GOVERNMENT CONCENTRATES R&D investment continues to grow According to the latest figures from NSF, the U.S. is expected to invest $97 billion in R&D in 1984, 11% more than in 1983. In addition, 1984 basic research spending is expected to increase for the second consecutive year, reaching an all-time high despite an ever-growing federal emphasis on defense R&D. The report also states that the full-time equivalent of 750,000 scientists and engineers were employed on R&D activities in 1983. This represents an increase of 4% over 1982 and nearly 50% over 1972. The supply of scientists and engineers was generally in balance with demand, although Ph.D. employment continued to shift away from academia toward industry, according to the report. Copies of the report, "National Patterns of Science & Technology Resources, 1984" (NSF 84-311), are available free from the Division of Science Resources Studies, NSF, 1800 G St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20550.
New agricultural scientists sought USDA researchers are looking for new scientific talent to pursue basic research. Twenty-six USDA researchers in 15 states have been awarded a total of $910,000 as part of the agency's three-year-old effort to attract recently graduated Ph.D.s to agricultural research. The projects the researchers are involved in range from investigating, at the molecular level, how ribonucleases mediate senescence or aging in plants to genetically engineering a low-cost, largescale process for making subunit vaccine against a highly contagious livestock viral disease. Scientists selected for the program will receive one-year appointments in the USDA research agency either at the GS-11 or GS-12 salary levels of $25,489 or $30,549, respectively. An extension for a second year is possible. The program is limited to U.S. citizens; interested persons can obtain information from USDA's personnel division, c/o Carlene Russ, Room 569, Federal Center Bldg., Hyattsville, Md. 20782.
Freedom of Information Act reform House subcommittee consideration of a bill to revise the Freedom of Information Act neared completion earlier this month with testimony by deputy attorney general Carol E. Dinkins. She told the Subcommittee on Government Information, Justice & Agriculture that the changes are needed to clear up problems caused by the current law. Specific changes being considered include higher fees to cover the costs of filling requests and special waivers from those fees, more flexibility for federal agencies on time limits for fulfilling the requests, and changes in the procedures for releasing business information. On this last item, information that has been claimed confidential will not be released under the act without first giving the submitter a chance to object to that release. Dinkins says the commercial value of such information is likely to be better understood
by the submitter than by the government. The Senate passed a revisions bill for the act, S. 774, last February.
EPA speeds up disposal strategy Getting the nation's 1700 hazardous waste land disposal sites into full compliance with the provisions of the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act is going to take a long time. EPA hopes to speed up the process with a new strategy that will require these facilities to be in compliance earlier than the agency originally scheduled. Waste sites currently are operating under interim regulations, but EPA is accelerating its requests that they begin monitoring groundwater, analyzing wastes, and keeping the extensive records required for full compliance with RCRA. The agency hopes to have all facilities that can qualify fully licensed by the end of fiscal 1988, a deadline the agency says is consistent with proposals in RCRA reauthorization legislation.
Agent orange study gets mixed reactions The disclosure of results from a study by the Centers for Disease Control on birth defects in offspring of Vietnam veterans (C&EN, Aug. 20, page 6) has gotten two opposite reactions in Congress. Rep. G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery (D.-Miss.) says the finding that the veterans have no greater risk of fathering babies born with birth defects than the general population is "encouraging news" for the vets and their families. On the other hand, Sen. Alan Cranston (D.-Calif.) has taken the finding that three types of birth defects appear to occur slightly more frequently among veterans' children as the positive connection "between dioxin exposure in males and certain birth defects in their children." Cranston has announced he is preparing "urgent" legislation to provide health care, rehabilitation, and compensation to any affected children. Cranston has asked the Office of Technology Assessment to do a review and evaluation of the CDC study.
Washington roundup • The Sugar Association has filed a petition with the Federal Trade Commission asking for "immediate action to prevent deceptive advertising" by G. D. Searle & Co. for its NutraSweet brand aspartame and Equal, an aspartame-based sugar substitute. The association contends that Searle's ads are misleading with respect to calorie, weight control, and dental health claims. • EPA plans to expand and stengthen current regulations protecting farm laborers who work with agricultural pesticides by setting safe work practices for categories of workers not currently covered and, possibly, requiring employers to provide training, supervision, personal protective equipment, emergency medical attention, and other protective measures for their employees. August 27, 1984 C&EN
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