GOVERNMENT CONCENTRATES President urged to sign Superfund A diverse group of organizations has banded together to urge President Reagan to sign the five-year, $8.5 billion reauthorization of the Superfund program recently approved by Congress. The groups include the Chemical Manufacturers Association; National Audubon Society; National Wildlife Federation; and Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers International Union. A joint statement issued by the group says the bill is "an acceptable compromise" that will "strengthen and extend" the national cleanup program. CMA president Robert A. Roland says the chemical industry supports the legislation even though the taxes it pays to support the Superfund program will rise $1 billion to about $2.2 billion during the five years covered by the legislation. The chemical industry would pay the $1.4 billion feedstock tax, 20% of the petroleum tax ($550 million), and $250 million of the broad-based business tax imposed by the legislation. Roland notes that Congress' decision to impose the broad-based tax was the right one because "dozens of major industries had a significant hand in creating the waste-site problem. Now these industries will have a hand in solving it."
Agreement reached on water act revisions House-Senate conferees, who began work in March, have finally reached agreement on a package of amendments to the Clean Water Act, S. 1128. The conference agreement prohibits weakening water cleanup standards when industrial and municipal discharge permits are renewed or reissued and retains the existing five-year time limit on such permits. The chemical industry, among others, had been pushing for a 10-year permit. The agreement also restricts EPA's ability to grant a facility waivers from national discharge standards; sets up a new program for cleaning up "toxic hot spots," waters that are so contaminated that even installation of the required "best available" cleanup technologies won't allow them to meet water quality standards; and requires states to develop plans for controlling nonpoint source pollution, such as agricultural runoff. Both the House and Senate quickly gave their overwhelming approval to the conference agreement, which now awaits the President's signature.
Government urged to retain synfuels The government is rapidly getting out of the synthetic fuels business, but it shouldn't, says an American Institute of Chemical Engineers' task force studying energy issues. Current low oil prices have had a positive effect on the U.S. economy, but, the task force argues, they will lead to declines in domestic energy production capacity and reserves and thus increased dependence on imports. Eventually, because of embargoes or exhaustion of conventional petroleum supplies, the task force claims that "synthetic fuels will be called upon to fill a portion of the 10
October 20, 1986 C&EN
U.S. energy demand" and reliance on private industry to meet that demand won't work. So the task force recommends that the government continue to fund basic synthetic fuels research, conduct process development work, determine which domestic resources and synthetic-fuels technologies are the most cost-effective, and subsidize demonstration facilities until these technologies become cost-effective.
Another pesticide banned by EPA The latest victim of EPA's current crackdown on pesticides is dinoseb. The agency has ordered an emergency suspension of all uses of the herbicide, halting the use of about 180 registered products. The compound, a contact herbicide for broadleaf plants, is used mainly to control weeds in soybean, cotton, potato, and peanut fields. EPA estimates that up to 11 million lb of dinoseb are sprayed in the U.S. annually and that approximately 45,000 workers are exposed to the pesticide each year. EPA has stated that dinoseb, during or shortly after field application, poses a very serious risk of birth defects if pregnant women are exposed to it. EPA also says the chemical has been found to be carcinogenic in mice. Moreover, limited studies show that the chemical can affect the immune system. Banning dinoseb use is expected to cost producers $80 million to $90 million in losses the first year, EPA estimates. Manufacturers of the chemical plan to ask EPA for a hearing on the decision.
Household products disposal group formed The Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association has set up the Household Products Disposal Council to inform consumers on proper use and disposal of hazardous chemicals in normal household products and whether any special handling is required. Used motor oil, paints, solvents, and radiator fluids are the most common hazardous materials that consumers throw away. But the new group emphasizes that household chemicals are not a health or environmental problem because their volume is relatively small, compared with industrial waste volumes. Still, these chemicals should be disposed of safely, and the council offers advice accordingly. For more information, contact the council at 1625 I St., N.W., Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20006.
Washington roundup • The Senate has confirmed Vaun A. Newill as EPA assistant administrator for R&D. Newill had worked for Exxon Corp. since 1974. His most recent post was regional medical director and head of the occupational safety and environmental health department for Esso Europe. • President Reagan has n o m i n a t e d Howard A. Schneiderman, senior vice president for R&D at Monsanto, for a six-year term on the National Science Board, NSF's governing body.
