GOVERNMENT CONCENTRATES Chemical warfare spending detailed The Defense Department spent a total of $134.4 million for chemical and biological warfare programs in fiscal 1978, according to a report to Congress. Of the total, $59 million went for R&D and $75.4 million for procurement (including ordnance). The Army spent by far the most money for chemical and biological warfare projects, accounting for more than 85% of the total. Of total R&D spending, most was for chemical warfare ($34.9 million), and $16.5 million was spent on biological warfare projects. The balance was spent on ordnance delivery systems. The DOD report notes that its investigators adhered to the National Academy of Sciences "Guide to Laboratory Animal Facilities and Care" in conducting their research.
trade group because it "misrepresented the status" of EPA's inventory-reporting program under the Toxic Substances Control Act. SOCMA previously had claimed that the inventory of existing chemicals required under TSCA is incomplete because of errors and omissions on the part of the agency (C&EN, July 2, page 16). Such omissions, SOCMA warns, could force manufacturers to file subsequent premanufacturing notices because the missing compounds would be considered "new" chemicals. Jellinek insists that any errors in the inventory are the result of late reports to the agency by the chemical industry, "ambiguous generic names," claims of confidentiality, and other reasons. Jellinek says he was disturbed by SOCMA's allegations because they were made "before any effort was made to determine the facts."
Defense R&D costs rose 8.2% in 1978 According to the Department of Defense, its share of independent R&D performed by government contractors rose 8.2% from $524 million in fiscal 1977 to $567 million in fiscal 1978. Such R&D costs are not directly funded by DOD but are included as a percentage of the cost of weapons and equipment procured by the armed services. The funds are then used by private companies for R&D work of their own choosing to be technologically competitive for future weapons systems contracts.
House votes to extend saccharin life The House overwhelmingly approved a measure last week to once again prevent FDA from banning the controversial artificial sweetener, saccharin. The vote was 394 to 22. The Congressionally imposed halt on further FDA moves against the sweetener is effective for two years. FDA first decided to act on the alleged human carcinogen in early 1977, but consumer protest led to swift Congressional action to prevent the agency from acting for 18 months. The first moratorium expired in May.
Use of new antiknock additive approved EPA has granted approval to Suntech Inc., a unit of Sun Oil Co., to use a new antiknock additive the company developed for unleaded auto fuel blends. EPA says the additive has high antiknock properties and can be used in unleaded gasoline without affecting the operation of autos equipped with catalytic exhaust converters. It also has the potential for increasing supplies of unleaded fuel slightly. Sun has requested that the composition of the additive remain confidential until Dec. 15; it is described only as an "oxygen and hydrogen compound." EPA notes that in tests conducted by Sun Oil, the additive did not affect exhaust emissions appreciably.
EPA scolds SOCMA for inventory claim In a letter to the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association, EPA assistant administrator for toxic substances Steven D. Jellinek has scolded the
Senate sets NIH fiscal 1980 funding levels The Senate has approved a fiscal 1980 funding level for NIH biomedical research programs of $3.3 billion, $192.7 million more than the Administration requested but $14.8 million less than the level approved by the House. Under both the Hous© and Senate bills, funding for all of the individual institutes would increase over fiscal 1979 levels and over the budget requests. However, there are major differences in the way the money is distributed that will have to be resolved by a conference committee. For example, the Senate added $38.8 million to the House-approved funding level of $961.1 million for the National Cancer Institute, but cut $26 million from the $341.2 million the House approved for the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism & Digestive Diseases.
Senate restores ag research programs The Senate has gone along with the House and voted to restore funding for most, if not all, of the agricultural research programs the Administration wanted to cut from the fiscal 1980 budget. Senators have approved a total of $569.2 million for agricultural and cooperative research in fiscal 1980, $46 million or 8.2% above the Administration budget request and $56.4 million or 11% more than fiscal 1979 funding levels. The Senate total is $28.1 million more than that approved by the House, mainly because the Senate voted $25 million for the fledgling competitive grants research program, $5 million less than the Administration requested. The House voted to do away with the program. Differences between the House and Senate agriculture appropriation bills will now have to be ironed out by a conference committee.
Washington roundup • OSHA has reinstated the 1-ppm ceiling for worker exposure to chlorine effective Oct. 15. The agency had placed an administrative stay on the limit on Feb. 6. • Rep. Donald L. Ritter (R.-Pa.) has introduced a bill (H.R. 4939) that would set up within the Office of Science & Technology Policy a unit to assess the comparative risks of scientific and technological projects. July 30, 1979 C&EN
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