Document ZYVeYYRyxXjL3qXpqeKnpwMZ

A - 4 (No. 100) BUSINESS I'OLICIS: (DliK) 5-2.3-77 In ndcUtion to a live-year extension and increased supports for wheat, corn, and other crops, the 318-page bib contains a major overhaul of the food stamp program, an extended and liberalized food for peace program, farm disaster payments, and other features, includin,authority for expanded agricultural research. The price tag on the entire package is about ' $12 billion a year. The- revamped food stamp program, which could cost an estimated $5.6 billion a year, includes the Administration's plan to allow needy people to get free stamps without -- as at present -- first putting up some cash to buy additional stamps. An estimated 3 million would become eligible. But other features of the plan would make about 1.2 million current participants ineligible; about 4.6 million would have their benefits ert; and some 10 million would get the same benefits they have, and in some cases even more. V o- ENVIRONMENT: COSTLE PROPOSES LABELING, FOR/PCikO PRODUCTS _A__r_euta._liation _fo_r the labebftfSu and disp. osal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and for products containing them was proposed today by Environmental Protection Agency Administra tor Douglas M. Costle. The capital costs of compliance are estimated at $9.1 million. Calling the action the "first of several steps that EPA will take to limit PCBs as ; threat to human health and the environment," Costle said the proposed regulation calls for high temperature incineration of all liquid PCBs, and would require special warning and infoitua- , tional markings on all new products containing PCBs. "The major impact of the proposed regulation, " Costle said, "will be on owners and users of currently operating PCB capacitors and transformers who will face increased casts due to the required special labeling, disposal, and recordkeeping." Costle pointed oot that although PCBs have been manufactured since 1931 they v/ej e first found to be threatening in the last decade, with recent evidence that the substance can cause skin reactions and harm the body's immunological defens e system, PCBs are also suspe .ted of harming the rcproducilve system and may cause cancer. The proposed high temperature incineration would apply to for all liquid PCBs, si ch as Askarcls drained from transformers and solvents contaminated with PCBs. Articles containing PCBs such as electrical capacitors, which are widely used in the electrical industry and in some small appliances, also are to be incinerated. In order to provide disposal alternatives until more high temperature incinerators come into service, most of these PCB articles can be disposed of in chemical waste land- fills for die first two years following issuance of the regulation in final form. In addition PCBs may be stored temporarily, prior to disposal. Storage may be used to help balance the flow of waste PCBs to ultimate disposal, EPA said. `k The proposed regulation contains criteria for the design and operation of high tem perature incinerators and chemical waste landfills, ns well as an EPA approval procedure for such facilities. High risk items such as containers of PCBs and disposal storage areas would have to be labeled six months after the rule becomes effective. Because of their wide distribution, electrical transformers and large high voltage capacitors used mainly in the electric utilities Industry arc given 12 months after promulgation to lie labeled. HONS 007691 Puf.li-.lie-ri t,y TI1S L'URKAU OF NATIONAL AFFAIKS, IN'C.. H'ASMINCTO.V. II.C. 20<!5r * 1 : 5-23-77 (DER) BUSINESS POLICES (No. 100) A - 5 ' The proposed regulation also requires that records be kepi to account for PCI!:; as the/ move through the process of storage and disposal. The regulation applies to all persons who manufacture, process, distribute in com merce, use, or dispose of PCBs. Agencies of government at the local, state, and Federal level nre Included. "While we are confident that this regulation will be effective in managing and destroy ing concentrated sources of PCBs," Costle said, "We face a different and extremely difficult problem In determining how to deal with the 250 million pounds of PCBs -- or one-third of that in service -- which arc found in 895 million individual capacitor units widely distributed cross the country. "These PCBs are found in almost every fioureccent light fixture and in many small appliances. A regulatory requirement alone is not likely to be very effective in cnsuiing that they are collected and transported to an incinerator for destruction. But if. the assistance of the public is not achieved, these PCBs will probably find their way into the local dump or land fill and from' there into the environment. EPA is seeking ideas, and assistance on ways to ad dress this complex problem," he said. Capital costs associated with compliance are expected to total $9.1 million, it eluding $5 million for new incineration capacity, $0.1 million for marking, and $4 million for storage facilities. Annual operating costs are expected to total $58.3 million in 1978 -- $5 million for chemical waste landfill charges, $8 million for disposal transportation, $8 million for record keeping, $33.3 million for marking, and $4 million fer maintenance of storage facilities. Total operating costs will increase slightly in 1979 to $61 million. After 1979, operating ccsts should decrease approximately 7 percent each year. Costle said that the regulation should create small business opportunities and employ ment due to the development of collection and storage services for numerous small generators of PCB wastes. An informal hearing on the proposed regulation will be held starting June 20, at EPA, in Room 2117, Waterside Mall, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20460. Written comments are requested by June 10, tddressed to the EPA Office of Toxic Substances, Attentior: Joni T. Repasch, (WH-557), 401 M Street SW., Washington, D.C. 20460. The proposed regulation will be published soon in the Federal Register, EPA said. -0 - DROUGHT RELIEF: PRESIDENT SIGNS BILL MILLION IN LOANS, GRANTS President Carter today signed the Community Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1977 (S 1279), authorizing $75 million in grants and $150 million in low-cost loans to augment com inunlty water supplies in drought areas. Mr. Carter said at the bill-signing ceremony that the measure "will help the small communities in drilling new wells and providing the viaducts for the transportation of water, for conservation measures, arid for other projects to overcome the consequences of die con tinuing drought." The funds were requested in March as part of an $884 million emergency drought re lief proposal sent by the President to Congress (DER 57, A-8, B-iO). Congress appropriated only $175 million of the $225 million authorized in the bill. That appropriation was included P HU 4876, which was signed by the President on May 13 (DER 94, A-14). Pul,.'t.) Tm; I'.UKKAU OF NATIONA!.. .M I AIKS. INC.. IVAr.lllNC.Tn:;, D.C. JOtMT Ktghl ,.f rv|ir.>J-j< ' I ' ! ttl-it<*-ir trwivr 1 HONS 007692