Government even though the review and prior study indicated there were conflicting viewpoints; and information in the files raised questions about utility, cost, and national policy. However, Richard D. DeLauer, undersecretary of Defense for research and engineering, in his comments on the report said the Inspector General's analysis of the laser task force report was the worst example of "the biased tone and misunderstanding of the facts" evidenced in many places in the report. He said, "The description of the laser task force reports and the alleged bias is exactly the opposite of the facts and should have been clear. The task force report recommended against the expensive option of 'accelerating space-based laser dev e l o p m e n t ' a n d instead recommended a far less costly option," of continuing and increasing research.
DeLauer did agree that many of the report's more mundane findings need correction. These include making sure that detailed minutes are kept at all task force meetings (minutes were available for only 32 of the 198 task force meetings held), that all meetings are announced in advance in the Federal Register, and that financial disclosure statements are properly prepared and filed before the commencement of an advisory task force. Pryor warned that if the deficiencies found by the Inspector General's office were not corrected he would "propose an amendment to delete any funds used in support of the Defense Science Board's work" from DOD's 1984 a p p r o p r i a t i o n bill. "Quite simply," he said, "if this organization does not meet the necessary legal standards, it should be put out of business." Janice Long, Washington
Administration weighs acid rain control options The Administration, with the Environmental Protection Agency taking the lead, is going through the very painful process of deciding on an acid rain control policy. An internal EPA task force already has produced a 250-page report outlining 11 possible control options. This report has been sent to the newly formed acid rain control working group of the President's Cabinet Council on Natural Resources & Environment. The working group has whittled the universe of options to five. These will be sent to the full cabinet council, possibly by the end of the month. The full council is expected to shape and, possibly, narrow the set of options further. The actual decision on which control option to present to the President, however, will be made by EPA Administrator William D. Ruckelshaus, an aide says. The five options under consideration run the gamut from the Administration's initial position that more research is necessary to the actual cuts in pollution called for in Congressional bills. A source attending the working group meetings says the most stringent control op16 August 22, 1983 C&EN
tion being considered is Sen. Robert T. Stafford's (R.-Vt.) bill. Stafford's bill calls for an 8 million ton reduction in sulfur dioxide in a 31-state area east of the Mississippi River. This reduction is much less stringent than one of the options outlined in the EPA task force's original document. Although not recommending that option over any of the others, the EPA task force said that the "most uniform reduction" in acid deposition could be achieved by a 50% cut in sulfur dioxide emissions in a 21-state eastern U.S. area. According to environmentalists, a 12 million ton cut in emissions is needed to achieve this reduction. Other control strategies being considered include a variety of so-called phased-in options. Initially, some degree of control would be imposed on a targeted number of states, with further controls later being imposed on a larger number of states if the results of further research show they are needed. The Administration's acid rain policy is expected to be announced in late September, either by Ruckelshaus or President Reagan. Lois Ember, Washington
Federal Alert— new legislation This listing highlights legislation introduced between June 30 and Aug. 4. Senate and House bills are listed under subject area by bill number, primary sponsor, and committee(s) to which referred. SENATE Environment. S. 1779—Proxmire (D.-Wis.). Replaces Superfund tax on feedstocks by taxing land disposal of toxic hazardous waste at $75 per ton, nontoxic hazardous waste at $25 per ton; referred to Finance. Health. S. 1651—Cranston (D.-Calif.). Directs the Veterans Administration to establish a presumption of service connection for certain diseases suffered by veterans exposed to agent orange and radiation while in the service; referred to Veterans' Affairs. Legislation. S. 1650—Levin (D.-Mich.). Permits Congress to veto executive branch actions by means of joint resolutions passed by both houses and signed by the President; referred to Governmental Affairs. Pesticides. S. 1774—Proxmire (D.-Wis.). Makes it easier to remove from the market pesticides whose registrations contain health and safety data gaps, limits the ability of EPA to allow emergency use of pesticides; referred to Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry. Science policy. S. 1641—Bumpers (D.Ark.). Makes the selection or rejection of scientists for membership on federal advisory commissions based on their political affiliation a violation of the law; referred to Governmental Affairs. HOUSE Drugs. H.R. 3605—Waxman (D.-Calif.). Authorizes FDA to utilize abbreviated drug applications for generic drugs identical to drugs approved for use after 1962; referred to Energy & Commerce. H.R. 3633—Oakar (D.-Ohio). Requires manufacturers of over-the-counter drugs to report adverse effects to FDA, gives FDA authority to require postmarket surveillance and to restrict marketing if adverse effects occur; referred to Energy & Commerce. Patents. H.R. 3577—Moorhead (R.-Calif.). Provides protection against infringement of process patents due to offshore production of products subsequently sold in the U.S.; referred to Judiciary. Research. H.R. 3641—Fish (R.-N.Y.). Allows companies to form joint R&D ventures with few strings attached, reduces from treble to single damages for injury resulting from joint R&D ventures; referred to Judiciary. Trade. H.R. 3801—Long (D.-La.). Allows a duty on the difference between the foreign government-set price of petroleum or feedstocks for its producers and price for the same materials charged to U.S. producers; referred to Ways & Means.
