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I l I L Quarterly Report to the Technology Assessment Board
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Director s Letter. . . . . . . . . . l Assessments in Progress. . . . . . . . . 2-5 Assessments Completed and Published...................... 6 Report to Congress .. . . . . . . 6-8 Press Events. . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Management Report. . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Financial, Administrative Report......................... 9 Exhibits One-Pagers Published October-December 1979 Press Clippings
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MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: SUBJECT: February 5, 1980 TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT BOARD John H. Gibbons ?JP-~~c1,1~----Quarterly Report (October-December 1979) Pagel I am pleased to submit the first of the quarterly reports which I promised you. I hope that you will find it useful as an indication of progress at OTA, and as background for decisions the Board will face in the coming months. Your suggestions for ways to make future quarterly reports more useful are welcomed.
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. Cost Code and Assessment _E s nergy1 Materials1 and International ecurity Division 1 1 19 20 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 7 7 7 14 23 25 ~6 27 12 13 05 08 08.1 Energy from Biological Processes Alternative Energy Futures LNG Import Policy (124) Solar Power Satellite Global Energy Trends Synthetic Fuels in Transporta-tion Decentralized Electricity DOE Solar & Conservation Oil Shale Technology Coal Leasing International Technology Transfer, Part I Industry Con1peti tiveness, Parts I & II, through FY 79 Industry Competitiveness, Steel, FY 80 only -OFPICE OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT ASSESSMENTS IN PROGRESS, JANUARY 1980 (Dollars In Thousands) (A) (B) December 14 Memo Request for Approval Current Budget Completion Budget Completion Estimate Date Estimate Date 535 01/80 535 02/80 2,000 10/81 1,970 10/81 30 01/80 30 02/80 213 I 09/80 223 09/80 I' I pj. 10/80 b/ I -I 10/80 177 I 10/80 190 I 01/81 I I I I 171 08/80 171 I 01/81 ** ** 125 03/80 674 02/80 673 02/80 650 01/81 650 01/81 332 11/79 253 11/79 376 376 51 03/80 75 03/80 -------(C) Obligations Thru December 1979 507 884 21 104 233 44 14 0 588 355 253 376 13 -----------1/30/80 Page 1 (D) Percent Variance Be tween ( A) & ( ti) --1.5% --!!I +5% -p_/ +7% _/ -------
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Cost Code and Assessment 7 08.2 Industry Competitiveness, Electronics, FY 80 only 42 Taggants in Explosives l H 3 ealth and Life Sciences Division 2 3 3 3 50 27 07 08 11 31 32 Impact of Technology on Produc-tivity of the Land Food and Agricultural Research Technologies for Determining Cancer Risk .. Cost Effectiveness of Medical Technologies Technologies for Forecasting Physician Supply & Requirements Impacts of Applied Genetics Technology & World Population 8 8 s t cience1 Information, and Trans:eorta7 7 ion Division 40 Technology 58 Regulations Innovation for I.ocal Development & Technological OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT ASSESSMENTS IN PROGRtrns, JANUARY l 980 (Dollars in Thousands) (A) (B) December 14 Memo Request for Approval Current Budget Completion Budget Completion Estimate Date Estimate Date 211 06/80 211 08/80 175 12/79 175 02/80 250 11/80 250 11/80 ** ** 350 03/81 199 11/80 199 11/80 580 04/80 598 04/80 45 03/80 45 03/80 583 t 08/80 586 08/80 489 12/80 490 12/80 I 322 03/80 322 04/80 526 06/80 526 06/80 (C) Obligations Thru December 1979 9 144 1 0 79 449 26 293 121 258 379 -1/30/80 Page 2 (D) Percent Variance Between (A)E,,(B) --------+3% ----------
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OFHCE CW TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT ASSESSMENTS IN PROGRESS, JANUARY 1980 (Dollars in Thousands) (A) (B) December 14 Memo Request for Approval Current I I (C) Obligations Thru December 1/30/80 Page 3 (D) Percent Budget Completion Budget I Completion 1979 Variance I Cost Code and Assessment Estimate Date Estimate I Date Between (A)& ('8) 761 R&D and Inflation 39 12/79 31 03/80 15 -20% 8l3 National Information Systems 611 03/80 659 06/80 397 +8% 814 Telecorn!llunication Policy 361 03/80 361 04/80 270 --520 Disposal of Nuclear Waste 970 I 05/80 I I 970 06/80 714 --530 Freshwater Resources Mgmt. 149 09/80 149 09/80 29 --531 Ocean Research Technology 402 07/80 402 07/80 116 --610 Advanced Air Transport 613 04/80 591 04/80 387 --617 Automobile I<'uel R&D 355 11/80 355 11/80 75 --06/81 65'0 Applications of Technology in 512 06/81 518 66 --Space i I NOTES: ** Assessment approved by Board since December 14 memo. a/ I.NG Import Policy (124) approved as part of assessment on Alternative Enerr,y Futures. b/ Assessment is currently undergoing redefinition in consultation with the requesting Committee. ~/ Synthetic Fuels in Transportation approved by Board with Automobile Fuel R&D (617) as companion project. I/ Technology and East-West Trade completed 11/l /79~ Further worl~ on inter:iational technology transfer to be subsumed in new starts, and presented to the Board before initiation. fj Ji/ ~I !/ _/ Prior to 9/30/79, 708.1 and 708.2 were account~d for as one project (708). Approximately 80% (about $300,000) of fund'3 expended on industrial cornpeti tiveness through tle end of FY 7'.J were speat on the steel proiect. A more precise alloc-tlon is not practicable. See Director Gibbons'-12/14 memo to TAB for a rn3re detailed explanation. The 12/14 memo indicated that FY 80 expenditures would be $51 K; therefore, total exp.mditures on steel were estimated at $351 K. We now estimltc that expenditures will be $24 K higher (due to contract expenses for an additional panel meeting, final writing and edltIll ing of report, and some additional staff time), which represents an increase of 7% over the previous estimate of $351 (. OQ II>
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NOTES (contlnued) 1/30/80 Page 4 !.._/ Project has been reduced in scope. The results will be issued as a staff report with a budget reduction and a completion date extension. El Contracting and contractor delays on three case studies require extension in completion date and additional staff costs. h/ Project will be completed under original budget estimate. I_! Automobile fuel R&D approved by Board with Synthetic Fuels in Transportation (125) as companion project.
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Page 9 .b. TAAC Nominations, Procedure and Schedule Background: At the September 19, 1979 TAB meeting, the Director was asked to propose a schedule and procedure for the selection of new members to the Council. This work was discussed at the November 7 Board meeting and it was agreed by the Board to entertain TAAC nominations until December 31, 1979. On January 14, 1980, the Director forwarded biographical information and other pertinent information on the final list of nominees to TAAC to each member of the Board. On January 25, 1980, ballots for final nominees were submitted. At the February 19, 1980 meeting, the Board will vote to fill vacancies from among the final nominees to the Council. The list contains the names of 20 distinguished Americans. Financial Report, Administrative Matters OTA obligated $2.8 million during the first quarter of FY 1980, or 25 percent of the budget of $11.284 million (of which $284,000 remains to be appropriated in the first supplemental to meet the October 1979 cost of living adjustment). OTA had 127 full time employees on board at the end of the first quarter, FY 1980.
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Publication Briefs
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Volume II, Issue 11. October 10. 1979 A Review of Selected Federal Vaccine and Immunization Policies Since 1967, the number of ac1ive vaccine manufac1urers has declined 50 percent, and the number of licensed vaccine products has declined 60 percent. For each of 19 types of licensed vaccines, including poliovirus vaccine, the United States is depend ent on a single American pharmaceutical company. Some investigators believe the de cline in vaccine manufacturers and products is partly the result of Federal policies. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of newly developed vaccines, the Federal Government relies heavily on data collected from premarketing clinical trials. Government evaluations based on such data can be less than comprehensive. The Government does not require anyone to collect postmarketing data regarding adverse reactions to licensed vaccines. Medicare cannot pay for vaccinations to prevent infectious diseases, although it does pay for the treatment of such diseases. Thus, Medicare cannot pay for the use of pneumococcal vaccine, even though the Federal Government spent $6.5 million to help develop this vaccine and approved its use among the elderly. According to OTA's cost-effective analysis, vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia would be more cost-effective among the elderly than among any other age group, and for all age groups would yield health benefits that cannot be obtained from treatment. Liability problems may be eroding the commitments of vaccine manufacturers. Congress, and State health departments to public immunization programs. Some courts have ruled that the vaccine manufacturer should compensate injured vaccinees because: 1) the manufacturer was best able to pay, and 2) no other applicable compen sation mechanism existed in society. In order to warn potential vaccinees about possi ble vaccine side effects, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) has developed informed consent forms and guidelines to be used by State and local partic ipants in federally sponsored immunization programs. If HEW and the vaccine manu facturers successfully discharge their ''duty to warn" obligations, however, then in jured vaccinees may have no legal recourse to compensation. Some actions Congress could take to help ensure the Federal Government's pro motion of safe and effective vaccines include: 1) establishing an interagency body to comprehensively review all Federal policies that affect vaccine development, evalua tion, and use; 2) authorizing the Federal Government either to produce or subsidize the production of selected vaccines; 3) requiring the Government to actively monitor adverse reactions to licensed vaccines; 4) amending the Medicare law to permit Federal reimbursement for vaccinations among the elderly; and 5) developing a Federal pro gram for compensating vaccinees who are seriously injured in public immunization programs. Copies of the OTA report, "A Review of Selected Federal Vaccine and Immuniza tion Policies" are available from the U.S. Government Printing Office. The GPO stock number is 052-003-00701-1; the price is $5.50. Copies for congressional use are avail able by calling 4-8996. Tl:e Office 0i Tec!lnnlJ~,r .-\sse~:sment ~OT,.-\.j is an advisory ann ,)f -.:he o.s. C-.)ngre::s ~"host: ba5ic func~1on i.) t) !::..e1p ieg-isiat::,r.s :.J.n~:ci~,it~ 1:i.d :;ian ~or :he pot"=itiv~ and ne5ative irnpacts oi technolc~ica: ,~h3.n:it.:s ..\ddress: OT:\., r;,s. C,:ir:"a?"n:s:;~ ~\".1.shi~;ctcn. !).C. -~j: :1 f~:-:.cr:.:: :1:;'.?.''.2::! !-'f]90. 0'"!"".\ ,Jffi.ces ~re }0ca.ted .'lt 000 ?~nnsyiva::ia Ave.~ 3.E. '. J.>hn H. (_;~;)i'!~~:3 f)1r,::c:,::r.
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Volume II, Issue 12, October 10, 1979 ONE PAGER en Computer Technology in Medical Education and Assessment This background report describes the use of computer technology _across a vari ety of medical education, practice, and evaluation activities and summarizes some of the changes that computers will bring to medicine. There have been dramatic reductions in the size and costs of computers. At the same time, advances in medicine have led to a virtual information explosion, making the contemporary medical care system more complex, more information-dependent, and more technology-oriented. Computers can add to the increasing complexity of medicine as well as assist in efforts to more effectively understand, employ, and manage the information and array of technologies used in health care. They have rapidly become integral to teaching and testing in many of our medical schools and have assumed growing importance in patient care, in epidemiologic and clinical research, and in medical administration. Thus, computers are rapidly changing the nature and function of medical educa tion and practice and the ways in which performance is evaluated. This led to self paced, independent study programs in the pre-clinical years of medical school, spe cialty certification examinations which can reflect the patient-physician encounter more accurately than written examinations, and computerized data bases which can improve the physician's diagnostic and therapeutic skills. The implications arising out of these medical uses of computer technology in clude changes in the method and content of physician education, improved methods of measuring and validating the quality of medical care, and more individualized testing of physician performance. Individualized testing will accelerate already exist ing trends to assess competence only in limited areas, which in turn will raise ques tions concerning whether physicians should have licenses limited to their specialties and concerning the relationships between State licensing boards and the private spe cialty boards in regulating physician practices. Copies of the OTA background report, "Computer Technology in Medical Educa tion and Assessment" are available from the U.S. Government Printing Office. The GPO stock number is 052-003-00704-5; the price is $4.75. Copies for congressional use are available by calling 4-8996. The Office of Technology Assessment \OTA) is an advisory arm of the U.S. Congress whose basic function is to help !eo-islators anticipate and plan for the positive and negative impacts of technological changes. Address: OTA, CS. Congress, Washi~e:ton, D.C. 20510. Phone: 202/224-3996. (OTA offices are located at 600 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) John H. Gibbo;s, Director.
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:)~': r'. \ = _, ... ..:....;~ s -~, Volume 11, Issue 13, October 23, 1979 0 ~, ,... ~, '!JIii,., f l: .r' A -~ l: .Fl C n Pest Management Strategies in Crop Protection A sharp step-up in the current slow shift to integrated pest management (1PM) for major U.S. agricultural crops can cut pesticide use by as much as 75 percent in some cases, reduce preharvest pest-caused losses by 50 percent, and save a significant amount of the one-third of the world's potential food harvest that is lost to all pests. (The pests include noxious and damaging organisms such as insects, mites, nema todes, plant pathogens, weeds, and vertebrates. Pesticides include insecticides, miti cides, nematicides, herbicides, and fungicides.) 1PM involves the coordinated use of a variety of control tactics to prevent econom ic losses from pest damage while minimizing hazards to humans, animals, plants, and the environment. 1PM is the most promising approach to U.S. crop protection over the next 15 years. The international implementation of 1PM requires systems that are adopted to local agricultural conditions, social customs, political structures, and eco nomic systems. U.S. crops have become increasingly vulnerable to pest damage. The present lim ited number of pest control tactics within the categories of chemical, cultural, plant resistance, and biological are neither completely effective nor universally applicable. The intensive use of only one or two of these tactics can create hazards to human and environmental health and increase pest resistance to controls. Therefore, American agriculture is gradually shifting to 1PM strategies, which apply the most broadly effec tive combination of available methods to particular pest problems. However, techno logical and administrative obstacles block rapid development and use. Among the obstacles to rapid adoption of 1PM strategies are: inadequate knowledge in basic biology, interactions of crop pests, and the eco nomics of pest management. the lack of an adequate system for disseminating the information needed to make sound pest management decisions. a shortage of trained personnel to conduct research, develop 1PM programs, and deliver the needed information. the lack of coordination and cooperation among Federal and State agencies. the lack of a clear and common commitment to and agenda for future 1PM activ ities by agencies involved in the funding of research and extension activities, the regulation of pesticide use, and the marketing of farm products. The basic option before Congress is whether or not to commit the additional resources needed to speed up the current evolutionary movement toward adopting 1PM crop protection systems. Congress can: 1) support the status quo for U.S. pest control which, although including 1PM, continues to rely heavily on chemicals, or 2) develop a strategy for accelerating the shift to 1PM. With a modest increase in resources, 1PM could replace most unilateral pest control programs over the next 20 to 30 years. With a major effort to remove the obstacles to 1PM, the shift could be made within 15 years. Copies of the OTA report, "Pest Management Strategies in Crop Protection" are available from the U.S. Government Printing Office. For the report, the GPO stock num ber and price is 052-003-00708-8 and $4.50; for the working papers, the stock number and price are 052-003-00709-6 and $10.00. Copies for congressional use are available by calling 4-8996. T!1e OfficL" of Tech!lolo?:Y Assessme!H OT.\': i.; an ::i.d"-.iK~ry arrr\ of :he US. C:on~-ress .-..-r::.ose bc1Si(' iun<.:t1..-.n is :c, !1.~lo lt~g-1.-;L~:;r.:: .1~1-stc:;xuc 1nd plan fnr the positive 3.nd negz .. n .-e :!!1p.tcts 1-,[ technoio~:cal char.;-es. Adc.~rc:>5: l)T_-\, l-.s. C.,.1ll~:'!:':i:;. \\'.:s::i~':.n:,::. D.L:. 2'.1,=: lfl. Phor:e: ~02/224-8996 .. OT.-\ ntricl~~ :1:-e !oca.ted at 6('1J Pennisy!vania :\vP. .. S.E. 1 Ji)fEi. ~-L G1i:,JJ.-r~.~. D;:ect,)r
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Volume 11, Issue 14. October 26. 1979 ONE PAGER on Materials and Energy From Municipal Waste Americans now generate more than 135 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) every year. Its disposal is a growing problem in those areas of the country where traditional methods such as open dumping, landfill, uncontrolled incineration, and ocean burial are too expensive or environmentally unacceptable. Yet, these wastes contain materials whose use would help conserve resources. MSW includes more than two-thirds of the national consumption of paper and of glass, over one-fifth of the aluminum, and nearly one-eighth of the iron and steel. Recycling these materials requires less total energy than does the use of new resources. If the combustible portion of MSW were burned, the energy produced would be equivalent to almost 2 percent of the Nation's annual energy use. Nearly all the materials recovered for recycling from MSW today have been kept separate as they were generated ("source separation"). Source separation programs can produce sizable revenues and energy savings, but have a limited effect on the total solid waste stream. Depending on local conditions, a combination of source separa tion and centralized resource recovery (see below) may be an optimal approach from an economic point of view. Materials can also be recovered by separating mixed wastes in a central facility. A limited number of commercial technologies are available for producing energy and recovering materials in such a system. Other technologies are in the developmental stage. Because costs are frequently higher than revenues, resource recovery has the greatest economic potential where both alternative disposal methods and energy prices are high, such as in the urban Northeast. Relatively small plants appear more economical and easier to provide than larger ones. The Federal Government could help overcome the risks of resource recovery by funding basic research and a limited num ber of demonstration projects. Potential markets exceed anticipated recovery through 1995 for iron and steel. aluminum, paper, and energy. Glass markets are developing rapidly. However. the prices users will pay and the quality they demand could be barriers to sale of large amounts of recovered resources. A Federal product charge or a Federal recycling allowance could lead to greater recycling and lower waste generation, but pose administrative difficulties. Repeal of virgin material tax preferences, adjustment of railroad freight rates for scrap, a sever ance tax. and Federal procurement of recycled materials would be less effective. Addi tional Federal support for research and development on uses of recovered resources would be useful; development of specifications for trade in recovered materials needs only limited additional Federal help. Federal beverage container deposit legislation would save energy, reduce materi als use, solid waste generation, and littering, and protect the environment. It would lead to a net increase in employment, but with a loss of existing jobs in the materials and container industries. Brewers and bottlers would experience higher operating costs, but lower container costs. Wholesalers' and retailers' costs would increase. It is not clear whether net costs or consumer prices of beer and soft drinks would increase or decrease. Copies of the OTA report, "Materials and Energy From Municipal Waste" are avail able from the U.S. Government Printing Office. The GPO stock number is 052-003-00692-9; the price is $6.00. Copies for congressional use are available by calling 4-8996. The Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) is an advisory arm of the U.S. Congress whose basic function is to help legislators an ticipate and plan for the positive and negative impacts of technological changes. Address: OTA, T;.S. Congress, Washington, D.C. 20510. Phone: 202/224-8996. (OTA offices are located at 600 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) John H. Gibbons, Director.
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Volume II, Issue 15, November 1, 1979 ~oNE PAGER on Conservation of Metals The United States has experienced shortages in critical metals in recent years and become increasingly dependent on foreign sources of supply. The United States now imports 50 percent or more of such metals as aluminum, chromium, manganese, and tungsten. By cutting the large amounts of loss or waste of metals along the materials cycle-from mining of ore to product disposal-the United States could ease both shortages and the dependency on imports. Of all the options for cutting metals waste, product recycling-the remanufactur ing, reuse, and repair of end products-offers the greatest leverage for saving materials and energy now wasted. Product recycling could save 30 percent or more of the copper, aluminum, iron, and steel now lost. Environmental impacts associated with mining and manufacturing would also be reduced. Product"recycling already exists in such areas as auto parts, furniture, typewriters, and aircraft. However, product recy cling is currently far below its potential. The major barrier to more widespread product recycling is economic. To be eco nomically attractive, used products must usually be reworked or remanufactured at a cost that will permit a resale price significantly lower than that of new products. Prod ucts for which recycling is likely to be economic are those with higher initial costs, whose appearance or styling is of secondary importance, that can be recycled on a production-line basis, and for which there is a steady, large supply of products for remanufacture. Other major barriers to increased product recycling are the lack of estab lished industries to collect, remanufacture, and resell the product, and the preference of consumers for new products. Product recycling could be encouraged by a variety of means, including increas ing public confidence in recycled products, providing funding to establish a scrap in ventory, providing loans to establish a aftermarket business, and encouraging product leasing. Increased use of recycled products could have the short-term effect of reduc ing net jobs and replacing unskilled jobs with those requiring somewhat greater skill. However, the long-term impact would likely be to increase consumer buying power and net jobs. The substitution of less critical metals or nonmetals is another important option for saving selected metals. However, several major impediments must be overcome. First, a successful substitution can often take years to implement. Second, many prod ucts are manufactured with a highly specialized production process that is costly to change. Third, every subsitution involves a risk that will add to the product cost. One option to encourage substitution would be Government R&D to develop practical substitutes for selected metals, with particular emphasis on high-volume usage, non metallic coatings for corrosion and wear resistance and inherently nonrecyclable uses. This option could also encourage private sector R&D. Copies of the OTA report, "Technical Options for Conservation of Metals" are available from the U.S. Government Printing Office. The GPO stock number is 052-003-00705-3; the price is $4.25. Copies for congressional use are available by calling 4-8996. The Offir.-: d Techno!tlgy _.\ssessmcnt 'OTA) is an advisory arm of the U.S. Congress whose basic function is to help legislators an :,cipate :1,1d ;iian !or ,he pusidve .i.nd r,egative impacts of technological changes. Address: OTA, U.S. Congress, Washington, D.C. 2J:i i
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ONE PAGE~ on Volume II, Issue 16, November 8, 1979 The Future Use and Characteristics of Automobiles: Public Participation Americans want a transportation policy, not a "car vs. transit" policy. Policy should emphasize mobility, not automobility. Popular supposition to the contrary, the American public is not having a "love affair" with the car, rather they "love" the mobili ty afforded by automobiles. Mobility is a right of the citizenry, not a privilege. These are some of the views expressed by 1,300 citizens who took part in a nationwide public participation program conducted in conjunction with an OTA assessment of "Changes in the Future Use and Characteristics of the Automobile Transportation System." The participants did not limit their comments to automobiles; they were con cerned with personal transportation as a whole. They saw cost as a main constraint to mobility at the household level. At the national level, roadway maintenance and repair were seen as the main transportation costs for the future. Most of the participants viewed further major road construction in the United States as unnecessary. The "energy crisis" was described as a political dilemma, not a true resource shortage. Conservation is needed, but the Federal Government must provide the im petus, probably through regulations, participants said. They emphasized the need to develop alternative fuels and more fuel-efficient modes and devices. Environmental protection was seen to be needed, particularly in the areas of air quality, noise, and land use. Existing environmental legislation should be better enforced, and there should be "more room for local initiative" in dealing with environ mental problems, participants stated. Drivers were described as the chief automobile safety problem, althrough road and vehicle improvements were judged necessary and desirable. Uniformity of traffic regulations and strict enforcement throughout the country were stressed. The majori ty of the participants favored the 55-mph speed limit, but they were divided over the issue of federally mandated occupant restraint systems, such as seat belts. Mobility problems, such as providing transportation for the handicapped and elderly, are institutional, rather than technical, according to the participants. The Fed eral Government's credibility-on the energy supply situation, for example-is low, and its management record poor, was a commonly expressed view. On the other hand. many participants described industry as "manipulative of public attitudes,'' "profit mongering," and slow in innovation. When asked how they would design the personal transportation system of the future, the composite response was: Adequate mobility for everyone at affordable costs. A multifaceted system, not heavily dominated by one mode. Well-coordinated intermodai connections. Energy-efficient, nonpolluting, quiet, comfortable. accessible, safe, and dura ble modes. Copies of the OTA report, "Changes in the Future Use and Characteristics of the Automobile Transportation System. Volume Ill: Public Participation,"are available from the U.S. Government Printing Office. The GPO stock number is 052-003-00710-0; the price is $3.50. Copies for congressional use are available by calling 4-8996. TL:-OP.=icc of Technolczy Assessmer!t I OT .\ 1s an .:i.dvisory arm oi the C.S. Cun?ress. \-.!1t,se basic f'..lnction is tv h.:ip le~~-;;l.::.~-:, ... s :.;.:1-r~l:pJ.t-~ und plan f::>r tb_~ positi.--~ and r..~g~rive nnp:icts ri cechnolngicai chan~e5. _-\G.dress: OT.\. l.s. C.:,r_:tre-ss. \V::.~hi:1:r:, r~. ;;_. __ 1 1'.: P~:c-r.e: 202.,"22 t-0996. i ()T.-\ .;ffice.: J.:e !Jc:1tcd ::u l1OO Penn;;ylv:1.nia .Ave., S.E. Joh:';_ H. (~ib~_,"JTi~ Di.--~ .::~or.
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._, .... Volume II. Issue 17, November 26. 1979 Technology and East-West Trade Although Western technology contained in civilian products sold to the Soviet Union has contributed to its military potential, it is unlikely that any unilateral action of the United States could have prevented this-or could do so in the future. Almost any high technology, even though its purpose and function is civilian, may have some mili tary use. U.S. export controls do a good job of preventing the transfer of primarily mili tary technologies to the Communist world, but a conclusive determination of the degree of military risk entailed in the sale of these so-called "dual-use" technologies is probably impossible. These are among the conclusions of a new OTA report Technology and East-West Trade. The report looks not only at the military, but also the political and economic costs and benefits to the United States of trading-especially in technology-with the Communist world. It reviews the controversy over whether such trade can or should be used to obtain foreign policy leverage. It also examines the East-West trade policies of four of America's major allies-West Germany, France, Great Britain, and Japan-and finds them significantly different from that of the United States. Finally, it provides background information on existing U.S. policies and regulations, and on the use which Communist nations have made of Western technology. Trade with the Communist world plays a relatively small part in U.S. foreign trade. The absolute value of Communist trade with Western nations is low and the United States has captured only a minor share of that limited market. The policy most likely to increase the U.S. share of trade with Eastern bloc countries is the extension of official credits to those Communist nations currently ineligible for them. In the long run, how ever, dramatic growth in the total volume of East-West trade is contingent upon an in crease in the ability of the East to export to the West. East-West trade has always been economically more important for Western Eur ope and Japan than for the United States. While our allies do not deny the basic necessity of withholding items of direct military relevance from Communist nations, they do not appear to share the concerns expressed in the United States over the political. military. and strategic implications of transferring dual-use technologies. In Japan, West Germany, France, and Great Britain. the sale of technology is seen as primarily an economic issue and any use of export controls for political purposes is largely eschewed. Because of its position of leadership in a number of technologies of critical mili tary significance, the United States may feel it has a special responsibility to ensure their safekeeping. If it can play this role with intelligence and integrity. the United States may be able to initiate and maintain a strong and unified Western bloc position on the transfer of technology. However, the United States is not the sole source of most of the technologies desired by Communist nations and this foreign availability constrains its unilateral influence. In sum, it appears most unlikely that actions taken by the United States alone could lead to: 1) a dramatic increase in our trade with the East, 2) a dramatic decrease in the military risks associated with existing trade, or 3) a significant reduction in the technologies the East can purchase, given the existing attitudes of other Western nations. Copies of the OTA report. 'Technology and East-West Trade are available from the U.S. Government Printing Office. The GPO stock number is 052-003-00723-1: the price is $7.00. Copies for congressional use are available by calling 4-8996. i~;f~\. '1.:l .H..i:i~or; J.r::l 1'~ :t:~t;' L.~. L.-..:.::~~-~::. :.,[:c,3,-: :-,.1..iiC {:ir.cti.:J. l-~ ~--' ::'~:.' ;.,.__,_,;:~.~t__.i": -l~'..-.. ;~.,_:-:ve t:::.:.1~ ... ~\_:i ,:: ~1~1..;--.r~--,1,.::.1._._:i ~.::._t,1.-:. \C.::n.--:: i.Jl.\.~ i_-.S. C...::r~---~. ~,..__ ... ::r. .,:, :. ~-.:... .. ::::.,__,:.: !.:e '.CLlt.-i :1: ),,i_) P.:.:.~r:::-~v;, :..:..:::.: \x(!' .. S.E.' _;.',!~!~ H. r_~:._, ;~.:::, .J:; __ ;_.
