main sources of pollution used for fish ate a temperature range of 34°-79' F. with the factors as the global food shortage that has farm~ a nd other aquaculture projects are fastest growth occurTing at 57° F. resulted from a greatly expanding world pop­ heated industria l waste water. waste water In the warmer months. when the wate r is ulation. from food processing activities. and treated too warm for optimum trout breeding. the Many aquatic animals can be efficiently municipal sewage which has high levels of company switches to the shrimp which are a produced as sources of protein. since they ~uc h nutrients as nitrogen and phosphorus. tropica l species and thrive in the warmer can use a higher percentage of their energy EPAs regul ati ons will apply onl y to those water. in temperatures up to 98° F. inta ke for growth than is possible with terres­ projects where pollutants a re being d is­ The trout reach a length of ten inches in trial animals. They can do this because thei r charged into U.S. inland and coasta l waters about four months. and the shrimp reach a body density c losely approximates that of the to he lp grow catfish . c lams. oysters and harvest size of three inches in nine months surrounding water. meaning that they have to o ther marine a nima ls. (compared to I 'It years naturally). Both the use less energy to maintain supportive struc­ Permit application~ must be made jointly trout and shrimp have passed health and taste tures. such as a skeleton. Also. since most by the opera tor ~ of both the aquaculture tests. The trout have been do nated to the aquatic animals are coldblooded they do not project and the fac ility supplying the waste State of New Jersey for trout stocking. The have to expend additiona l energy to maintain water to be used. To prevent the discharge of a high body temperature. cxces~ ivc pollutants. applicant s must provide EPAs regulations were originall y proposed information on the kinds and amounts of Mari11e biologists han·est trout raised i11 the in July 1974. under authority of the 1972 pollutants to be used . 11 ·ann water discharged hY a Public Sen•ice Federal Water Pollution Control Act. They The u-;e of waste water in aquaculture E lectric & G11s Compa11.1· po11·er pla111 i11 will appear soon in the Federal Register and projects may be a n effecti ve way to turn H11111il1011 . New Jerse.1'. become effective 30 days thereafter. • certain pollutants into useful products. EPA beli eves. Using waste water to grow fish and other marine a nima ls could prolong the growing season for certain fi sh or provide needed nutrient s inexpensive ly. There arc only a few projects now usi ng ~ u c h methods. although E PA believes that inte rest in these techniques may increa ·e. In Hamilton. New Jersey. a township near Tren­ ton. the warm water from a power generating ~ta ti o n has been used since 1973 to cultivate rainbow trout and a freshwater species of edible shrimp w ith considerable s uccess. The plant is owned by Public Service El­ ectric a nd Gas. and with he lp from a National Science Foundation grant a nd biologists from Trenton State o ll ege a nd Rutgers Un ive rsit y. the ·ompany has establi shed a commercial-scale fish fa rm o n it s acreage at