Document Jrx5zqzYkb7Qq1gNvOX4YzyjO

/ Current Developments ChomlcBls ERA PROPOSES PROGRAM. REGULATIONS ROR ELIMINATING PCQ PRODUCTION, USE A program lu reduce (lie "serious threat" of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCUs) by eliminating (heir production, importation, and use "as rapidly as possible" was announced December 22 by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Russell E. Train. "PCUs constitute a significant hazard to human health and the environment and must be immediately and effectively controlled wilh every means at our disposal," Train told a press conference. However, he said, EPA has no authority under existing law to stop or restrict uses ol PCBs. and until passage of toxic substances eonlrul legislation, "we must rely heavily on voluntary actions by industry." The EPA program consists of the following regulatory and administrative actions: ' , EPA regional offices arc lo work with the states to es tablish requirements under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System lo eliminate PCUs from the process wastes of all manufacturers of PCUs and of capacitors and transformers (hat use PCUs. Manufacturers of PCUs. capacitors, and transformers arc requested to develop as rapidly ns possible "safe and en vironmentally acceptable alternatives" (or PCUs. Train said a meeting wilh manufacturers will be scheduled in January to "discuss and lay out" specific plans. Electric utility companies and other major users of capacitors and transformers were requested lo control (he use and disposal of their PCUs. A meeting lo discuss this goal also will be scheduled in January, Train said. a Slate governors will he asked to "examine and apply their authorities to deal with the PCD problem." a Federal agencies will be asked lo inventory their uses of PCDs and PCB-conlaining materials in order to develop plans for Ibeir adequate management and safe disposal. Programs will be initialed lo find ways for eliminating discharges from other sources of PCUs. such as paper recycling operations, the investment casting industry, and Uic disposal of electrical consumer products. Under Section .111 of the Federal Water Pollution Con trol Act. regulations will be proposed soon to control en vironmental damage for spills of haaardous substances, in cluding PCUs. Proposed Regulations The proposed regulations will include a list of more than 300 chemicals (lie disclmrgc of which would pose a danger lo public health, based on the results of toxicity tests conducted on mammals, fish and aquatic plants Tram said the list may be modified as needed, and he said, inclusion of a particular substance on the list depends on evaluation of toxicological data as well as information on production, distribution, and use. ' The proposals will slate that the designated substances arc considered "nonremovable" due to chemical and physical characteristics, a determination which "does not relieve the discharger from the ros.pt/ns.biluy lo lake emergency response action to limit a spill's harmful effects on the en vironment," Train said. The proposed regulations will group the designated sub stances in four categories based on their relative potential hazard to the aquatic environment. A "harmful quantity" figure will bo assigned lo each group, to apply to all sub stances within the group. The proposal also will include fines up lu $.r> million for il legal discharge or spill of the designated substances. However, a fine of more than $3,000 can be assessed only in eases where gross negligence is shown to he the cause of'tiie .spill or'where there is failure to take action to limit the harmful effects. The proposed regulations will apply to all discharge sources, including transportation systems such as tankers and In fixed facilities such ns industrial plants. They will complement existing oil spill control programs which EPA conducts wilh the Coast Guard, Uic agency said. Train Outlino* PCQ Situation Train told the press conference an estimated 7i)0 million ixmnds of PCUs have been produced and used in the US. in the past 4T> years. Although some of this has Ihvii degraded, the majority of it is contained in landfills and bottom sediments of lakes anil l ivers and in a;r and water concen trations. he said. About 300 million pounds are currently in use, he added. ' Train said the PCUs already in the environment are the most troublesome problem to be (ami because they arc about 20 times as persistent as DUT. He said direct evidence currently demonstrates a negative liealm effect on humans from PCUs. but experiments on primates have resulted in toss of hair, skin lesions, and liver changes (Current Developments, November 23, p. 1.131). Train said the Monsanto Industrial Chemicals Company is the sole producer of PCUs in the U.S.. with an annual produc tion of 40 million pounds. Another one million pounds are im ported annually by transformer and capacitor manufac turers, he said. There is "no reason to expect non* cooperation" from industry in this program. Tram said. Steps lli.it could he taken by industry. Train said, arc to label products which contain PCUs. to eliminate the use of PCUs if alleriMlives exist, lo accelerate reseaich on and testing of substitutes, ami to ensure that PCB-containing products remain in closed cycles during use and when dis posed. Train said he hopes tuvie siihxl.iiuvs cunlml li*i:,v|;itinn will l- passed in tin* in-xl session of Congt ess, ti.u l,.- "did not want to use (Ik* lack oi hrisl.il ion as a cndi h lor HI'A marlion." lie said Hie proposed program would r.ol lead to ' quick and easy reduction" of the amounts of PCUs al.v.idy in the environment but control of discharges would help arrest the rapid growth of the problem. "Ultimately, however, only the ehir.m.ition of PCBs will yield a significant and permanent Miiuuoa." Train said. Copyrifhl 1973 by The Qwrou of No'ionul Affoitt, Inc. HONS 071094