Document YrjzMMpgYevz74Vyo489wkKrE

Environment technology data for sulfur oxides and particulate matter, will follow with similar studies for other pollutants. Once criteria and control data have been issued for a pollu The huge water requirements of the chemical industry- tant and control regions have been designated, a complicated now the nation's third largest user--make water quality and process involving standards, hearings and implementation availability increasingly important factors for site selectors. and enforcement plans will be initialed that can take over a Legislation enacted in recent years has forced planners to pay year to produce standards. close attention to pollution control standards. ' So far, no firm sulfur oxide or particulate standards have . All 50 states have had their water quality standards ap emerged. But NAPCA's criteria for setting the standards sug proved entirely or in part by the Federal Water Pollution gest they'll be tough. The oxide criteria report, for example, Control Administration (FWPCA). Recently a state-by-state emphasizes that there are deleterious effects to man at con summary of key standards was put together for the first time. centrations as low as 0.04 ppm. . Surprisingly, it was not the FWPCA that did the job. Instead NAPCA's control data reports present detailed appraisals it was handled by an American Public Health Assn. (APHA) of- various methods and equipment, along with estimated subcommittee headed by TVA Health Director F. E. Garlrell, costs. As in the case of water, the costs will be high, although assisted by the APHA Engineering and Sanitation Section. A some pollutants--mainly sulfur dioxide--will have recovery portion of the study, covering standards for surface industrial values. NAPCA is sponsoring a number of research projects water, is summarized in the tables starting on p. 80. to improve technology. Pollution control is being spurred by Conirary to widely held opinions, there is considerable financial assistance programs (mandated by state law) now variation in state standards. Take the dissolved oxygen (DO) operative in the following 28 states: standard, for example. Minimum allowable DO (as milli Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, grams per hter or percent saturation) is the single most impor Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, tant standard to chemical site evaluators. As a rough rule of Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, thumb, a-2-mg./l. standard is considered to be one industry North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, can live with comfortably, while a 6.0 mg./l. value is pegged South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, "extremely tough." Wisconsin and West Virginia. California, Wyoming and Washington have set the stan In addition, Pennsylvania offers financial aid sanctioned by dard at 6 mg./l. or higher. But a few states such as Con administrative regulation. Several stales, including Utah and necticut, Maine, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Virginia and Maryland have legislative studies under way. I Wisconsin require 2 mg./l. or lower. The incentives take a variety of forms. Most common are 1 Other standards--notably turbidity, taste, odor, color and exemption from personal properly taxes (e.g., Arkansas), fast j solids--may also be important, depending upon the nature of depreciation (Arizona), exemption from ad valorem equip ! the chemical plant's waste effluents. These standards also ex- ment and structures taxes (Connecticut), exemption from lo | hibit state-by-state differences. Moreover, they are generally cal taxes for stated period of time (New Hampshire), less specific than the straight numerical DO standards. operating loss deductions (New York); credit against state in Although chemical plant site experts see little point in come tax (Oregon). "running from tough standards," the criteria do make a Quantity: The large chemical complexes now in vogue difference: Plans for two nonferrous metals plants in Puerto make water--and lots of it--a major site criterion. The cooler Rico are now on the shelf, because of standards that call for a the water is, the better, for it can reduce the investment in 4.5 mg./l. DO, no wastes that interfere with the esthetics of heat-exchange equipment. Occasionally, plants can manage the waters and other specifications. on ground water, but usually surface water is required. That No compilation of ground water standards has yet been means location on or near the big, drought-resistant rivers. published. Ground water standards may prove important in There are less than 200 rivers in the U. S. with minimum the future as companies are forced to use costly deep-well dis flows over 50 cu. ft. per second (CIV Oct. 5, '68, pp. 94-95). posal for wastes. Availability of ocean waste disposal services For companies whose plant needs at least 100 cu. ft/second, is also looming more important. the list numbers only 150 (excluding Alaska). Sea water is Waste Cost.: The price lag for pollution control is high. A generally avoided because of high equipment corrosion costs. recent FWPCA study on the organic chemicals industry esti Piping water in is expensive. Duval, now opening a 1.5 mil mated that water waste-treatment facilities can increase in- lion tons/year sulfur mine in the arid Northwest area, was | stalled capital equipment costs 40% or more. Between '69-'73, forced to install a 36-in., 38-mile-long water line and a 40- j the organic chemical industry would have to shell out $182.5 million-gal. reservoir. Cost of the water supply system hasn't I million to remove 10% of its biological and chemical oxygen been disclosed, but it is estimated that the tab was at least sev j demand waste and 65% of its suspended solids. Removal lev eral million dollars. i els of 83%, 13% and 71%, respectively, for biologic oxy'gen de The adequacy of domestic water resources in the year 2000 mand, chemical oxygen demand and suspended solids would has recently been evaluated by the Geological Survey. Na require $242.6 million, while 98%, 30% and 89%, respectively, tionally, projected demand will be 173% of potentially as would up the ante to $608 million. sured supply. Only in three regions. New England, Ohio, and Cleaner Air: Establishment of air quality standards is not the South Atlantic Eastern Gulf, will future water require- nearly as far advanced as are water standards. The National ntenls be easily met. Economic growth may be handicapped Air Pollution Control Administration (NAPCA) is still desig in nine regions: Eastern Great Lakes, Lower Mississippi, Up nating regional air control regions. At last count, 16 regions per Missouri-Hudson Bay, Lower Missouri, Western Gulf-- j . had been formally designated and another 41 had been pro Rio Grande, Pecos, Colorado, Great Basin, and Central and posed. NAPCA has issued air quality criteria and control South Pacific. DSW 552289 ' i ' '. October 29, 1969 CHEMICAL WEEK 79 STLCOPCB4090706