Document YGdKkppNNOBya0DnYqebGv6Jy

GGC 002252 Copyright 1975 by Wilfrid Bach All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. First published 1975 by The Oriental Publishing Company P.O.Box 5115 Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 75-8390 i i troi the auto emissions the EPA has annouced the promulgation of new regulations on lead additives. These will restrict the av erage lead content in all grades of gasoline as follows [71]; 1.7 grams per gallon (gpg) by January 1, 1975 1.4 gpg by January 1, 1976 1.0 gpg by January 1, 1977 0.8 gpg by January 1, 1978 0.5 gpg by January 1, 1979 According to EPA estimates these low-lead regulations would increase total crude oil consumption in 1980 by only 0.4%, The impact of this increase on fuel use would be insignificant. The new regulations provide a two-year delay, until July l, 1977, for small refineries to make the appropriate changes. Emergency Episode Ruling. According to health studies spon sored by the EPA and other agencies exposure to 1,000 ftg/m3 (0.5 ppm) of photochemical oxidants (Ox) can cause breathing difficulty and chest pains in normally healthy persons. On ac count of this the EPA revised its national air pollution emer gency standards. The proposed 1-hr exposure levels for Ox are [72]: Significant harm at Emergency at Warning at Alert at 1,200 fig/m3 1,000 pg/ms 800 ftg/m3 200 ftg/m3 (0.6 ppm) (0.5 ppm) (0.4 ppm) (0.1 ppm) The "significant harm" levels represent air pollutant concentra tions that should be prevented from ever being reached. Therefore states are required to have an additional contingency plan that goes in effect whenever ambient concentrations ap proach the "significant harm" level. Ban of Vinyl Chloride. Vinyl chloride (VC), a colorless gas derived from chlorine, is the major ingredient in a multitude of such materials as plastic containers, floor tiles, phonograph records, and plastic curtains, etc. A $90 billion industry with more than two million jobs is dependent upon this substance. Recently VC has been linked to angiosarcoma, a rare form of liver cancer. Thus the Occupational Safety and Health Adminis- ras annouced the promulgation /es. These will restrict the avof gasoline as follows [71]: gpg) by January 1,1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 se low-lead regulations would >tion in 1980 fay only 0A%. tel use would be insignificant, two-year delay, until July 1, ake the appropriate changes. cording to health studies sponexposure to 1,000 pg/m3 (Ox) can cause breathing tally healthy persons. On acnational air pollution emer-hr exposure levels for Ox are -00 Mg/m* (0.6 ppm) 00 ^g/m3 (0.5 ppm) ;00 /tg/m3 (0.4 ppm) 00 ^g/m3 (0.1 ppm) resent air pollutant concentra1 from ever being reached, ave an additional contingency r ambient concentrations ap* el. thloride (VG), a colorless gas jor ingredient in a multitude mers, floor tiles, phonograph A $90 billion industry with tendent upon this substance, tngiosarcoma, a rare form of ai Safety and Health Adminis 185 tration stepped in and ruled that, starting January 1, 1975, work ers must not be exposed to more than 1 ppm of VC per 8-hr working day (as compared to the presently permitted 50 ppm of VC), or to 5 ppm of VC for a period of less than 15 minu tes. Since VC is not only emitted into the ambient air during the production process, but almost ubiquitously when plastics are burned in open dumps or incinerators, the EPA has de clared it a hazardous pollutant. Furthermore, under the provi sions of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, and the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has banned all self-pressurized household products containing VC as an in gredient or in the propellant effective October 7, 1974 [73]. Regulations on Pesticides. Under the amended Federal In secticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act the EPA prescribes the maintenance of books and records for the inspection of pesticide production and distribution. The new regulations will be effective October 18, 1974, and shall be enforced De cember 17, 1974 [74], Regulations on Plutonium and Transuranium Elements. The EPA announced its intent to review the need for establishing new rules to evaluate the environmental impact of plutonium and transuranium elements [75]. Technical symposia and pu blic hearings are scheduled for the purpose of obtaining the necessary technical data. Manpower and Funding. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed to the EPA to phase out federal grants to state and local air pollution control agencies starting in fiscal year 1976. Instead, the Office suggests that local air pollution control should be funded with `user taxes' or `permit fees.' This could well result in a conflict of interests and weaken local control efforts. The decision of cutting federal support for air pollution manpower development should be reversed to ensure an adequate force of competent control personnel. The National Academy of Sciences was recently awarded by the EPA a three-year $5 million contract to assess the costs, bene-