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Volume II, Issue 18, Decembers, 1979 : l .. .., '1 "t .,~-, _"'<"J .- .?-11 j .~.~ j _. .:..J.z. ... j Railroad Safety: U.S.-Canadian Comparison A comparative analysis of U.~. and Canadian railroad derailments, fatalities, and safety practices indicates many similarities and some significant differences between the two systems. The differences result primarily from the larger size and complexity of the U.S. system. The U.S. fatality rate for the 1966-76 period was an average of 48 percent higher than that of Canada. This large difference, especially at grade crossings and among trespassers, seems to reflect the higher level of U.S. exposure to rail hazards that occurs because the U.S. population and rail system are considerably larger than Canada's. While derailment rates vary widely among U.S. carriers, the average derailment rates for the nine largest (in ton-miles) U.S. carriers were similar to those of the Canadian railroads for 1976 and 1977. However, the average derailment rates for the second 10 U.S. railroads are significantly higher than the rates for the Canadian railroads for those same years. The financial picture of some U.S. railroads may give rise to their significant derailment rates. Derailments in the United States are continuing to increase, while derailments in Canada have stabilized or declined slightly. The continued rise, particularly among carriers below the top 10, in U.S. derailments appears to result from increased axle loadings on freight equipment and deferred maintenance. U.S. derailment rates will probably continue to increase until the economic condition of some railroads improves. In both countries less than 2 percent of rail-related fatalities occur in derailments. The National Transportation Act of 1967 in Canada changed its government's eco nomic policy toward transportation modes. As a result, railroads gained greater con trol over their rate structure. Although no direct correlation could be drawn between this change in economic policy and rail safety in Canada, the change may influence rail safety. Several Canadian approaches to rail safety may be of interest in the United States. These include: emphasis by railroad management on safety accountability, and adoption of a systematic approach to safety; creation of a no-fault system of insurance compensation for work-related in juries; use of risk analysis in inspections and in allocation of grade-crossings funds; Government use of stop orders rather than monetary fines as a means of enforcing safety standards; use of a standard Hazardous Information Emergency Response form; and encouragement of nonadversarial relationship between labor and management in the formulation of safety programs. Copies of the OTA report, "Railroad Safety: U.S.-Canadian Comparison" are avail able from the U.S. Government Printing Office. The GPO stock number is 052-003-00697-7; the price is $4.00. Copies for congressional use are available by calling 4-8996. -,p_ ():;}-.:-,i T :::hnc!,-:.r .\.;se-.s~r:~nt OT.-\ 1 '..1 :in :1dvisor) arm A the U.S. Cc,ngr~~, '-\h,)se b1s!c :u::ctic,n i3 ~.-. hP!0 !,7g-'!sl:..t,::!'~ .'.1r. ~i :~)J~,: '.!"'.ci .:an :0! _:1':' c1 ~iti ... :: a:!id ::l!t;ativP ;mr,a.ct~ of technolu~ir:il ch~r,,~e:-; .. -\ddre,:;: OT_-\, t~.-S. C :-;i.~:,:::s. 1t\';shii-::.::::,c .. D,C. 1. :, ,:,::: __: ~2-,-.'.:":)h. (:;-:!'_"'_.1_ ffiLes -1re :v('J.t,.::d J.: ...;,y) P<'!':r:.':~!~:a!1~1. &~,.-~ .. S.E. J.:n~ ~-!. C,;:Ji ~:;.~. :>:'!'r,'C~ ..
PAGE 21
News Clips on OT A Publications and Activities
PAGE 23
ENVllONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS IN FOOD
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Volume II, Issue 19, December 17, 1979 Environmental Contaminants in Food Environmental contaminants in food have become a nationwide problem. Between 1968 and 1978, according to an OTA survey, 243 food-contamination incidents were reported in this country. (Environmental contaminants include organic chemi cals, metals and their derivatives, and radioactive substances that inadvertently enter the human food supply through agriculture, mining, industrial operations, or energy production.) Although the United States has escaped mass poisonings such as have occurred in other industrialized nations, nearty all U.S. residents carry detectable residues of some environmental contaminant in their bodies. Studies indicate that some contami nants present at low levels in U.S. food cause physiological changes in humans, but the long-term significance of these changes is uncertain. Between 1968 and 1978, at least $282 million in food was lost to contamination. This conservative estimate only includes 30 percent of the known incidents and ignores hidden costs such as medical expenses and lost workdays. Although the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) contains no specific provisions for environmental contaminants, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does set permissible levels (either "action levels" or "tolerances") for all known con taminants. FDA relies on informal action levels more than formal tolerances because tolerances can only be set through complex, time-consuming procedures. FDA is not required to review these informal judgments, nor to commission new toxicological studies even when available data are inadequate. When setting regulations FDA at tempts to balance the cost of the food lost against the degree of public health protec tion gained. Federal and State monitoring of food is primarily regulatory, designed to ensure that environmental contaminants do not exceed prescribed action levels or tolerances. Consequently, contamination involving unregulated substances is rarely identified before it becomes a major problem. None of the major environmental contamination in cidents in this country (PBS, PCB, kepone, and mercury) were initially discovered by ongoing monitoring programs. In each case, actual human or animal poisoningseither at home or abroad-alerted authorities to the danger. Managing contamination incidents can be difficult because the Federal and State agencies involved sometimes do not coordinate their activities. Efforts are hindered further by the complexity of the American food system and the rapidity with which food is moved through the system. In light of these findings, Congress could: 1) allow the present system to con tinue; 2) amend FFDCA to require the establishment of tolerances, simplify administra tive procedures through which tolerances are set, clarify the weight economic criteria can have, and/or grant FDA authority to set regional tolerances; 3) establish a national monitoring system to detect unregulated chemicals in food; and/or 4) designate a lead agency or establish a center to orchestrate the delivery of Federal assistance to af t ected areas. Copies of the OTA report, "Environmental Contaminants in Food" are available from the U.S. Government Printing Office. The GPO stock number is 052-003-00724-0; the price is $5.50. Copies of the report for congressional use are available by calling 4-8996. Summaries of the report are available free frcm the Office of Technology As sessment, U.S. Congress, Washington, O.C. 20510.
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WIRE SERVICES Los Angeles Times The Boston Globe Buffalo Evening News Chicago Sun-Times St. Petersburg Times Times News (Twin Falls, Id.) Morning Tribune (Lewiston, Id.) The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Ky.) Milwaukee Journal The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Oh.) The Salt Lake Tribune Fort Worth Star-Telegram The Sacramento Bee Omaha World-Herald San Jose Mercury-News (San Jose, CA) llbuquerque (New Mexico) Journal Sunday Pennsylvanian (Lebanon, PA) Asbury Park Evening Press (N.J.) Review-Journal (Las Vegas, Nev.) Record-Searchlight (Redding, Calif) A? Columbus Sunday Dispatch (Ohio) The Cincinnati Enquirer Dallas Times Herald Tribune Review (Greensburg, Pa.) The Denver Post The Sun (Baltimore) Sarasota Herald-Tribune The Detroit News Niagara Falls Gazette Courier-Post (Camden, N.J.) Herald and Review (Decatur, Ill.) Record (Stockton, Calif.) World (Monroe, La.) Morning Sun (Pittsburg, Kans.) C1ronicle (Bozeman, ~ont.) Democrat (Natchez, Miss.) Tribune Chronicle (Warren, Ohio) Courier and Press (Evansville, Ind.) News (Lufkin, Texas) Herald (Bradenton, Fla.) The Kansas City Star Reporter-Telegram (Midland, Te.~as) Express and ~ews (San Antonio) Wisconsin State Journal (Madison) The Seattle Daily Times South Idaho Press (Burley, Id.) Register-Guard (Eugene, Ore.) News Tribune (Duluth, :!inn.) Herald (Denison. Texas) UPI -Herald Journal (Logan, Utah) Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) Herald Journal (Syracuse, N.Y.) News (Cadillac, Mich.) Herald-Whig (Quincy, Ill.) Herald Times (Bloomington, Ind.) Blade-Tribune (Oceanside, Calif.) The Journal-Gazette (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) News Journal (Radford, VA) The Corpus Christi Caller-Iimas (Tex~s) Times (Farmington, \\:f. M"!x.) ~ew Mexican (Santa Fe) ~i=es (La=eco, ~e.~as) Review (Hayward, Calif.) Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock) Gazette (Texarkana, Texas) The Dallas Morning News The Herald Statesman (Yonkers, N.Y.) The El Paso Times Sunday Capital-Journal (Topeka. Kans.) Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) Sun (Clearwater, Fla.) Saratogian (Saratoga Springs. N.Y.) News Globe (Amarillo, Texas) Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Ind.) Savannah News Press The Tampa Tribune Plainsman (Huron, S.D.) Coloradoan (Ft. Collins, Colo.) Argus (Fremont, Calif.) Record (Vernon, Texas) Herald-Times Reporter (Manitowoc, Wis.) Enquirer and Ledger (Columbus~ GA) The Daily Argus (Mt. Vernon, ~.Y.) News (Tarrytown, ~.Y.) Herald Tribune (Sarasota, Fla.) Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, VA) Times & world ~ews (Roanoke, VA)
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A2 Wire Service Continued -Tri-Valley Herald (Livermore, Cal.) Times Standard (Eureka, Calif.) Journal (New Ulm, ~nn.) Advertiser & Alabama Journal (Montgomery, Ala.) Gary Post-Tribune News (Pampa, Texas) Oakland Tribune (Oakland, Calif.) Sun & Sentinel (Yuma, Ariz.} The Mobile Press Register (Mobile, Ala.) Item (Huntsville, Texas) The State Journal (Lansing, Mich.) Oakland Press (Pontiac, ~ch.) The Daily Item (Post Chester, N.Y.) The Standard Star (New Rochelle, N.Y.) Yipsilanti Press (Mich.} Northwest Ark, Times (Fayetteville, Ark.) The New Haven Register (New Haven, Conn.) Leader (Orange, Texas) Banner (Cleveland, Tenn.) The Bridgeport Post (Conn.) Sentinel (Centralia, Ill.) News Journal (Kent, Wash.) Register (Santa Ana, Calif.) News-Minner (Fairbanks, Alaska) Sun (Texas City, Texas) Herald Banner (Greenville, Texas) The San Diego Union (Calif.) Ledger (Antioch, Cal.) Democrat-Herald (Albany, Ore.) ~ews-Herald (Panama City, Fla.)
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Wire Services (Cont'd.) -2-Scripps-Howard The Pittsburgh Press Rocky Mountain News (Denver) The Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tenn.) Republic News Wires The Arizona Republic (Phoenix) ~ewhouse News Service The Grand Rapids Press The Huntsville Times (Ala.) The Flint Journal The Phoenix Gazette Herald Tribune (Sarasota, Fla.) The Muskegon Chronicle (Muskegon, Mich.) Chicago Sun-Times (W.) The Providence Journal (it.I.) Houston Chronicle (Texas) Knight-Ridder Newspaoers Herald (Grand Forks, N.D.) Sentinel Star (Orlando, Fla.) Independent Press-Telegram (Long Beach, Calif.) Star (Muncie, Ind.) The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.) American-Statesman (Austin, Texas) Chicago Tribune Service American-Statesman (Austin, Texas) The News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Herald (Lexington, KY) Times (Anchorage, Alaska)
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&-A-Sarasota Herald-Tribune Sunday, Dec. 16, 19'19 Food Contanrlnation Said ( Detectable Before Eating .. w ASHINGTO~ -The polybrominated b I p hen y ls and may not identify all connation's food monitoring system (PBBs), and the pest l c id e taminants before they tilter the can't detect unlmown con-kel:lone. 1 food chain. tamillants before people and The Food and Drug Adminis-Dr. Catherine Woteld, the ,animals are poisoned. but the tration, primarily responsible OTA project director,.,aid 243 tedmology exists to do so if for monitoring food in interfood contamination incidents .t'!ongress wants to overhaul the state commerce. and the states were reported in this country ,; procedure, says a federal do not actively look for new between 1968 and 1978. study. contaminants, the OTA said. "This is a gross undel'-. The Office of Technology AsThe FDA, which says it has estimation because these were sessment (OTA) said in a reneither the mandate nor the only the cues in which states port released Saturday that money to do this, relies upon or the federaJ government took "environmental contamination data from industry or scientific action involving seizing or de, of food is a aationWide prob-literature to identify new sub-stroying food." she said in an : lem.,. stances before it can test for interview. These contaminants. which them in. food. include natural foods, pesticides TI:e OTA said Congress had and radioactive substallces, can several options involving food make their way into all kinds contamination. at foods anywhere in the Other options include amend-CDU11try, the report said. ing the. Food, Drug and Cos-The OTA. Congress' advisory metio Act. under whic~ FDA arm on scientific and tecl1nical operates, to require the agency Issues. said nearly all Amerl to move more aggressively in cans carry low but detectable setting tolerance limits for susresidues of environment.al con-pected contaminants. tamillants in their bodies. Congress al!o could establish I While the effects of the1e con-a national investigatory monitaminants. are not fully under-toring system to seek out susstood, studies indicate some pected or-potential food con may cause potentially harmfui taminants and test for their physical changes in people even toxicity With sophisticated tech at present low level. the report niques now available. But the said. r OTA said this could be costly The OTA said federal and ',.. _________ ,... st.ate monitoring systems are designed to find only those food cmtaminant3 that have been identified through past u-perience. Ne..eontamiiwlts go unnoticed until after actual animal or human poisonings, it said. The report cited recent cases wllere this happened involving food. contaminated With the chemicals polychlcrinated ; biphenyls (PCBs) and
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7:;;,.-~ -~ ~! ~ l~OI'! 'O: ,, --. .. ~. 01") 1 6 u .i.Ol 'tS. r --. .. U.S. paneturges speedup-l'lol,t' i NeW testing ey69 for. toxin crises 1_,r Uni._ P,ess ntffllttionI Catherine WotekL who worked on the Kepone from a chemical plant was in the ,'l-i WASHl~GTON A congressional ad'. -studv. said. "There is a potential for the James River: in Virginia for years before the ;i:. viso(1: pa~el said Saturday sophisticated presence of thous.ands of these contami pesticide was discovered and the river was ,, new testing could. speed response to nants in our food.' closed to fishing. The report said it could ,_ I!'. chemical contamination crises like those .. have been discover~ earlier by taking sparked by PCBs-in ~tontana. PBBs in .. __ The report said a sophisticated form of samples of clams at the mouth of the-river. :Vlic:hipn and Kepone in Virginia. gas chromatography together with mass This year, suspected cancer-causing The Office of T eehnoloy Assessment said spectrometers and compu~er analyses couldPCBs t polychlorinated bi phenyl I that human and economic costs coula oe min,;: detect changes in the environment. even if leaked from a transformer at a plant in imized if food contaminationj_ncident~ were:.. __ ~ey occur_ from l,lltkno'!n C?'!~amtQapts, -Billings. ~1ont., contaminated animal-feed-. discovered earlier. before fo_od: is contaminated. Food from animals that ate the feed reached State-and federal food sampling identifies The. researchers said a. pilot program 18 states because of government delays .. contaminants only after animals or humans could determine within twoto five years The report said Congress faces alteralready are cont~minated. lfow. a system could be used nationwide. na~ves of doing_ nothing or setting up a Testing based on past experienee-is made nauonal contam1nan_t monitoring system diC!ic:-.tlt by introduction of more than 500 :: The mosi serious known cases includf and could al~o estaohsha center to or organic. chemiC'ais by industry each year. is73 contamination of dairy feeds in :,,uchichestrate delivery of federal assistance to Existing systems cannot detect unsuspected gan by carcinc,genic PBBs ( polybrominated affected states. toxins. biphenyls.) accidentally shipped by a -cht!mical company. It took seven months to Af least 243 incidents of contamination of d. seover what had made cattle sick. human food and animal feed are known ,to. -2 have occurred in the t.:nited States ov-8' the--Toe-report" said nearly every ~1ichigar.past decade and many more could have resident has been exoosed to food products gone undetected. the report said. CQntaminated with the flame .. retardant .;.......:.. ..........
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~tr!! Att~fo!! Jf.tttrg ...-irsr eiwo:::1U1110N ,,, TIIE .vur DEC 1 7 1979 :;-.-:-' . .. tts. Lacks Means to Detect Chemicals in Food .until Someone Mari or Beast -Is Poisoned Ca6lomia reported four cases ol food contamination during tl,e last decade. -
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Rocky ~fonntrin News OENVER, COLO. Cl. 2:C~ SUN. 240,73:! DEC 1 5 1979 i-/4Study rips: tGinte-d:fOCi'd _~al'ldling ,~ By ANN Mc:FEATIERS --~-_ h~daclles. fatigue. abdominal pains, liver ...,.."' .., .,.. ~Sfalt and menstrual disturbances._ W ASBINGt0~ A damaged trans-. A new study for Congress of what hapformer at the Piemr West Packmg_,Ca. pens_wllen organic chemicals, metals and plant in Billinp, Mont.. leaked an industri : .ra.dioacti,e substances -all called envi al chemical into animal fats. ronmenial'.contaminants invade the food The fats were used mmeaI.sold to feed system concludes tms is .a;_5:ignificant nacompanies and farmers. tionwide problem. -The feed was given' to poultry and pigs And. says the Office of Tee_hnoloa Asin 10 states. ~t. the federal and state govern-Food processors such as P~ge ments are not haad!ing the probiel\1 well. Fanns-and Swift & Co slaughterers sudl From 1968 through 1978: OT A found as Butterfield Farms. firms sucll as Mil--there were 243 serious-incidents of food subishi International of Tokyo -all ended contamination. not0 including the recent up using the aiataminated !cod in producu, Blllings episode. Some were regionally al ranging from processed. cbiciens to fnnen most catastrophic such as tlie Kepone constrawbem cakes. 'tamiuation-of the-SL.James River in Vlr-Whea ii was discovered that the cllemi-gima which resulted in a significant loss of cal polyclllormated biphenyls or PCBs. seafood and fishing restrictions. Others used !or such things as electrical insuJation were less severe. was so widespread. hundreds of thou-The basic problem the OT A uncovered sands of t>OUJlds of food in 17 states had to is that the current monitoring and detec be dest .-oyed. tioll systems are not set up to discover new There was no mass poisoning as a result pollutants in the food supply.although there of the incident but in another incident in are tests that could be done to detect them. Japan rice oil' contaminated by PCBs caus-The OT A. which does scientific studies. ed 1,291 cases of "Yusllo disease. n That is a for Congress. also concluded that states. condition with the symptoms of severe wbich have jnrisdiction over food contami acne. eye discharges. skin discoloration, nation unless it crosses state boundaries. ...... and the federal government which then takes over do not cooperate well a~ all How hannful this has been tothe public is not really known. the OT A says. Some of the contaminants-are known to cause can cer in _animals. Others, temporarily at least, cause physiological changes such as changes in white cell counts in blood, with unknown consequences. But the economic ramifications are big. The OTA was able to estimate the cost in 30 percent of the 243 incidenfs it identified. The figure it came up with is $282 million. which it says could be only about one-third of the actual cost. Now Congress must decide whether it wants such agencies as the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, whidl moves in when pesticides are involved, to act faster when they mav not have adequate information. Rarely, the OTA concluded, does the government commission original studies of potential contaminants. And a national investigatory monitoring system to detect unregulated clle~icals as they enter the food chain is possible -but costiy. How costly, the OTA doesn't say
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DEC 20 1979 Federal report urges :monitor plan for edibles -. BY SUSAN FOGG ; 1979, Newiaoale News Semce WASHINGTON -Thescieatiftc know-how esists today to detect major food cnnt.arniuation even before humans and animaJa show signs of poisoning. according to a report by tbe Congress' Office of Technological ment. 7I1bat knowledge had elisted several years ago. such episodes as the $215 million PBB contamioation of cattle in Michigan.could have been averted. Witb the use of the latest equipment. the OTA said. it would be possible to monitor the food supply for both known and unsuspected c:ontaminants. "Lookm( for something you don't know is there may sound like pie in the sky," said Catherine Woteki. OTA's project director for the rooc+ contarnineat "!port. 'Bu& tbert are three labs doing it rigm now at the University of Michigan, in New Or.leans and in Virginia. If this approach bad been applied to what made Rick Halbert's cows std: in Michigan. th!! PBS I polybromi nated biphenyls I contamination could have been identified mombs earlier.'' The Michipn episode. which has left virtually every maa. woman and child in the state with traces of PBB in their bJood. started when a flame retardant substance containing PBB inadvertant1y was miXed into animal feed. .. The new equipment consists of computerized chemical analysis units such as tbose at the University of Micbi gan's Bodega Marine Laboratory. Under current food safety laws. only known hazards are regulated. In the 243 episodes of accidental contami nation an OTA survey uncovered between 1968 and 1978. according to OTA Director Dr. John G"ibbons. none Wen! spotted until after humam and animals were poisoned." But the-equipment could monitor the food supply for ullSUSlll!CU!d comaminents. Because the costs of sucb a monitoring system are unknown. the OT A report said Congress could with a pilot program that would combine monitoring for know1l cantammants with checks for rises in umuscected organic chemicals, heavy metals and other toxic substances in the food supply, major water sources and sediment. Any rises in the baselJue. ''normal" chemical content of water. soil and food samples
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Chicago Tribune Sunday, December 16, 1979 Poisons in food a timebomb: study .. By Ronald Kotulak &d,mce editor Clrnl\llCAI, CONTAl\tlNA'l'ION of ~ke naliun's foo1I s up p 11 es 111 a potential li111cbo!}1ll that C!Juld lead lo s~rious l1ealllf mul ccbnomic problems, accordiug to a fodcl'al guvernmenl study. 'J'he re11orl, prn11ared by the Office of 'rednmlogy Assessment fOT A), 'criticlzt."l the lack of a~e11uate safeguard:. to kee11 puii.onous materials out of the food chain. While no deaths or Illnesses from co~tatninat<.-d food have been reported in Uiis country-as they have in Japan and 01!1ul' countries-probably every Amerl c.an has been expo:.etl lo some deg1ee of cht!mical cunt,uninalion in food, the rel)jll'l saiil. A llCYicw of more than tiOO studies found thut U.S. residculs cmy measur abule 1esid11es of 1M chemical conhuni mmls in their bodios. 1'wenty-six: of these are organic substances, inclmlin1& 20. 1)(!::;tici,fos, U1e re111ainder are inor ganic subsiances. '''l"IIIS IIAS 'J'III~ 1111te11llal tu be a serious 111ohlem. We know lhat in higher dol:ies some ()( lh4?se chemicals are carcin11l:e11ic I cancer-causing I in animals hut we don't know whilt 'tong-term cffeels lower !1osds will have in hunums," said Dr. Joyce Lashof, 11s1ilsta11t director of lbe OTA's life sclence11 divlliion. 'fhe report W!IS .w1derlaken ut the re quest of the House Cmnmlllee on lnter i;tate and Foreign Co111mercc. ll wurned Umt fulure food purity prob lmns are a majot threat because i;uch dangerous chemicals as PBB, l'CBs, ke11011e, and mercury, were ip food .di11-cove1'ed only after animal or llumaq contamination had qccurrcd. The.r~po.rt criticized feder~I and stale food monitoring systems, which it s11ld are not designed to detect new unsus; pt.'Cled toxins in the nation's food liUt>ply. "Bnvironmental contamination of 'food ls a nationwide problem of unknown magultudc,1 Uic OTA said. Jm't'\VEEN 1Uli8 a11d llt711, liOQUI 2U Incidents of conl.mnination were r~pol;led in this country, touchint: every regi1ln and involving all kinds (Jf foods, the re port snid. 1'he finuncial loss from this taiuled food was estimated at $28".? mil lion. 'J'he re11orted cases of contaminated food are only beginning. l,ashof said it is estimated lhut them are many mol'c unrcpodcd cases and that the total loi;s from contmninated food in the JO-year period probably e11cccdcd $1 billion. ---------~-----The report called for major legislative Practically every. Mlcl1lgan resident changes in the l'Pod, Orug; and Cosmet-has been exposed to PJ3B-contamlnate le -Act lo 1iermit identilicaUon and detecfood. Scientists are not yet certain if the tiott of toxic comjlounds in food. chemical has produced side-effects but The latest major food contamination some reseqrcbers suspect nerve dam lncidfnl, an,! one which was not lncludage. ed in the i.tudy's figures, Involved PCU 'l'be accidental ~ischarge of the pesti1 polychlorinatcd biphenyls} contaminacide kepone l11to the Jame:. River in lion of animal fats ,at a packing plant in Virginia forced officials .to close the riv Uillin'1s, t,lont. .. er .lo cpmmerc1,1 flshin" for several l'CBs,' WHICH AllE 'widely Wied la years. transformers and capacitoi-s as heatOne of the worst tragedies Involving taansfer fluids, leaked : from a damaged contaml'1aled food occured ln Japan. transformer into the animal fats: Pregnant women ate mercury-contam_l'l'he contaminated fat was used lo nated fish frof!l Mln~mata Bay and tbe1r make fc1.'<1 which was sent to at least 10 bab4la 1uffere4 a hih rate of birth ,destates, jlolluting poulliy, f/Cl!S, pork feels and central nervous syslelJl dl:.or_pioducls, nl\d a variety of processed ders. foods, including strawberry c11ke. TIIJ<; POTENTIAi, FOR chemical cou-Contmnin11led products were found In lamination of food la great because 17 stales and hundreds of thousands of there are an estimated 70,000 chemicals po1U1ds were i;eized and destroyed. In Cf)mmerciul production in this coun. PCD11 REPtlAIN a uhlq11lto1111, low-lev-try;1he OTA &\lid. Fifty of these cl1eml el contaminant of 1napy foods, especialcals are P.roduced In amounts exceeding ly fresh-water flsb, the O'fA said. 1.3 billion pounds annually. The most notorious food contamination A major threat cornea from the 1,200 In this country occurred several years to 2,000 abandoned chemical and radio ago in Michigan when polybrominaled active waste sites In this counhy U\llt bi1>henyl IPBB], a fire retardant, was pose an imminent danger lo human accidentally mixed into animal feed health, the O'fA 1111id. 'l'he cost of cleanDairy cattle fed the feed produced taintIng up Uiese sites is estimated to be f50 etl milk. billion.
