Document rendVo5VvMrMqM85KQLO014dv

} A- 4 (No. 100) BUSINESS POLICIES (DER) 5-23-77 In addition to a five-year extension and increased supports for wheat, corn, and other crop*, the 318-pace bill contains a major overhaul of the food stamp program, an extended and liberalized food for peace program, farm disaster payments, and other features, ircluding authority for expanded agricultural research. The price tag on the entire package is about $12 billion a year. The revamped fcod stamp program, which could cost an estimated $5.6 billion a year, includes the Administration's plan to allow needy people to get free stumps 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 hove their benefits cut; and some 10 million would get the same benefits they have, and in some cases /ven more. ENVIRONMENT: COSTLE PROl DISPOSAL REGULATIONS f -0- i LABELING, jPRODUC A regulation for the labeHtfg and disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and for products containing them was proposed today by Environmental Protection Agency Admiristrator 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 a 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 informs- , tional markings on all new products containing PCBs. "The major Impact of the proposed regulation," Costle said, "wilt be on'owners and. users of currently operating PCB capacitors and transformers who will face increased costs due to the required special labeling, disposal, and recordkeeping." Costle pointed out that although PCBs have been manufactured since 1931 they were first found to be threatening in the last decade, with recent evidence that the substance can ca ise skin reactions and harm the body's immunological defense system. PCBs are also suspec ted of harming the reproductive system and may cause cancc r. The proposed high temperature incineration would apply to for all liquid PCBa, such as Askarels drained from transformers and solvents contaminated with PCBs. Articles containing PCBs such as electrical capacitors, which are widely used In the electrical industry and n some small appliances, also are to be incinerated. In order to provide disposal alternatives until more high temperature incinerators com* into service, most of these PCB articles can be disposed of in chemical waste land-fills for die first two years following issuance of die regulation in final form. In addition PCBs may be stored temporarily, prior to disposal. Storage may be used to help balance the flow of , watte PCBa to ultimate disposal, EPA said. 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 pf their wide distribution, electrical transformers and large high voltage capacitors used mainly In the electric utilities Industry are given 12 months after promulgation to be labeled. HONS 0016L5 PuMliUicd t>|- TIIE UURF.AU OF RATIONAL AFFAIRS. INC.. WASHINGTON, IJ.C. XMI37 Right sf svyradlieHtin and rectitlrilivtlan ceSftvcd -23-77 (DER) BUSINESS POLICIES {No. 100) A -5 The proposed regulation also requires that records be kept to account for PCBs as they move through the process of storage and disposal. The regulation applies to all persons who manufacture, process, distribute in com merce, use, or dispore of PCBs. Agencies of government at the local, state, and Federal level are Included. "While we are confident that this regulation will be effective in managing and destroy ing concentrated sources of PCBs," Oostlo said, "We face a different and extremely difficult problem in determining liow 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 flouresccnt light fixture and in many small appliances. A regulatory requirement alone is not likely to be very effective in ensuring that they are collected and transported to an Incinerator fer 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, including $5 million for new incineration capacity, 0.1 million for marking, and $4 million for storage facilities. Annual operating costs arc 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 for maintenance of storage facilities. Total operating costs will Increase slightly In 1979 to $51 million. After 1979, operating costs 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, .t EPA, in Room 2117, Waterside Mall, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20460. Written comments are requested by June 10, addressed to the EPA Office of Toxic Substances, Attention: 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 A17TH0RIZ1N5 $22? MILLION IN LOANS, GRANTS i- 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 munity 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, and for other projects to overcome the consequences of the con tinuing drought." The funds were requested in March as part of an $884 jnilUon emergency drought re lief proposal sent by the President to Congress (DER 57, A-8, B-10). Congress appropriated only $175 million of the $225 million millioiiztx! in the bill. That appropriation was included in U" 4876, which was signed by the President on May 13 (DER 9*1, A-14). fn>b!lHht<i la>- Tltr. IJUHEAU OF NATIONAL AITAIKS. INC.. WASHINGTON. D.C. 2W.C HONS 001616