Document 82G1VwJZrxaqaN8zVRBDw6mZZ

THE GASTONIA GAZETTE. Thurt.. August 10. <978. Out-of-staters dump PCB? RALEIGH. N.C. (AP) - State of' fictals uy new evidence suggests that the dumping of the chemical polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) along North Carolina highways is the work of trucker! for out-of-state industrial firms. The Highway Patrol has issued a memo alerting troopers to watch for tank trucks with Connecticut or New Jersey license plates, and the state is posting a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for dumping the oily pollutant, which is believed to cause cancer So far, more than 70 miles of the spills have been confirmed to contain pCPs. The chemical content of spills along more than 100 additional miles has not been determined. The long chemical strips began showing up in Alamance and Johnston counties last Wednesday and Thurs day. As more spill locations were plot ted this week, they appeared to be following a pattern along rural routes that branch off Interstate highways SO and SO, the main north-south roads I ................... ' through North Carolina, officials said. "It's beginning to look more like this could be coming in from out of state," said Robert A. Carter, a state environmentalist heading the search for the pollution. "We're already talk ing to other states." Some of the spills, now reported on a growing list of roads in Nash, Wilson, Warren, Franklin, Granville, Person, Wake, Johnston, Harnett, Lee, Chatham and ALmance coun ties, also follow patterns off U.S. 301. At a news conference Wednesday, Natural Resources and Community Development Secretary Howard Lee labeled the apparently deliberate dumping of the chemical "an outrageous act." "We're not taking it sitting down," said Lee in announcing that a reward of |2,500 or more would be offered for information leading to the arrest of those responsible. He said several state agencies -- the Highway Patrol, attorney general's office. State Bureau of In vestigation, Agriculture Department, Department of Transportation and departments of human resources snd natural resources and community development -- are working together on the investigation. Meanwhile. Dr. Martin Hines, director ofepidemiology, said persons who Uvt along the routes of the spiUs should report any apparent reactions from the chemical to health officials. However, he said it is highly unlike that there would be any immediate reaction to exposure to PCB because effects are usually long-term and build up from eating or drinking tho substance. Hinas said officials "esn't say what the long-term effects would bo" to in gesting PCB, but officials are monitoring wells, water supplies, cat tle, crops and the air in tho areas of the spills for the presence of tho chemical. Lee said there is no dangor from traveling the highways where the epiils occurred. He also said there had been no deci sion on whether to try to scoop up the contaminated soil along shoulders of the highways to remove the chemical. There Is some question about the economic feasibility of removing the sol! as well os how to dispose of it without violating fodersl regulations, bo said. . MONS 000814