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New York Daily News Dec. 17, 1979 Name your poison-& you might find it i-,-your food rJ J -XA/L.'1 /IJ ~w..r -ly Juomt RANDAL I v Amon1 the environmental chemicals washington (News Bureau). No mentioned as havi!ll already enter~ the part of the nation has been spared food chain. are PB& (polybrorrunated food contamination by industrial ~phenyls) and PC& (polychlorinated chemicals that have poisoned live-b1phenyls). Both. substances are used as insuiaton and fU'e-tetardants and bave stock o.r people. accordinc to a been United to cancer risk by animal study prepared for Congress by its tests. Office of Technology assessment PBBs caused millions of dollars The study. which reports that there worth of damage and posed a potential were 243 "~ntaminatlon incidents" be-threat to human health after they were tween 1968 an.d 1978. says that the prob-inadvertently added to Michigan animal lem Is unlikely to iO away. A further feed in 1973. difflculty, it notes. is that at a time __ when hundreds of new chemicalsare being introduced into the environment each year federal an.d state monitor-illl systems-are designed to detect only those substances in the food.supply that have been identified as hazardous in the put. Yet says the report, techniques are llOW available that could spot the presence of unsuspected poisons in the food chain before the occurrence of a crisis. It therefore suggests that Congress consider funding a pilot program to determine whether routine use of these analytic methods is either practical or worthwhile.
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THE JOURNAL OF COMMERCE, Manday, December 17, 1979 Report Criticizes FDA Procedures Food Contamination Step~ Urged IY UIAH R. YOUNG OTA says that Congress J....., ti Commerce Staff cool amend the FDA law to WASBJNGTON A con-simpUly 1)roceedm'es for set gnssioaal report released ting to1ances so that less SuDdaf sqgests that new ini-reiiaDce is placed on Informal ttatives to simplify govem-. action levels. Congress could meat pneedares for tracldal go further, OTA says, and set coatamtnaats in food is nec:e,. a time period in which sary following recent inci; formal tolerance would have dents of food cmtamination ; follow establishment of an nationwide. i acttaa 1~ The repert, prepared by tbe Otller possibilities are cfanconplSllioaal Office of Tedi-, ficadons of the weight to be noloa Assessment for the given economic criteria in House Commerce Committee, setting tolennces for contam.sugests three nonc.iusive I mants ln food and authority opdons for Congress. for FDA to set regional tolerSqpsted ciaqes iD food ances. maaitoriDI procedures lnclude Conpess could also estabamtlldiq the Food, Drug and lislla federal monitoring ef. Cosmetic Act to "speeifically fort to study chemicals DOW addresa tbe unique problems cansidered possible contamiposed by environmental con-nants or chemic:als that are tamination of food," setting totally IIDereguJated but SUSup a nattonal moaitormg sys-pect in tile food supply. -tem and' improving federal The OTA study found that response time to incidents of 243 inddents of food contminacontamlution by destpating tion were reported in thetbe FDA as lead agency for United States between 1968 dealing with an emergency. and 1978. The study evaluates Time for RNYaluatlon federal and state effons to "Many of the dlemicaJs that protect consumers fro"iii now may be present in meat chemicals such as PBBs and and poultry were aabeard of PCBs. mews. such as mercuearty in tins century when the ry. and radioactive subpreJent inspection and reguJa--stances. tory systems were first "Nearlv all U.S. residents brought into operation. It is carry low but detectable resitime. I believe. that we dues of some environmental almte our ability to control cont.aminant ill their bodies." thelle substallces which have OTA sayd. "But the effects beeame Slld1 an mrtecralpart from low lffl!ls of some eon of oar llfls." c~ ov-enicbt SUbcommi.ttee Chair-man Bob Eckbardt. D-Teas. cammented on n!C9ipt of the report The OTA report WU critical of FDA procedures under waidi most food contaminants are regulated under informal. a~oa leve!s of permissable contamination rather than for mal tolerance levels. "FDA is under no constraint to review action levels or to rei,lace action levels with formal tolerances," OTA said. But the report did note that FDA does sometimes change its adWII levels U it is BOW with PCB tolerance. taminanai like PCBs. PBBs and kepone are not fully uademood." Moreover. OTA argues that "those parties responsible for endaqering the public health through imprudent manage ment of toxic substances should assume the liability of such actions and must bear the cost of abatement.
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1 WALL SrillT JOU1t111 WASiil1!GTON, O. C. C. :.:H,J;,;2 DEC 1-7 1979 Improved Monitoring Of Food Contaminants Urged by U.S. Agency B'/1 a W' ALL ST!lll:11:T JOl!MAL l!ta/1 H~l'tl!r WASHINGTON-The U.S. needs a better monitoring system to detect possibly dan gerous chemicals before they enter the food supply, the Office of Technology .~ment said. ---------------The office. an advisory ann d said that such monitoring would heip in "detecting unregulated substances in !ood." esoectally org-anic chemicals and metals suspected. ot !leing' dangerous. CUrrentfy, state and federai agencies make "little ef fort'' to detect such substances. lt said. The agency sunested that Congress establish a two-year pilot program. uSint new technology, to monitor water, sail. air and river sediments that often end up in food. "Over 500 new organic chemicals are intrOduced into the market eveey year. So it' l a difficult process to keep up with them.'' said John Glbbons. the office's director. at a news conference. However, he conceded. it may be poUticaily difficu.lt to begin monitor inf of chemicals "that haven't killed any body in the U .s.. but that couid." The monitoring proposal grows out of an investigation the office made ot COlltami nated foods. Between l9o'8 and 1918. it foWld. at least S282 million of food was lost to con tamination in 243 incidents. The real cmt "ls at least several times" that figure. tile 3(!!1cy said. because of inadequate report inf and hidden costs, such as medical ex penses and lost days of woric. The agency also said that Congress should l'l!vamp current Jaw to make it easier for tile Food and Drug Administration to set safe !lmits for food contaminanrs. In addi tlon, its investigation found. there needs to be one agency or center to coordinate fed era! assistance when food In several states gets contaminated. Conrress appears to have some interest in the food~ontamination probiem. A Rouse subcommittee recently held hearings on an incidenc-that occurred last summer. A chemical called polychlormated bipl!enyls. or PCBs. leaked from a damaged trans former and contaminated animal fats at a Billings. Mont., pacldng plant. The fats went into animal fel!d and contaminated food in 11 states. prompting the selZUl"e or destruc t1on ot hundreds ot thousands of i)Ollllds of food. I
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Washington Post, December 16, 1979, p. A7. U.S. Is Called .Lax By Victor Cohn WUIIIZISCOD J'Od lltaU Wffll1' The iJ'nited States haa the tec!mol ogy to provide early warning of contamiDUta such as PC:S. PBB, mercury and Kepone in the food sapply, but f.s faillni to use. lt. an advisory body to Conaress said yesterday. o.n Food Contaminants The result. said the Office of Tech nol,off Assessment. is certain to be some new and. unexi,eeted contaminattou. ffen though the most complete waminl network could not guarantee a1ainat all problems. PCBs and PBBs are industrial e.b.ei:nicall that have foWld their way into animal feed and human food stuffs. Kepone is the imecticide that. has contaminated VirliJ1ia's J'ames River met-its fish and sheilf1!h. llercury is a widely used liquid metal that haa found lts wr,. l:nto the fish of lakes and riven. These and other contaminants-chemicals. metals and radioactive elementa-are s\Jl'e tobe with us in an ir:dwstnai soeitKY, Jany cm caUH health problea:11, The technoloff to detect many of thete problems in advmce consists ill part of batteries ot! laboratoey tests for mutagens and caremogena. caemicals that cause either 1enedc muu,. t1ons or future caDCffS or. often, both. Food screeners use sw:h u,u to oo, serve any etfeca 011 bacterta or oa ao-1.mal or human celll and aeisetie material. Any questions raised h1 aueh tMtl micht then have to be checse4 ia mimal colonies. a pt'OCesa that cu tue two to three years. But a warning system usina; SlaCh testa systematically, the. OTA uk1. would be more likely to prevent tuture disasters than the present sketch~ and uncoordinated use by re;, ulator7 agencies like the. Food and Drug Adminiltratioir, the Agriculture Department. the Environmental Protectton Ageney and their many state cowrterparts. ID the recent Pea coutamination ot animal feed. poultry and egp in tlw west. the report said, ET .\. anaJ,ud air and water samples {with negati1'111 results). but :lid !lot zj,ce its I'.'?sults to state agencies JeP.lcmg similar information. When the Ida.ho Agriculture Dellartment learned of the contamination. it failed to taJl.tbe Idaho Health De1Jartment. A survey of 32 states and 10 federal. aaeDCies found there were 243 "COD tamination incidents" In the United Stud between 1968 and 1978, touch ing every ,region, involving "all kinds o1 !ood." and often 14c:king full infer ~a. What Js needed, Hid OTA. is not oat, systematic tl"sts of foods and cllemica1s but al.-io "a clear authority to eoordinate acuvtties" ot federal and state agencies. including coordi nating commwtication. Ill respome to these needs, the OT A said, Congrea might do one or a com binatlon of thrH new tbings: Amend". the Food, Drug ~d Cosmetic Act to give the FDA greater power to detect :inct reli'Ulate harmful contamma1ltl. Establish a n:ition.a! lnvesttgatoty monitorin1 5ystem": a chain of t&boratoria t11ing r.ew methods still Dot found 1n most fed.eral and state ~--- Dai~ate a !~ad a1ency or estab-Uan a new center to seek. evaluate and dtltribute Information to affected states md other ai1tDc:ies. As o~ Immediate step, the OTA said, Cong:Ha might at leaa~ authorize a two-to-ffre-yev pilot program to see how productive aud practieal total monitorini of tile \ld supply might be. The OT.4. mw its report to the House Commerce CIJl'Mlitee. tour of whose -members niquested, it. Oversight and i.nvest131tii>ns subcommittee Chairman Bob Eckh:u-dt (D-Te:t.) said the report shows the need for "immedlat~ federal ~vie., cf our ability to control harmful ,ubstances."
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The Washington Post December 19, 1979 _., DirtyFood K EPONE CLOSING Virginia's James River; PBBs 1n animal feed ldlliDg thousands of dairy cows in Michigan: PCBs in.animal fa.ta from a single packmg plant in Montana finding its way into everything from pork products. to strawberry cakes 1n 17 states in a matter .of weeks each of these was a case of what Congress' Office Qf Technology Assessment calls '"environmental contamination" o! food. In a study released Sunday, OTA describes environmental COJ'lt.arntnants as any substance 1n food that can be in jurious to health and that cannot be e.Uminated. by normal manufacturing practices. They canbe ot many types: natural or man-made chemicals. meta.Ls .or chemicals containing metals, and radioactive sub:stances.. UDllke many other counqp, the UJlited States has not yet: had a tragic case o('food contamination such as the one in Japan iD wb.ich great numbers of people -were poisoned by mercury in fish. But with growing industrial activity and. thousands ot new chemicals entering the marketplace each year, the potential is : there. OTA found 240 cases of food contamination in tms COUlltry during the past decade. A very rough estimate of the cost of the condemned food ls about $1 billion; health costs for medical expenses and lost worsdays could not even be guessed at. Though evi dence-ls scarce, it seems that only one ot the 240 iDci dents produced lasting health eff eets. though their severity ls not yet.known.
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The Washington Star, December 16, 1979, p. Cl2. New Food contaminants Go -. Undetected, StuQy Warns By Clistine Russell W----StlrSllff'RrtW .. Exisling federal and state systems for monitoring _the food supply are : Dot designed to detect the presence of llDSUSpeCted. newenvironm.ental contaminants, warns a congressional study released today by the Office of Technology Assessment. In what OTA Director John Gibbona called .. the first comprehen. sive examination of the problem: the agency surveyed all so states and 10 !ederal agendes and found that .. envtronmental. contamination of !ood is a nationwide problem." Over 24& incidents of food con; tamillation were reported in the United StateS betWeen 1968 and 1978. -according to the survey. Contami nants included synthetic and aaturnl organic chemicals, metals and radioactive substances wbich inadYertently enter the food supply through agriculture. industry, mining or energy production. This count represents "only the tip of the iceberg." said OTA project director Catherine Woteki. ''There are tens of thousands of potential toxic substances manufactured or introduced into the environment. Those substances are not regulated in foods. ... We're not looking for them."' In addition to the possible health impact. the unexpected contaminatiotr episodes involved millions of dollars in economic costs. The loss from the 1973 coutam.iaation o! .ani mal feeds ill Michigan by PBB's (polybromillated biphenyls} alone is estimated to have cost some S200 mil lion in lost food. The. OTA st11dy suggests that Con gress consider the nffd for a new national investigatory monitoring system to look for signs of suspected as well as "uncharacteri%ed" envi ronmental contaminants "Uncharacterized" contaminants are substances that may have inad-venentl.y entered the food supply, but are not already suspected to, be food coittaminmts. and are not yet -regulated. -. A new.-monitolillg system might catch_such contaminants earlier, be fore people or animals.are adversely affected, OT A said. Fortunately, noted the report, no 1 mass poisoning incidents have occurred in this country with:. severe health effects like those resulting from the mercury contamination of fish in Japan's Millamata Bay. Some of the children of women there were born with severe birth defects and other victims suffered from central nervous system damage. OTA found that most Americans carry Iow .. levels of enVironmental pollutants il1 their bodies. although the health significance, if any, is unknowu. RepottS after the PBB inci dent in Michigan varied, but some farm-families showed phySiological differences in their white blood cell function. The. OTA report also cites the highly, publicized cases of PCB <~lychlorinated. biphenyls) contamina tion in the Hudson.River and kepone contamination of Virginia's James River. If a more sophisticated ad vance monitoring system had been in place, "we could have identified kepone years earlier," Woteclti said ara pressconference. In addition. the -OTA study presented the folloWi.ng options: Amend the Food, Drug and Cosmt:tic Act to simplify procedures for setting "tolerance"_levels for con taminants once they are discovered and clarify the role of economic considerations in setting regulations. Speed the federal response to new contamination problems. Congress could designate-a lead agency or center to direct delivery of national government assistance to affected states..
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t '.. t I ; ; '" I' t.bl!!bt i, H' LI'.:;'.-;_ .. DEC l '/ 1979 US report urges better food-protection methods Dy David F. Salllibury Start !!Orrespomlent of '111c Christian Science Monitor Denver '111t: United States needs II national monitoring and Inves tigatory system to comb11t contamlnaUon of food ~y harmful sublitnnce11 produced by modern tcclmology. This Is a major rccon1111endatlon of u re1iort released this weekend by the Qtf!cc of 'l'echnoloiJY Alil:icssmcnt (OTA), 11 research arm of Cougi-cs:1. "Perhaps no other environmental problem demands more lmmetll11te aUenllon ... responded Rep. Uob Eckhanlt (D) of 'l'cxa11, who has called for au luuncdiatc federal review of the liltuallon. Tl11, OTA report, the result of two years of i;tudy, co111c11 on the hcds of 1111 Incident that craphlcally lllu11trated the prob1 lc111. La:1t September, n leak In a tranliformer at a packing 11111111 In Ullllngs, Mon!1ma, contaminated meat and bone meal with an extremely toxic snhslance, polychlorlnated blvhenyls (PCUs). '1111s contamlnuted feed spread lhro111,1h 10 slalcli, polluting poultry, eggli, po.-lc, and a variety of 11rocesscd foods that were distributed to 17 states, ranging from Oregon to Now .Jersey. As u result, hundreds ot thousm11l11 ot 1101111,ls ot food prod11ct11 wen: i;cl:rnd or destroyed. "Thu uovciiuncut's hnm.111111,1 of (this lncldcnlJ was, unfor tunately, typlcul," crillcb:cd l'rtends ,,t the Earth, an euvl' ro11menli1l grnup. '"l'hc Agriculture Department clld not oh taln tci.l rcsultti tor 19 Juy11 atlur the problem wus first su:ipected. Sules of contumluulcd 11rnducts continued for 40 ,lays 11fler te:;ts coufin ncd the 1ircsc11ce of PCU:. lu the food." D
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nm NEW YORK TL'1ES December 18, 1979 FOOD GONiAMINANiS I TERMED UNDEiEG'fED, Congress Office Says Regulatory Systems Don't Uncover Toxic Units Accidentally -~dded Faillll'IS la Detecdoa Became the toxic effects of f00d contamination are noc always immediately dfscemible. tbe cautioned. the inddeaceoftaindng JS probal)Jy greadyundeueported. Many cases of low-level poisoamg may not be lnougb.t to. the attenUcm of Fede:al or siaie officials. and omers may llliVtf be noticed ic all, it said. FUrther, tbe stUdy found that the enormous quantity and variety of chemicals mamafacmred in the United States made lt difficult to prevent their entry into the i environment. The report suggfSted that the regw.a. ; tory practices of the Food and Drug Ad; mmisa'ation. which bas the main Federa1re5{lOIISibility for regulating environmental cantaminal'lts in t00d, be cbanged to simplify the setting ot allowable limits for bazardous SUb:stanc:eS and to require that me, be set Within a certain period of time. At the same time, it questioned the va,. lidity of the "safe tbrahold" concept. cit ingsmdies ind1catiag that U1ere might be no safe lewl for certain subsW1ces. panic:wartythose that came cancer. CriUcismofllegu!aton Some delays in regulating new contaminants were caused by fr.lgmentaticn of the regulatory system. according .to the repon, which said.-.. All. tbe major f00d canrarninatton ind.dent& were marked by confusion.,. In the PBS case. tbe invot\'ement of three Federal agendes and a breakdoWn in comrmmit'.Uiom them and Midligan agencies "further complicated an already complicated problem." the report said. It suggested that Congress one Federal agency, prcbabiy the F.D.A., to coon:lmace the Government's regulatioft of contaminated foad. 1be report critici:ed present regwa. tory methods for auempcmg to l:lalance pubHc: health agaiilst the COit of wasted food supplies. The estimaied $282 million In losses in the incidents surveyed by the study is probably a "grass underestimation" of the actual amount of apparent and hidden losses, accordhlg to the report. n suggested thac Congrem clarify the role that economic criteria sbou.ld play In the setting oi conrarnmatiOn limits. 'l'be smdy also~ tbat Congress ccmider mvesugaa,ry monitoring ot mer sediment, water and air to search for new contaminanr., as they enter the f00dc:bain.
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10-0 Sunday~Dee. 16.19i9 Philadelphia Inquirer + .. ..--. lt~..J,,--. .; ... Panel urges action to halt threat --. ---. of toxic chemicals ---to _J~od supplies By DaVid Hoffman ..,._....,...._ WASHINGTON -In Michigan. bags of:a fire retardant were accidentally mtxed wttb cattle feed. contaminat mg the food cha.in With toxic sub stances known as polybrominated biphenyls, PBBs for short In Virginia; the insecticide Kepone :,vent undetected in fish and oysters tn the Jam~ River for seven years. It was only discovered after workers wno manufactured Kepone became seriou.siy ilL In Montana. a leaking electrical transformer at a packing plant set off a chain ~f events that eventually I resulted m the contamination of poultry, eggs and other food in 10 11 states with another. better known kind of ,toxic chemicals, polychlonrusted biphenyls -PCBs. : Citing these and other examples I the congressional Office of TechnolO: gy Assessment (OTA) concluded in a study just released that, 41 years af' ter the landmark Food, Drug and l Cosmetic Act, Americans still lack protection against contamination of l thell' food by toxic chemicals. A sur vey of 32 states and 10 federal agen-aes turned up 243 food contamma tion incidents over the last 10 vears in what the report ~bed as a "'ttationWide problem" whose scope ts not yet fulJy understood. No 11WS8 poUHJning The United States has never experi enced a mass poisoning on the scale that has occurred in Japan. where mercury poisoning of fish in Mina mata Bay caused binh defects and death. and wllere. in 1968. more than 1.200 persons became ill from the accidental spill of PCBs into nee oil. I But the smdy suggested that Con gress consider setting up an early warning system to detect lla23rdous chemicals before they enter the food chain. I Such a monitori~g system could be accqmplishea With existing technol. ogy and would have warned of inci ~ents l~ke the Kepone pollution year3 1n advance," according to Cathenne Wote~ project director for t~e OT A study. Although Congress has re,:,eatedly sought to protect Americans from food contaminants sinee enactment of the 1938 food and drug law, the study found that all the lliws on the books today will not "prevent the deliberate or accidental misuse or disposal of the thousands of toxic .substances manufactured in the United States." In fact, a recent review of 600 pub lished studies found that Americans carry "measurable residues of 94 chemical contaminants." of which 26 are related to pesticides. However. 1 the study found that the long-term health effects of exposure to low .levels of these substances are still nncenain. Since 1968. the OTA found. food supplies wonh S268 million have been condemned because of contamination. The stUdy estimates that fig. are to be a "~ underestimation of the actual costs" because many inci ~ents are n_ever reported to authorines. A compound-aay enter the food supply and be undetected for vears the study said. In the case oi Kepon~. for example. "the comoound was oot discover~ because it was not sought. It iS. unlikely t!lat the presence of Kepone would be known and regulat ed today had the workers not become ill." In addition, the PCB contaminanon of animal feed in 10 Western S!ates this year illustrated the potentfal for confusion and a "breakdown in communication" between the gov ernment agencies that were supposed to cope With the crisis, the study said. Seme state agencies in Idaho, for example, wouldn't share information_ with each other while the involve ment of three different federal agen cies "oostrUcted communication" in tracking down the chemical. the repon says-. The OTA study also sought 10 deter mine the extent of food contamma tion by radioactive substances. But the StlrVey of states and federal agenc1es faded to locate "any significant radionuclide contamination enisodes duri~g the 1968-iS penod." A radio ~uctide ts an atom With a measurable hfe and nuclear properties one. in o_ther words, that indicates radioac nvny. The opt~ons tbat OT A suggested to Congress tnclude'a tightening of the food .and drug laws to cope with ch.em1cal contamination. ~Is. Wotekl satd that a !lationai early-warning system an'Othel' option might be ~ly, but could .be set up on an ex penmental basis m two to five years.
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ST. LOUIS POSTDlSPATCIJ Si. LOUIS, ,\tO. D. 27S 121 "''" 4~ t,h,1t1. J...,,l2l DEC 1 9 1979 2i.:L. !J7 fm~aster t. A recen~ ~, i1. Montana packing plant viVidly illustrates why the U.S. ought to set up a better system of coping with food contamination. A leak in a transformer contaminated meat and bone meal at the plant with PCBs, a highly toxic substance. This feed was distributed throughout 10 states, polluting poultry, pork and processed foods that were then shipped to states from Oregon to New Jersey. The Agriculture Department didn't receive test results until 19 days after the problem was first s~ted and sales of the contaminated products continued for 40 days after that. The U.S. so far hasn't had the kind of mass poisoning that other countries have, but that is no reason for complacency. Widespread contamination could easily occur again. For instance, the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency rarely order new studies on a substance, relying instead on existing evidence even when that is admittedly insufficient. Efforts to identify substances in food which have not already been found harmful are Virtually non-existent. And responding to contamination has been hindered regularly by a complex food distribution system and lack of coordination between state and federal agencies. Congress' 0.11iSEl of_Iechnology Assessment has prooosed a sensible set of I~. .. recommendations that ;outd~pro~ government response. It suggested that Congnss simplify FDA procedures, create an investigatory monitortng system and either design~te a federal agency or national center to direct response to contamination reports. The lawmakers ought to pay heed. The present system invites disaster.
