Document 6Rq2BKReyOZjRpEjXKNJKjVqR

Spectrum / VUNDER PRESSURE from Congressman William^ RR'yan (Dam., N.Y.) the Monsanto Company rhhias somewhat curtailed sales of its \ polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). It will not discontinue manufacturing any of the products, however, contrary to its earlier statements. In Environment. January-February 1970, the ha sards of PCBs were described. PCBs resemble DDT chemically, are at least as persistent In the environment, are nearly as widespread, and pose similar hazards to wildlife. Congressman Ryan, after reading the article, issued a statement in which he called for "immediate action to prevent what may well be a major ecological disaster." On April 10, the day of Ryan's announcement, Monsanto issued a statement In which they said, "Steps have been taken to,. .replace those grades of PCB which linger In nature." Monsanto claimed this action had been planned well before the Environment article appeared. In response to questions, Monsanto wrote to Environment, "(Substitutes! are being developed to replace those grades (of PCBs) which have been appearing in the environment..but refused to give details on what the new products would be end which PCBs would be discontinued. In response to continued pressure from Congressman Ryan, Monsanto Issued a new statement July 16 In which they said the use of PCBs. of which they ere the s'ole U.8. manufacturer, would be restricted after August 30, 1970. In a telephone Interview a Monsanto spokesman acknowledged that, despite the earlier announcement, the company planned to contlnuq manufacturing * all grades of PCBs, but that these would not be sold to customers who might use them In ways which would, In Monsanto's opinion, allow their release Into the environment. The sprvokesman refused to estimate how much PCB^ sales might be reduced by such action. S' 7GLASGOW, a scientist announced that pollution of Loch Ness had killed Its monster. "We have lost our greatest asset," said Douglas Drysdale, according to a Reuters dispatch August 1. The report was hotly disputed by defenders of the monster, who claimed it had bean seen by nine people the week before. CONTROLLED FUSION power may be only five years away, according to Keeve M. Siegel, president of KMS Industries, Inc., Ann Arbor. In June, KMS's annual report announced an advance in controlling the nuclear reactions that provide the explosive force of the hydrogen bomb, and called it potentially the most important discovery of modern times. Nine patents have been filed. The nature of the discovery has not been disclosed, ar.d the patent applications have been classified "secret" by the Atomic Energy Commission. Under an agreement with the AEC, the Ann Arbor firm will develop a prototype fusion power plant at Its own expense under AEC security restrictions; the government would have the right to military applications of the development program free of charge. In a telephone interview, Siegel told Environment he expects permission from the AEC "momentarily" to proceed with development of a laboratory-scale pilot plent, which he estimates could be computed in five years. Other scientists in the field commonly estimate that twenty to thirty years will elapse before there Is successful demonstration of controlled fusion power. According to Siegel, the discovery which makes fusion power now possible was made by Dr. Keith Brueckner, head of KMS's Technology Center In San Diego. Fusion power could operate on cheap fuel derived from sea water, and produce electricity without creating pollution. Successful development of this power source would make the present nuclear power program obsolete just as it is beginning, and would remove the need for development of a new reactor type, the "fast breeder," to which AEC plans to commit $2 billion. DDT CAUSES MUTATIONS in rats, according to research conducted by Dr. Marvin Legator, head of the federal Food and Drug Administration's Call Biology Division. Massive single doses of DDT to rets were Skittmiikm, 1070 HONS 032381 oecrrum down 1,100 mugawatta of ganarating capacity In obaolata unit* within tha city, according to tha Buraau of National Mfalra. In addition, tha mayor haa oommlaalonad a flva-man board to atudy ways to eliminate automobile pollution from tha city. MADISON, WISCONSIN'S city council has passed a resolution banning tha 8ST from using tha municipal airport, and urging tha Senate to strike all funds for tha SST's development from tha budget for tha fiscal year. Tha ' resolution termed the SST development a classic ease of misplaced national priorities " and labeled the super airplane an "environmental monster," according to me Madison Capitol Times. The raaolut.on passed by a vote of 13 to 5, with knowledge that* action threatens federal funds for iu.ure airport development, including 310 million construction already planned for the sn;;art. A KEROSENE-BURNING, fteon-powereo automobile will be produced by tha Nissan Motor Company of lapan , maker of the Dauun. Wallace Mlnto, inventor of the angina, announced the company's plans to use his steam-englne-Uke motor In some 1372 production mooels. The engine gets 25 to 30 miles per gallon and produces a breathable exhaust, according to the Inventor. According to the Bureau of National Affairs, he also estlmatea that hie engine will last as long as $0 convantlonal Internal mbuetion engines. ADDUCTION OF PESTICIDE* and re t produeta fell 7.4 percent In 1BSB, according \ to Chemical and Enulnasrtnu News (Septamoer 7). Herbicide eeles rose slightly in dollars. but volumes of herMddea, ir.sec.icidee, ana fungicides ell declined. DCT o;;put fell sy 11.5 percent to an annual product. of 123 million pounds last year. Still an iwful let. . /HOUSAN DS or SHARKS have been dying / mmyyatanou.ly in San rVandeco Bay, according / to KI en Castle wr.itng in the Hayward. Cellforn.a Dally Review. Tha strange deaths began in 1967 when 722 shark* and rays were found on the beach over a two-month pariod. Tha unuaual occurrences have continued ever sines with the sharks apparently fcaachir.g themselves as though *o conmtt suicide. Studies which revealed high levels of polychlorinated blphenyl^PCa*) in the livers of the fish, as wall <Br?!gPievels of DDT in their tissues, have oeen discontinued by the Federal Water Quaiitv Administration oecause of higher prioritiieBsI.. V However, ccnitlnuet d tha studies are soon. No reel expected to clue has yet boe'seen^/ Vfoundi too the shark deaths. ' ATH!ENA SOCKET carrying a payload of iocivu ichait crashed Into a Mexican rr.aavidw in i'uly. gouging out a radioactive tre.ica 30 feat long, 17 fee: .v-.ie, _r.i :*jet deep. According ic ,,sw Time.* iAugv.it <), Defense De^ar.v.er.: o::ic.j1s said that the rocket cameo i ;uer.tt:.e* of cobeii sealed in the nose co.-.e ":or research purposes." The rocket wa* --r.c.*.ac .rom White Sands Proving Grodno i.t Ns-/ Mexico. THE TASMANi/Oo SEWAGE J .* de/nagea by ri*`tyhos. icuv.-a.r.g :-i the Associated Press .August 19/ Cn:> the sewage system, the garments wrap ircji'.d pump bearing5, bringing the sy*tax :o s et&ndst^;. 3ecause as few tt three pairs car. step a pump, tne Hobart. Tasr.-ar.ia Municipal Council has issued an i >peal tc woman, "Pleats dor/: flush yrur pa tyhoee down lavatories." IN VERMONT, vehicles witrou: ge: :.:ne engines will have to pay a er .**. .ttratton faa than those with conventional e..;.nes. The rate for a nonpolluUng engine .tot using gasoline is one-a.id-three-nuirten times the normal, fee, or 924 mere a year for ears. Tha state** Meter Vehicle Department told ;ii:inm that the extra fee was originally meant tn cover dlaael-fueled vehloi whoa# owners avoided paying gueel **. -- iOhr. Fo.s:a* S-l .souks*? vo .a. .s.. HONS 032382