ENVIRONMENTAL
CURRENTS
Executive Prods Industry, Government on Water Quality
Industry and government water quality efforts were the subject of some straight-from-the-shoulder-talk by Interlake Steel’s president Reynold C. MacDonald at the Water Pollution Control Federation meeting in Chicago. Addressing an Industrial Day luncheon of the conference, MacDonald said that, as a result of the Water Quality Act, “each company will have its day of accountability,” and that the sooner industry as a whole “gets on with the job, the sooner all of us can get off the defensive and on the offensive.” Key roles for industry, he said, are to provide more leadership in outside water quality matters, place more emphasis on internal R&D for problem solving, and be candid and aggressive in relating industry’s problems and progress. But the speaker saved his sharpest comments for outlining industry’s expectations in the cooperative struggle for water quality: “We [in industry] expect government to organize itself better for pollution control. Many industrial leaders, including myself, think there’s too much bickering and too many hands in control and enforcement roles. We expect government agencies and organizations to get busy on their own pollution control program. Timetables should be uniform for everyone. They are not today. We have the right to expect reasonable timetables for industries, municipalities, and others. Progress is being made in this area, but mistakes are being made, too. We expect state and regional authorities, rather than federal officials, to establish realistic standards and timetables. They are better equipped.” Congress Fails to Clear Omnibus Water Bill
The failure of the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1968 to gain Congressional approval this term places the entire national effort for clean water in serious trouble. “The water quality standards program will become a paper exercise,” said Max N. Edwards, assistant secretary for water pollution control, Department of the Interior, at last month’s meeting (Chicago, Ill.) of the Water Pollution Control Federation. Due to the lack of finances, the standards’ implementation plans probably will not meet the time schedules. The failure was referred to by Secretary Udal1 as “his only regret” for lack of action by the 90th Congress. Despite Rep. John Blatnik‘s (D.-Minn.) pressing, which led to House approval of the bill, time simply ran out before adjournment. President Appoints National Water Commission Members
The seven members to the recently established National Water Commission were appointed by the President last month. The members are: chairman Charles F. Luce (N.Y.), Russell E. Train (Washington, D. C.), Frank C. DiLuzio (Las Vegas, Nev.), Myron A. Wright (Houston, Tex.), Ray K. Linsley (Palo Alto, Calif.), Clyde T. Ellis (Washington, D. C.), and Samuel C. Baxter (Philadelphia, Pa.). The commission’s review of the national water resources problems and programs is due within five years. Volume 2, Number 11, November 1968 991
Latest Step Toward U.S. Policy for the Environment
W o l m a n receives award
Dr. Abel Wolman (center left) re. ceives the Lewis L. Dollinger Pure Environment Award of the Franklin Institute. In attendance are Dr. Athelstan Spilhaus (left), Institute president; Dr. W. Laurence LePage (center right), Institute chairman; and Lewis L. Dollinger (right), chair. man Dollinger Corp., award donor. “Interested all his life in public health, the prevention of disease, and the making of a better life for communities throughout the world, Dr. Abel Wolman has been persuasive in pointing out the need for healthwoducing improvements to many state. federal, and interna. tionai agencies, and he has been instrumental in obtaining the necessary legislation and funding for these undertakings. His election to the presidencies of the American Public Health Assoc., and the American Water Works Assoc., and his election to the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Engineering attest to the high recognition he has achieved. Not only has he helped numerous American cities with their problems of water supply, sanitation, and pollution control, but in similar fashion he has responded to the invitations of more than 20 foreign countries to help them, especially with their serious problems of water supply. Through his membership on the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, and in various other ca. pacities, he has contributed significantly to the identification and un. derstanding of the environmental as. pects of nuclear energy, and has served with distinction as spokes. man and interpreter regarding the environmental considerations of nuclear energy. . He is regarded as an outstanding teacher in the field and is largely responsible for some of the earliest in. stallations for chlorination of efflu. ent for sewage treatment plants.” John W. Carroll
..
Franklin Institute Sponsor at the award dinner, Oct.