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For Sa.fetv, Protection ., :,r / Earlier Detection Urged For-FoodContaminants I By MJCBAEL WOODS result of agriculture, industrial opera' ..., s-. 1..., tiom, or energy production. WASHINGTON America W01l1d Aimed At K.aowa Coacamiaallcs bave a safer food supply, bettet: proOTA found that at present, governtected ham contamination by toxic en-ment monitoring of the food supply for vironmental agents, if the Federal Gov-environmental contaminants is oriented ei:mnent set up a monitoring program to primarily toward examining lots of food idemify new food contaminants before to identify those that violate established they became a major problem. a con tolerance and "action levels" for known study concluded today. comammants. -The cost of equipping jmt one such Little effort is made to detect sub-federal monitoring laboratory would be stances ID food for which no tolerance or about SU million. And several labor:a action levels exist an approach that tories around the tiatioa, plus additional could minimize new contamination ezpenditures for staff salaries, would be episodes. needed. Action levels are informal guidelines. But the O_~fic:e of.:.. Technology establish!' by the U.S. Food and Drug .~ent _concluded that a monitoring Administration. specifying the level of network could head of! the kind of ex-contaminants to which comumers can tensive food contamination IDddents safely. be exposed. that have occurred 2t3 times and have An "Investigatory monitoring precost dose to $1 billion during the gram" for new environmental conwni-1968-78 decade. nants wmild use sophisticated laboratory : "Glven our society's dependence on teclmiq11es to keep watch on the organic chemicals ID IDdustry and agriculture. chemicals. trace metals, and radioactive oar problems With waste disposal. and materials ID food. By eumiaing !ood our growing emphasis on new energy samples, the program could pinpoint 1 technologies. the problem of con-new contamination incidents while they taminated food is one we'll undoubtedly are still small have to face again," Rep. Morris Udall (D .. Am.) said. He is chainna.n of OTA's congressional board. Coagress Reqaeseed Study OTA conducted the new study of en vironmental contaminants in the Ameri can food supply at the request of Congress. OTA itself is an advisory arm of Congress which helps lawmakers antici pate the impact of technological changes. nie smdy fowd that contamination of food by chemicals released into the environment is a nationwide problem of "omillous dimensions" iD terms of the pocendal for public health hazard and economic harm. As illustrations, it cites a number of the more serious contaminatiOD incidents iDcluding contamination of animal feeds. ID Michigan with the fire-reurdant cliemicals called PBBs. of fJsh in the Hudson River with PCBs. and of fish in Virginia's James River With kepone. Ul1like food additives, environmental comaminant.it inad\ertently find their way iDa> the human food suppiy. They can enter directly or mdirectly as a River Coataminuts Umieteded ''This type of monitoring could have detected kepone ID the James River long before thousands of pounds of the pesticide entered the river-,'' the study says. OT A also makes a number of specific criticisms about the fashion ID which the FDA sets permissible limits for food conwmnants. FDA is criticized, for example. for overrelianc:e on the informal action levels that it typically establishes based U1'01l emting rather than fresh research. OTA says there now are a number of new shorttenn tesQ which could provide FDA valuable information about the potendal dangm of enviroumentai food contamiaan~ The study says it may be necessary for Congress to amend the Food. Drug. and Cosmetic Act to improve FDA's abilitv to deal with food contamination incidents. One specific change suggested by OTA would make it easier for FDA. to fofiQW up its informal action levels i Witll formal tolerance levels that place legal limits on the amount oi various. contaminants permuted il2 foods. ~: ~, T)t7 --~--_-.... -~--,... --_, -__ _, -_307
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CHEMICAL & ENGINEERING NEWS December 17, 1979 OTA asks closer watch for food contaminants During the past decade the U.S. has been assaulted by a number of major food contamination incidentspolybrominated biphenyls in animal feed in Michigan, Kepone in Virgin ia's James River, and, most recently, polychJorinated biphenyls in meat and bone meal in Montana. All these contamination problems were discovered only after actual human or animal poisonings had oc curred, even though the technology exists to detect unexpected contam inants, says Office of Technology Assessment director ,John H. Gibbons. Gibbons: datectlon tachnology exists OTA has just completed a two-year study of environmental contaminants that are placed in the food supplv inadvertently and are therefore ba sically unavoidable. The major problem the study identifies, according to Gibbons, is that the federal and state regulatory system is not geared to detect contaminants that it doesn't know are there. Regulatory efforts are focused on making sure that levels of known contaminants do not exceed allowable levels. There is also little coordination in most cases among the myriad federal and state agencies responsible for assuring food safety. According to OTA, there were 243 cases of environmental contamina tion of food between 1968 and 1978. At least $282 million in food was lost due to these incidents. But because costs figures are available for only 30% of the contamination incidents and because hidden costs such as medical expenses, lost workdays, and losses to businessmen and individuals are not included, the real costs are at least several times higher than re ported, OTA says. In its 240-page report, OT A offers four options for Congressional con sideration. The first option, as always, is to maintain the present system under which the Food & Drug Ad ministration sets tolerance levels-a cumbersome process-or relies on guidelines called action levels to control contaminants in food. The second option would involve amen~ the _Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act to s1mphfy the administrative procedures for setting tolerances. re quire establishment of a tolerance within a specified time after setting an action level, clarify to what extent economic criteria can be used in set ting tolerances, and grant FDA au thority to set regional tolerances. The third option, toward which OTA seems to be leaning slightly, wo~d ~e to set up a nationwide monitonng system aimed at detecting suspected and uncharacterized con. taminants in the food chain. The fourth option, which easilv could be combined with the second and third options, \Vould be to im prove federal response to new con tamination incidents by designating a lead agency or establishina a center to coordinate and speed up delhrerv of federal assistance to states with a suspected or known food contami nation incident. o
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~lewsCenter -1-'1-/RC TV December 16, 1979 6: 00 ~11 ':lash i ngton, O .C. Env i ronmenta I Contaminants in Food 8AR8ARA ALLEN: ':/el I, on Capitol Hi 11 today the Cong-ssional Office of Technology Assessment released a report which deals with environriental contaminants in food, and it paints a ver-y b I eak picture about the safety of American food supp Ii es in the future if Congress does not take action soon. Here's Marian Burros with a report. MAR I AN SURRCS: Env i ronmenta I con tam i nation of food is a prob I em w:i i ch is Ii kel y to get worse instead of better, accord-ing to the OTA report. Many people consider environmental contamination the single biggest problem ;1ith food for the nex-tdecade. Environmental contamination has a frightening enough connotation which becomes even more upsetting when you hear The names of the contaminants, PP8s, ?CBs, kepone, mercury. The Office of Technology Assessment found 243 inciden~s -:,f contar.iination between 1968 and 1978, but there are many, :nany more which have not been recorded. A 11 of the i ;ic i :en Ts were acci,dental. No one put these thi:igs in food on pur::iose. The report doesn't even discuss the most ,ecenT incident of ?C8 contaminated animal fats out west. But the federal government's hand I ing, some say bung I ing, of the incident points up the problems with how environmental contaminants are treated. 3y the Time the federal and st3te Jgencies got their act toget~er and told each other what was going on, the PCBs ~ad already turned up In eggs, pork, poultry products, not to ,-:ientlon sTrawberry cakes. ~ight now, the reports says, t,ere are too many agencies involved in :nonitoring food, ldentifyir.g toxins, and
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-2-enforcing regulations. Much better coordination is needed. In addition, the government should be concerned with prevention instead of crisis intervention. And the parties who are respons i b I e for endangering the pub Ii c hea I th shou I J be he Id account ab I e. At least S282 :ni 11 ion in food was lost beteen 1968 and 1978 because of the contamination, bui OTA says the real costs are at least several times that amount. 1rlhat the cost in terms of health may be later is anyone's guess. Most Americans carry residues of these contaminants in their bodies, and no one is certain what their effects may be at low levels. The effects at high levels are welt known. Birth defects, central nervous dis orders, serious physiological changes. The OTA report makes three major recommendations to Congress to improve control over environmental con tam i nan ts. Strengthen the powers of the Food and Drug Administration to require tolerance levels for these hazardous substances, establish a national monitoring system to detect unregulated chemicals in food, establish a center, much : i ke the Center for Disease Control to assist affected ar~as once a contamination incident has occured. ALLEN: That was ~arian 3urros.
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GASOHOL
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-~ -...... -~: ---r;:.. -_---~ : '.Tmi;;w.".ASBINGTO~ P.OST WedlusJ.1, Oe1aoer 10, im A 7 _... --:.:. ,.: i _;.: ____ -..;... ____________________ ,-. Hill Study Bcicks "!'roducing Gasohol From Nonfoods By J. P. Smith 1lllalwmaa. :hn staff wrtter -Sharply Increasedproduction of gasohol !rom corn and other agricultural crops could "drive up the price of farm commodities and ultimately the i,ri:1! of food.,.. according to a congressional study. However, if non-food raw materials are used, the 8mceot Technology Assessment study finds tll.at psohol can reduce oil imports and save energy. Further, the OTA says that gasohol produced from coal-in.stead of grain_ or crop residues-is nearly competitive economically with gasoline re-finect-from $20-a-omer oil ~Crrently the, nation produces 150 nu1lion to 200 million gallons of gasohol, compared with-about l.l0 !>~ii _,gallons of gasoline .. consumed by motorists :_i ~:Jr.\. !oun~ th~t th~ nation could produce l 't b~n to 2 billlon gallons of. gasohol without having t a significant.impacton food prices. While the congressional study made no specific recommendatiou; itll findings could have an impact on legi.s.lation:-pressed by farm state legislators in eluding Rep. Berkley Bedell (D-Iowa), Sen. Frank Church (D-Idaho), and Sen. Herman E. Talmadge (D Ga.) to benefit their farming constituents. Gasohol. a fuel mixture of 10 percent alcohol and 90 percent gasoline; Ls being sold in more than 550 Ser'Vlce stations~. most of them in.. the nation's farm belt. The alcohol used In gasohol la etlhanol, the prod uct of distilling grain, crop residues, and other ma terials. Gasohol also can be made from methanol. or wood alcohol, although to be eificient. the miXture has to be lowered. to one part methanol to 19 parts gaso. line. The OTA's 71-page report rebutts arguments of fered. by some of the maior oil: companies until quite recently that making gasohol on a large scale uses more energy than it produces. Wbile economics vary from distillery to distillery, the congressional study found that by using coal or solar power to produce alcohol, th11 nation can save one gallon of l gasoline and the equivalent in natural gas for every gallon of ethanol used by motorists. t,: Tbe OTA concluded that current federal subsidies are.adequate to allow gasohol to compete with gaso line at today's prices. Because of a two-year-old tax law, ethanol in gasohol now receives a Sl6.80 a bar-rel subsidy. And under Energy Departmentregula tions,soon to go into effect, gasohol will al.so share in the ,government's subsidY program. On Kill another often: argued gasohol issue, the OTA found that mileage from gasohol averages ei th.er the same or up to t percent less than gasoline ..U. ti. .same time,.llow.ever, tile study said alcoilol additives rais~ the octane i:l lower grade Jaso.line mixeS-
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New York News World Oct. 11, 1979 Study concludes gasahol's feasible WASHINGTON (UPD-Alcohol as a mntor rn.-~ additive C'lln cut gasoline consumption 1 or 2 perceni in 1be coming decade without caus ing economic side effeas like higher food prices, a con~onal study concluded yesterday. A technical memorandum on gasohol prepared by Congress-' Office of Technology AssesSment also said alcohol can yield an energy saving if used to boost the energy content of low-octane gasoline to premium levels. But Tom Bull. who directS the project that prepared the memo. said gasoline with alcohol co~ld not_ compete with-normal gasoitne without subsidies and tax breaks until gas sells for Sl.10 to Sl.60 per gallon. The memo contradicts the view of gasohol-critics that 'large-scale alcohol production might drive up prices of key food grains from which it is distilled. r it's done at levels above l to 2 billion gallons a year, it could begin competing_ with food crops," sai~ BulL .. Up to that level, there s enough market substitution that there wouldn't be any problem." G~hol is a blend ot: one part alcohol tonine partS gasoline. Bull's memorandum said there is no technicai problem with produc tion of 1 billion to 2 billion gallons of ethanol, or grain alcohol. per year-a level that would yield 10 to 20 billion gallons of gasohol. The nation s motoristS annually consume l IO billion to 115 billion gallons of normal gasoline of all types. In another development.. Marilyn Herman, who headed the Energy Oepanment's Alcohol Fuels _Policy Review. was named deputy director of the National Alcohol Fue!s Com mission. The commission is headed by Sen. Birch Bayh, 0-lnd.. who has spon sored a bill :o cut governmental red tape that hinders licensing of new aicohol distilleries. Oakland Tribune Oct. 11, 1979 Advantages r of gasohol qu~~tioned A..iw1l..1. r Washington-A new congressional study says gasohol can reduce overall gasoline consumption if distilleries mak ing tbe alcohol are fueled by coal or solar energy. But the study issued by the congres sional Office of Tec!n1ology Assessmw generally discounts claims by some gaso:'101 backers that using the alcohol-gasoline fuel blend will improve mileage and reduce pollution from vehicle emissions. It said gasohol, which contains less ; energy than gasoline. can be expected to do no better than maintain vehicle mile age and in some cases reduce it slightly. Gasohol wi~ limit vehicle pollution only when used tn selected geographic locations, it said. The report, part of a larger study to completed in January on energy from biomass p~ocesses, also raised questions about possible adverse economic conse quences if feed grains such as corn are used as the primary source of alcohol for gasohol production. By ~g or solar enet"gy to fuel alcohol distilleries and taking advantage of the octane boosting properties of al cohol. the study said nearly one gallon of gasoline can. be saved for every 10 gallons of gasohol, a blend of 90 percent gasoline and 10 er-cent alcohol. But, it said that produ~..ion of alcoilol for gasohol beyond two billion gallons a year using corn as the source "could lead to strong inflationary trenas in food." ---
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,., ., ".J I.!.,;: :..rs il.1.UUU:s !ll,.\";u.."t:r DES :ViOINES. !OW.~ OCT 11 1979 4P\ BEDELL HAILS U..S~ lEPORT 1 .-\ ON GASOHOL ... ". --'BJGEORGE~'l -:'.-_,; :,,:-:.: : Otflllt .............. t----.J W ASBJNG'l'ON, O.C. The Umaid 1 Statel CID d1ldJ1 eaoqi aJcollal ta 1 p!'.OdaCe up to blllioa piloal of psolloleadl-JW"wWtoutmpiftcant-: ly raisin& tile price of food. acconllDI to a report by tJae coagressiollai Office of Tecbnnloa ~ffllmmzt (OTA). -.. ~ : Tbe.repx't states that psobOl :..:.-. miXtm'e of ODIi etbaDal (p-aul : alc:ollol)' and Dille parts guollll~ COll1d cut U.S. plOIIDe eamampdoa by up 'ta 2 percent dl1riDI tb.e .nut decade. :, Aud if tb.e aatiOa Is wi1lkll to mt some ec:aaamic and : setbam. the OTA said. it coald proctuce ap to 100 blllloll p1Joat of psollo1 (111 blllkln pllcmof alcabol) a year, eaougii to displace 10 percent of tJds coumry's psollDe comump-tion. <-. : Produedoll EDera The report further states tut alc:ohoI pracmctioD. even tb.ougll it reqmres the use of energy, actually provides more energy tban it cocsumes unc1er most moc1ma distilI ler, metbodL 1 A.ad if ctistilleri 1lti1b:e coal, .solar j headnC or biOmaS&aafael rather tuD:! aa&val pa or oil. tbe OTA said, the ; energy sa'liDp from alcohol prod~ ticm would be even crater. Tlle OTA report wu hailed Wedlaesday by_ Representative Berkley Bedell (Dem.. Ia.), cllifl spomor of a Hoale bill 1t'bicll would set upa comp:: miJ-e federal program to booSt guabol producttaa. "It clearly iDdlcates tb.a& tb.e neptive energy ba1aace arpmems made by our critics are falle." Bedell said. "It says psohol womd be competitive with psolme as soon as gasoUDe costs tile dealer about 70 cents a ~s bill has received nearly appronl by tb.e House Aczic:rutm'e Committee ud ts headed for debate br the fllll Bouae. A similar bill-by Senate Ap1culture Committee Chairma.a Herma.a Talmadge-of Georgia baa bea mmi moaslr approved by tbat pane! and '. SOOD wiJl be considered. by tbe full. 'Senate. _flwOTA said U.S. etJwioi capacity will ranae from .a million to 90 miD1aa pil01p a year by the end of : 1980, eaoqb to-produce up to 900 : millloa pllona of psoao), comJl,U'8d witll tile c:mnnt 150 million to 200 : millRIIIP.llOm'of_psolaol. I Tbe. coagreaioa&I unit said llP to z ; : biWoa -plloas of etilanol caa be ; produced eadl year qctlimc sa ; feed stoc:a u food,,ptoceslm& wastes : uchpailed gniD. New Crop Laad : ae,oad tlais level. however, new :_ land WOllld have to be brought into to .. prcmde the" graiD I neeessar, for COllftl'iioa into alcobol. The afA said W. "coald lead. ta straac imlatlaaarJ trends in food and feed-markets, wbidl wauld be a sab-stutial indirect cmt of etbaDol pro-cbactiOD." .. -T!le---~ that there is ~--:.......~pcs-sihUity lleavy alcohol ~IIK."WVU if 1t attUz111 aram aa fieedstocs -'tile poesibillt,of CODfllcts bHftell_ food and eaeray uses of croplaDd. ~--If tile demaml for alcollol lDc:reuesbeyoad tbe supply of feedstoc:is, the NpOrt staiesJ .. compeUtton between eaerv and' food. uses of land coakl .result in. rapidly nsinl food pries :'J ~r, more rapidly rising, The ~also .notes that wbilefarm orplliJ.aUOm have supported guolsol development i.a hope that iaenased demaad for con would raise pric:ts, "historic: uperie.aee ladlcates tut rising land prices would ablorb mucm o1 the profiL" Thia woald benefit laadowners but would 1uut farmers no reat tb.eir land or wllo want to apand their op-eraUoas. It would especially damagetl:le .. ability of young farmers to get started. ,' .. Problems Noted .,__ : The OTA said farmers themselves couJd produce alcofloll OD tbe.ir farms for their own use. There are some r problems, however. I The report states. that a soo..cre. farm produciDg so,ooo bushels or-more of corn eadl year could allocate 1.000 bllllle!I to alcohol ~on. and ext)eet to distill some 2,500 plloas of edlaaoJ. to be used as a fuel pUoa. wbicll is wi:lere w are rigbt : substitutein retrofitted diesel eqioes. Sacll 011-farm produc:tiou probably couid be accornplisbed at a cost of about $1 a gallon plus labor, i tile report mtm. But the alcohol aow." t ftU!d have to be moist1u'e-lree. I wilt~ requires use of cflemtcals HA al ceroa ...... tenla&ive metbods ~I are only 110~ _bei.ag ~. on-farm production would require-_ development of small, reJa~V:11 ~easive distilleries, the !es to~ ID ordeS' f~ sucfl disdller-most efflcieat, they would have_ to be poweied by the su or -lllarmqot cro, residues. .. r ::EW YCRl<, N. Y. OCT 11 1979 ~.u., \Energy Saving ... --Is Expected F,r"Q~~-iGasohol "'((JI --, t1tritwd Press lntemattcmaf WASHING TON TheUnited States could distill as mucll as 2 billion galloas of alcoiloi a year as a gasoline additive without driving up the prices of food crops, tbe Jlf:_ fice of Technology Assessment, concliided Wednesdav. Tbe con~essioaal agency, ia a tec:Jmica1 memorandum on psoilol. also. said the aia,. hol would yield an energy savtng if it were used to boost the energy content of low octane gasoline to premium leveJs. But the memorandum said. ~l would not be competi tive as an octanebooster without government subsidies ta_% breaks until gasoline 15 selling for $1.10 to $1.60 a gallon. The memorandum fuels the current debate over syndletic fuels because it shows gasohol -a blend of one part alcohol to nine parts gasoUne could reduce gasoline consumption 1 to 2 percent in the coming decade Without adverse economic spmoffs. I Critics of gasoltol have warned that large-scale production of etbanoi might drive up tlle prices of key food grams from which it is distilled. u it's done at levels above l '~on t to 2 billion gallons a Yl:81' it could begin competing with food crops. satd Tom Bull. whose office prepared. tile memorandum. "Gp to that levef. Ulere's enough market s11bstitution that t!lere wouldJft be any problem.
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The Nashville Tennessean Oct. 3, 1979 35-80 Million Gallons Gas \, .. Gasohol U~e Savhigs Noted By JACK SDUCA due to such r actors as a. possible drop in the. Tew111 w......_... ....... amount of land available Cor energycrops. WASHINGTON The widespread use of "gasohors practical potential will undoubtedly gdobotcould save 3S million to 80 million gallons be considerably less than that \\hich is physiof gasoline year by the end of the next cally possible: the report added. decade, aco,rding to a newly-released congres-The report also concluded that: siona!-study. -t:'se of the fuel.also could accomplish majQr The current-federatsubsidyisadequate savinp in natural gas. the study says, but that (although barely so in some cases> to allow optimistic: prediction depends on the developgasohol to compete. \\ith gasoline at current men& of '"idear production methods. including ethanol production costs and gasoline prices. running large distilleries with solar_ or coal power. .. \Vith "slightly more sophisticated equip. ment.Canners could produce ethanol economTHE STl1>Y. conducted by the congressionai icaJly. However, the cost of ethanol presently is .Qffld o{ Tecbnol41G..Assessment. stresses that at least twice the cost of the diesel uel it wou!d such mtpred.ictable factors as feedstock supply. ~la~. ~. __ ... I~ a\"ai~bility and developme~t of less expen Putting "millions of additional acres into s1,e gasoline octane booste~ \\ill hav: a large alcohol fuels production would cause a "sub effect on the success or allure of an! alcohol stantial*" increase in soil loss and pesticide and fuels pf!>gram. fertilizer use. Howe.,er. the use of perennial But. if all goes well. the use of gasohol grasses. for example. would decrease erosion e\"entually coufd save a gallon of gasofine for damage considerably. e\err 10 gallons of the alcohol ruel produced. OT .c\. which is headed by Dr-. John H. Gibbons. rr the demand for gasohol rises gradually former director of the Universit:; of Tennessee and does not increase beyond the supply oi En,ironmental Center. was cautiously optimisfeedstocks. ''the overaU social a!Jd economic tic in.assessing the potential of gasohol as an aid impacts of fuel ethanol production could be in reducing gasoline consumption si~icanttr.. strong!) positive. However, competition beWhile domestic: gasohol production will be limittween energy and food uses of land cause food ed during the next five years by the !ack of new and-land prices to rise rapidlr. distilleries. the alcohol Cuel could become price~ competiti\e with gasoline shortly, the study saia -, ---nm LONGER tenn !uture 0 gasohol is.still less assured." the report said. pointing out that future production costs are unpredictable at best. dtie to uncertainties in farm commodityprices and feedstock availabilit) .. Forthose reasons .. said the report, "both the lem of r uet. ethanol production that will be achieved and thalong-term stability of price and demand are highly uncertain."' Gasohot is a mixture of one part ethano~ Ccommonty called "grain alcohol") and nine parts unleaded gasoli~ The ethanol can be. produced currently from several types of plant material. and in most. cases can be substituted ror gasoline with only minor changes in mileage and performance. OTA said. -. THE-USE OF gasohol now be1ng produced in en~-e!Cicient. natural P.5-powered distilleries saves about one-third of a gallon or gasoline and natural gas energy or every 10 pilons o{ the alcohol fuel made. If distilleries were fueled with coal or solar energy. the use oi gasohol could save nearly three times that much. The report says that in the 1980s there will be the "physical though not necessarily econom ic possibility of producing ii\e to 10 billion gallons of ethanol per vear. largely !rom morecrops devoted to ethanol production-. However. OCT 11 1979 i::.,4 Gasohol no cure A new congressional study says gasohol can reduce overall gasoline con sumptlon If dfstflleries making the al cohol are fueled by coal or solar energy. But the study issued by the congres-sional Offf~m-~J0i: A,sses~nt generally discounts claims by some ~sohol backers that using the alcoho1-.,,..,..llne fuel blend will improve mile. --.. I I age and reduce pollution from ;emc.e : emissions. )
