Document bgLr4qOmz3bEpKzkOq1BXR93

t-: N V I }- O N M E ',M T A L PROTECTION AGENCY, WAS H I N Q> TON. P , C . 20 Jgo~ t . MR. BLISS (202) 632-7692 (Home) . (301) -430-9014 - ' 1>SR HOLMES (301) -443-1677 (Iioras) . (301) 593-6459 FOR RELEASE AT 6*30 A.M. MARCH.31, 1971 . '. ' . imx.r-.nLous-FOLj.UT/iivre list proposed T-?il iiam D, Ruekelsbaus, 7;chain5.c.tr at or of tbs Environmental Protect-ion Agency, today named three hazardous air pollutants for which he will sot national standards in the next few fr months. The hazardous pollutants -- those to which oven slight exposure- may contribute to death or. serious illness -- were identified in -the Federal Register today as asbestos, beryllium, and mercury* They' are the first to be identified under the 1970 Clean Air Amendments. % . * In proposing to list these three contaminants, Ruckelshauc - said, ''.Listing these contaminants as hazardous under the 1970 Clean -Air Zimendments does not moan that current levels in the 4- air arc dangerous, it means that even slight exposure to asbestos, 1' mercury, and beryllium 'may threaten human health, and we must careful)y control any release of these substances to the . (j v` _ , - CAPCO KIN 0001230 2 environment." Under the Clean Air 7-unendments, listing a substance as a hazardous air pollutant calls for EPA to propose National emission standards for new and existing sources of the hasardous pollutants. After hearings the standards will be promulgated. Standards are to be set within one year of publication of the list. Rucbelshaus stated that, other pollutants vjIII be added i-n the "3 it if further assessment shows that they arc 'hazardous" within the meaning of the Act. # l \ CAPCO KIN 0001231