Document zdnK60arEkGkY9v621Y6mJzpn

EAST TAWAS, MICH, NEWS 3 65J JAN 7 t976 Michigan Can Head Nation . in Control of PCB-Tanner LANSING - Michigan cannot "clearly give the Department au- aolva the nation's PCB (polychlor- thority to affactivaly work on the inatad blpheny) contamination problem." problem# alone, but the atate can "Level# of PCB'# have not de tail# the leadership role in an dined. In Great Lakes fish despite effort to ban sale and manufacture extenrtye DNR efforts toeliminate of the toxic insulating material, point-source discharges," states says the Department of Natural Tanner. "ThisconcernledtheNat- Resources. . ural Resources Commission DNR Director HowardA.Tanner (which sets policy for the DNR) says that proposed legislation re to recommend laat June that tha cently reported out of the House chemical be banned, and to seek Marine Affairs Committee, chair- the legislative and administrative ed by Stats Representative David action necessary to expedite this Bonior of Mount Clemens, would goal in Michigan. "The Department is pleased with the proposed legislation and con fident that it would provide ade quate mechanisms for control and limitation of the PCB problem," } continues Tanner. "Further, the Department Is optimistic that lav- ala of PCB contamination will de cline once remaining environmen- . tal losses are eliminated. V 1 Tanner adds that Governor Wil liam G. Millikan's recent support' of the PCB control bill (House BUI 9919) andtheGoveroor'a chal lenge that Michigan assume the state-level leadership role in the I U.S. are encouraging signs. I In a statement Issued last week. Governor Millikan state that PCB levels In many Urge Great Lakes , fish were above the five ppm (parts par million) set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as sc- ` ceptable for consumer foods and that PCB's have even been found ' "at alarmtrig levels in Great Lakes area snowfall and rainfall." i`: "in the past Several years, Mi chigan has led ttte nation in dealing forthrightly and effectively with pollutants thst pose a sii'lOus threat to our environment--Includ- ,, lng DDT and mercury," the Gover nor stated. "I believe that our etate should once again demonstrate its ,leadership by dealing...with the growing PCB problem." Tanner notes that a recent study of PCB's in Lake Superior fish by Northern Michigan University |researchers showing that levels of the pollutant were above the five ppm level in certain varieties of lake trout found in the off-shore areas near Isle Royals and the Car- Ibour Islands confirmed earlier DNR studies that reached the same conclusion. However, PCB levels in the lean varieties of lake trout, ordinarily taken in the near-shore areas of Lake Superior in the sport fishery, do not exceed the mini mum guidelines. ' "There is nothingneworalarm ing about the NMU report, as PCB levels have not declined in the Great Lakes sinco being discover ed in 1970," states Tanner. "What is aignlficant, however, is the fact that public attention is now being directed at the real problem, (hat PCB's are more than a contaminant in fish, that they are finding their way through a multitude of small sources Into biological systems. "Evidence indicates that PCB's insy interfere with the reporduc- tlon of Great Lakes fish and arc dieted won the entire cycle of . life. H is s tremendous environ mental problem that we must bring under control." I 'responsible for reproductive fail ure in Michigan's fish-eating birds, Including the bald eagle," the director continues. "The con cern is what effect has PCB's In* MONS 032989