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N"ebraska Farmer Nov. 17, 1979 LARGE-SCALE. consnJtOUS production of Gasohol from grain would be a mistake. Authors of a recent fuel study ;e11j!..~ Congree,s, the 9loa ~-ment. or OT A. came to this -general conclusion, which is shared by Ag Secretary Bob Bergland. Both Bergland and the OT A, however, support the idea of~ ing non-food materials for Gasohol production in order to reduce oil imports and save en ergy. Be.rgl.and's Department, in line with the wishes of Con gress, is sponsoring num~rous experimental Gasohol proJects, including moderate use of grains to produce the fuel in plants of modest size. But the Secretary feels programs using grain on a grand scale could en danger the feed a1ld food supply. Sharply increased production of Gasohol from corn and other crops, said the OT A, could .. drive up the price of farm com modities and ultimately the price of food." The OTA, however, knocked down old arguments of the ma ior oil companies that largescale production of Gasohol -would use more energy than it ,roduces. Gasohol mileage is -JOUt the same, or ,twn; a bit than for gasoline, the OT A found. Alcohol additives, the agency concluded. raise the octane rating of lower grade mixes. What effect the congressional study will have on pending legislation is not yet clear. Law makers from farm areas are not likely to let the report deter them from strong support for more grain-based GasohoL Use of more grain is the big idea with them. OTA's report, however, could cause some city lawmakers to th.ink twice about how they vote on Gasohol ,,:i.. Eagle (Reading, Pa.) Oct. 12, 1979 tGasohol "I ... ~: The alcohol used in producing :; gasohol is ethanol, which is the product :: of distilling grain and crop residues. ~Primarily, corn is used in the process. ~. : With the knowledge that the production of gasohol is increasing :,sharply, many people are concerned 3 about the possibility that the price of ..: farm commodities, and ultimately the :; price offood, could be driven up higher :; and faster thazr the rise we are now : experiencing. ~: Therefore. we ha ;_1 the study ~; released by the Office of Technology .... -.. -Assessment in Washington which fi..-tds that gasoffo1 produced from coal is :: nearly competitive economically with 3 gasoline refined. from high priced oil. ..; The study shows that coal could be used '::: to produce about two billion gallons of gasohol annually without having any ..; significant impact on food prices Chemical and Engineering News Oct. 15, 1979 ~outlook forgasohol is mixed [, :;:~~~ ~f!!ce of_ I~~om: A~~~~!.1Lsays -~ _that 't ta.2 bdhon gal of ethane! per year, representing .,-_, about 2%,ofcurrent gasoline consumption, probably : can' be prcduced. without a significant impact on food and feed prices. However, it warns that significantly Jarg,!r production levels could lead to strong inflation .... art trends in food and feed. prices. It suggests, as an alternative-. producing ethanol from cellulosic-feed. stocks-, StJCttas crop residues and wood, which would have-little impact on fooct prices. On the energy side, OTA says that unless very efficient processes are used... fueling distilleries. with premium fuels like, natu. ralgas would result in a net increase in fuel usage. However, if coaland solar energy are used to fuel the dlstilferie~ the energy balance would be better. :: A-~~-~. -~
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.4 The Kidd asks: High Plains Journal (Dodge City, Kans.) Dec. 24, l979 .. -What1 s your gasohol IQ? with aew facilities. alcohol from grain wouJd have a clearly positive though small aet energy balaDce. evea if ail the fuels wsed for extz'aetioa were oil and gas. What's your ~ohol IQ? Panell: A food.fuel conflict is Informed Washington opwoa There bu been ao much Aid ud unlikely to develop in the 1980a. appears to come down oa the side writtea about the subject that The priaeipal reasoD for tm is of the Alcohol Fuels Policy reeeady Sea. Patrick Leahy, that littJe food value would be Re~ Panel. Democrat of Vermont. who lost if byproduct (of alcohol from !'la.tional Association of supports a1cohol fuela, remarked, grain} were reeovered for uae as Counties: Ray Nelson. county "The greatat eD8rg1 producing animal feed. The OTA reported commissioner of Republic factor would be if you took ail the that up to 2 billion gallons of County. Ka.as.. and chairman of paper the gasohol billa have been ethanol a year coaJd be produced NACO's rural affairs committee, printed on. and all the self. without a aigmficaat impact on is eDCOW"llging counties to set up aerriag presa reieues, a.ad rolled food aad feed prices. Beyond that stilla at their county fairs. them up aad barned them." lenl. OT A says increued en-.. People in rural aras, dependent Nfffflheless. we all lcDow a lot tbuol production would have an on gasoline tor farm machinery, more about alcohol fuel than inflationary impact. are taking a serious look at mmt of us knew a year ago at the Battelle Institute, in a report alcohol prouctioa,.. he said. begimuug of 1979. Fm:_~ple: .. We're hoping tha counties The feden.J of I I across the country will take the Technology Aisesamea, (OTA): lead in cutting our dependence 011 If an oil refinery produces a A UI.-L m n (. foreign oil and start looking in lower grade of gasoline to take ff~ U. their own back yards for other advantage of the octace boosting forms of energy." properties of ethanol. an ad- _________ ...,. Who WI tell-that bundle of ditioaaJ 36 gailons of gasoline switches old Santa leaves in my equivalent cu be saved in for the Americu Petroleum fireplace stocking every year refinery processing energy Institute. said alcohol from corn. may turn out to be more valuable The National Gasohol Comeven with aew technology, ban mission: Total retail outlets have showed a net energy loss. ,or met e production than ill -.. !rom abou" 500 m '.U'.-.... al"h h tha I f the sugar plums and other o_ .ruu-= oug en no rom sugar ood. I ail k f 1979.to2.000inOctober. cane and methanol from wood g lff usu yas or. The Department of Energy showed a poaitive energy gain. lfrom a report prepared by the However, the Alcohol Fuels Alcohol FuelsPolicy Review Policy Review Panel found that Sincerely, The Kapital Kidd .: ---I
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The New York Daily News Jan. 14, 1980 GasohOI program's top impact0-1r seen aS politi~I and to~ morale ------------------iuecessful as some believe, as giving the country a ly JIROMI CAHILi. needed morale boost, by demonstrating that something -,.... .._ can be done about our ener&Y problems, and relatively W -J\SHINGTON P'RESIDENT CARTER'S PLAN to push the nation to a "crash" 1isohol program that 'Ifill use .up the 5 million tons of IJ'ain. affected _by his So~iet trade embargo is Ukely to mau omy a tmy.contribution to the U.S. e!fon to lessen its dependence on foreign oil. .. .' Even il the White House 'goal ls achieved. of lncreqinl the nation!s output of-ethanol {crain alcohol) s.ixfold br the end of the 1981, the Enav Department estimates that onJy 30,000 barrels a day: of oil would be displaced. That Is less than l'lllz ot our oil imparts... Then how account for the eathusiasm: in tlie Oval soon: 'To me.. that is the biggest advantage of the program." says a Senate Energy committee staffer~-"ln two or three years, almost every section-of the country will see gasohol being sold. It should be a iOod psychological shot in the arm." __ The program is not without problems. The.-coneres sional.Office of Tech,nolou Asse:mnenr warns. t.b.at too heavy an allocation of the grain harvest to gasohol. over too short a period, could unleash inflationary pr~res Economics at largeOffice and in.Conanss for the idea at di-
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BENEFITS OF INCREASED USE OF CONTINUOUS CASTING BY THE U.S. STEEL INDUSTRY
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P l'f'l'SBUltGII PRESf,i NOV.. 20, 19 79 : 1W~at1s Ailing.Steel? Take ALook. ;',.... r WILLIA~ilf. 1 lldll-weulll lltcao .. the Eilmbin\ l"rcu 81iaeq Editor GtWaf forclp laeu b matter of pliJ I bluer rele II fotelp fiuncln& 1 1 Tlie patieJl& J:;n't Qil OQ bis hack yet, llmVaf or A.mtntH aletl D:illl C,Uit. ~-lf Woui4 erovldC IQO,C MIMlil tiut Uie doctor lllrcady Ian a stet~ HppUera eu,,c ere 111 for domeatlc ~en; He II e&~lp-.. Wltlloul cllan&ca la ta1 policy, dlla ,u:~~t c~, _114 1a cbecklaa :, ::i.T..=~1:;~~!:i.i:! ~t~':':e~~,t~Ul biw:. =~t ,. ., 1ud~~e11t ~on't nb 1llin1 fellow of COllflle, is the ~--i r a~ ,,a,.cl!'f f Wcaa Ualtc he. He i,ald llc Stnatc ',,-~=r-~te tC 'I'll~ an two -.aya II lllcb lite do' ~tic J~llnclllifll which WaJ Ulo ,. t ~,lt4: ':. ', ~~Ulloa levclaaOo op Cl --. l' nicsUc lnd=nec4s lo mod~rnlu lo 1 Jci:tof alaurlng~ndudedy~erdaytiy., =Hla~I ally, our ~mpllny 1w ll Howie will follow auit'ia die confcrcacJ r remain~ vc in werlimar~cu, :, tu Senate banking 1111bcompalt"e GI lo &nlflcant ~rt of its output to now under way. f Dr. Joel s. ora of Ille Omgm,-: tcrnaUout fill.ii act at the f cdual Build world .atI Industries, and l many l .... 11 11 ~: llonal Olffct of TccknolelY ~ent -' IDs.. .. l kuch c,~ hive ~ fl' -*1._ -try I tothmp Of f uld. nen.rt1;cl6~~J1&ncrdt. After Sea. Jotin Hein:c, Rr a:, who j,ro-. pa need by the l!:xjlOrUm~rt ~nk. I .Al t r. mIU~I im"'Cltlt, ,, ... Ei1m-- 1 [" tcdlidi"' ~ad\W. . li4cd, h.i.t laeard U:iUmoay br::oveni -. a rtsult, lnduslt'y 11111 clcpcndt4 upon:; ~. foretp ctaa&er,w le ,rovlde CoDUauous c.utlnJ ij a ar to ,nakc meot and Jadutry offlcia a, lberc \ Pae flaanclAa of steel plaqt J t f.: ~.._,, ~-'!!4er..a~ { steel that ltyJ ,cveral litcps, au~h I 11Ccmed IIUle doubt tltaf Ille' U$t&)'a 1 ,v.._q. .for If!! ,urvival." I ;. ..... ~ .. es ,a~~ .... ., '"', 'I\." u lna~ma ,114 ,tab-rollJn& It : ~t la lo Jeopardy. t 1. lfowcvcr, there Jetffll lltll!I dQUbt t11a, 1 :1 accompllslit~ ~>' Seaatc Coac11re,1 ftta j!~. t,oosta prodUfyll ty 1114 ~vea enera. .. : : i, 11~ flnns don't aettbe busln= It will. } 1 11 .. H wUc:Ji w,ulh"h 1-11 11 '. Dlrect ~c:Uon 111 method for coe-. ntre er~ """'1,., ~ ~ I 10 to forclsn competllora aod mills Ill UN rcc1>t~ ,., .. 6 0rJ1111181 ': ertta iron otc.., peUcta whl~ .... usc4 i ,,-11c1t a,ollclel, ~ch &al replatloq. 1 lie liullt' abroa4 anyway. :. ,\1.1' for Ectaomk CooNJatl~ ., .. 11,vclo,-' '' 't teel 'Thia ~tea cot, 1 .... ~nrc ltavchacat aew IUIH,., J. ~Id J:. sun,el; 1 director oi abe ( ,'9t1I St_ccl Cealllllillec.. ,. : '. [' \ tQ .,na.:. WNt.( cc,. ll longtlr as profil.ible. WhU4 ~,tpmcaJ evclo,c ,ie coHIJY la portln1 b vllal other patk>as. .~ in tlle U.S. ls qntlnuously wt, le aald1 ,, : Imports, up to thlll point. av11 oome l ualllj avalla"t ,Herd for ale Ce As for cllar1es tllat tbe d1;1mesllc .a~I I compared ., .. 60 pe...:cat 1;1 Jipaa ana ,, .~ miiillly If~ Jo1p.an, Third Woi:ld nations I all Jlkc"-!' industry la11 ln ledmology, U.S. Steel l it JIC"*l ii t)lro,.. ; : : ;~ ; ~re c111erg1111 as a thre.it. : ,-t, I eiccuUvuald lhat'ulmply notlruc. Al Domestic capabntty abouW be in~ '. ,' 1'be question: Sho11ld American hl*Y 'J .. He:lha1ho *::'I':. advaraacs "'rt A. Monnett Jr,. Vial president and 'er~ to $0 ~rccot lly 1998, addedl 'l i and technology be used to financt COIi -! ca Y 11 c P uccr n one is:llslant to tbt chairman. said U.S. steel but Aid "eve, thou&h Ult ln4~t,y c:ollla :, : : ftructlon of new lorelsn mllb 1bit iOM$-,-.~ mlpt Lave over one In another firms the mosl ploder-. teclmol rea COlllli4trablc ~ao1111c ~wards by ;i :' clay m9 dump (11ell below c~l) Jteel lq j' lnl&ht accrue from_ havln1 a plant of per ~fl but. can't afford lo .Install it. \ a~sthb teckllolop it lack$ alllfl 11 t ttie U.rt_. at U1e f.Xpcnsc ii, ~t;itlc llap, peatir ,ize an ll &ood locatioe1. 08 .. Unfair lrado practlca" and "anti-' clent capital lo do wlUa cdathlg prof i ~eclmaken? ., .. ( wratcr, ~-r~lve '~'!. ma~rlals nd 4ualcd depreclation' provblou of U.S. lta nd 1ovcrf111Wll ~ 1114 lmfO"l ,_ 1 ~ore ~asaly ,,Ip finlshed product. : las l11w'.' are two real problems for the Ud ." I I Nicbard P. Simmons, president of Al, f' Any way, Uio Ealmbank ha:. Played-lodustry Ile added po es ., .. ,-~ c1b~ny Ludlum Steel Corp., an Alie. only a miall role In flnanclnc forelen c. W!I I v :'. gheny Ludlum JndU:1ttl~ si,Lsldlary, } mllb, SUn&el said, notine that the bank l I am cr_lty_ Jr., fllalnlltn 11 said: li.u "participated In all or part of about t Inc., Wlifled. "We arc p;trtlcularly concemccf wit 1 pcrccn~ of the over ,oo mllllon lOllli of Frukly, Ike i!lctl la4a4f face ocw :ipcclalty 11tcel capacity recently in-! ldcnlilaablc slccl CIJ>inslons oubide tht tecboloaleal pro~lcD1s._ As u example, lililkd IA Finland Brazil Meiico s In United lit.Ila since tsi:., and has p~ II 111 far kkll4 lb atecl liululrld of Kore.i llDd now to' be lrn1t~lled in hf.:aa vlded about fU bill!
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Sentinel (Lewistown, Pa.) ~ov. 21, 1979 Expert: U. S. steelmakers must i~pr9ve technolo_gy PITTSBURGH (UPI} -problem faced by the A government expert domestic steel industry says the United States was the-"cutrate and must greatly improve it.s cutthroat credit terms" steelmaldng technology made by foreign com to remain competitive in petitors. the world market. Heinz said a major Dr. JoeJ S. Hirschhorn question was "whether of the Congressional the domestic steel inOffl~e ... 9f __ Technology dustry can dramatically Assessment told a U.S. increase its trade Senate subcommittee competitiveness by hearing that. American adopting new steehna.kers lag behind technologies." foreign producers in Hirschhorn testified continuous steel casting domestic producers and direct-reduction iron continually cast only 14 making. percent of their steel. Hirschhorn testified at compared with so per a Pittsburgh hearing of a cent by the Japanese and Senate banking sub29 percent by the committee on inEuropeans. ternational finance. The Continuous casting is a hearing was held to modern way of making exp.lore steel production steel and bypasses and exports. several steps, such as the Sen. John Heinz, R-Pa., use of a slab mill or who conducted the blooming mill. It inhearing, said one creases productivity a_nd Article also appeared in: Globe Times (Bethlehem, Pa.) News (Danville, Pa.) News (Lebanon, Pa.) Sentinel (Carlisle, Pa.) saves energy. Hirschhorn also said American steelmakers need to develop the technology for directreduction iron making, a process for preparing lI'Oll ore for steeimaking that eliminates the need to build blast furnaces and coke ovens. Hirschhorn said one reason domestic producers have not moved Caster on directreduction methods is that they have a big in vestment in the coke oven-blast furnace technology.
PAGE 61
American Metal Market Oct. 23, 1m--/7eprec~a~1!!eform Bill N~~!_~-w!~i~!~~T! .. .-f WASHINGTON-An acceleratian in depreciatioa scbedu.les could for a tax-cutting measure of any sort. Unless the committee can find beJp the domestic steel industry become more competitive in ita eon-ways to shift that tax burden to another ecmomic sector, the Jones. t1nuous ca.stin& capability, but Congress should comiderfine.tumng any Conable am would create a shortage of federal funds. Furthermore, -sacb tu reform,. tbe Qfflce rt TectmaJau 4: ssessrnent {arA> said in its Leonard indicated the Congresaional calendar was too crowded to allow recent study of ccntinwlas casting (AMM. Oct.$). imJrwilate i:oasiderai:ion of the accelerated depreciation bill In nodac that the Cai,ital Cost Recovety Act of 1979 wbicb woaki sherZzcept for its reference to the Jones-Ccoable am. the Ort re-ten depredation schedules, c:ou1d aid tbe steel Industry !n railing capi-fraiDS from~ discussion of how the steel indmtry could step up its tal for investments. ClrA cautioned that under the bill. proposed by me of continuous casting. Reps. James Jones (D Okla.) and Barber E. Conable Jr. (0.,. N. Y.), Ort said. stantial price increases or providing economic assistance through such "R.R. 4846 would not alter the reJatiff positions of a1temat1ve capital measures as the acceleration in depreciation schedules," OTA said. projects for both steel and ncmtaei pnjects of the mostly diversified Commaoaa Caating steel companies," OTA noted. The report noted that domestic companies could increase their conti "Since the diversification out of st.eel. coammes to be a seriou., lssue nuous casting use through replacement of existing facilities. citing a this is a significant problem and points to the need for Congress goal that 50 percent of steel should be continuowdy cast by 1990. weight the bellefita of more technology-specific federal assistance for Pointing to 1979 as a ''peak year" for tbe steel industry, the report the steel industry," OTA said. cautions, "If sufficient modernization oi the steel industry does not take Currently, the steel industry is strongly lobbying for passage of the-place during the next decade, then by the next surge in steel demand in Joaes-Conahle measure, but Joel Blnchorn. who is directing the OTA the late 1980s the industry will be severely lacking in competitive study, indicated last week that several~ are aware of the capacity." Daill limitation. The report cited a lack of capital and a preference by the industry to Qma~ Dented ,. invest in other projects as nro main reasons for the lag in continuous According to Robert Leonard, a member of the House Wttys and casting in the ~.S.. .. Means Comtr1IUN tax staff. t!lere are sr,eral procedu.ra1 reasons wily If the 1980s coincides with a worldwide shortage of steel capacity and tbeJones-C4nableBillwillnotpasaatanupedientpaee. Jligh world demand, tbe U.S. "cowd be especially vulnerable to high--.. .. .. priced and scarce steel imports," OTA noted. The-adoption of continuous casting by the domestic steel industry could result in a rate of return aver 20 percent, the OTA said, noted its 3 as1essmMts have not "revealed an option that can match the scope of : the proven technical and economic benefits which continuous casting can readily provide to most of. the domestic steel industry during the next decade." OTA said ii the U.S. industry adopted a 50 percent continuous casting level.by 1990, the domestic steelmaking yield could be increased to 7i percent, from a 1979 level of 71.5 percmt. Further, the report said continuous casting is an economical way to I increase steelmaldng capacity of existing plants in the U.S. In liating other benefits of continuous casting for the domestic ind.ustry, the research agency pointed out that the process could result in increased labor productivity, improved quality of steel, reduced pollu-t,;< Uoa, and reduced capital costs. ;~ AppeadlxtoReport In an appendix to the report, OTA noted that an increase in continuous --., casting would result in an increase in scrap use. Continuous casting results in an incnued yield, leading to a decrease in home scrao which must be replaced by purchased scrap to retain the scrap-to.molten ra tios used in steeJmaking. For example, in 1978, scrap utilization could have been increased from 32 percent to 36 percent if the continuous casting rate had been 50 percent, OTA said. One problem with this greater utilization is the in troduction of more alloying and impurity elements which "can make :1lmiu~n of _some steels more costly or even impossible," OTA Tb& report n~ this problem could be as much the result of Energy Oepartmeat reqwrements for scrap consumption as oi increased use of C0DtinUOUS casting. ClrA. a research arm of Congress, circulated the report on Caoitol Hill pnor to i~ formal release. It is part of a more general overview oi the U.S. steel industry which the agency is expting to release in Jan-! uary 1980. .-. 1
PAGE 62
Age Nov S, l9i9 Report predicts gains with continuous casting The steel industry could inc:rease capacity 5.9 million tons by going to 50 pct continuous casting. This is one conclusion of a recent study by the Coqreuional Office of Technology Assessment. The study aauined yield increases of at least 10 pct in goiDg from ingot practice to CODtinUOIJS casting. Applying this to pct of 1978 capacity, the Congress1onal group came up with an in c:reue of nearly 6 million tons. The study noted that 50 pct of Ja pan's steel was continuously cast in 19'18. The European percentage was 29 pct, while U.S. producers used con tinuoas casting for only 14 pct of theirsteeL It was also noted that Japan's yield from raw steel to (mished steel was Oftl' 89 pct while the comparable U.S. f"igure was n.5 pct. Cited as exceptions to the general pattern were McLouth Steel Corp.. which contin-11ously casts all its steel; National Steel Corp.. which is equipping itself for 40 pct continuous casting; and CF&I Steel Corp .. which has annOW1ced plans for 100 pct continuous casting. The study argued that 50 pct continous casting was necessary "to achieve even minimum com petitiveness on the international mar ket." An investment return of more than 20 pct was considered likely. The energy saving was placed at 3 million Btu per ton cast. The labor saving was estimated at 10 to 15 pct. The study noted that 31.4 million tons of steel scrap were purchased in 19'18. With 50 pct continuous casting. it was estimated that 37.8 million tons of scrap wouid be needed to ship 103 million tons. ~; :-"'-~ ... -:=!-r-;= ~-,,:;:.-; ..... The U.S. iava behind otner nations ,n tne UM of con1inuous casung. Moat of this ia well known to domes tic steel companies. The extremely high yields attnl>uted to Ja pan's industry have been questioned, but it is acknowledged that continuous cuting does bring a significant increase in useable steel. The value of the enerv saved with continuous casting is increasing almost daily. Nevertheless, said the Congression al study, "the domestic steel industry has resisted using its limited amount of discretionary capital for investments in continuous casting." The study group gave various e.,:planations for this resistance. Envi ronmental projects were t.aking large sums; worn-out equipment had to be repaired or replaced and diversification was subtracting capital However, the study also said tlie casting lag was due to the fact that steel companies found other kinds of modernization more attractive. Cited in this connection were "short-range capital projects with payback periods of one to two years." Continued replacement of openhearths with oxygen vessels was another alternative. The Congressional report doesn't give examples of projects with fast paybacks but they do exist. J11St by running a pipe from a blast furnace to a boiler room, one mill ia now us ing gas that was being flared off. There are hundreds oi such small projects, says a steel engineer. On the other hand, continuous cast ing for a tonnage mill is a major project. A big caster will cost $60 an annual ton or $60 million for a 1-mil lion-ton installation. With a saving of $30 to $50 a ton, the caster can be jus tified. even on a replacement basis but the return ia not e.,:cellent. Ii a plant has been making mostly rim med steel, the yield improvement is fairly small There is not enough capital avail able for discretionary spending for steel companies to get excited about returns that are less than e.,:cellent. Just to stay in business, steel mills must rebuild blast furnaces and coke ovens. They must install emissions controls. The non-discretionary spending is probably greater than the Congressional report su~tS. Most important of all, steel com panies have been in a no-growth. no win situation. There has been no occasion to increase c:1pacity since 1960. ~othing happens very fast without growth. Without profits, the progress becomes even more difficult. The Congressional study takes note of the steei industry's low earnings.
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TECHNOLOGY AND EAST-WEST TRADE
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nFC 7197$ -Carl T. Rowan Technology to USSR? WASHINGTON -Are the Western nations digging their own graves by transferring to the Soviet Union and other Communist countries our advanced teclmologies? The Office of Technology wnsroeut (OTA) of the U.S. Congress sa)--s Western technology obtained through civil iaJl trade deiinltely has contributed to modification occurred when the equipment of the Kama Rivet" truck plant was altered to produce military vehicles" vehicles which., today, may be hauling Cuban troops around AfriC3. The report points out tbat even when the _West provides turnkey p1a.'1ts for Soviet military sttength. This repon also offers evidence tbat Western tech IIIIIIIIIIIUIIIUIUIUIUIIUIIIIIIIAIIIUHIIIDllfflffllU nology bas contributed to Soviet eco-nomic: strength. enabling Russia to buy even more technology and perbaps to fioanc:,e f~ign and other military vemures for which hard cmnncies are needed. OTA investigators assume tbat Western conaibutiOns to Soviet military strenctll have been "small." but admit they really do not know. "In the case of U.S. trade with the Soviet Union, it can be argued that any accretion in Soviet military capacity weighs apimt the United States in an overall worldwide balance of power," the report says. "Whether the political nr economic benefits of trade with the U.S.S.R. offset the military costs is a matter of judcment." Here are some examples of actual or probable Soviet. usages of Western technologr, Preeision-grinding machines sold to While the Russians-are suspected 0 fanning an.ti-U.S. feeling in Iran, Lihya and other nations whose oil is vital to the economic and military security of the West, the Soviets are seeking sophisticated seismic oil prospecting and drilling equipment from the, Wast. the Soviet Union in 1912 allege1ily made it possible for Rimia to produce IIIIIUIIUIIIIIIUIIIIIIIRIU1IIUIIIIRll1lUUIIUffl the precision ball bearings needed for the guidance system in the Soviets' multiple independently target.able re entry in 1978l would menn a return to the worst aspects of the Cold War. The OTA report says tbat the United States alone cannot halt the transfer of tech nology to the Communist bloc because for economic and other reasons. Japan. \Vest Germanv, France and Great Britain want to continue the sale of technology. OTA points out that the United States leads in a number of technologies ot critical militar:: significance and thus may have a special responsibility to ensure their safekeeping. But the Western alliance mav be in such disarray that tll~ United States is ht!lpless to halt what some see as the peaceful handing over of economic and military superiority to our enemies. (0 ffl. Flld lnt"1 .. sl
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Carl T. Rowan article also appeared in: The Washington Star Dayton Daily News Leader and Press (Springfield, MO.) Globe (Dodge City, Kans.) Journal (Coffeyville, Kans.) Sun (Gainesville, Fla.) The Blade (Toledo, Ohio) Fort Worth Star-Telegram Courier E."t?ress {Buffalo, NY) The Kansas City Times (Kansas City, MO.) Evening News (Paterson, J.J.) Herald (Sharon, PA) Weekender (Danville, VA) Syracuse Herald Journal Journal (Stevens Point, Wis.) Peninsula Herald (Monterey, Calif.) The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Gazette (Texarkana, Texas) The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kans.) Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Nebr.) Youngstown Vindicator (Ohio) Newark Star-Ledger Savannah Evening Press (Ga.) The Shreveport Times (Shreveport, LA.) The South Bend Tribune (Ind.) The Pittsburgh Press Chicago Sun-Times Spokane Daily Chronicle (Wash.) Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Ark.) Oak Ridger (Tenn.) Press-Courier (Oxnard, Calif.)
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I. --lfl]lj1il!(11'1il:lflfl:t}11!fJl!!i(~lalli!fJrJ~i !.i I IJ~eal1!1!11l1(j[lsi 1i'JJ';: il~ltr(-2d -iltif:!lf~il !f11ti1 :! : tlllli!lli la lisla~~~1B1sll1 Al I. atl1ali. ~. ti ID :,: Ul i rt 8 (A rt .. 0 ID n e. ID 11 N L.> .. ,.... \0 -.i
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Defense Space Business Daily Dec 20, 1979 V SAYH URGES TIGHTER CONTROL ON EXPORTS TO SOVIETS. Sen. Birch Bayh (D .. Ind.) has cal.led for the Admm1srrat1on to .rmpnse righter contra.ls on exports of military critical technology t~ tpe Soviet Union. He said his posmon is supported by the rer1ort last month by the Offlte of Technology Assessment vn Technology and East-West trade. "These assessments shou.l.d require rhe AdmJOJ!';trar,on to more rigorously review requests for export licenses on those goods whJ.ch can have a mtlirary application, he said. As an example of critical technoJogv he cired m1croeJ.euron1cs, where the U.S. lead has,/ been cur from 7-8 years m 19'76 ro 3-4 years today. I American Metal Market Dec. 5, 1979 Doubt Cure for Tech Sale Ills: OTA WASHINGTON Although the sale of technology to nonmarket countries can sometimes cause "negative effects such as the decreuing market shares for U.S. firms" at home and abroad, it is doubtful that the U.S. could "ameliorate these adverse economic ef fects" In most cases. Thia was one of several conchmoos reached by the Office of Teclmoloa -'reesznent in a sweeping review of East-West trade issues reCeased lat week to Cong:reia. OTA. while not spedficllly citing the steel industry, noted that equipment and technololgy uports In certain "import-sensitive industries" could hurt domestic producers. But the agency said it was anlikelytbat .. deregulation of technology tramfer can ameliorate these advene economic effects escept In a few cases where the U.S. com--p1etef:r controls the relevant technoh,gy."