16,1968
992 Environmental Science and Technology
A recently issued Congressional white paper proposes five elements of a national policy for the environment, in addition to nine options for Congressional action. Resulting from last July’s joint House-Senate colloquium on a national environmental policy, the white paper suggests the following elements: Environmental quality and productivity shall be considered in a worldwide context, extending in time from the present to the long-term future. Purposeful, intelligent management to recognize and accommodate the conflicting uses of the environment shall be a national responsibility. Information required for systematic management shall be provided in a complete and timely manner. * Education shall develop a basis of individual citizen understanding and appreciation of environmental relationships. Science and technology shall provide management with increased options and capability for productivity and constructive use of the environment. Proposal Affords Protection Against Man’s Progress
A Sonic Boom Recovery Act was introduced by Rep. Seymour Halpern (R.-N.Y.) and 14 cosponsors who are interested in the problems of noise. H.R. 19990 would protect the public against anticipated damages from sonic booms from both civilian and military aircraft, and would cover both personal injury and property damage. Considered by some as landmark legislation, the act-designed to fill the gap in areas of the law where no theory of recovery presently is available-sets a precedent for dealing with effectsof manmade disasters, or damage resulting from scientific advancement, In addition to sonic boom-caused damage, the act would cover damage resulting from underground nuclear detonation, earthquakes caused by underground disposal of waste materials, and the like. Although the bill died with adjournment of Congress, it probably will be introduced in the next Congress. Final Word: “Lake Erie Can Be Rescued,” Says Udal1
The long-awaited comprehensive report by the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration on Lake Erie’s pollution problems calls for expenditures over the next five years of $1.1 billion to control municipal pollution ($400 million for treatment and $700 million for sewer construction), and $285 million to curb industrial contamination in the lake. Additional expenditures will be needed to control agricultural runoff, overtlow from combined sewers, and population increases after 1990. The report identifies the amount and type of pollutants for 298 municipal and 182 industrial polluters around the lake. I t also specifies control measures that are required and abatement schedules that are being followed-and will be needed-to reverse the degradation trend. To start the control of municipal pollution, immediate installation of advanced treatment facilities is recommended at 67 plants. For curbing industrial contamination, in-plant process changes are the best way to prevent or lessen the loss of pollutants from industrial processes, according to the report. By 1972 or earlier, installation of remedial treatment facilities is required for 118 municipal and 146 industrial polluters.
ENVIRONMENTAL
CURRENTS Sediment Is Nation’s Main Water Pollution Burden GUAM
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Sediment amounts to 700 times the loadings caused by sewage discharge, according to the Department of Agriculture’s Public Advisory Committee on Soil and Water Conservation. Annually, four billion cubic yards of sediment reach U.S. waterways, according to the findings of the 18-member committee, headed by Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, John A. Baker. Sediment adds to the cost of water treatment, destroys recreational values, and affects commercial fishing, irrigation, and aesthetics. So, at last month’s meeting (Washington, D. C.) , the committee recommended a national land use policy calling for the orderly use of land and water resources. Such use would prevent further deterioration of our environment, the committee says. HEW’S Air and Solid Waste Appropriations Are Finalized
Last month, P.L. 90-557, fiscal 1969 appropriations to the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, was signed by President Johnson. The final appropriations for HEW’Sair and solid waste programs are intermediate between the House and Senate allowances reported earlier ( E S T , October 1968, page 757), and include the following allocations: NAPCAUrban and $88,733,000. Environmental health sciences-$17,820,000. industrial health-$42,955,000. Coordinating Research Council Announces New Programs
As part of CRC’s 3-year, $10 million program to combat air pollution caused by motor vehicles, six new research programs were announced recently by project manager J. Edward Taylor (ES&T, February 1968, page 87). Five are financed by American Petroleum Institute and Automobile Manufacturers Association. The sixth, a survey of driving habits of motorists in five cities, which will aid in developing techniques for testing emission control systems, will be performed by Systems Development Corporation (Santa Monica, Calif.). SDC’s program has financial backing from the National Air Pollution Control Administration, in addition to support from API and AMA. NAPCA Lists Training Programs for Air Pollution Control
Training programs offered by the National Air Pollution Control Administration insure that air pollution control in the U. S . is not hampered by lack of competent, well-trained control officers. This year’s training program lists 3 3 separate courses, some of which will be given on more than one occasion at different locations throughout the nation, according to NAPCA’s Bulletin of Courses July 1968-June 1969. These courses are divided into the following categories: air quality management ( 9 ) ; process evaluation and control ( 7 ) ; atmospheric sampling and analysis ( 6 ) ;field studies ( 11) . No tuition or fees are changed for these courses. Applications are accepted regardless of employment affiliation, and evaluated on the basis of applicant’s academic and professional record. T o date, 6,260 registrants have completed 249 intensive technical short courses, and 5,793 registrants have completed 86 one- or two-day sessions, according to Carl A. Lindstrom, Chief of NAPCA’s training program (ES&T,December 1967, page 975). Volume 2, Number 11, November 1968 993
