Chemical & Engineering News 1155—16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 Editor: Albert F. Plant Managing Editor: Michael Heylin Assistant Managing Editors: David M. Kiefer, James H. Krieger, Donald J. Soisson, Fred H. Zerkel Senior Editor: Earl V. Anderson (New York) Senior Associate Editor: Howard J. Sanders Associate Editor: Ernest L. Carpenter Assistant Editors: P. Christopher Murray, Richard J. Seltzer, Karen Joy Skinner Editorial Assistant: Theresa L. Rome Editing Services: Joyce A. Richards (Head) Editorial Reference: Barbara A. Gallagher (Head) Graphics and Production: Bacil Guiley (Head). Leroy Corcoran (Manager). Norman W. Favin (Art Director). John V. Sinnett (Designer). Linda McKnight, Gerald Quinn (Artists). NEWS BUREAUS: New York: William F. Fallwell (Head), Rebecca L. Rawls (Assistant Editor). Chicago: Ward Worthy (Head), Joseph Haggin (Staff Writer). Houston: Bruce F. Greek (Head). Washington: Fred H. Zerkel (Head), Ling-yee C. Gibney, Janice R. Long (Assistant Editors) FOREIGN BUREAUS: London: Dermot A. O'Sullivan (Head). Tokyo: Michael K. McAbee (Head) ADVISORY BOARD: Alfred E. Brown, Marcia Coleman, Arthur W. Galston, Derek P. Gregory, James D. Idol, Jr., Gerald D. Laubach, Paul F. Oreffice, Edward R. Thornton, Herbert L. Toor, M. Kent Wilson Published by AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (202)-872-4600 Robert W. Cairns, Executive Director Division of Public, Professional, and International Communication Richard L. Kenyon, Director Arthur Poulos, Editorial Promotion Marion Gurfein, Circulation Development EDITORIAL BOARD: Mary L. Good (Chairman), Herman S. Bloch, Bryce Crawford, Jr., Robert W. Parry, B. R. Stanerson; PresidentElect: Glenn T. Seaborg; Representative, Council Publications Committee: Arthur Fry; PastPresident: Bernard S. Friedman © Copyright 1975, American Chemical Society Subscription Service: Send all new and renewal subscriptions with payment to: Office of the Controller, 1155—16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. All correspondence and telephone calls regarding changes of address, claims for missing issues, subscription service, status of records and accounts should be directed to: Manager, Membership and Subscription Services, American Chemical Society, P.O. Box 3337, Columbus, Ohio 43210; telephone 614-421-7230. On changes of address, include both old and new addresses with ZIP code numbers, accompanied by mailing label from a recent issue. Allow four weeks for change to become effective. Claims for missing numbers will not be allowed if received more than 60 days from date of issue plus time normally required for postal delivery of journal and claim; if loss was due to failure of notice of change of address to be received before the date specified above; or if reason for claim is "issue missing from files." Subscription Rates 1975: nonmembers, U.S., 1 yr. $15, 3 yr. $32; Canada and Pan American Union $20.50, $48.50; other nations $21, $50. Air freight rates available on request. Single copies: Current $1.00. Rates for back issues and volumes are available from Special Issues Sales Dept., 1155—16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. An annual index is available for $20. Standing orders are accepted. Back and current issues are available on microfilm. For further information, contact Special Issues Sales, ACS, 1155—16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. Published by the American Chemical Society from 20th and Northampton Sts., Easton, Pa., weekly except the last week in December. Second class postage paid at Washington, D.C, and at additional mailing offices. The American Chemical Society assumes no responsibility for the statements and opinions advanced by the contributors to its publications. Views expressed in the editorials are those of the editors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the American Chemical Society. Advertising Management CENTCOM, LTD. (For list of offices see page 31)
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C&EN August 11, 1975
Editorial
It's vacation time—again! We all enjoy and look forward to vacation time, but most individuals try to clear off their desks before they depart. Not so with Congress. The members of the House and Senate have just started their annual month-long summer vacation with a large backlog of key bills still awaiting action (see page 14). Foremost among these unresolved items is the question of energy. The Administration and Congress are still at considerable odds over what the nation's energy policy should be. In fact, there isn't much indication that there is even any reasonable agreement within Congress itself—most of the legislation reported out of the various committees has been subjected to a drastic dose of "watering" or amending on the House or Senate floor. It is now almost two years since the "energy crisis" created by the Arab oil embargo, and Congress appears little closer to really addressing the energy issue than it was a year or two ago. The legislative branch of the government has been active in criticizing the executive branch's proposed energy policy, but its legislative performance doesn't move much past such negative rhetoric. It is essential that we have a national energy policy. Just the negative aspects of indecision are very costly to our economy, to industry, and to the public at large. Upon the return of Congress in September, a special bipartisan committee should be assigned to work with the Administration to hammer out a compromise solution to the energy policy question. Congress should empower this committee to speak for it in developing such an energy policy, so that the resulting compromise solution doesn't get shredded by the conflicting efforts of other legislators. There still probably would be much disagreement with many parts of such a developed policy, but at least we could look forward to something other than continuing indecision. The current Congressional vacation, of course, allows the legislators to touch base with their respective constituents and find out their feelings regarding matters before Congress. Maybe if this did happen, Congress might come back with the sense of urgency that would produce some results. For those who can contact their legislators during their home-district sojourns, that should be the first order of business. Others will have to wait until their legislators return from junketing abroad. Energy policy is not the only item on the agenda. Toxic substances control is another piece of legislation that should be resolved as quickly as possible. This legislation got off to a fast start, but currently is languishing in one of the Congressional committees. Whether it eventually is killed, passed, or vetoed, it should at least be removed from the world of indecision. Many experts predict that this bill will have a drastic impact on the chemical industry. Whether it does or not, however, the industry does deserve to see what the Congressional end result is going to be. At present, industry is being required to plan and operate in the dark. If industry is to be required to operate under a new set of performance criteria, we should at least tell them what those criteria are going to be. Industry and the public deserve the same decisions in the energy, environmental, and other areas. The problems won't go away during vacation time. On the contrary, this is probably a good time to let Congress know that they are still back there in Washington and that we want them resolved on their return to that city. Albert F. Plant
C&EN EDITORIALS REPRESENT ONLY THE VIEWS OF THE AUTHOR AND AIM AT INITIATING INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION.
