more rapidly from 1.57 to 3.00%. Copies of the report ( N S F 67-7) can be obtained at 30 cents a copy from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
Chemical execs meet with Commerce chief Trowbridge After a two-and-a-half-hour session with chemical industry chiefs last Wednesday, Commerce Secretary Trowbridge told the press that he believes the chemical industry probably should have access to more foreign petrochemical feedstocks. He is not prepared to say just how much more, he said, nor has he had an opportunity to discuss it with Interior Secretary Udall, who will decide the matter. The Secretary told the press that the chemical men were "anxious" to know whether the Administration will recommend a tax hike. He was unable to give them any information. The Secretary said the chemical industry spokesmen made it clear that they are unhappy about the prospect that the American Selling Price system of tariff evaluation will be removed and that they will be vocal when Congress takes it up. For himself, the Secretary reiterated that the U.S. got a "good deal" at Geneva. The Secretary patted the chemical industry on the back for a "pretty solid" record of moderation on prices, but made no mention of drug prices. As reported by the Secretary, the chemical executives were also concerned about: • Nickel, silver, and sulfur shortages. • A decline in the number of young people selecting science and engineering as their major fields of study. • The negative attitude of some individuals in Government toward advertising's role in marketing. • The long-run effect on their ability to compete of curbs on overseas investments. • Lack of immediate evidence pointing to an early upturn in the economy. On hand for the meeting: Brown of Allied, Gerstacker of Dow, Copeland of D u Pont, Willers of Hooker, Sommer of Monsanto, Swain of Cyanamid, Rush of Carbide, McElroy of Procter & Gamble, Beesley of Eli Lilly, Powers of Pfizer, Driscoll of WarnerLambert, Fulton of Avon Products, and MacBain of Bristol-Myers. Three trade associations executives were on hand, too—Proprietary Association president Herman A. High, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association president C. Joseph Stetler, and Manufacturing Chemists Association board chairman John Logan. 16
C&EN AUG. 7, 1967
Detergent makers agree to seek low-phosphate products High-phosphate detergents may be on the way out. Last week at a meeting in Washington, D.C., representatives of the soap and detergent industry agreed to cooperate with the Interior Department in a program to develop minimum-phosphate detergents. Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall called the meeting to enlist industry's aid in working out things that industry and Interior, working in close cooperation, can do to solve the complex problem of phosphate pollution of the nation's waters. (At press time, details of the cooperative program were being worked out. ) Secretary Udall does not expect "phosphate-minimized" detergents to become standard market products overnight. However, he hopes to see a "reasonable, gradual replacement" of present detergents. "I am aware that work is being conducted right now by your companies," Secretary Udall told the industry representatives, "to find suitable substitutes for phosphates in detergent products. W e are grateful for the work that has already been done and w e want to encourage an even more intensified research and development program." The Federal Water Pollution Control Administration (part of the Interior Department) has an active program under way to investigate the removal of phosphates from domestic wastes. Although this is important because wastes will always have to be treated, Interior is stressing the advantages of preventive techniques of pol-
Interior Secretary Udall Reasonable and gradual
lution control. Low-phosphate detergents, by themselves, will not make our waters pure again, Secretary Udall says. They will, however, be a "significant and giant step forward." Detergents are not the sole source of phosphates which stimulate the growth of aquatic plants that age lakes and clog rivers and streams. Industrial wastes and fertilizers are also prime sources of phosphate pollution. Secretary Udall says the Government is doing all it can to stimulate and accelerate studies of possible controls on these sources of pollution. Interior picked soap and detergent makers for its first conference on phosphate pollution for two reasons: The industry represents a sizable chunk of the problem and it has demonstrated a responsible attitude toward the public's interest in clean water. Giving detergent makers a pat on the back, Secretary Udall said, "The management of your industry is noted for its public-spirited efforts for clean waters and for cooperation with the water pollution control program."
Italy's nuclear power plans draw GE, Westinghouse Italy's plans for a fourth nuclear power generation plant is attracting keen interest from several nuclear firms, U.S. (namely General Electric and Westinghouse) as well as Italian. The board of directors of Ente Nazionale per l'Energia Elettrica, the government-owned electric company, authorized the issuing of bids for a new station. The unit will probably have a rating of 650 M w ( e ) . or more and thus will be the largest yet in Italy. Companies poised to go after the business include Ansaldo MeccanicoNucleare, a 55-45 joint venture of Italian heavy equipment maker Ansaldo, S.p.A., and GE; Combustibili Reattori Nucleari (Coren), recently formed by Westinghouse, Fiat, and the government-owned holding company EFIM; and SNAM Progetti. Italy now has nuclear power stations at Latina, Garigliano, and Trino Vercellese. Latina, the first one to be built, is a 2 0 0 - M w ( e ) . gas-cooled natural-uranium reactor; it started up in December 1962. The Garigliano station, a 1 5 0 - M w ( e ) . boiling-water enriched-uranium reactor, went into operation in June 1963. Trino Vercellese, a 2 5 0 - M w ( e ) . pressurized-water enriched-uranium reactor, has been producing power since June 1964. All are owned and operated by Enel. Ansaldo Meccanico-Nucleare was formed last year to provide GE with an entry into the Italian nuclear busi-
