Document aB47Y098jjQxzoym6ZR77baNM

STATEMENT OP t>R. JOrfH L, BUCKLEY om'9B-OP-gggO/*k-FK&Z&!?3 OPPI CP OF 'RESEARCH AND DEVELQPMEKT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY BEFORE- THE -, SUBCOMMITTEE ORTHS BNVJFERMENT COMMITTEE ON .COMMERCE' UNITED STATES SENATE ` OCTOBER 21. 1975 .' Mr, Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee/ I am of. John Bucklev. fPi-rr^c4>&--or--trh e of lie :.rf--Spee>i5eei s--1$) . ' A *-- the Environmental Protection Agency * s Office of Research arid Development. J J? <U .j) -- . f. Y- :&-* <H^. . , r '' a'ft" Y7 / A.--v*\ b-CJLsJte, -k-A DSW 194965 STLCOPCB4052070 concern of the Environmental Protection Agency over the recent- . developments which suggest that environmental.coalamina.ii.on by polychlorinated puplvenyls (PCBs) is a more serious problem than previously believed. For a number of years I have been directly - involved in a broad range of Governmental efforts to reduce * * environmental levels of PCBs, In 1972*1 thought that a real break through had been made as a result of efforts by Government and by industry to curtail the use of PCBs, both domestically and inter nationally. However, 1 am now convinced that while vrre may have ' . -v /r^isf slowed the rate of growth of the problem, in the absence of gr-new - degl slaiive-basig-alorig-the-Ifaes- of-S, ?r6-which-authirri`re^ additional Governmental action, the PCB problem will not be adequately resolved. I am submitting for the record the detailed answers to the Suh>7 committee's request of October 1, 1975, for information on current manufacturer^, importers, and users of PCBs. This information is based on ^responses received to date to recent BPA requests pursuant to lection jXpfof the Clean Air Act and Section 303 of the r""'" DSW 194966 Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Also, I am submitting for the ' record a recent detailed statement by 'Mr. jjGlera| Schwcitaerffhuzzobxci chJlPA'-s nctrtaj .setting forth the history of the , PCB problem, the past efforts of Government and industry (io address v PCBs, and current {gprearV-oJ EPA activities oirecte^^videcing . the nrnhlcan In rny prepared state merit I plan to highlight very briefly. STLCOPCB4052071 3 G We have known for some time that PCBs ere a toxic group of chemicals which can cause'serious effects on`man and on our ecoloo^ieal resources. However, only during the past several years have we - begun to apprecia te the carcinogenic potential of PGBs arid the extent t^ " of the potential adverse effect on fish reproduction of very low PCB levels. While we still have much to learn about the full range of toxic % effects, their bioac cumulation. potential, and their persistence and fate - * ** * . . in the environment, there seems to be little doubt that id the past we have underestimated rather than overestimated the hazards -associated . with PCBs. At the same time, progress is-being made in developing satisfactory Substitutes for PCBs^which have been particularly important materials in electrical systems. Recent-reports from the Great Bakes area, the Hudson River valley, and other parts of the country underscore the urgency of the problem. In these areas alarmingly high levels of PCBs in fish -- levels which exceed PDA guidelines - - are not only threatening our ecological resources but are impacting directly on the jobs of local fishermen and on available food supplies. At the same time continuing PCB discharges are adding'furthcr to the total environmental burden of the chemical which degrades very slowly indeed. . * ' ' . * , 1 f--' PCBs reach man and the environment through many routes: as j - - ' - '/ water effluents, air emissions, and solid waste from manufacturing / -i aQUyitie.s;/. through. leakages fromproducts .containing PCBs during / 1 ' '** ' ;v *.*' ` 7^ Hi sir operation, transport, and disposal; and from contamination of / ^ raw materials and products exposed to PCBs. Thus, it has been recognized for a number of years that the only effective way to limit 194967 STLCOPCB4052072 q FCB contamination .is'th.rough reflation os the manufacture, use, and disposal of the chemical rather then a!tempting simply todurn off those individual routes of environmental discharges, one by one, which can _t ` be addressed under existing laws, This approach was strongly recom mended in the 1072 Interdepartmental Task Force on PCBs, is embodied .in the 1973 Decision of the Organisation for'Economic Cooperation and . Development, and is currently being pursued in Japan. Of course, in the absence of the authority manufacture, use, or disposal, we will continue to address PCBs under easting authorities, and particular); the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, recognizing the inherent limi- `. V ' / '- - . ta lions in attempting to impact meaningfully on the problem through such t *' - a piecemeal approach* - '. ' ' In view of the severity of the PCB problem, and our expectation thab-. tOx^c suostances legislation will be soon enacted, EPA is in the process of preparing the necessary detailed documentation which would bf. ,, ' required ^-^ropen^ regulatory action under flection C* of the Jkgisla4k>ff. . , '/ '/i Our f4ro&lahhgi is to be in a position to propose .specific measures as # t ____ - soon as the legislation.is enacted,- These measures would take into account not only the available information on toxicity arid exposure levels - -** . - but also the impact o.f regulatory steps on business, employment, and the economy, i. ' key concern in this regard is the availability of a c cep tat p ` ; ' y' substitutes for PCDa? Am important step in the development of our regal; tory approach is a National Conference on PCBs which EPA is sponeorin ,` '. * iV 'Vi- - `T'-c - `A- - .-.!v in cooperation v/Uh the'Council on Knv i ror>men'bO Quality,' and`the Depai events of Interior, Agricultural, and Health, Education, and Welfare. [nd s^MrrJtk /-. > /vd fl'XS , 1 ^ DSW 194968 STLCOPCB4052073 r -S TMb ^onfcrence will be held m Chicago from November 13 to 21, 1276. and will cover the entire spectrum of concerns related to PCBs. V7e intend to bring together the leading experts ^jo4^'*^frefr^ei'teerr^dr , A . \ t a lives of Federal and-state agencies, industry, envit-onn-i'ental groups. This Conference will be held in Chicago from November 19 to 21 # 1975, and will cover tbs entire spectrum of-concerns related to PCBs. We * . iV, intend to bring together the leading experts {W-bcr-htsve bven-co-hoepj>ed-- - A .' i jwr PCBs toinsure that the latest and most authoritative inform-" * A- r-T Prvf' mation is carefully considered in developing^ur-feppr&schil Rcpresen- - 'A ' tatives of Federal and state 'agencies. Industry, environmental groups, Universities, and other interested organ!vs lions will not only be invited to attend but Will be provided a platform to express their views on practical steps that are needed in SHe near-term^as well as the 1 ; <| ' \. need for further study and research, r" bSV\Tl94969 j 1 ' .In conclusion*, in my view PCBs offer an excellent example, of ` '* * the need for the type of regulatory a u the ri {^contained in peciion 6 . of the proposed Toxic Substances Control Act. Despite efforts by EPA and other agencies to use existing authorities to control RGBs, despite voluntary restraint on the part of the sole U. S. manufacturers of PCBs -a*-restricted's^sales to customers who have slated their intention to limit . \ ^ : the uses of .PCBs, despite a formal international agreement embodying ' . -" A - *" .. _ . .. . a multinational commitment to control PC$s, cnyi-oiimcnteX ^ OjL( contamination persists. icrirR&g iCfi i this IcgislilionJ ./ " Vpe^-0 A i- tA JL STLCOPCB4052074