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,iMlRICAN METAL llAllKET NEW VOfll(. N. V n. ts.eon DEC 3 1979 .:~U:.. _US Exports to Soviet's l{ama Truck~~Plari.t~ Under Fire Hy El.LEN HES\YICK agreements calling for civilian use only of the plant's military potential, It la unlikely tllat any unilateral acllon W ASIIING1'0N -U.S. exports to the Soviet Union's produ(1lon. Brady's testimony, apparently the center of of the United S\atei, could have prevented this or could Kama River truck plant came under fire pgain last an in-bowie feud, brought a denial last week from Stanley do so in the future." weeli, as Congress reviewed technology transfer In the Marcuss, acting assistant commerce secretary for InU.S. export controls, however, "do a good job of liglit of a new study of the ,!Jffice QDd Technology duslry and trade,' who told il Senate banking subpreventing the transfer of primarily military technologies As~!l:wne.ot. committee on International finance that the only to the communist world." --.Cama River was pushed to the fore by proponents of a restriction on the trucks was that they ~civilian-type TI1e report pointed out that almost any high technology crackdown on U.S. exports to communist nations who trucks, has some mlUtary use, and Western allies have no claim that the Soviets have used the plant built with Marcuss said Uiat lt was true that ".some Kama River compunction about exporta of such dual-use high Western technology to produce military vehicles. general-purpose trucks are being used by lhe Soviet technology. It also advised that "a conclusive deterTI1e investigation of the Kama River facility and export milllary." But he added, "There lit no evidence that they mlnatlon of the degree of military risk entailed in the sale licenses gr11nted for It, most of them during the period have been modified to meet military use specification, of these dual-use technologies is probably impossible." from 10'11 to 1075 when the complex was first being built, nor is U1ere any evidence tl1at Kiuna truck engines are On another level, the technology study noted U.S. trude wns revived earlier this year when Commerce Departbeing used to power Soviet combat vehicles.) with the East has been minor -f&.3-billlon in 1978, or 4.1 ment deputy director Lawrence Brady informed a House TI1e recently released 01'A assessment of "Tecliology percent of U.S. wol"ld trade. This is primarily because the Armed Service Commiltee that some Kama-River trucks and East-West Trade" concluded, In a 303-page volume Eastern Bloc bas not actively sought Western markets were being used by the Soviet military. that "although Western technology contained In civilian and consequently has little bard currency with which to Brady clalm~d th~ was In violation of exp11rt licensing products sold to the Soviet Union has contributed to Its bargain f~r Western products. J
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t I i'tOV 2 9 1979 Sale adds muscle w ASlmiGTON (UPD A COD gressional research group said Wednesday the sale of of Western teeilJloloa to the Soviet Union has added muscle to the Kremlin's mil itary might bot probably not much. The Congressional Office of T.aduwlQCI.~nt said the United States can do little '"to com.pJetely prevent the Soviet Union from acquiring civilian technology from the West that it can put to. military use ... .. Almost any. technology, even though its purpose and function is civilian, may have some military use and Western technology ot,.; tamed throufh civilian trade has made some contribution to Soviet military strength,.. the office re-~the report to House and Senate panels played down the military benefits of Western know-how to the Soviets. "That contn'bution has probably been small, although it is difficult to I determine with any preds:ion," it said.' Trade with the Communist world; the researchers said, .. plays a relatively small part in U .S-. for eign trade." It amounted to only 4.1 percent of America's worJd trade in 1978. The report by the Office of Technology Assessment an ad visory arm of Congress said East-West trade has .always been ~mic:ally more important !or Western Europe and_ Japan than for the United States. It said America's allies are in agreement that "Items of direet military relevance should be denied to communist nations ... But the report said the allies "do not appear to share concerns expressed in the United States over the political, military and strategic implications .. of selling civilian items that could be of_ military use. The report said the United States '"cannot unilaterally control the trade" in advanced technology despite America's lesding role in a number of areas of critical military signifieana!. "If it can play this role with intelligence and integrity, the United States may be able to initiate and maintain a strong and unified W enern bloc position on the trans fer of technology." it said; William ,Perry, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, said there i:s "no sub stantiated evidence" of the Soviet military using engines from a truck factory built partly through U.S. teehnology. NOV 2 9 1979 Russ held using West technology WASHINGTON (UPI) Toe Soviet Union uses some : Western technology for~ itary purposes, but there IS little the United States can do about it except halt the sale of ail technology to the Kremlin, a congressional group says. A Congressional Offl_ce of_ Technology Asssessment report -released yesterday played down. the military benefits of Western knowhow to the Soviets. "Tilat contribution has probably been small, al though it is difficult to determine With any precision," the report said. Toe United States can do little "to completely pre vent the Soviet Union from acqUiring civilian technology from the West that it can put to military use," the report said. ''Almost any technology, even though its purpose and function is civilian, may have some military use and Western technology obtained through ciVilian trade has made some con-. tribution to Soviet military strength," the office report ed. Meanwhile. the Penta gon's nead ot research and engineering told a Senate .. Banking subcommittee there is "no substantiated evidence" of the Soviet mil !tary using engines from a trucit factory built par..!y througn U.S. tec:molo~
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Spotlight (Washington. D.C.) Jan. 7, 1980 1U.S. Arms SOviets ; Dy Chatrlea Co.per Western technology obtaincrecision, the exrent or the contribution. Moreover, there is little the U ,S. alone cnn do to prevent the Soviet Union frorn ac<1ulring civilian technology from Wc:;tern nations that it can put to military Ulie. Those are but some of the conclusions reached in a report on trade between Western and communist-bloc nations. The OT A report, "Technology and lfast-West Trade:," was released at hearings by the Subcommittee on International Finance of the Senate Commiuee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. The report exammes and weighs the economic, political and military costs and "benefits" 10 the U.S. of trade with the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and Red China. It discusses current export controls and presents a range of policy options for Congress. The sale of so-called ~dual-use" teclmoloaies-lhose with both civilian and military applications-feeds the Red war machine. Commercial Interests in America and the Western World compete to market dual-use tedmology. I With Technology U.S. efforts to utllizecu11trola on trade to compel changes In Soviet foreign and domestic policy have shown little if any success, the report said. Similarly, hopes that trade could act as a moderatina influence on Soviet foreign policy and domestic politics have not been visibly fulfilled, although Soviet trade with the U.S. has grown substantially in recent years. Japan, West Germany, France and Oreat Britain consider the sale of dual teclmology to communist nations primarily an economic issue. not military. Oenerally they do not use export controls for ~'political" purposes. The report predicts if the United Stales :ightcns Its controls on military technology, Western-bloc "allies .. will :ncrease their sales. The report calls upon the U.S. to initiate and maintain strong and unified Western bloc controls on selling technologies to communist nations. The SPOTLIGHT has learned that :lectronic technologies exported in the ,;,ast to Japan have become of particular concern. Japan l1as buili upon that ~ase And is now capable of exporting to the Soviet Union the kind of inf ormalion upon which America's defense systems \ arc founded. I
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NOV 30 tQ7D 4,g,, CONGRESSIONAL STUDY se~oes TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER SMALL. A report by the Congressional Of t Iechno~ Assessment c_oncluded yesterday chat the contribution of Western technology co the So'et mtlica.ry-effort is believed co be small and that there is little that the United States can do to prevent that transfer. "Almost any technology. even though its purpose and function is civilian, may have some military use a.nd Western technology obtained through civilian trade has made some contribution to Soviet military strength -That contribution has probably been small. although it is difficult to determine with precision. The report said U. S. foreign trade to communist countries was only 4.l%ofthe nation's total world trade in 1978. 1 / _____ ..._. __ NO\/. 3 O 1979.
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The Journal of Commerce Jan. 15, 1980 iProlonged Effort Needed' Technology Embargo / Seen Hurting USSR Little .--bipMlldder Newstsaf'" WASHINGTON Presideat Carter's. embarp on exports of sophbticated fllectronie equipment to the SoHet Unioa will have more symbolic than practical value. according to government and lDdustry experts. nese officiaJs say it will talte a prolonged and wellenforced effort with the cooperation of American allles iD Europe and Japan to have any lasUng impact on tbe Soviet.s. However, allOtber aspect of tbe hip ~lo!D' _embargo_ tbe denial of sophisticated oil and gas drilllDg equipment to tbe Soviets could have a more immediat.e impact offi. cials believe. The Russians have acknowledged a gap be: tween their reserves .and their ability to make use: of tbem. : But govenunent and Indus. try sources predict electronic tedmotogy will continue to 7 drift into the Soviet Union as.1 long as the United States:; continues to permit expons to Eastern European nations_. within the Soviet sphere oL influence. -"It's virtUally impossible to ._ embargo ideas." says Ronnie:. ; Goldberg. project director for .:.' major study on tedmologyand trade that was recently published' by the congressionai-Office ot Technology Assess:~ ment. -.~ "If you're talking about hurting the Soviet economy," she added, "gram will have a much greater impact. High -technology has a symbolic : : value." Article also appeared in: Philadelphia Inquirer Miami Herald ~ionOf'dend .,~ ID bis response to the Soviet. mvasioa of Afghanistan Carter ordered the ~'!;of hitb technology trade With Russia. Broadly defined, tbese exports included computers electronics, oil and gas drilling equipment. chemicals' and_ automobile production. equipment. The value of these -ranged from $150 mil lion to SZ16 million between :. 1ffl and 1979, officiaJs said. :-. ID a mcwe. ~Y to carry-~:~ out the -presidential edict, Commerce Secretary Phillip. M. Klutzniclc suspended 800 : : ezi,ort licenses currently out~ -standing for-sales to the 5oviets of high tedmology, and some ll)Ods of strategic value. With a combined value of S2'1U million last year. An additional 450 lfcens~~~pplications are being held iit : _. limbo and Mr. KlutznicJc said. be had ~nied outright eight' -~r applications to ship such -items as computers andsemi-0 -co~ductor-manufacturing;: to the Soviets. All trade With the Soviets comes to a halt at-noon Sunday. : _'nils new get-toagn attitwtewdl make only a small dent in.. the overseas sales of the. -American electronic and compater industry. The American~Electronics Association sur:: veyed.328 firms and found-less--: than l percent of their total elQ)t'rts. which are valued at : S40 1>illlon a year, go to the< Soviet Union. In expJauung lliS action. Mr. Carter told a group of congressmen last Tuesday night.:. tbat the retaliatory efforts.,. would malte tile Soviets "suf-:-: fer the consequences" of their. .. invasion. :-... But in the case of computers~-: and electronics. the suffering -Will be more in the loss of lwwry items than in denial of necessities. Commerce Secretary Klutznick aclmowledged that the embargo on high technology-was not supposed to "punish-" .. : the Soviets. Instead. he said. __ the exports were cut off bei. cause ''it wouJd be unseemly to continue them in light of the Afghanistan situation. -~Although the Russians have':: been !mown to divert Ame~ can high technology to mill; tary uses. virtually no ontt,.. beiieves that a halt in U.S._. exports of these goods will'.: cripple the Soviet militat'Y. machine. : ...~ ..... "It's sure not going to make them leap out of Afghani : stan." the OTA's Ms. Gold.;.:. berg commented. -.. -:.. Indeed, :,ast experience un~., derscores the practical difficulties facing the administra. tion in attempting to make the embargo on high technology work. U.S. allies in Western Eu-. rope and Japan have been reluctant in the past to use exports as a tool of foreign policy, and their cooperation is vitally significant. Both West Germany and Japan ex port more machinery and equipment to the Russians than does the United States. 011 Pfpelfne An old but not forgotten -example of this problem was -the 1962 effort by the United' States to prevent the Soviets from completing an oil pipe line to Eastern Europe by--embargoing exports of largediameter steel pipe. The--NATO allies balked at the embargo, Russia found alternative sources of pipe. stepped.. -up its own production and completion of the line was -deiayed by oniy a year.
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PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN CllOP PROTECTION'
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Chemical Marketing Reporter Oct 29, 1979 4 -Pesticide Reduction Urged by Congress Study; A 75 Pct. Cut envisioned A Congressional study relelsed yesterday maintains that the use of inte grated pest management (IPM) pesti cides on major en,pa grown in the US could reduce the use of pesticides by up to 75 percent. The study says 1PM would also cut pre-' harTeSt-losses due to pests by 50 percent and siptftcandy decrease. total costs for pest controls. In its 1PM study the Congressional Of fice of Technology Assssment finds tliat tffltA pticbi!es appear "to lie the most promising cro11 proteetfon strategy for the next ftfteen years." And OTC says that the technolopcal and administrative, obstacles now impedfn1 the development and Im plementation ot IPM practices ''must be removed to achieve a mOl'e effective crop proteetfoa system in the. us... r Congress faces a choice between main taining the status quo, Including continued heavy reliance upon chemicals, the agency says, or electing to :speed up the shift to IP!\l. The arguments for keeping th~ status quo, OTA goes on to say, are that current eontl'ol teclmiques .. are re!atively simJt)e. readily available and economically attractive." Moreover, the agency says~ "their prtnc:q,u advantage is that their effects are known, tbey work and tbey have gained tbe c:onftdeace of arc,wen ... Oil tbe other hand. current pest control met.bods tbat rely oa chemica.ls can induce secondary pest outbreaks and pest reststance to thoH pesUctdes. OTA observes. And it cites tbe potential environmental and he<b hazards ol using chemical.1. Inddenee of these secondary pest out breaks amt resistance wou1d be less with 1PM. the agency advises Congress in its study. There would be fewer problems of environmental harm and health risks. too. GllEATEll INVESTMENT NEEDED Bue the lawmakers are told that to speed tbe adoption ol 1PM will require a substan tfally greater investment ol money, person nei and tfme in research, education and fm. plementation of these practices. A moderate effort by Congress in supporting IPM would result in the eventual replacement ol most unilateral pest control. programs over the next 20 to 30 years, OTA suggests. A major effort, however, on removing the obstacles to use o! IPM practices over the next few years would enable much of_ the potential of these techniques to be real ized within 15 years, OTA believes. under 1PM US agriculture could achieve an in creased production while at the same time providing maximum-protection to man. bis crops and the environment." Among the actions Congress should take if it wishes to pursue a major program aimed at removing obstacia to IPM would be to provide increased research funding for basic scientific studies and added sup port for biological eonttol programs. More over, OTA urges that there be "increased flexibility in pesticide use and incentives for the development of low-sales-volume. selective pesticides." BARRIEBS FOllMIDABLE These selective pesticides include the socalled '6third-generation" agents such as pheromones, hormones, bacteria and vi ruses. Burien to their development and commercialization are formidable," OTA says. Congress might direct the Environ mental Protection Agency to adjust the reg istration requirements for pheromones, for example. An exclusive license for a 10-year period to commerciallze proprietaries might be offered. Or the patent l~w might. be extended to cover micro-organisms. Increased educational efforts are urged, too. as well as greater coordination among the Federal agencies involved in crop pro tection measures. And the OTA study suaests tbat there should be a review of the relationship between existing food qual ity standards and pesticide use. "HJghQuaJity" standards for certain fruits and vegetables require the extensive use oC chemical pesticides, it's pointed out. OTA's study, "Pest Management Strate gies ln Crop P?'Otection." had not been ex amined by executives of the National Agri cultural Chemicals Association as of CMR's press time. Earlier. NACA issued its own "white paper" on IPM (OAR, 9/17/79. pg. 4).
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!'.!E!! Chemicals Mov. 1979 Government and Your Business WASHINGTON. DC t ste~ up in what it calls "the current slow shift to integrated pest management." It predicts that speeding up adoption of IPM would reduce harvest losses of major crops to pests. What is holding up a more rapid shift to IPM? According to OTA, "Technological and administrative obstacles block the rapid adoption of IPM." They cite lack of knowledge of IPM, lack of sufficient systems for disseminating needed IPM information, shortage of trained personnel to carry out research, and lack of coordination and cooperation between federal and state agencies in furthering IPM. In short, just about everybody involved in pest control gets some blame. But perhaps the biggest obstacle to quicker adoption of !PM, according to OTA, is the "lack of a clear and common commitment to, and an agenda for, future ll'M activities by agencies involved in pest control activities. How should Congress change all of this around? Three plans are offered in the report. Plan One would be to commit the additional new funds for the resources needed to speed up adoption of IPM. Plan Two would support the present status quo for pest control which, of course, includes some support of IPM. Plan Three calls for development of a strategy to speed up the shift to IPM. Some cynics are saying that the call by Secretary of Agriculture Bergland for hearings on the restructuring of agriculture is just more government talk. But it would be a big mistake for anyone to make this conclusion. Plans were prepared and specialists selected lllOnths ago. Their ideas won't be getting their first sounding this fall as the pub lic hearings on possible changes ahead for agriculture get underway. The major issues are top drawer. Here's some you'll want to keep your eyes on: Land ~wnership control and tenancy; barriers in entering and leaving farming; production efficiency; size of farms and the role of technology; government progra.D;tS; tax and credit policies; farm input supply systems; farm product marketing sys tens; present and future energy supplies; environmental concerns, including conservation and use of soil and water; returns to farmers; cost to consumers; and the overall quality of life in rural areas. Bergland is out to find out how major issues are aifecting agriculture and what the government should decide to try to do about them. Better keep your eye on the whole business of restructuring U.S. agriculture. It could turn out to be more than just more government talk.
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,!a!. Arizona Republic ----~i;.. -io-,-1979.. ... ---~ .. -. -.. .. .. ---, ......... ---New pest-management plan urged i Asseclat.ed Press ~T. ,_J. shortage o_C ~ained personnel !or research --.1.ntPBrateu ~em and pJanmng. ;wASBINGTON Before-harvest f~ -e v J ._, Administrative obstacles Include lack or r ... couJd be cut in haJf and pesti~e p,..-,.~,-1 J.,.,, study cooper~tion and coordination between fed ule decreaaed by percent if th& Umtf!i v~u. VJ eral and state agencies, which impedes sharply steps up the shift to coordi IPM research and program pJazm.lng. the pest management, a government insect predators and other means so-that agency said. s!f 1 says. ress chemical pesticides are requi~ed. Federally funded IPM pilot programs amie Office o{ Technology Aasessment shtlw' the promise of the approacb. but i silo in a. report released Saturday that 1PM calls for using this muJUmethod have not been adequate in increasing the i4Jnc "natural" pest9Control methods srstems ~roach in place. of .. the ~f. knowledge and manpower needed to sell ,atng wttJs chemicals is _slowly winlling tional reliance_ upon applying chenucats the program to farmers relucta11t to f,111or amonc Canners. beavlly to crops and soil ta curb threats. to change proven practices, it said. .. production. !However, tedmical and gOVffllmental .. A lack of practicai. demonstrated in olfstacles are blocking the rapid adoption E.nvtronmental concerns and federal terdiscipilnary programs has. resulted in 'integrated pest manapment IPM, as crackdowm on potentially-harmful chemi growing skepticism and uncertainty re"til approach ia called and the eals -such as bans on DDT and other gardiilg, the economic benefits of IPM,,. it;!could bring within 15 to_ 30 years1t pesticides ..;. have spurred increasing in-the report said. w_r pushed. the agency saad. =-~ 3:1 r:8U:.rc~n dau:a:igrated ap-The agency said Congress has the option approach offers prom.ire. of more of doing nothing and letting IPM accept sfll.ble crop pr9-tection and. production The Office of Technology Assessment, ance slowly evolve. It also could begin wih the-least hazard to mu and the m agency that advises Congress on techmoderate programs to increase present oironment," the report saJd. nic:a1 matters and suggests policy options. commitments to teacmng, research and :J)ests include weeds, fungi and plant said there were several technical obstacles extension programs in 1PM. A:1d lawmak diieases, a.. weil u Insect& 1PM controls to IPM. These include lack or basic knowl ers also ~n begin a major effort over the tlibi. through improved cu.ltivation prac,, edge about pests, inadequate ways of dis-next few years to remove obstacles and uo,,. genetically resistant plants, ~al tributi.ng t~e l!te~2nf~rm_ation a_nd a push. 1PM as _fast_.as ~ble. Article also appeared in: Journal & Courier (Lafayette, Ind.) Jacksonville Journal (Fla.) The Huntsville Tim.es (Ala.) Oakland Tribune (Calif.) The Daily Oklahoman (Okla.) Argus (Abingdon, Ill.) El Paso Times (Texas) Citizen Tribune (Morristown, Tenn.) Argus-Leader (Sioux Falls, S.D.) The Sacramento Bee (Calif.) Globe (Joplin, MO.) Gazette (Gastonia, N.C.) Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) Philadelphia Inquirer Dallas Morning News The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) Herald-Leader (Lexington, KY)
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HOUSTON CiRONla.E HOUSTO.,t TEXAS D. 299.228 SUN. 363.711 OCT 2 9 '979 _Report from congressional agency I. Less pest damage seen with 1PM BY WIWA.M E. CLAYTON JR. Cbroaicle Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -With the shift away from DDT, something called IPM could be the solution to the nearly haJf-billiondollar yearly loss that pests cause to Texas crops. the congressional O~_o_f Teclmolo8I Assessment reports. IPM stands for .. integrated pest man agement." and it means taking an ap proach to pest control that includes not only chemicals but such things as using beneficial insects to control ones., developing resistant crops, using better cultivation techniques and generally con sidering the whole range of interactions of living things to see what can control pests the best. ''The United States can cut its huge before-harvest food losses to pests by 50 percent for major crops by a sharp stepup in the current slow shift to integrated pest management. a systems approach to pest contro,I," tile congressional report says. .. A more rapid shift to IP'.'.1 can also cut pesticide use for major U.S. food crops by iS percent." The report es~tes that the United States loses about one-third of pre-harvest crop production to pests, and nearly 10 percent after harvest. "U.S. agriculture has increasingly de pended on chemical pesticides to control the pests that damage crops, the congressional office says. It adds that con cerns have increased about the environmental effects of all those chemi cals. and farmers are finding increasing resistance by, some pests to the chemicals. In Texas, cotton has become a S800 mil lion crop and sorghum is not far behind with an estimated S700 million annual value, the report says. At the same time. pestS chew that down by nearly $250 mil lion for cotton and $218 million annually for sorghum crops, it added. Threats to Texas cotton include four insects, six disease-causing organisms. two worms and seven weeds, but the big villains are the cotton fleahopper and the boll weevil. the report said. For sorghum, the chief hann comes from the sorghum nudge and the greenbug, but enemies also include 15 disease organisms and six weeds. In Texas and nationwide. the idea of a systems approach to pest control is not entirely new. But it has proceeded slowly, the report says. and could get a boost from increased information and educa tion, more substantial commitment of time and money, a better pest-fighting organizational structure, and more effec tive admmistration. "Technological and administration obstacles that impede the development and implementation of IPM must be re moved to achieve a more effective crop protection system in the United States." the report says. For Congress. the technology office says. the choice is: Keep the status quo that includes use of !PM but in limited ways compared with chemicals. or step up the process. There are arguments for both sides. the report acknowledges. The status quo IS simple and available and relatively cheap. On the other hand. the IPM approach promises Jong-term improvement with a reduction in long-term harm to the environment.
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Better pest Killer Faye~~~!;~/imes 0cc. 31, 1979 When first proposed as a major technological way to get the bugs, weeds, and other pests out of crops, "Integrated Pest Management" seemed so logical an approach that it would have: been enthusiastically embraced. That hasn't happened, according to a new government study; because of those old pesky problems in government, inertia and bureaucratic jealousy. "IPM" as it was called was a means of fighting bugs and weeds which would greatly reduce reliance on terribly expensive chemicals, herbicides and pesticides and such. By 1978, more than $2 billion was being spent on such substances, a threefold increase in a decade. Basically, IPM is a big phrase denoting a variety o( commonsense "natural" ap proaches to containing weeds and bugs in crops. It does not call for the elimination of chemical agents, but it. does look to a .day when they will be only part of a package of weapons used against weeds and bugs. The approaches would involve everything from. such well-known methods as crop rotation and "strategic planting dates" (getting the crop to big size before the weeds have a chance, for instance) to as-yet-undiscovered predators, parasites, or resistant strains that might control pests. Much of the technology is yet to be developed, of course. But where such ap proaches have been found and tested, they show terrific promise, sort of like another of those ''revolutions" which seem to occur down on the farm in modem times without the rest of us even. hearing much about it. In surveying the state of IPM for the U.S. Senate's Committee on Agriculture, the Of. fice of Technology Assessment concluded in a variety of geographical regions and with a variety of crops that energetic IPM warfare against weeds and bugs could cut be fore-harvest food losses in half and decrease pesticide use by 75 percent! The OTA, an arm of Congress which checks on the state of technology, concluded. that what is lacking is a strong comm~ent of purpose and resources. Six years ago, the Council on Enviro mental Quality, an arm of the White House, urged such commitment and a cooperative effort by agricultural and environmental agencies of the government. OTA found that bureaucratic inertia and infighting had resulted in a picture in 1978 little improved over 1972. It also found that while there is a growing array of promising demonstration projects in IPM, the results of these demonstrations have not been widely spread about. Meanwhile, dependence on herbicides and pesticides continues to grow. And meanwhile,. such substances cause crucial environmental problems (water pollution, health hazards, promote resistant strains of pests). And in recent years, the tremendous amount of electric energy needed to produce many substances has meant a rapid increase in prices. The various revolutions in farming prac tices. that have sprouted in the 20th century have been tremendous boons to farmers and to consumers alike. Among those revolutions are the various chemical substances which wondrously reduce the toll taken by weeds and bugs. But there can always be a better mousetrap, and 1PM surely sounds like the latest in agricultural practices. Properly nurtured, it could become the means of producing even more farm abundance while reducing the undesirable tradeoffs. the economic and environmental costs, of today's overweening dependence on chemicals. Lord knows there is enough for the mak ers of decisions in Washington this year. But perhaps while busy with inflation and energy and strategic arms, they might also usefully find time and energy to clean out the strangling weeds of bureaucratic inertia and stamp out the bugs of bureaucratic jealousy and get IP~I moving toward. the fields of America.
