Document v1jGO8RjOKOGboROpbkbY7e09

PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT HALLOW GOVERNMENT EM'S Budget BUMS espite the rise of met, recently told the Sen DAmerica's environmen ate Committee on Environ- tal conscfousoess and myradmeet and Public Works. new pollution law* m the past decade (Set "CUaring In testimony on its 1992 budget request before the the Air."page 32), the Envi same committee, EFA Ad ronmental Protection Agen ministrator WiBiam Keifr cy's operating budget has defended the agency's pro remained `'capped" for more than a decade, reports the grams and noted that Ad ministration proposals m- General Accounting Office. chtde a 7 percent increase The operating budget, over fiscal 1991 for operat which coven all the agen ing programs. More than cy's programs except sew three-quarters of the in age treatment plant con crease would be earmarked struction grants and Super- for implementation of the fund. has not increased in Clean Air Act amendments constant 1982 dollars from passed by Congress last faH ha fiscal 1979 level of $1.7 Nonetheless, GAO bflUoo. EFA`s operating bud charges that increases in the get declined toll biDiofl in air pollution program are fiscal 1983 and returned in made possible only by cuts 1991 to $1.7 bOfion. elsewhere at EPA. Some Yet during this same pe $50 million it being cut from riod, EPA has seen a tre asbestos abatement loans mendous expansion of its and school district grants. responaibfljfies, including Water pollution grants would new duties far hazardous be cut fay $25 million. GAO waste treatment and trans also is worried about the im portation, underground stor pact that cutbacks in federal age tanka, asbestos deinupa iitstmrr to state and local and the regulation of drink- governments wffl have on environmental protection. 'These numbers tell us GAO noted that the an that despite high pubfic nual cost of compliance with expectations and growing environmental regulations, responsibilities, ERA contin which will have risen from ues to have no more re $90 billion m 1987 to $160 sources to deal with environ billion m the year 2000. wiD mental problems than it did financially strap many com- 13 fears ago." Richard L. munities, especially localities Hembra. GAO'S director of with populations of less than environmental protection is- 2.500. Arkansas Wants To End Unnecessary Removal An Arkansas legislator hopes a proposed bill will end indiscriminate asbestos removal. The bill sets a maximum allowable level of asbestos for public access areas in any building in Arkansas. Those affected would have to be informed of the severity of the asbestos risk and protected from removal actions. The proposed bill would also require asbestos contamination consultants to disclose any financial interest in the companies performing any removal works. Those who violate the bit) could be charged with a class A misdemeanor. Rikfis faces an avalanche of asbestos liabflity claims By HAl DAVIS vlve the growing avalanche of as Msshulam RikUs the near-bllUonaire corporate takeover ortlat haa been tripped up by the asbes- tomato. RlkHs' wife, entertainer Pla Zadora, may be one of hU few re maining assets, if a court ruling dlacloeed yesterday la upheld. Facing an "avalanche" of asbestoe liability claims, RikUa learned bestoseases assertedagainst It" In a March 21 letter to Huff, Marshall said Rapid hadft asbes tos cases pending with the num ber `Increasing every week." CNA charged EUklla "fabricated" Rapid's "poverty" as a "ruse" by shifting its assets In a "shell gamer CNA lawyer Charles Booth said Rlklis,"a notorious corporate ad- Rapid-Ameriean Corp. cannot venturerJiaa made bis fortune call on the CNA Insurance Coa. to shuffling assets from company to pay more that $100inclalma. company in labyrinthine deals la a precedeat-nttlng decision, that can rarely betraced.** a Manhattan Supreme Court Booth alleged in court papers judge held that the pollution ex that Riklia moved $LB billion clusion clause" in CNA's Insur from Rapid-Ameriean leaving "a ance policy applies to "the grad virtuallyemptycorporateshell " ual release or discharge of aabee- Marshall called the charges "false scurrilous allegations.** Justlce Carol Huff laid court Citing a 10-K fora dated Janu cases that dealt with the dis ary 21* 196$, Marshall said Rapid * charge or leeching of toxic waste had assets of "less ,hf half the Into a creek also applied to "the SL$billion, had HshUlMas evened gradual discharge of asbestos lag $W0 million and a dust and flhsrs spanning several "stockholder deficiency" a nega decades." tive net worth of$157,4mllHon. If upheld on appeal the ruling "The business ethics of Riklia could mean teas of thousands of are actontrial***Huffwrote In her workers made aftek by asbestos eight-page decision. could And themselves unable to Rlklls* problems stem from the collectcompensationpayments. late 1960a when a company he Rapid-Ameriean lawyer Stephen Marshall had told the then sold the PhiUp Carey j judge that without CNA'a eover- factoring Ootpu, an asbestos mahage, ?Rapfid wULuotbaableto sur- - n'j'iUi'. Y if.t MY 1WI e ft PAST (h)6H.73S GO M12, Iffl o -J CD cn L KKROT o, ha* dedicated it* newCartswifla, GA, plant sofetr to toe production at non-asbestos bake taction material. With an estimated annual growth rate at 24%, due in port to a government.ban on asbestos material. non-as&estorbrake products represent the "tartest growing segment of the automo tive pari* market" according to Tsmeoo. TA take is a non-as bestos brake manufacturer, sup plying brake co-manufacturers and rebufidan. Brake-Pro contin ues as toe aftermarket take divison of Tenneoo Automotive. 03 jr OTOTM MUDS 1OTH-.T