Document ExRp8bYX3jxbn5GaRo4XoOogL

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NEWS PCB's....................... Pg3 Tord Administration uses con- trovorsial cfiomtcats as monos Of lighting fire under Congress* man lifting on toxic substance blit*. Monsanto to halt PCB s f t i i f PCB's Problem Fuels Drive For Toxic Substances Laws Problems resulting from contami nation of the environment by polychlo rinated biphcnels (PCB's) were the fuel used last week by Administration spokesmen to stoke the fires under Congress to act favorably- and soon- ot chemical substances being manufactur ed processed or imported. They would re quire the testing of chemicals which appear to pose a risk to health or the environment and arc not covered adequately by other laws. Immediate action could be taken against particularly hazardous chemicals. on a broad toxic substances control bill Food & Drug Administration, which ts 6ti!) smoldering in Senate and House committees. expected to be called for testimony later by the committee, will be asked what It Is doing to meet the problem of food supplies Although Monsanto Company, sole pro contaminated by the chemical, particularly ducer of PCB's in this country intends to fish. phase out production as soon as an Ade At the present time the FDA tolerance quate substitute is available, arguments for PCB's In food is five parts per million,. presented to the House Merchant Marine Recently, Canada reduced Its tolerance to Committee by top officials of the Interior two ppm. FDA is reported to be considering Department and Environmental Protection a reduction in Its tolerance level and will be Agency were that this is not enough-au thorities need to curb all chemical hazards to health and the environment. Whether the Senate and House commit tees considering the toxic substances blits will take early action is not clear at this time, but talk among member* ol the Mer chant Marine Committee following Its hear ings lest week was that it might grab the ball and bring In a bill of its own. limited to asked about this by the committee. Monsanto's plans to get out of the PCB business were announced to the House com mittee by the firm's representative William B. Papageorge, After reciting the steps the company has taken voluntarily to eurb sales and uses of the chemicals, he laid Monsanto has Informed the US capacitor and transformer industries of Its Intentions, but gave no timetable- These industries art the only ones Monsanto has been selling restricting PCB's use in this counfry be PCB's to since 1072. cause of their threat to fisheries and wild "Monsanto has no dealre to remain In life which pome under this committee's ju the PCB manufacturing business any long risdiction. Administration spokesmen, how er than is necessary." Mr. Papageorge ever, argued against this piecemeal ap- said. "By this we mean that as soon as wo praoch to the problem. are satisfied that the electrical power sup Office of Management &_ Budget, mean ply industry's needs for usable, acceptable while, has prepared a series of amend alternate dielectric fluids have been met by ments to the McCoUlsler bill, HR 7664, whomever. Monsanto will voluntarily shut which were to be forwarded to the House down its PCB manufacturing unit. Interstate Commerce Committee by the Nathaniel P. Reed, assistant Interior end of last week. *. secretory for fish and wildlife, made a vig The Administration has endorsed the orous plea before the committee for legisla McColiister bill in principal over the Eek- tion to place a "national ban on all domest hardt bill, 10318, and the Tunney bill in the Ic and Imported PCB's." Senate. S 776. Citing figures of PCB contamination of EPA Administrator Russell Train in tes fish in waters In the district* of number of tifying on the PCB situation and detailing the committee members. Mr- Reed said the ateps the agency has taken to curb PCB that "wc must have as our goal the elimina uses, explained that all of the toxic sub tion of PCB's from the environment as rap stance control bills pending contain essen idly as possible. 1 recommend that the criti tial authority which would greatly strength cal or essential use of PCB's In transform en the government's hand In controlling the ers and capacitors be immediately and crit problem of toxic substances entering the ically reviewed In the light of cutrent po environment. tential replacement products," . They would require EPA to keep track He was strongly supported during the following two days of the hearings by lost!- mony from a number of environmental pro tection groups reciting the effects of PCB's on important species of food fish and birds. MONS 032625 Mr. Reed said, however, that U the FDA should lower the permissible contamination level to the two ppm established by Canada it will mean the end of commercial fishery in the Great V*k'"`