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REVIEW OF SELECTED FEDERAL VACCINE AND IMMUNIZATION POLICIES
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.,..............._ WllltOnlyOne~-.tn91btaotl....,_C-U,u.nuct In UMUIIMNSla-~1.,. -~1-. -_..__,. Slat inati---e--.. t ......, ____ -IIA-W\I& ....... __ .,....._ i .,..:z:....__-.. "' ,.. :s.;...,,._ ___ .:~--... ~--~ __ __,_lie.-. ,.. ._:.,.~-----::.'.:.-;,.' 11ooa..,....---.~-p._ 1 ,, .: ,: a.Gaspa.-, .. ..,,,.,-, ... -....... i:. -;:..~ .,, _______ llwe<. 'i; .. :-;:::.: & ll1MIUMd.f'U0'6111WUSWICCillelhe ... t ~-.-' Meers r U-..ccma n. . ... : t 1~tl~~~IB~! :r-_:, .. ,~,._,.,_--~-::r .. ;-1c:=.."::"'..:=:.;. ... .. -.: '-...u.&----of~ ...... :~... f tT1." .... 411:Ci.1 .. ~-,, : ..... .. t' .,e.11Dc1cy-Sao---... r ':: .. 19r"------.. 1 :_ -y-=--::~::::::::.:: ::~:~3>: 1~ -~--' .. ...__ 2~:::;.::~.,:.~~~--:t~:~::7_:::: .. :. --~ .. ;p ,.-.. -$-,. Government Production Of Vaccine Suggested WASHINGTON-The federal government should consider producing vaccines rather than relying 011 pharmaceutical com~ies for the nation's suppiy, the Offi& of Technnlnov ASSe.!5!!l_e_l!t has sugg=i,ea. OT A. which prepares reports for Con gress. said the federal government is the "single most important determinant of this nation's commitment to the use of vaccines to prevent disease.,. Because of a combination of factors, many of them stemming from federal policies, the number of vaccine manu facturets in the United States has de clined by SO per cent since 1967 and the number of licensed vaccines has de clined by 60 per cent. the report relates. OnJy eight American firms actually produce: vaccines. it says. and these companies hold about 70 per cent of the I SO current vaccine product licenses. So far, the report states. there have been no vaccine supply problems, .. but there are some indications that poten tial problems may arise. There are no active manufacturers, for e:r.ample. of 11 of the 51 currently licensed types of vaccines, including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever vaccine.,. .. Further, the United States is depen dent on a single American pharmaceuti cal company for each of 19 vaccine products, including poliovirus vaccine. --The supply of a vaccine with only one licensed manufacturer easily could be interrupted or terminated because of technical production problems or changes in a firm's marketing plans." The OT A report offers three options for Congress to consider: Establish a federal vaccine produc tion program. A small program could produce .. orphan" vaccines to ensure availability of special-purpose vaccines not available from the private sector. Alternatively, a large-scale program would allow the federal government to .. control the availability of most vac cines in this country." (Continwd on pagr 8) U.S. NEWS & World Report Nov. l, 1979
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Vaccine Manufactur8rs Said Dangerously Few (Continwd from pop J) Establish a permanent 111i.:rapcy body wi~ HEW to deveiop ptioJ.itics for vaccme research and evaluation and monitor vacciue production. It should report to Congress periodically. Subsidize vaccine production by private indusuy, either through direct C!)mracts or through government vacClDe purchases. However, if no manufacturer accepted the government's of fer of funding, some vaccines still might not be produced. The study dealt only with vaccine production in the private sector and did not address the issue of vaccine avail ability within the Defense Department. Nor did it examine the role of state and community health departments in im munization programs and their requirements. Dr. Harry M. Meyer Jr director of the Food and Drug Administration's Bureau of Biologics. said the federal government already has authority under the Public Health Service Act to produce vaccines, but so far this has not been necessary. During World War II. he: -..i, yc:Uow fever vaccine was produced by the National Institutes of Health, but its man ufacture later was taken over by a private fU'JD. Dr. Meyer said the-possibility of fed eral vaccine production has been dis cussed widely over the past sevetal years. aii the number of privi, manufaciun:rs began to decline. .. We're.just not at a point where we need to do anything yet. There is no immediate risk. .. he said. Vaccine production is not as profit able for pharmaceutical firms as is production of drugs, he observed, and t~ is one factor cited in the declining num ber of manuu:.cturers. But another factor also is at work. Dr. Meyer said-the increasingly com plex level of technology required to pro duce modem vaccines. The typhoid vaccine, he said. could be produced by any small laboratory. But today's prod ucts. such as polio and measles vaccines, require sophisticated technology. .. Few companies have this expenise." he said. What's more. Dr. Meyer said. if a company is producing a nationally need ed vaccine. there is lirde likelihood it would suddenly terminate production "without giving us an adequate warn ing." ../,/ For example, he said, when Eli Lilly and Co. decided to stop producing vac cines and biologicals in favor or phar maceuticals. it continued to produce its lcilled rabies vaccine-and will continue to do so until a new vaccine is licensed. which is expected to occur in a matter of months. .. I don't think we have to worry about a crisis." Dr. Meyer said. The OT A report attributes the decline in the number of vaccine manufac turers to several factors: .. Relative to the markets for other prescription items. the S98 million vaccine market is small. Further. low profits, high capital invest ment requirements, extensive federal regulations and unpredictable vaccine liability risks may be contributing to the decline in the number of vaccine manu facturers." The report notes that the federal gov ernment itself is th!= largest purchaser of vaccines-about .50 per cent of the doses distributed in the United States-and consequently, for at least some vaccines., "federal purchases determine both market size and selling price. .. The OT A report also addressed the liability issue, noting that the major question at present is not negligence or defective products, but rather .. the in herent. unavoidable., though statistical ly remote., risk of vaccine-induced severe injury or death." In three major cases over the past 11 years. the report relates, plaintiffs have won large judgments against vaccine m'!_~facturers for injuries caused by that were not defective and e properly administered. courts in these cases determined 1anufacturers should pay because e was 110 other mechanism in place which the injured persons could be compensated. Another factor in the liability issue, the report says, is the trend, established in the swine flu program, toward transferring the duty to warn to HEW through contracts with manufacturers. and then to state and local health agencies through their public immunization arrangements with HEW .. It remains unclear whether transfer or the duty to warn can be accomplished to the satisfaction of a coun," the report observes.
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The OT A report llSU uiesc options for dealing with the liability problem: The federal government could as sume responsibility for defending all claims of vaccine-induced injury result ing from public imm~tion pro~ and maintain authonty to sue negligent parties. This was the approach taken to claims arising from the swine flu program. It would increase dim:t costs to the feder al aovemment. Congress could escablish a federal ly operated program to compensate per-sons injured in public vaccination pro~mt costs might be reduced under this option. but administrative costs might mc:rease. The report also recommends that some type of postmarketing surveil lance system be established for vaccines to keep track of adverse reactions. In addition. it suggests Congress con sider revising the medicare law to per mit nrimbunemcnt for vaccination apimt such diseases u influenza and pneum~l tt.ncumonia. "S -U.S. M...,_ photo Dr. Harr)' M. Meyer Jr. Fora#$ no major wu:cw Jhortaps ......... ~~i--~.:~-:,J''lli~~:--~-!'~~!"';..~~~-...;.;.~~. ..,.,. -:.:--:-s.~ -.:__.... .... ,.;...:,, ... ,;,---~~-~ ... (,..,... 1... : ~. '. ~,.c....,.... ....... m...........,11 : ... ........,..,._..,..... '; .. _\ W JlfrftN....,..ftac. II& T-~.:-y ...... r:-: ..,.;.>~~::.,-: .... i-~ ...: : ---. /1 :_ ~ffig~i~i~l~ii~~~ ; 'ft,;. .... OCta&lou ..................... .. ,._~:-:,;.,.4"l;...'<..: ""r~)($Y ~", ... :"' :;~"'
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OCT t 2 1979 ~fl.z... -,,,__,,.. ""-, Remove The Obstructions To the extent that it's inbuys half the vaccine d.istribut volved at all, the federal gov-ed in the United States. ernment should be pushing Medicare pays for the those developments which. treatment of infectious dismight contrtbute to the public eases, investigators said, but health. It should not: be an imnot for vaccinations to prevent pediment to them.. them. Also, the government Congressional investigaprocedures for testing vac tors. however, have reported cines are too limited and may that Washington is largely repermit some vaccines to be sponsible for serious problems marketed without an awarewith the development. testing ness of rare adverse reactions. and distribution of vaccines in The study has several recthis country. ommendations for im-The number of vaccine prove men ts: a government manufacturers has dropped 50 compensation program, with percent since 1967 and the authority to sue in cases of number of vaccine types pronegligence, to deal with the liduced has dropped 60 percent, ability problem; increased according to the Offi~~--of ._ pre-market testing; govern;;Technology Assessment. ment production or subsidizing The report notes that of production; amended Medi:; Americans depend on one care regulations permitting re:: company for 19 of the 51 cur-imbursement for vaccines : rently licensed vaccines and benefitting the elderly: and es:: there are no domestic mantabllshment of a surveillance ~: ufacturers for 11 others. program on use and reaction :: Since the government is to licensed vaccines. :: "the single most important de-National health requires a :: terminant of this nation's com-constant battle to combat dis:j mitment to the use of vaccines ease and the benefits of the :+ to prevent disease," the study vaccine program require con says, the decline may be due stant research, development -: to federal policies. testing and supply of medi) The government provides cines to keep pace. 1extensive financing for reCongress needs to turn its :lses>.rch and testing, and also attention to these problem_s_. __.; .NOV. 4 i9?9. Next: A vaccine gap? So few companies are making vaccines today that Congress' Office of Technology Assesmlentfeais erecoufdoe a shortae<>e. <:Jr A not.es that only eight companies are in the business at all down from 16 in 1961 -and that 19 licensed vaccines, including those for polio, are made by a sir.gie company.The office lays the blame on illogical federal policies and. liability litigation brought by persons injured by vaccines. For example, the government spent $16 million to develop a vaccine against several types oi bacterial pneumonia but current law forbids Medicare to pay for use of it even though these pneumonias are among the leading killers of the elderly. On the legal side, the question of who has the ;'dutv to warn" users of possible side effects is still up in the air. Thus. manufacturers may be afraid to bring out a new vaccine for fear of suit.a by per.sons made ill by ~shoai.
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oar. 1 o 1979 f A g6V~rnme1;1ta! Sh~t in the .. arm sought for vaccma.tion programs _,,_ daterminut ot this-utton's commit problems or changes in a firm's WASHINGTON Fumr. vaccina-ment to the ueot vaccines to p~e-marketingplans."'itsaid. tton programs. a cornerstone of PA" vent disuse," the report said. The report listed three issues that ventive health efforts. may be-threat-It said the government not only it said the government must addres.1 ened unless the government. comes extensively finances' vaccine reto assure continued development to grips with. the port,lem oE vaccine search and testing, but also. buys half and use of safe and effective vacdevelopmenr. testing and U.billfy of the doses distributed.in the councines: problems, according to a report re-tl'Y,. Liability problems, resulting leased yesterday. However, the government does not from unavoidable lnjuria from Tht report by the Office of Tech-produce vaccines. Reliance. upon propeny made and administered 110Ioa Asassmear. wlJich advtses pharmaceutical coapanies could vaccines. thet may erode commit CODgress' an scientific matters. Slid. pose problems. the report said. b8' ment to public immunization prothat smce 1967 ,th number ot \'.11&> cause JUDY of the c:ompe1liel have grams. cine manufac:mrus in the United gotten out of the V1CCine bustnll!S Medtc:are. payment for treatment States his decliDed SO percent and and more may do sa ln the future. of the elderly for infectious diseases, the number' of vaccine iypes pre,. Possible reasons !or dec:rused but not ror vaccinations to prevent duc:ed has dropped 60 percent. manufac:tDnr-interest in vaccines, it them. This decllnemaf be due in:pert .to said. are small marltet relative to Limitations of pre-marketing federal policies, because tile govern~ther higher-profit ~ptton testing that may perm.it some vacment is "the oCie most important. items and unp~ctable nsJfs con-cines to be used without full aware cerned wttli liability. nus of possible adverse reactions, For 1, or the Sl r,yes or vacdnes and the lack of a government recurrently lteensed, 1n_cludlng polio qUirement manufacturers or Virus vacdne. Amencans depend health agencies collect data on the upon a single pharmaceutical comp safety and effectiveness of vaccines ny. the repon said.' And for 11 vac-in use. cines. incl'llding the one for RockY Mountain spotted fever, there are no domestic manufacturers. ''The supply of a vaccine with only. one Ucemed manufacturer easily could be interrupted or terminated because of tecb.nical production
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Vaccine .. :'."' study cite~ gavemment ':' . WASHINGTON (UPI) Serious problems exist with the testing and distribution ot vaccines in tms countt?, and the federal government is largely responsible. con-gressional lnvesttgaiars said Tuesday. Failure by the government to respond to the problem "may threaten the continued development and use of sate and effective vacdnes in this country," the~ ~,f_Tectmo.logy A111e~~t told Congress.. : TJIE REPORT, .4. REVIEW 011' Selected Federal Vaccine and Immumzation Policies, said the lack of policy has surfaced 'in a SO percent drop since 1967 in the number ot vaccine manufacturers in the United States. Licensed vaccine products haw decreased 60 percent over the same period of time. The government was faulted in three specif1c areas: I Medicare pays for the treatment ot infectious diseases. but not for vaccinatioas to prevent-them.. The gG\'ffl1111r.1t procedures whereby vaccines are tested before they. reach the marketplace .are too limited and may pennit some vaccines to be muketed without an awareness of rare adverse reactions. Liability questions that stem from. anavoidable injuries through no fault of the manufacturer or the vaccine itself "may be eroding the commitments of vaccine manutac:turers. Congress and state llealth departments to public immwmation programs.,, In some cases, Americans are forced to depend on a single pharmaceutical company for u many as-19 dif ferent vaccine products. In other cases, the vaccine for maladies sudl as spotted fever are not even produced In the United States. I "Vaccines produced by only one manufacrurer could easily become unavailable because ot technical prob lems or changes in the manufacturer's marketing strategies," the report said. 41.SO, DISE!SES TJIA.T OCCUR intrequently In this country necessitate the testing of vaccines for them in other countries. leading to findings that "may not be applicable to the U.S. population." OTA said. The report suggested that Congress could; Authorize the government to either ''produet! or subsidi%e the production of selected vacctnes.: Right llOW, it SUmkti?l!S vaccine research and evah.iates a medicine's safety and effi~. a Require the Food and Drug Administration Ol' the Center for Disease Control to establish epidemiologically based surveilla.nce programs to monitor the use ot, and reactions to, licensed vaccines.. Amend the Medicare law to permit federal reimbursement for preventive vaccinations among the elderly. Develop a program for compensating the small number of persons sedoU5lY intured in a public immu nization plan. :'he Houston Post -Oct. 10, 19i9 Article also appeared in: San Francisco Chronicle Democrat (Tallahassee, Fla.) Sun (Las Vegas, Nev.) Missourian (Columbia, Mo.) The fiint Journal (Flint, ~ch.) Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Nebr.) Enterprise (Riverside, Calif.) Times Star (Alameda, Calif.) Telegraph (North Platte, Nebr.) Herald (Provo, Utah) Chicago Tribune Pocono Record (Stroudsburg, Pa.) The Sacramento Bee The Evening Bulletin (Providence, R.I.) Progress (Charlottesville, VA) Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wisc.) Intelligencer (Wheeling, W.VA.) Journal (Martinsburg, W.VA.) Herald Republic (Yakima, Wash.) Savannah Morning News (Ga.) Gazette (Texarkana, Texas) Gazette (St. Joseph, MO.) Times Courier (Charleston, Ill.) News-Tribune (Waltham, Mass.) Sentinel (Carlisle, Pa.) Times-WestVirginian (Fairmont, W.VA.) News-Press (Glendale, Calif.) Sentinel Star (Orlando, Fla.) Bee (Modesto, Calif.) Atlantic City Press Blade-Tribune (Oceanside, Calif.) Daily Record (York, PA.) Town Talk (Alexandria, LA.
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OCT 1. 1 1979 1. A s1,0,tl/jj6 Of vatiine likely, ljiJUOITH.RANOAL continued dffelopment anduse of safe -Wasbington.'(N'ews Bureau)So and effeettve-vaccines in this country," few American. COff:IPanies are mak: the report said. It suggested tbat illoli -~ Q -vaccines now that_ there could ~ederal policies partly to. be a. ;mortage, a study by theCon for example the. government spent ll'ISSJ8aal Office of Technolo~--sa.5amillioa to-dffelop a vacdiie a,ainst --~repoftiayiiteraay. 14 types of bacterial pneumonia. Yet ne study that eiCJlt.eompacurrent law does aot permit Medicare to llf are makinl vac:cmes -half as pay for usiq this vaccine, even though mu, as la 1S87 and tut 19. llcemed bacterial paeumoma is a leadinl cause 'fllCCines, includlllc the ail-important of serious-illness and dea&b among the polio ncclne; are made by onlr-t siqle elderly, This poUcy limits the manufac firm. Ten other types of llcemed vac-turer's-sales of the shots and also drives t:daes, amoq them the on& tut prevents up health care costs. the report sald. Mo'Ulltlin si,otted firm', are no-The report also was critical of the 1oager made !Jr. th.is country it ail and testine. proc:edlms that the 10verament. muat be imported. reqwns vaccine manufacturers to carry Sueba situation "may thraten the 011t in order to have their products JedagentY warns lleensed by thc.!'ood-md Drue Admillis--vaccine ~pients. The question of who tntton. bu the "duty to warn" about these p,acedures-cannot detect iacb pouible sidHffects has not been-legally relatively rare-com,vllcatioas as occurresolved aa.d this mates manutaCiUrers red-wllen some people who were tmmu-reluctant to develop and produe~ vaenized qatmt swine flg... developed. eines. because of the rest they will be GuiUaill-Bamt pualy*,. it.sa,L ~: :sued ~ea someone is-make-ill by shots. tbeN is now-no lepl NlqUJnment atllat Th situat.ion is especially serioua be. anyone, in or out of IOftl'DDSellt. collect caus~ most children by law must be data 011 tile saf9t7 and .Uec:tiveuess of vaccinated apj.nst some ~ore lllY-once It ,oes 011 sale. -:-~ :_sc:,01. the relk!rt It urged n,_.,-, lowsults nunent either to produce or subsidize Tile etiht companies still maid.DC vac:-t&e production of some vaccines. dnes. m;-e Couaucilt. cutter, Delmont. Require the 1ovemment to moniEJ. Lllly., ~erie. llerck. Sharp and tor use of and reactions ta licensed .Demme. Pan: Davis and Wyeth: vaccmes. n .. -resiort at.so deals with lawsuits Amend Medicare to pay for mmm-steauniDJ b:vm unavoidabl injuries to nization for the elderly.
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CBS Even ina News October 9, 1979 OTA Releases Study 7:00 PM ,vDV~ TV CBS Nei"work Washington, D. C. o t human WALTER CRONKITE: Vaccination prevents a whole range i I lness from measles to polio. Today the congressional Office of Technology Assessment said the federal government is largely-responsible for serious problems which threaten future vaccination programs. The study noted that while Medicare pays for treatment of infeci"ious diseases, ii" does not ;:,ay for vaccine to prevent them. Aid urged for shrinking vaccine industry_ i WASHINGTON-U.S. vaccine development may be endangered b"y the government's failure to resolve problems besetting it. warns a report by the Office 9.f Technology Assessment (OTA), which-adVlSti -Congress:-Since 1967 the number of vaccines and manufacturers has dropped to nearly half, says OTA, though the government sponsors research and buys half the doses given in the U.S. Two causes of the drop, cited by the report, are companies' fears of multi million-dollar liability suits like those arising from the swine-flu-vaccine program and their reluctance to pay high research costs to meet FDA-licensing requirements on vaccines that may not have wide markets. The study offers Congress several options. It could set up a federal production program for all vaccines or just for the needed but llilprofitable ones called .. orphans." Or it could subsidize their production by industry. Besides taking one of those courses, Congress shou!d decide, says the report, whether to defend companies against all liability claims arising from federal vaccine prognuns or to create a workers' -compensation-type program that pays fixed amounts for established claims and forbids suits. OTA based the reJ)Ort larqely on the development of the pneumococcalpneumonia vaccine marketed this year by Merclt and Lederie. But a Merclt official denies the report's statement that the firms were "unlikely" to have developed the vaccine without major government funding. "We'd have pur-Merck technician prepares ;,MUmonia used as case study in report. sued it anyway," says CJarence Abram son, Merclt' s senior counsel As for liability, ~lerck pref81"! the government to defend companies in court but understands why Congress might choose the workers' -compensa tion approach. Adopting either plan would probably solve the present liability impasse. predicts Abr:mi.son. Medical~~ Oct. 29, 1979
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-. Sacramen~o Union Dec. 31, 1979 Near crisis U.S. Shortage qL~ccill~s sj SIEPBEl't E. NORDLINGER ThlBaillmore-&lll WASHINGTON From around tbe c:ocmtry, reports moan&ed tllls fall at the Food and Drug Ad.mlmltraUoa of local shortages of comomed vaccines against dfphtb tti.a, w11oopmc c:ougb.amt tetanus. T1le agency, wblch ensures tbe safety of vaccines. rmewed ita records and early ws moatb aecelerated t11e dearallce of teYel'll m.lllloa c1ous of ttie vaccure to avoid lUJIDing aut In those communities. But wllile the Cut action pnmnted supplies from vamsbiDI, health authorttles are im:reastngly coacemed tbat tbe nation may face acme problems ID f!Juting IDOUgll vaccme to Immunize dlildren against some buic diseases."'. "We are a coapje of. lteps abead of a crisis,'' said Midi: Rtdfougb.. of Cangress' Office of T Aanmmtt "It 1s a very temious situation." Over tbe last dozen years, the number of llc9med manufacturers produciq vacctnes bas dropped precipttausiy, .from to ta. Over the same period. Ille number a.llc:l!Dsed. vacdlles has fallen 60 pen:ent. from 38$ to 150. '. . It la uncertain to what extent tbe American pbanna ceutical IJldustry will be committed !n the future tcr develop and produce vaccines to meet public need. There are only three maJters of tJie combined vacdne agablat dipntberia. whooping cougb and tetanus used for millloqa o( babies annually. When one of the manutacturers:' Lederte Laboratories. ran Into same tedmical problems in producing the vaccme. the poqntlai spot shortaP occurred. Botb Paru. Davis Company and Ell LillY. and Company !lave dropped aut of the buslnesa of ma.king tbiavacciJle. T1le United States ls currently depecdent on a smgie American paarmaceutia.l company for the manufacture of eadl of 19 otber products. Including the generany used liYe vaccine apiast potio and the combined vaceine against measles, mumps and rubeila. "T11e supply of a vacdne wttb only one licensed mmmtacturer easily could be interrupted or terminated because of tedmicat production problems or cba.nges ID a firm's maneting plans," said a report Oil the potentiaJ sbortaies is.sued recently by tbe Office of Teclmoiogy Assessment. Tbe report said tba1 vacdne muen have been dlscauraged. by a statie martet for their product. taugber safety standardS by tbe FDA. rwng production c:mis and the broadening of llabUlty against manutac.turers tor injurieS produced by the vacdnattom. A staff member of the Natiolw Institutes of Health, wto dedUled to be ldentUfed. also said that manutac:tur iDC vac:dnes is a "higllly tecnnic:al ldad of problem. an art as much as a sde.ace." and t1Jat mlstalces can easily ;. __ Vaccine _7shqrtage':'.:-~ ,q t""-Jroni Al .. ; -.; be mad~ that destroy lar_p batches. The market for vaccines now supports sales of about S98 million a year, half of it to the federal government. wmcb purdlaMs the vaccines for public immuni2ation programs. This market is relatively small compared to the sales of sucb Widely used drugs as 1."alium. the tranquilizer. whicb amount to S260 million a year. The d"81opment of vaccines reached a 1'1ig.b point iD t.')e 1930s but fe.lI off later with the introduction of antibiotics. which shifted the empl!Uts from prevention of disease to treatment. There wu a spurt of illnovation in tbe industry in the 1950s alter the Salk vaccine against polio was introduced. and Congress initiated a program to buy and promote vaccines. But Since 1968, there bas been a steady decline ill the number of commercial vaccine manufacturers. "Ironicat.ly, this trend is occurring just when there is a new emphasis on preventive medicine.,. said Ridiotllll. "It may be that a bigger burden is going to ~= p'::de the resources I Article also appeared in: The Baltimore Sun The Times Picayune Gazette-Telegraph (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
PAGE 92
-CONSERVATION OF METALS
PAGE 94
~OCT 24 19i9 ,. Metal recycling incentives urged w ASHINGTON (UPI)- Use of nonmetalllc coatings. from 5 per cent for platlnum associated with the manufac-Product recydlng could save H Additfonal research and deto 40 per cent for copper. turing process." much of the metal now lOlt velopment Is required to suf. Product remanutacturing Elimination ot unnecessary In the production line, but in flcientiy develop-such coat and reuse. This option, the metal la products. This opdon centlves are needed to pro,, ings." study said, "offers major po-bas "strong economic lncen mote It, a new congressional Recycling scrap metal.RetentlaJ for conserving metal, tives" but also involves ln study says. cycled metal bas a limited saving energy already invest creased manufacturing costs, The study, released by the market, the study said, but ed la products and reducing decreased durability and re Congressfonal Office P! Tech recycling estimates range the environmental pollution duced safety. aolog .Assessment. said the ------------=============-------__;--....,___,. United States' per-capita con IUJDptiOll of minerals '!has grown to more than fOUf' times the world average, prompting renewed attention on how to reduce consump. don through conservation." .. The report said that al though product recycling ex lsts in some areas. such u auto parts, furniture, typewriters and aircraft, "addi tional Incentives are needed to encourage Widespread re. cyclmg.'' Metals are wasted, It said.by failure to use them productively or by using excess amounts IJ1 product manufac-tmmg. ':-. .. Product recycling could save 30 per ceat or more of the copper, aluminum,'-iron and steel now lost 1n the ma terials cycle.'' the study. sa.i1C That cycle traces the lite of a mineral from Its mining through ore processing. metal production and flna.l disposal. Eleveu options for reducing waste are dJscussed fn the re~rt,' lncludlng: Major redistribution. Dluin J World Warn. 50 to 90 per wit of several metals were diverted from their current \1111 to war products. Metal 1ubstJtutfon. Al though this method shows "CODSiderable potential flexi bfllty," It must overcome several Impediments, such u time. costly change and the potentlaJ for higher production costs. Article also appeared in: The New York Times Houston Chronicle Dallas Morning News Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah) Journal (Salina, Kans.) The Houston Post The Fresno Bee (Fresno, Calif.) Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) News World (New York, NY) Chronicle-Telegram (Elyria, Ohio) Star (Muncie, Ind.) Truth (Elkhart, Ind.) Phares-Tribune (Logansport, Ind.) Gazette (Billings, Mont.) Town Talk (Alexandria, La.) Ba.wk-eye (Burlington, Iowa) The Light (San Antonio, Texas) Arizona Weekly Gazette (Phoenix, Times News (Twin Falls, Idaho) News (Hutchinson, Kans.) Wis. State Journal (Madison, Wisc.) Ariz.)naily Iowan (Iowa City) News-Times News-Journal (Mansfield, Ohio) Union (Sacramento, Cal.) Schnenectady Gazette (N.Y.) Detroit Free Press The Indianapolis Star Star-Tribune (Casper, Wyo.) News-Sentinel (Lodi, Calif) Saginaw News (Mich.) Wyoming Eagle (Cheyenne, Wyo.) News (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) Herald Republic (Yakima, Wash.) Hour (Norwalk, Conn.) Sun-Sentinel (Pompano Beach, Fla.) News-Register (Wheeling, W. Va.) San Francisco Chronicle Waterbury Republican (Waterbury, Conn.) Times Star (Alameda, Calif.) Valley News (Van Nuys, Calif.) Herald Tribune (Sarasota, Fla.) ~cws (Kenosha, Wis.) Atlantic City Press (N.J.) San Francisco Examiner Erie Daily Times, (PA.) (El Dorado, Ark.)
