Document KJRd89JOr0vvKj0YMQavxJwE2

CONCORfl, N. H, MONITOR D. 17.213 JUL 2 91976 r fcPA Reports Half Of N.E. Rivers Fishable; Organic Compounds Up BOSTON (API -- The ll.S. fishing and swimming in 1975. Newport, R.f.: Springfield and cipal component of smog. In Environmental Protection up from 4$ per cent the previous Boston: Manchester. N.H.: 1975 stations at Berlin. N.H.. Agency said today the quality of year. Burlington, VI., and Portland, and Portland, Maine, reported New England's water was im- TV state-by-state breakdown Maine, no violations, but the monitor proving Mil new problems were of river miles suitable for fish- For solid wastes, EPA said it ing stations were not working in cropping up. Ing and swimming: Con- had identified 15 industrial the summer months when viola TV second annual report of necticut. 42 per cent; Mas- users of polychlorinated biphe- tions would be expected. the agency's regional office sachuselts, 26 per cent: Maine, nyls, a substance more long- The number of violations said 51 per cent of the region s 62 per cent; New Hampshire. 54 lasting than DDT and causing dropped in New Hampshire and miles of rivers were suitable for percent; Rhode Island, 64 per serious illness if absorbed in significantly in Connecticut and cent; and Vermont, 62 per cent, highconcentrattons. Massachusetts, but rose in The report said the amounts River sediment showed PCB Rhode Island, probably because of lead was dropping in the present in concentrations of up a number of Rhode island test I' drinking water supplies of Bos- to 139.0U0 parts per billion, sites were not In operation in ton-area communities because Sludge from the New Bedford 1974 of new treatment programs, sewage treatment plant con- Bacteria levels were dropping tained PCB at a concentration and. because of more judicious of 64,0(10 parts per billion, and sailing of winter highways, EPA said It would study emls- chloride levels were also on the sions from New Bedford's decline. ' sludge incinerator. But the EPA said organic Monsanto Co., the only manu* compounds In water supplies, facturer of PCB, has announced particularly chloroform and plans to stop makingit. ! carbon tetrachloride, posed a in air quality, EPA said all problem of uncertain dimen- New England monitoring sites sions. The compounds are found no violations in 1975 of the believed to form through the ac- standard for sulfur oxides, lion of chlorine used for dis- New violations of the 24-hour infectant on other substances standard for particulate matter present In the water from mu- were found at Bangor, Maine, nicipal or industrial discharges, and Worcester. Mass., along oreven naturally present. with a repetition of 1974 viola , Chloroform Is known to cause lions at another Worcester loca- cancer In mice and rats. tion and at Springfield, Mass. A nationwide study found Each state showed some viola ; chloroform in the water tup- (ions of the one-hour standard. plies of Lawrence. Mass.; New- EPA said. port, R.I.; Waterbury, Conn.: AH test sites showing viola- and the Metropolitan District tions of the eight-hour standard , Commission in greater Boston, for carbon monoxide in 1974 One Newport sample showed also showed violations In 1975. chloroform at 103 parts per bit- However, maximum levels of lion, and EPA said if was work- the pollutant were down slg- ing with city officials on ways to nificantly in some places, par- reduceit. ticulariy New Britain, Conn., A followup study will include and Burlington. VI. 10 New England cities - New All test sites in 1974 showed Haven, Waterbury and Hart- violations of the standard for ford, Conn.; Providence and photochemical oxidants, a prin HONS 037303