Document MGNg7VZ5M36GQ8V4ZveLq3QkV

crt.lMjcj <src APR 20 1976 4^ V --" . ^ __ Stafe, GE eias/i again on chemical ban ALBANY, N.Y. fAP) - Hie General Electric Ce. and the Environmental Conserv ation Department are sqeared 6 for the final round of -the , PCB battle. * The department wants GE to atop dumpng the industrial chemical polychlorinated fatpbeoyis into the Hudson River aad to pay for cleaning up J some of the damage already -done. hearings began here Monday that could lead to an order re quiring GE to pay that penalty. Testimony Monday focused on a GE proposal for a water treatment plant to screen PCBs from the discharges at its elec tric capacitor plants at Hudson Fails and Fort Edward, and <*i the Hudson River organism which have ingested PCB-pol- iuted partides. EnCon Engineer Lawrence Columbia University law School professor Abraham So faer, who ruled in February that the PCB dumping violated state law, is presiding again. While he declined to say what his final ruling would be, his February decision said that his final recommendation would at least require GE to "drastical ly" limd discharges ''and to rectify the effects of its nor violations where lawfully prop The company has federal per mits authorizing its discharges. Sofaer noted that GE had "op erated openly and negligently rather than in secret or in dis regard of CPB ducharge Uinta set in its permits." Once Sofaer has presented his final report, which wilfow at least two weeks of public hear ings, Environmental Con servation Commissioner Ogden Reid wilp issue the final abate amine whether such a clean-up the federal goveramest is con is possible. An EnCon official sidering a total ban for 1977. testified that PCBs were succesrfuliy removed from a Also, the state Commerce De partment has urged that the Washington State river bed state not set tougher limits through the use . of a sophis ticated dredger, fed the depart than the federal government because singlestate standards ment has suggested tfat re moval of the sentiments might pose an even greater hazard because of PCBs stirnd from migit cause industries to move toother slates where regulation is not so strictv. The Monsanto Co., the os- the bottom into the current. tionYonty FCB-mUCff, has an- Negotiations between the two Nadler testified that a carbon sides aimed M a compromise fillratian process designed for a greement on a reduced level the General Electric plants er. and economically and envi ronmentally practicable." He added that effective gov ment and desuHgr order. PCBs, which resist natural The department has not pre decomposition much the way dated how much it would coot DDT does, are known to Mil notaced plans to phase out pro duction. Reid's insistence or the pen at dumping have proved fndt- could reduce daily PCB dis ernment action could have pre to purge the river of PCB pollu- fish eggs and may cause can alty hearings, and presumably i ku so far, reportedly because charges to about one gram, or vented much of the environ boe, but it has asked GE to cer in rats. The effect on hu on making GE pay for some of ot the department's desire to l-2Sh of an ounce, daily. GE is mental damage and that Ms post s |2 million compliance mans is still under study. the damage, is reportedly a ' edrac: a penalty frwm GE. A presently releasing about two recommendation would take bond A medical team from ML major stumbling block to the ; j*jw jteae of departmental pounds a day into the river. that into account. Th current hearings will ex- Sinai Hospital in the Bronx has be!tind-the<scene negotiations. _________ ______S\ .. ,_________ /l L. ; been conducting tests on GE On Monday, Aasodated fo- workersto determine what con duMries of New York, a major tinued contact with chemical lobbying group for iidustry, has meant to their health. asked permission to join the General Electric has ac hearings to stgsport GE. A knowledged that son* workers statement said the depart contractedskm rashes to ment's pursuit of penalties is PCB. with "without legal authority The department and GE have and, if granted, will have far- been negotiating on and off for reading and serious economic mocths, in an attempt to find a consequences to" the group's o reduced level of <himpu)g members. J u agreeable to both stifcs.------- --- O' Commissioner Rd fke*1 O' O' 4- that all tfschargea stop this September, but there may be room for compromise hx-vm*