White House, punctuated by the abolition of the science office by President Nixon. The Dark Age lasted only until 1976, when President Ford restored the post of science adviser. The current era is the most complex of all, with large bundles of technical issues calling for perspective and decision making within a weakened White House structure for science and technology. Fundingsland does not characterize the current White House OSTP, headed by William R. Graham. But Graham has surprised Washington's science community by his efforts to become the least accessible and most secretive science adviser of all time. Fundingsland's report is being read with wide interest throughout the government. "We think it's a real service to the community," says Nancy Naismith, who heads the science policy unit at OTA. "It could stimulate a sense of two things at OTA," she says: "make our work in science policy more practical and relate our studies to what Congress can do." A Congressional source says an earlier draft of his report made some strong policy recommendations— such as establishment of a Department of Science & Technology—but that they failed to survive review at GAO. "In many ways it harks back to the mid-1970s when Congress said: 'Let's get back to the original intent of places like OSTP,'" the source says. "It's a useful document and I admire him for pushing this through as his parting shot from government service." D
U.S. and Soviets sign space cooperation pact During the past two years, scientific relations have gradually increased between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. as new Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev has resolved the cases of well-known dissident scientists and promoted a policy of "glasnost," or openness (C&EN, Jan. 12, page 6). The latest step in improving relations is resumption of cooperation in space exploration. During a visit to Moscow earlier this month, Sec-
retary of State George P. Shultz and Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze signed a bilateral accord reinstating a program that ran from 1972 to 1982. The two sides worked out the new accord last October, but waited for this opportunity for signing by top-level officials. The five-year accord calls for joint working groups to implement cooperation in five areas: solar system exploration, space astronomy and astrophysics, Earth sciences, solarterrestrial physics, and space biology and medicine. The initial list reflects a low-key start, with no dramatic space spectaculars like the Apollo-Soyuz docking of manned U.S. and Soviet space vehicles, notes Peter G. Smith, head of NASA's international program policy office. An early opportunity is for U.S. involvement in the Soviet unmanned mission to Mars' moon Phobos slated for July 1988, and use of the U.S. Deep Space Network to enable superior tracking of the mission. Other projects on the list include cooperation in the U.S.'s unmanned Mars Observer mission scheduled for 1992, joint studies to
U.S. and Soviet astronauts: a reunion ahead in space? identify the most promising landing sites on Mars, exchange of data on Venus, coordination of study of global changes in the natural environment, and cooperation in biomedical research and space medicine. D
EPA to regulate "inert" pesticide ingredients The Environmental Protection Agency has begun a crackdown on toxic inert ingredients found in pesticide products. It has issued two lists: 50 inerts that are of significant toxicological concern; another 50 that are potentially toxic and thus in need of further assessment. A total of 1200 inerts currently are used in pesticide formulations. The basic goal of EPA's new policy, says John A. Moore, EPA's assistant administrator for pesticides and toxic substances, is "to minimize the risks to public health and the environment that may result through exposure to these ingredients." As part of the new policy, he explains, "We are encouraging registrants to use the least toxic inert ingredients available." EPA will require registrants who do not find substitutes for the inerts on the two lists to put a statement on their product label that says: "This product contains the tox-
ic inert ingredient... ." Registrants also will be required to provide the agency with a battery of test data similar to that required for the registration of active chemical ingredients. A survey of its member firms conducted by the National Agricultural Chemicals Association has shown that only five of the 50 inerts of the most concern to EPA are used by six or more companies, says NACA's scientific director John McCarthy. Those are formaldehyde, isophorone, methylene chloride, rhodamine B, and 1,1,2-trichloroethane. Only one of those, the solvent isophorone, is used in quantities of more than 100,000 lb, he says. An additional 17 of the inerts on List 1 are used by fewer than six firms. The majority of the firms surveyed said it was technically possible to find replacements for the inerts used, McCarthy says, but he adds, April 27, 1987 C&EN 5
