Document ommQx7VBrek1Komm2bD04XoVr

THE WASHINGTON POST WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, X987 cont. * * 1 I * i # * EPA Gan Use i .4 * tt * . ;* Tb Set Emissions CHLORIDE, From At using a cost-benefit analysis to de '1 judgment" and-may take into account # termine safe levels of dangerous "scientific uncertainty.".. brought the case, said the decision substances, Doniger said. .. An attorney, for the Vinyl Insti-'. is only a partial victory because the Doniger predicted that the ruling * tute, a trade organization comprising judges ruled it might be possible to will result in tougher emissions . major chemical companies including allow a "safe" level of emissions for standards for many toxic pollutants. B.F. Goodrich, Occidental Petroleum' . non-threshold toxic pollutants-- Chris Rice, an EPA spokesman, and Dow Chemical, praised the de those for which any exposure is a last night said it was too early to cision, which he said embraced the risk. The NRDC had sought a com determine if the agency will appeal : approach to standard-setting that the plete ban on such emissions. the ruling. Technically, the appeals ' group had espoused as an intervenor In addition, the court ruled that court vacated the EPA's 1988 de in the lawsuit, y the EPA may consider cost and technological feasibility in setting the "margin of safety," which Con cision to .withdraw amendments Gary H, Baise, the. Vinyl Insti * * proposed in 1977 to the vinyl .chlo tute's lawyer, said his group be ** ride emissions standards, Rice said. lieves that even using the new cri-.. gress mandated as a hedge in case The EPA now` must decide teria, the EPA "will affirm that the scientific estimates of pollutants' whether it must supplement those current levels of vinyl chloride hazards are wrong and they prove amendments, Rice said. He said the emissions are not only safe but pro-. more dangerous than thought. law requires the agency to propose vide an ample margin of safety to The NRDC had asked the court new standards 'in sh?'months and protect the public health." to rule, that only health factors finalise them in another six months, : In the decision last November . could be'considered both in assess but noted that the agency has never , upholding the EPA's use of cost and ing safe emissions levels and in con 1 4 met those deadlines. : y. y y ^technological capability in deter- y. sidering the margin of safety. Yinyl The court's decision will also have V -mining safe emissions levels, Bprk C chloride has been shown to cause an immediate .impact' $n emissions- - seemed; to -favor ,the free-market j brain and liver cancer. . : * levels "proposed last month for coke - approach.* The. EPAV method was v! "We continue to believe that a ovens,* used, in steelmakingy Rice , not precluded by Congress, he said,. person exposed to any level of a said. He did not know how long it. .and ensured thatAcosta do not be*.) - cancer-causing chemical is hot might take to revise those standards,-u f come grossly - disproportionate to '* safe," Doniger said. .. The court did not suggest a spe- * the level of reduction achieved." "But the court has said that of ciflc method for EPA Administrator ` ' Yesterday Bork wrote that the ficials can no longer turn people's Lee M, Thomas to determine what is EPA's current method is "contrary lives and health into ordinary com S safe level of emissions, saying only .. to dearly discernible congressional modities like wood or plastic1' by that it must be based on an "expert intent." . . i 4 * 4 4 1 ........................ ... n^i i|i-l : hi ; | r. -I . k'l .1 -h ,l .Li-ho-- ir|..i-,i.'.r`i " !-! ++...-P "ft- -t vt 9 * > VAB.OOOl 172418 h f- r : 1 w, -r-ll 4*^TMv