Document 5Jadgj8XxRGVoJj281ZGmGLz

POYLCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS GENERAL STUDIES. ' ' .. . ' Activities of Government Agencies Regarding Inventories. Substitutes, and Housekeeping - Meetings have been held with senior officials of several Government agencies which (a) own or operate electrical equipment containing PCB's, or (b) are responsible for- Governmental procurement of PCB-containing products. These agencies have been urged . to provide an inventory of the current Governmental usage of such products and an evaluation of the steps they are taking to (a) introduce substitutes, and (b) reduce PCB discharges into the environment. George Wirth, OTS, (2021 . 755-6179. ' . . ' . . .. Technical Information Exchange' with States - The Governor's of the States have been asked to work with EPA in reducing environmental discharges of PCB's. To assist, EPA is developing a technical information exchange program. George Wirth, OTS, (202) 755-6179. . Consultations with OECD on Uses, Labeling, and Reporting Discussions are continuing with the Organization tor Economic Cooperation and Development concerning the efforts of mem ber countries to*reduce the.need for PCB's. Also of con cern is the consistency, of labeling and reporting activities directed to PCB's and products containing PCB's. At the most recent meeting in June 1976, recommendations were for warded to the OECD Environmental Council for consideration at its meeting in July. Jack Thompson, OIA, (202). 755-0430. Industrial Task Forces on Substitutes and Housekeeping Pro cedures - Meetings have been held with senior representatives oFTfrms which manufacture PCB's and transformers and capa citors containing PCB's, as well as with-.railway, transit, and electrical utility organizations. Discussions have . considered replacements for PCB's, effluent controls, house keeping, and other immediate steps to reduce environmental discharges of PCB's. Three industry task forces' have com pleted their tasks and prepared, their reports which will be published in August 1976. George Wirth, OTS, (202) 755 6179. ' ' -21 MONS 09642B HEALTH AND ECOLOGICAL EhhEGlo anu tnuiiOTitnin^ ............. , Health Effects Summary - A summary of current health effects data, including populations exposed nnd levels of exposure, has just been released. Dr. Albert Kolby, EDA, (202) 245 1301. . . Drinicing Water Contamination - 'The National Academy of Sciences, has been requested to review the health effects of PCB's in drinking water. The Academy will provide in- formation on the dose-response*characteristics of PCB's by December 1976, as a basis for determining whether a standard is appropriate. .Edgar Jeffrey, OWS, (202) 426 8877. _ . . .. . . ' Behavior in Soils - A review of existing literature to ' determine the interactions of PCB's in soils -is underway. Also, as an adjunct to previously scheduled investigations' of leachates from selected landfills, investigations of- possible PCB leakage are being concluded. A preliminary report was published in May 1976. Alan Corson, OSWMP, (202) 755-9187. ' . . CURRENT AND PROJECTED SOURCES, ENVIRONMENTAL LEVELS, AND'. EXPOSED POPULATIONS ' Hydraulic and Heat Transfer Fluids - .Preliminary assessments indicate that PCB's have been widely used as hydraulic fluids and heat transfer fluids and in other similar appli cations. An assessment of these uses, including current recycling and reclamation practices, will assist in deter mining actions needed to curtail significant environmental discharges. These studies are slated for completion in December 1976. Thomas Kopp.OTS, (2D2) 755-0300. . Investment Casting - An analysis of the use of PCB's in the investment casting industry will help clarify the ex tent of PCB usage, discharges from users, the industry's dependency on PCB's, and the feasibility of substitutes. . . Recommendations'for follow-up actions will be made. These are expected to be completed in December 1976. Thomas Kopp, OTS, (202.) 7S.5-0300. . . Pulp and Paper Industry - Based on a preliminary survey of the paper recycling industry, an attempt will be made to assess the scope of.environmental problems associated with the occurrence of paper impregnated with PCB's. This task is to bo completed in December 1976. Thomas Kopp, OTS,"(202) 755-0300. "" .. Inventory of PCB-Containinc Carbonless CoiyJtaper - Art inventary of CSA and DSA supply warehouses to determine the quantities of used and unused PCB-contaminated carbon less -copy paper is being conducted. Thomas Kopp, OTS, (202) 755-0300. .. , -22- MQNS 096429 Contamination oi mporuu nv--.... -.. procedure has been identities and'standardized, selected imported products will be tested for contamination by PCB's and related materials. John Moran, ORD, (202) 426-2026. Ambient levels and Trends -Limited monitoring of air, water, and soil at selected sites is being carried out to document current and ambient levels of PCB's. Monitoring is also conducted near specialized users of PCB's. Pre liminary results were correlated and published in May. Vincent DcCarlo, OTS,.