News of the Week
Moore: minimize public health risks "We didn't get any measure of the cost or impact of replacement." McCarthy points to a provision in legislation that NACA supported last year that would have required the labeling of inert ingredients of major concern (C&EN, March 24, 1986, page 14). His own advice, he says, is to find a substitute and move ahead with it, if the data are there, there's no misinterpretation, and there's solid information to support an inert's inclusion on List 1. However, he adds, if the data are questionable, the listing should be challenged. D
Chemical earnings, sales, up in first quarter Chemical producers announcing first-quarter sales and earnings so far have reported generally higher figures than they did in the corresponding period last year. Even those companies with agricultural chemical businesses reported modest sales and earnings recoveries, following a recent round of restructuring in the agricultural chemicals sector. Favorable foreign currency exchange rates and cost reduction efforts contributed significantly to the increases. Lower energy costs along with improved yields and manufacturing efficiencies also continued to contribute to profitability. 6
April 27, 1987 C&EN
However, many companies reported that though the most recent quarter's results were good, a shaky U.S. economy made it difficult to predict a good year overall for 1987. A m o n g the larger companies reporting for the quarter, Monsanto posted a 24.4% increase in its operating income to $250 million on a 7.5% sales increase to $1.87 billion. Monsanto chairman and chief executive officer Richard J. Mahoney says the company's agricultural subsidiary showed excellent results owing to sales of its Roundup herbicide. FMC also credited the sale of an herbicide, Command R, with strengthening the company's bottom line. However, FMC reported that because of sales declines in machinery and defense systems, overall sales declined 3.7% to $724 million. Net income declined 1.6% to $25.3 million. At American Cyanamid, sales of crop protection chemicals contributed to higher operating earnings of the company's agricultural group. For the quarter, the company regis-
tered a 40.8% increase in operating income to $97.3 million on a sales increase of 10.5% to $1.01 billion. Although fertilizers have experienced a sales and earnings squeeze lately, one company, International Minerals & Chemical, reported that its fertilizer business generated operating earnings of $22.3 million in the first quarter. IMC reported overall sales of $456 million, up 52.6% from the year-earlier quarter. Effective March 1986, sales and earnings reflect the purchase of Mallinckrodt, a supplier of specialty chemicals, medical products, flavors, and fragrances. Among other chemical companies reporting improved results, Union Carbide posted a 74% increase in income from continuing operations to $66 million on a 6% sales increase to $1.7 billion. 3M reported an 18% gain in net income to $213 million on a 6.6% net sales increase to $2.2 billion. And Reichhold Chemicals registered a 29% rise in operating income to $7.2 million despite a sales decline of 12% to $184 million. D
Industry not ready forright-to-knowdeadlines Industries making or handling hazardous chemicals are insufficiently aware of upcoming reporting deadlines under the 1986 amendments to the Superfund Act, otherwise known as the Emergency Planning & Community Right-To-Know law. At a briefing last week by the Chemical Manufacturers Association, James L. Makris, director of preparedness of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Solid Waste & Emergency Response, said that most companies do not realize their responsibilities under these regulations. As a result, Makris says, fastapproaching deadlines may not be met. On May 17, for instance, all companies are required to notify their state emergency planning commissions of any use or storage of the 402 hazardous chemicals listed by EPA in November. By Oct. 17, companies must supply "material safety data sheets" for all such chemicals on the plant site. The chemical industry, CMA be-
lieves, is in better shape than most industries. Through its Community Awareness & Emergency Response program, CMA already has established more than a thousand local groups to advise companies and communities on how to handle chemical plant emergencies, according to D. Christopher Cathcart, associate director of CMA's health, safety, and chemical regulations programs. Makris remains concerned, however. "The word is not yet out to the hundreds of thousands of companies that fall under the law," he says. He adds that any facility that handles these chemicals is required to report—research labs, clinical labs, even municipal swimming pools using chlorine compounds. EPA maintains a hotline telephone number for nonemergency requests for information on these regulations. The Chemical Emergency Preparedness Program number is 1-800-535-0202. In Washington, D.C., call 479-2449. D
