Document b52Y3jj3aXko5NwRn68XXkemg

inorjHfooo, uica CLOSE D. 9.000 OEC 13 1976 %T- Aspin: PCB Imports Haye Risen Sharply WASHINGTON (AP) - Rep. chlorinated biphenyls," is used Lee Aspin, D-Wls., said Sunday in Industrial and mechanical that with U.S. production of the applications, including use as a coolant sealed inside electric toxic chemical PCB to end in transformers and capacitors. 1977, imports of the substance It often escapee to the en have risen sharply -- apparent vironment through industrial ly in an effort to prolong its waste discharges, accidental re use. lease, and the junking of equip Under the new Toxic Sub ment containing it. stances Act, all use of PCB in PCB has not been directly the United States must end by proven to harm human beingn, June 1, 1979; but Aspin said nut has been shown to cause the sole U.S. manufacturer, I serious illness in Veoratory an- M o njjjilp..Cbfiinkai o., | imals and was found by the planned to end production by i EPA In samples of human mo- October, 1977. | then1 milk, Indicating that it "Unless imports are quickly] Is reselling and being absorbed ended," Aspin said la a state-1 by human beings. ment issued by his office "PC* I Aspin said data from jhe U.S. ' B'i will continue to threaten the Customs Service showed that > environment -- and at an ac the United States imported 918, celerating rate, Judging from 886 pounds of PGB during the this years Imports." first eight months of 1971, tar He said he will ask the Envir | tune than the 878,409 pounds onmental Protection Agency to,i imported during the entire year ban further PCB Imports before of 1979. the 1979 legal deadline, once the "The custon* figures indicate incoming administration of Pre -that manufacturers may be sident-elect Cart* hat taken of- I building up stocks to nee PCB's lioe. I well after domestic manufactur Asked about Aspln's state ing has stopped," said Aspin. ment, an BPA spokesman said ! Ilia BPA spokesman said, the agency has no present in however, that stockpiled PCB tention of speeding up the ban could not be used, In any case, on PCB. after the 1879 ban on further He said Congress allowed the we take* effect. two-year delay to give indus Aspin said all of the 1979 Im tries time to obtain ndtable re ports of PCB so far have eons placements lor PCS, and the from France, entering the agenqy still considered that a I United States through No* valid approach to the problem* | York, Pittsburgh and Los Anga- PCBJ, a group of related MQNS 050780