(202) 755-6956. . .' Drinking Water Surveys - Drinking water supplies in 122 cities are being surveyed for various organic constituents, including PCB's. The results will be available by February 1977. Edgar Jeffrey, OWS, (202) 426-8B77. Point-Source Information' - Additional information concernini the uses and environmental discharges of PCB's from point* sources arc being sought from industrial organizations ' pursuant to Sees.,308 of the Federal Water Pollution Con trol Act, and 114 of the Clean Air Act. Carl Schafer, OE, (202) 7SS-07S0. " . Human Adipose Tissues - PCB's aTe among the environmental contaminants being measured in the 1700 adipose tissue samples taken from selected cities each year. Annual reports are prepared in-June. Dr. Frederick Kutz, EPA/OPP, (202) 7SS-8060. ' ' . Levels in Air - Limited preliminary air' monitoring data are being obtained near several facilities. , These data will be considered in determining whether a more intensive .monitoring effort is in order as a step to determining the. desirability, feasibility, and impact of an air standari Implementation of this effort awaits approval of an interim monitoring method. Mike Jones, OAQPS, (919)- 688-8501. . Consultations with Canada on- Levels in Great Lakes - Con sultations with Canada on the contamination of the fishing resources of the Great Lakes are continuing. The most re cent session was held in March. Conrad Kleveno, EPA/OIA, (202) 755-8712. . . '. Analytical Method - Although monitoring has been undertaken, ..the analytical procedures used have not been standardized. Available methods are being screened for reliability and -feasibility, and recommendations will be made for their use in various, media. John Moran, ORD, (202) 426-2026. 23 MOMS 096430 Predictive Models - Mathematical mociois to prcoiti. euvuuiimcntal distribution, leve.ls, and transport based on release data are being developed, Thomas Kopp, OTS, (202) 755-0300. SUBSTITUTES, CONTROL TECHNOLOGY, AND RELATED COSTS AND ECONOMIC FACTORS . Solid Waste Management - A continuing program of technical assistance, provides guidance to public and private organi zations faced with practical disposal problems involving hazardous substances, including PCB's. Advice is avail able on recycling, burial, incineration, and other possible disposal techniques. Recommended procedures concerning ' environmentally acceptable waste disposal practices for PCB's and PCB-containing materials were published in the Federal Register on April 1. William Wallace, OSWMP, (202) 755-$l90. . Guidelines of the American National Standards Institute - The ANSI Standards on J^CB's' are designed to improve the handling, maintenance, disposal, and related environmental aspects of PCB's and equipment containing PCB's. EPA is actively participating in the current revision of this' standard which should be widely accepted throughout the industrial sector. An initial draft of the revision is in review. Thomas Kopp, OTS, (202) .755-0300, Incineration of Capacitors - Test burns of PCB-containing capacitors in a high-temperature incinerator were made this spring. By-product formation at various temperatures will be among the factors evaluated in the final.report due in August. John Schaum, OSWMP, (202) 755-9200. Destructive Dechlorination - Several control technologies for removal of PCB's from effluent streams were evaluated. Destructive dechlorination was determined to have the greatest potential utility. A demonstration grant is ex pected to be made within the next few months to provide working scale application. Paul DesRosiers, ORD, (202) '1 755-9014. Replacement Fluids - A continuing assessment of substitutes . for PCB's,'including development of environmentally accep table replacement fluids, is necessary as PCB uses are . phased-out. A variety, of'substitutes currently under development are being considered as well as substitutes which might be suggested at a later date. Two requests for an evaluation of possible substitute fluids have re suited in responses published in the June 9 Federal ' Register.' Thomas Kopp, OTS, (202) 7SS-0300. x 24 HUNS 096431 Harbor Studies - > .-------Water Pollution Control Act concerning tne l'nivxu ... ... place pollutants in harbors will give special consideration to'PCB'.s. Kenneth Mackenthun, OWPS,'(202) 755-0100. lake Contamination - The Clean Lakes program provides a. mechanism to encourage States to consider contamination from PCB's and their removal. A letter on this topic was sent'to ail-States in'February. 1976. Kenneth Mackenthun, OWPS, (202) 755-0100. . . . Dredging of Sediments - The CoTps of Engineers is consulting with EPA on controlling possible transference of PCB's from sediments to the water during dredging operations. Vance Hughes,'OWPS, (202) 755-0100... . CONTROL OPTIONS, REGULATORY,ACTIONS, AND ATTENDANT IMPACTS Water Quality Criteria - A maximum level of 1 ppt in navigable waters ha/ been proposed as a Water Quality Criterion under Sed. 304 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Leonard'Guarraia, OWPS, (202) 245-3042. . Toxic Effluent Standard - A national watereffluent standard for pGb's under Section 307(a) of the Federal Water Pol lution Control Act has been,proposed. Pretreatment standard pursuant to Section 307(b) are under study. Kent Ballon- . tine, 0WP, (202) 245-3030. . Effluent Guidelines - -The need for and feasibility of PCD effluent guidelines based on Best Practical Technology foT those industries involved in the manufacturing of machinery and mechanical products are being studied. If.such guide lines are warranted, steps will be.initiated in 1976 to develop and incorporate discharge limitations into regu lations as appropriate. DeVereaux Barnes, OWPS, (202) 426 2727. .' Spill Prevention - Regulations designed to prevent spills of PCb's into navigable waterways will be developed pur suant to Section 311 of the Federal Water Pollution Con trol Act. The proposed regulations should be ready for publication in late 1976. HenTy VanCleave, OWPS, (202) 24S-3045. . . Drinking Water Standard.- If determined appropriate, a drinking water standard will be proposed in early 1977. Charles Hendricks, OWS, (202),, 426-8877. ' ' Tolerances in Food - Recent health effects reports are being-reviewed to determine if the temporary food tole rance for PCB's should be revised.' Dr. Alberf Kolby, FDA, (202) 24S-1301. ,. " -25 MOMS 096432 WU l *}; i. qv V UtALUtxg UUV.UI' *-<**. 4. W4AWW.4.V. ------------------------ -------------- will recommend to OSIlA an appropriate workplace exposure standard is in preparation. Richard Rhoden, NIOSH, (301) 443-3680. State Regulatory Actions - Five states have adopted PCB control acts. Others are examining the possibility of establishing pretreatment standards.. Thomas Kopp, OTS, . (20?) 75S-0300. : .. a , MONS 096433