dures, instead of the factual bases, of the rules." At first (and even second) glance the program bears a close resemblance to the Congressionally mandated unified agenda of federal regulations that is published twice a year in the Federal Register (C&EN, May 30, page 18), but OMB insists that there is a difference. It points out that the unified agenda is simply a compilation, prepared by each agency, of possible rule-making activities, often without policy level review and without review by or approval of the Executive Office of the President. As a result, OMB says, actions listed in the unified agenda frequently do not occur when and as described and often do not express the regulatory priorities of the agency head
and the President. The regulatory program, on the other hand, is a policy document and regulatory tool that sets forth the priorities of the agency head and the President regarding significant regulatory actions that will be taken by the 17 major regulatory agencies during the next year. And, OMB points out, unlike the unified agenda, the regulatory program covers important prerule-making actions, such as studies, policy statements, hearings, and other agency activities that may lead to significant regulatory actions in future years. Copies of the program can be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. The stock number is 041-001-00293-6 and the price $21. D
Dioxin found at landfill near Niagara River
landfill used by Olin/' EPA Region II spokesman Charles Tenerella said. Olin used a 6.5-acre section of the dumpsite from 1948 to 1970. The landfill is secured, and public access is restricted. Even if it w e r e not, the c o n c e n t r a t i o n of 2,3,7,8-TCDD found at the surface, 0.59 ppb, is below the 1-ppb action level set by the Centers for Disease C o n t r o l for residential soil, n o t landfills. EPA has no dioxin standard. The EPA sampling, done during the last week in April, reported no dioxin contamination of the river. Tenerella says, "There has been no serious off-site migration" of 2,3,7,8TCDD. But he notes that in 1983 a consultant to the New York Department of Conservation detected 3.3 ppb of 2,3,7,8-TCDD in a sediment sample, one of 31 samples taken from the Niagara River. Olin and Occidental Chemical have just begun the initial phases of the cleanup of the landfill, which is a Superfund site. It is expected that in 18 months the companies will have determined the types of wastes buried—mainly thousands of tons of chlorinated hydrocarbons, mapped the extent of contamination, listed cleanup options, and estimated the cost of cleanup. Actual cleanup of the site is two to three years off, Tenerella says. Lois Ember, Washington
An Environmental Protection Agency survey of suspected contaminated sites in the U.S. has detected dioxin in soil samples taken from three locations on a dumpsite located at the edge of the Niagara River in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Until 1970, the 102nd St. landfill was used by Hooker Chemical & Plastics (now Occidental Chemical) and Olin to dispose of their hazardous waste. Under an agreement signed in June 1984, five years after the federal government sued, the companies agreed to clean up this site. As part of EPA's National Dioxin Strategy, 38 soil samples were taken from 10 locations on the now fenced-in landfill. Three were found to contain 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, or 2,3,7,8-TCDD, in varying concentrations. One sample taken at a depth of 1 foot contained the dioxin at a concentration greater than 200 ppb. Another sample taken at a different location and at a depth of 2 to 4 feet below the surface was found to contain 173 ppb of dioxin. At still another location, a sample taken from the surface was contaminated with 0.59 ppb of the compound. "All three positive samples were obtained from the portion of the
Federal Alert— new regulations This listing highlights regulations published in the Federal Register from July 1 to Aug. 9. Page numbers refer to those issues. PROPOSED Environmental Protection Agency—Sets interim requirements to protect workers not protected by OSHA during asbestos abatement projects; comments by Sept. 10 (July 12, page 28530). Makes economic analysis of impacts expected from new water pollution rules on organic chemicals, plastics, and synthetic fibers industries; comments by Oct. 15 (July 17, page 29068). Adds spent solvents 1,1,2-trichloroethane, benzene, 2-ethoxyethanol, and 2-nitropropane to list of regulated hazardous wastes; comments by Sept. 13 (July 30, page 30908). Food & Drug Administration—Announces unspecified extension of comment period for regulations interpreting 1984 Drug Price Competition & Patent Term Restoration Act (Aug. 7, page 31887). FINAL Environmental Protection Agency—Promulgates revised rules on proper smokestack heights and dispersion of air pollutants; effective Aug. 7 (July 8, page 27892). Prohibits installation of underground storage tanks for regulated chemicals unless tank is protected against corrosion and structural failure; effective July 15 (July 15, page 28702). Food & Drug Administration—Amends food additive regulations permitting gamma radiation treatment of pork to control Trichinella spiralis parasite; effective July 22 (July 22, page 29658). Nuclear Regulatory Commission—Revises regulations for disposal of high-level radioactive wastes in geological repositories, with specific criteria for disposal within unsaturated zones; effective July 22 (July 22, page 29641). Sets requirements and criteria for structure of light-water nuclear power plants to improve safety of pressurized-water reactor systems; effective July 23 (July 23, page 29937). NOTICES Consumer Product Safety Commission— Draft report by CPSC staff available on risks to children from products using di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) (July 9, page 28003). Energy Department—Publishes final mission plan for civilian radioactive waste management program and responses to government agency objections to earlier draft plan (July 12, page 28446).
August 26, 1985 C&EN
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