PAGE 95
riACO. TEXAS TRIBU:IE-HERALO DAILY ~Cr!~:ING : l.:a: NOV 9 1979 .:~~Strateuic Min;ra4 I ITORIAL e'
PAGE 96
'JlC'i says tbat recycling could save up to 30 percent of. the materials.wasted. <:/rA looked at eight metals: aJurninwn, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel. platinum and tungsten. Except for copper and iron, the United States imports 50 percent or more of what it uses of the others. We consume four times as much of these metals on a per capita basis as the world average, though this does not mean that we are the greatest consumers on a per capita basis of any country or that we are wasteful. -The study suggests that there are ways of reducing our dependence on foreign sources. Recycling and using scrap would be the most ef-1'\"'. Editorial also appeared in: American Reoublic (Poplar Bluff, Mo) News (Hunt~ille, Ala.) fective. Finding substitutes for some would help. We could save further because the reduction of scrap to reusable metal of sufficient purity consumes less energy than refining ores. The study seems to address directly two major national problems: energy: conservation and our dependence on ioreign sources for raw materials. It also implies steps to take to alleviate these problems. So far we have not seen any big move to subsidize scrap or otherwise offer a carrot to those who will recycle metals. This lack of response is what we understand by our "crisis of leadership". .Things need doing. There are few people in office who seem to be willing to challenge the vested interests which would have to change their ways if the obvious steps were taken. Leadership requires the political courage to risk losing, which is as uncommon in CQngress as it is among some elected officials in other positions. Phares Tribune Press (Logansport, Ind.) Register (Oelwein, Iowa) Leader, Staunton, VA
PAGE 97
AMtR!CAN METAL M.~RI\ET NEW YOR'n.. N. 'l. OCT 23 1979 V .... ,~ .. -'Low. Rail Rate, Tax Credit May Stimulate Inc~ase In Re_cycled Metals:::oTA WAQUNGTON Incentives such as lower freight rates and tu c:rdts could sUmuJate metals recycling witb pateDtiaJ5 for reuse nmgingfrom5 percent in platlnum to40 percent in copper, acci>rdmg to & im1r smc1y by the Congres.,ional QfflQ: ql, Tes:tmufoa wmn,m (arA). -. : Tondac:emetaWc losses in industry as well as to aucment comervaUaa.. Caagress could assign a federal agency to evaluate material short ages and to deftlop plans to meet problems, the OTA retWDmended The cast of such continuO'lS analysis would be sUgbt. and the govwnmmt also shcJald establish a data system to forecast metal supply_ and demand the ctrA advfled. =- In~ of severe metal shartages, a system of emergeac:y allocatfoas sboald be devised witb sbtpmmts to consumers based on their share of orders in total sales for the prior year. The procedure~ be an atenslon nf present allocat.toa for bandling crises. CUstomen WOii.id pay In advance for ''the privilege of obtaining a limited supply daring periods of shert:age,1 the smdy es:pJained. .: The OTA study was prepared In response to a l97S request from the Senate Commerce ComrnittH.., and it focused OD waste in production-. and me of metals such as iron and steel,. aJmimun, copper. the pJm imam;group, manganese,, ".hromiam. nickel and tnnptan, To improve markets for recycled materiaJa,. the OTA recommended that Congress review iDc:entifts such as: Low cost loans to recycling firms !oz: their capital t('-1nued pa~ _,,,,,.... .,,,,,,.---.,.__. 1('ontinu" from fin, pagPI Funding a system of scrap accounting to include infonnation on the amount. type and location of material. Improving public confidence in recycled products through government regulation of testing, labeling,. specifications and procurement. Export Coairoia During emergencies. the government also could impose export controls to conserve materials, the. OTA noted. It added the greatest metallic losses in this country occur In product u.se and disposal, rather than in mining, processing and fabricating metals. Product recycling, therefore, was said to be superior to reclaiming obsolete scrap, which was said to have a limited market besides its competing with both virgin ore and with industrially-generated scrap. In reviewinlfmetal losses, OTA said the most. significant losses occur-at the end of a material's cycle. in imrecovered products, post.consumer waste and in dissi pative uses. The highest quan tities of losses are those associated with high-volume materials, specifically iron and steel, ahmunum and copper. OTA said. The report said that in 1974. some 78.8-million tons of iron and steel were lost domestically in the production and use cycle. In the same year, domestic industry lost U-million tons. of aluminum and 1.9-million tons of copper. Additionally. G.21-million troy ounces of platinum group metals. 1.4-million tons of manganese, 311.000 tons of chromium. 156,000 tons of nickel, and 10,150 tons of tungsten were lost. Flmmclal Incemtves Metals sucstitution was raised as another way to save major metals. The re00rt noted that al though 'considerable potential ,-.... flesibility" In metals use is availestablish a research project to able by substitution. financial develop substitutes for critical incentives must be present to materials, especially for products encourage it.. Suh!titution often with high metallic conten~. takes years to implement, OTA Government research would. 1Il pointed out, and a greater flm-tum. stimulate private research bility must be built into the prt), to find sub.9titutes, the OTA duction process so that altemapredicted. tive metals could be used. The Senate Commerce SubA special opportunity for committee on Science, Tech example exists in the construc:tion no.lotJy and Space indicated it indDstrY which C1lUld save about would study the report to see if it on a 4ktory office warranted hearings or further building by substituting concrete, Congressional attention. plastics and fiberg.lass for iron At tbia time, no specific ma-and copper. OTA said. teria1s consenation legialation is Congress, therefore, should pending in that committee. --.
PAGE 98
DIRECT USE OF COAL
PAGE 100
.. .... ----~ ....... Milwaukee Journal Nov. 22, 1979 Coalip.dustry to enter '80s ~= !i~:.~~i th !..e.E~~d f ~LY..~ :Z,italize on the renewed interest in Among the issUes are questions Notwith~ding "immediate needs, .iiiiialand move intQ the sos-with new about the public health effects of in Bagae complains, the administration !Brkets ahd attendant growth poten creased coal burning on land. air and presented an energy plan that ad-_._ water, and the impact on occupatlOa dressed onty long-term goals -and -~o do that. industry haS launched a al health and safety. has draw~ down the curtain" on =zr:n-sca1e offensive against regulato-OTA says that. in the absence of any discussion ot short-term relief. -:_t.d>ntrols. any mitigating factors, twice as "The-environmental revolution has ~-.:.That was evident at last'Summer's much coal produced means twice as Impacted severely on the coal indus.:l,!!Je,ting of the National Coal m~y miners killed and injured. tpr," he said. "The administration, I ..gation in Colorado Springs. Colo., C~I ~evelopment has a ltistory of am Cllnvinced, has a mindset against ""(here Robert H. Quenon. prrsident erplo1tation. and turmoil in the coal any changes whatsoever Tb.at will be ~t. Peabody Coal Co., the natiott's fields ol Appalachia. of cities laden P4:rceived. by the environmental con-'!lar&est producer, urged operatOJS "to with ~t and nqxious fumes, and of st1tuenc-.1 as a compromise." .-i.mo:e affirmative and voca~ destructton of land and water reTb "'The lesson of the '70s i~ us sources. the stUdy said. -Act !i~enJ focus ts th~ Clean Air !'ut we cannot leave the political and _But'OTA's Curtis Seltzer says that and Recla~ti udaee Mlntng Control 'hgulatory control of these matters ~.his ti~ there could be a difference. on_Act. politicians and bureaucrats." he Even tn the.-best of times. the profitOperators deliberately have not tlsaid. ability o_f coal has been an up-and discussed the Federal Coal Mine : But .coal operators e-xpect little down th111g. That should change over Health _and Safety Act the 1969 help from the White House for their the n~ 20 years; he ~id. /e~laaon that began it all. Although :;complaints about regulation. Presi The industry, he believes, wtll be .. t ought to be examined.." Bagge _:dent Carte~. despite a stated long' t~f~blr profitable." said. there is little likelihood the .term comnutment to-coal. bas turned It s going have the money to administration would camper with it deaf ear to them. the operators say. meet aH the federal regulations. to in an election year. : Washington is the prt11~pal af!!Da spend on-health and ~fetr,, to pay For its antiregulatory tight, the ;tor the stepped-up campaagn againSt ~es to_ local communities. he said. industry counts on coal state politi. 1regulationa, which one industry offl-Then it becomes a question of ciaos for support. -ciaJ says came "springing. leaping whether, political.pressure can be "We haven't had a high profile on :!from these statutes in the last dee_ gene~d ?> force them to do that." this." Bagge insists. ::-te" Tlrat:s-Just:he sort--ot-politica.t Instead. congressional caucuses of .... Effects fell ua coalfields pressure the industryfeels it has coal state politicians have be ~ But the effects wtil be feltin the been stung_ by already, and seeks to "quite helpful." en !coalflelds, where miners and ,other co~~r as I~ faces the next decade. For the first time. Bagge said. gov-::dtizens. unhappy about spreading 1 e this year's production emors are taking initiative. In the ,unemployment and inflation. are 7 ; 4 ~llli:n tons -will be the largforefront-is West Virginia's Gov Jay .,suuggling to hang onto the gains of es story, the 2% to 2.3% Rockefeller, chairman of the Presi :;me past lO years. lfO rate over the past two years dent's Com~ission on Coal. i One industry observer said. "Now f~ far short of the 5%.growth rate The first substan -. :ttte people who have been fighting th uidus~ ~ys it n~eds to meet the, attack on the 1977 n::al l~gislative offensively'~ for health and safety Carter admuustration s plan to lessen already the subect P m!ne law laws. black lung compensation. clean depeThnd~ce OEI forei~ oil. suits -Is the J .. a/1res of law--standards and a atrip mine law e industry says 1t could produce ment." a measure to e e er Ame-nd -.. : .. are going to be fighting defensive-:ore coal :'& 100 millions tons a write their own regul~!; tsla:tes 1t0 ely." 8!: mor&-i!It could-se~ it. ..qnt ~e law. o imp e-: Tbe coal industry talks of possibly It's a demand-constrained rate," Environmentat advocates criticized doiibling, perhaps trtpllug. coal proHerbert Foster of the National Rockefeller's role in pushing the !ductlon by the year 2000. -. ~tion. "We just can't get amendme-nt. which has been a _-. ..[t's quite clear when we're lookft SOld. pn>!ed by a Senate committee, sa P. :1ag at the decades of the sos and ;90s [The. has been a general 1ng 1t guts the law. Y :.that coal has to play a substaa.tially reduction in energr cons:umption The industry says efforts such as :tncreased role," says National Coat growth ca~ by ltigber prices and Rockefeller's .:d athPr r.=: q.a, .. -,ASSOCiation President Carl Bagge. conservation. Electricity demand lawmak~rs trying to amend the A recent congressional study says growth has slowed far more than Clean A,r Act are evidence of :most estimates are that energy deanyone erpected. Thus the demand across-the-board Indignation about 'mand in 2000 A.0: mav fall betwt!en for coal has slackened as well. J burdensome regulations. :100 and 150 "quads;. (quadrilllon.. Ho~ver, the Mational Coal Asso"Miners are mad. members of BTUs), compared wit.'l 71.1 quads ciation s Bagge says the federal govCon1:.ess are mad. governors are !usect in 1975. e~.ment is the villain. mad. ~gge said. Out of ~hat. he Meeting that demand through coal Government policy is exclusively says. wtll come a "new alliance" to .!~O\lld __ ;ne~ __ ;m_~l~tJf_~~ua.c,sio.i:_ at !~ult_for the present tragic state of educate the public about coal. tl'lat. says a r11:ent study by the Of ~faars in the_ coal inttusy; he_said. But l!nited Mine Workers don't nee-ot Tecnnology Assessment We lz:ave pn~ed ourselves rtg.!tt out necessanly agree. tJMW Internation-(OTA). holds ;.l mixture ot promiSe of the uuernauonai coal market." al Secretary-Treasurer Blll Esseistyn and riSk... says me un,on might agree that some reguiadons are unnecessary, but indUStry l'la.sn't been specific enough about wmclt ones.
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Article also appeared in: Tribune (Greeley, Colo.) Idaho Statesman (Boise, Idaho) Houston Chronicle Citizen (Auburn, N.Y.) Daily Commercial News (San Francisco) Dallas Morning News Seattle Daily Times Times Herald (Norristown, PA) The New Haven Register Hour (Norwalk, Conn.) Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.) Jeffersonian (Cambridge, Ohio) Herald (Guymon, Okla.) Messenger (Fort Dodge, Iowa) Star Tribune (Casper, Wyo.) Democrat (Durant, Okla.) Morning Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.) Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) Times (Kingsport, Tenn.) Local News (West Chester, Pa.) Tribune (Seymour, Ind.) News Courier (Athens, Ala.) Raleigh Register (Beckley, W.VA.) News (Clinton, Iowa) News (Welch, W.VA.) Call (Du Quoin, Ill. ) Herald (Sanford, Fla.) News-Topic (Lenoir, N.C.) News-Chief (Winter Haven, Fla.) Examiner-Enterprise (Bartlesville, Okla.) Republican (Marion, Ill.) News-Daily (Jonesboro, Ga.) News (Lebanon, Pa.)
PAGE 102
Mechanical Engineering Oct~ 1979 Coal Use Can Triple, But at Cost to PubUc and Industry The rate of growth of coal mining. and en, economical technology. However, demand will be the greatest constraint on production. the impacts of coal use are subject to demand for coal is unlikely to surge unwide uncertainties, according to a study less other energy options are foreclosed by the Office ofTechnoloCY Assessment or new incentives are created for users to (OTA). In releasing the report, Rep. burn coal, OTA warns. Under present expectations of energy needs and the availability of other fuels, coal demand will at least double by 2000. A rapid rise in energy demand or shortages in other fuels could lead to a tripling of coal demand. In creases beyond that level, perhaps to make up for major shortfalls in other fuels, would seriously strain the supply capacity. Morris Udall (D.-Ariz.), OTA's board In testimony before the House Com chairman, said: "At a time of increasing mittee on Science and Technology, OT A concern over our energy as well as enviActinJ Director Daniel De Simone ronmental future, th.is report will help swnmari:zed the report's major findings shape the Congressional debate over the as follows: next several years." The coal industry will probably Coal is the nation's only energy source continue to have surplus capacity for at that has both huge reserves and a provleast the next decade; slow growth of Federal standards add substantiaily to the direct C08t of producing and using coal (although they also substantially lower indirect ccsts) and make ooa1 111111 attractive to energy users. but are not othenrise major constraints. Federal laws promotmJ the use of coal will continue to assure some growth of coal use, since they limit the choice of fuels for the electric utility industry. Demand for electricity is upected to continue to grow, though more slowly than in the put. The inconvenience of coal com bustion is a major constraint to opera ton of small .facilities, ~Y under stringent emission controls. Financial incentives or technological develop. ments will be required to induce these operators to use coal as long as oil and gas are available. Major sacrific:ae in environmental quality, as measured by the current reguJatory standarda, need not accom-paDy expanded coal use, if expansion is accompanied by strict enforcement of environmental regulations. However, important gaps exist in our under standing of coal's environmental im pac:r.s, and present regulatory controls may be inadequate. Existing flue gas desulfurization technology is probably adequate-though cmtly-to meet proposed air pollution emission standards. Disposal of scrubber sludge appears to be feasible technologically, but expensive. Compliance with strip mining regulations will raise the coat of mining coal, but it should not prevent the in dustry from meeting demand. The critical environmental u.ncertainties are: (1) the extent of global carbon dioxide buildup in the atmosphere and its resulting climatic effects; (2) the possibility that adverse effects. on public health result from long-term exposure to low levels of coal-related air pollutants (some studies contend that tens of thousands of premature deaths annually are now occurring); and (3) a possible increase in damaging acid rain. If the ~ore pessimistic assessment3 of these problems are confirmed by additional research, a re appraisal of our environmental control strategy or even our commitment to in creased coal combustion may be in order, since all pollutants of concern increase with high coal use. Copies of the OT A report, The Direct Use of Coal: Pro&pects and Problems of Production and Combustion, are available from the U.S. Government Printing Office. The GPO stock number is 062-003-00664-2; the price is $7.00. Write: Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office. Washington. D.C. 20402.
PAGE 103
Aquarian (Montclair, N.J.) Nove. 28, 1979 The Size Of The Western Coal Boom b.v Jon Stewart PNS-ln order to meet the "most likely" ener-. gy demands for the year 2,000, the U.S. will have to approximately triple its coal Jm)Cluction, according to the '~l=~TG... nology AsaesOTAJ;, "'That-Wi1i mun production between 1.5 and two bil6on tOflS of coal per year. TI. &on's share of. that in crease wiil come from the West, which the OTA says has almoet 90 percent of the total hypothetical coal reserves in America. While .the Wst still lags behind the East in coal production, the ratio wiD change radic:ally YerY-soon. The West, which produced only about 154 million tons oi coal in 1977, is expected to increase produc tion to as much as 1.1 billion tons by 2,000, as high as a hail-billion within five years. Meanwhile, Eastern coal production wiU increase to only about 500-600 rniDion tons by 2,000, oi about SO_percent over cunent lewis. The Western coal is favored because of its lower sulfur content and the greater accesllibility and lower labor costs auociated with ~"1.. Wtlue tne West now produces only about one-quarter of the current national demand, it wil soon be responsible tor as much as 80 percent. At the same-time, coal's contnbution to total U.S. energy demand over the next 20 years will rise from 20 percent to at least 30 percent, even without a syn fuels induatry, according to figures derived from the Su rau of Mines and the OT A. A synfuels industry would greatly increase coal production, though it is impossible to estimate how much. As a rule of thumb, the coal iftdus. try estimates that it takes roughly one ton of coal to produce the energy equivalent to four barrels of oii. For instance.. a aemonsua:: tion coal liquefication plant proposed by Gulf Oil, to be built in Morgantown, W. Va., would produce 20,000 barrels of synfuel per day from 5,000 to 6,00 tons of coal. Thus. by 1~. production or two mil&on barrels equivalent of synfuel, as-caDed for in the more ambitious legislation, would require roughly 180 mil lion tons of coal a year. That is some 25 million tons more than was produced in all the West ern states in 1977. It would substitute for roughly one quarter of current oil im~ -*-Pollution Engineering Nov. 1979 OTA SAYS USE OF COAL BAD. COAL GROUP SAYS C0NTR0LS TOO STRINGENT R.ecent taamoaY f'rom Office ol Tec!mo!ogy Assessment National Coal Asaociation sent a letter to the White pcrsmmel claimed c:onuol of sulfates from existing House charging Congress with an "inilmble law (the coal-find power pJams which only bave to meet local Clean Air Act) which has literally bandc:uff'ed EPA in ambicllt air quality stll1ldards is inadequate. Long-range many respecu." The association made a series of transpOrt of sulfates n:prescnts a strong risi: attached to recommendations which would allow greater use of coal the proaram to use more coal. acconling to an OTA study without a.mending the Act. For instanc:e. states could which links sulfates to human mortality. Scrubbers are remuuate major fuel-burm.ng plants and environmental described as adequate for coauol purposes. but OTA sea needs, and set emission limits on a plant-by-plant basis. the aisting plants as the problem. If their retirement is Also suggested: a uniform nationwide Jo.day rolling delayed. sulfur compounds in the atmosphere are not average to determine compliance, and the use of liafy to decline significantly in the 11CXt decade unless pograpbica.l rather than politica.l boundaries for air Conpess tam steps to impose additional CODtrols. quality regions. Practically on the same day as the OTA testimony, the
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San Antonio News Nov. 9. 1979 Texas coal for -son Antonio . .... \ ... Silt: I~ that our mayor's effort ~-. to secure coal from foniD COW1tli.es 1POl&ld be' desirable u sulDcient coal .. .. 'suppJ1es were not readily available witbm the State of Texas. liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaiiiiiiiiiiiii; A z:ec:ent publicatton. "1'Jle Direct Use of COal, N by. Offlce..,o(.Xeciw>Jogy Congress Of the United Stares, s&a&es-that Texas had l9.8 milJJon tOll8'I of shipped to its eleeu1c: uWWas, wbile,19 miilloll tons of ttlis total were shippeii from mines in Anzona. New Mexico and Texas. Ia the same-publlc:atioa, it lndicates tlla& Texas has an. a:nnuai production capacity of 26 to 58 mill1on tons per year. Ponola County alone had a capacity of 12 to 11 millioir tons per year. Based. upcm. hi8hest capacity estimates. Milam had u miWmt tons, Henderson S.S. i\ta&COSa and Robertson a.a. ntus u and Granes 4.0 .million :ams. .. .I realize that it makes the news to carry on aegotiaUons with businessmen from Japan. Australia and other foreign c:oumries. And. Heavea. lcJlows our mayor-aad Cit' Council needs all the favorable exposure that they can get, but I bell.eve Ulat it .is., rather shortsighted to go to te extremes of. tbe country (Wyoming) and the world (Japan) when we have ail the coal we need at home. Some will say that our coal Is different and it. may cost something to change over to the new raw material. but the costs can not compare to C"UJTent hues that our current shipper charges or the cost of dependency upon a foreign suppiier. In addition. buying from a fDreigri supplier. will burt our almdy unfavora.bie balaace ot trade and" further' r6duce the Yallle of the dollar. Let us explore all the POSSibilities of astng 1oc:a1 resou.rcas be/ore we try to import coal from lwf way around the world. ac:roa the country or even from the darlc side of the mooa. ..-GeeneA.Bea The Honolulu Advertiser Nov. 14, 1979 -For-~uclear power Ia ms book "The Hazards ot' Sot Going Nu.clear.' Petr Beckman of the University of Colorado. a nuclear enlineer points out that while. no form of eDel'IY is without some element of risk. nuclear i$ saler than anyt!wl1 else yer illven~ for the production of. electricity. Hydro.-coal~ oil~. 1as. are more danprous .in terms of. death, injury and illDess than anyone has per-ceiwd. . / .. . In a recent report. the Oftlcl! of Technology Assess~of.~ lists 40,00Qpremature deaths a year ill Ameriea from the coal that 1oes to electricity , .. .. ," ..... .. -: "r -. There-are fiw.cfams m.the tr.s. that each could kill. 100,00G at a. time;. they are clanceroua in eartbquakes. ou ol tbem at 1>resent siuon a fault. Jlamoteiy situat-.ed. u.y could allo mvite sabotaae. : Namral 1as: ezp.l.osions over. the years have killed hwldreda. Nuclear plaats. ge12erate pow~r ill a. few cubic: yards o~ spaca that can. have defense ill depth. U DUClear power had no odser ad.vantages. Beckman says. the ease and safetY oi waste disposal alone would li'Ye it tile edce over the otbers. With nuclear you are dealbag witn minuscule, quantities, like two cubic meters per year compared to 30 pounds a .second from j coal-fueled plants. 1 :. ...... _. BEATRI~E A.'lt>Ai.vrHONYKIRXPATR1CK j The Dallas Morning News Nov. 8, 1979 No.Safetv Guarantee ,; In Energy Conversion Ta-Tlltr011181~ The.Kemeny Report did not call for shutting down all the reactors, though it was close. with half these sages voting for it. because ... we canJ1ot assure the safety of nuclear power." The commttee ignores the crux of the matter: There iS no such thing as absolute safety in any form of energy conversion, but nuclear iS safer than the only possible present alternative -burning coal by a factor of at least 10 and possibly 100 to 1. (Solar is for the future, and probably for the birds.) A recent report from the QU!!.9.i T!ChnQ!9~~!.~ment. a highly reS1)eCted agency of the Congress. gave the exi>ected mortality from bunting coal for 19iS at 48.000 from lung cancer and other respiratory diseases a!ont1. Power generation used about 77 percent of the coal 3d hence is responsi ble for 37.000 deaths. If nuclear rea<:;tors had replaced these coal-fired plants, 440 would have been required. If each of the 440 killed 7 persons every month. for a total of more than 4 deaths every hour of every day and night, uranium would be on a par with coal as a killer. Yet in the 22 years of experience with reactors an accident has never killad anyone or even come close to it. and that includes Three Mile Island. The yearly score is 37,000 to o, yt, umpires Nader. Fonda. the No Nukes Kooks, all the media and half the Kemeny com.mission try to make us be lieve the Nukes have lost the game, Whatscorewoulditfalttttowtn? A.P.C..~RY.
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OPEN SHELF LIFE DATING OF FOOD
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The Denver Post Oct. 10, 1979 'Cost of Open Dc,ting :\ . ,. l 01 Food Uncertain ~! -. .,..... .. ... WASHINGTON (UPI) Consumers Information on how much open dating mm open datmg on food packages par costs. But tbe Office of Technology A1lr dlUed at groeenes; but no predse iDfor-sessmen, esttmates it might add from G.1 maUon ts available on its advantages or to l cent to tbe price of each packap baw much it costs UJem., a coagresmoual purchased by consumers. advilDry agency says. A MANDATORY FEDERAL system ID a stud.J recmly?'eJeased. c~-would cost taxpayers about $500,000 .a Ofllsl of TeeJmolegy MJP""'lt..,.,aid ... ......-said. open dating encourages better baDdllDg year, ,._ ... """.. -by wbolesalert retailers and consumers Besides cost, more research is needed to move product& otl. sbelves when tbey on the amount o1 food sold na11onally an no lcmprtresll. Isn't !rm. the experienc9 of states with An .Agrtculture Department study open-datmg and a scieDt1fic ba sbowed that consumer etmzpiaint:s llbout sis for ~temliDillg tresmeu dates, t11!t spoiled food fell" 5& percent after the inreport said. trodlld:ioa o1 open dat1Dg, tbe report said. It sud the date by which consumers "Open sbelf-life datmg'' is stamping must consume food would be the most dates on food to show at least one of relevant information on food aJld the t!ne tbmgs: wben food ii packaged. a. most costly and dWlcult to verify sdeli deadlme wben it sbou.ld be sold or when it tiflcally. : sbDald be coasmned. The report conc1Uded there Is "~ By contrast. consumers usually can't evidence to support or negaie the eontendedpber the mamitacturers' own coded tion that there is a direct relationship bed.ates. tween open sbelf-life dating and the actuTBERE IS NO acnm-the-board sysal freshness of food prodUctS when they tem of open dating, so practices vary are sold." ; among foods and geograpbi.cal areas. Better bandling could m;nimm 111r Twenty-one states and the District of trient loss from foods, but open datmg Columbia have laws that require some provides little or no improvement in miopen dating on food. Some processors crobiologlcal satety of foods, which is the voluntarily mari: their products with result of processing failures, contamina dates. wm after processing or storage al!_d ban Members o1 Congress, -wbo have ex-dJ1ng abuses, the report said. pressed interest in a nationwide system. The states with some open dating incan select t!ne altemt1ve poJicies, the cJ:ude Alabama, California, Com:iectieut, report said. Florida. Georgia, MaryiaDd. Maacl1ll-Congress can retain the existing volunsetts (being dlallenged in court), Midli tary system, estabDsb a mandatory na-gm. Millllesota, Nebraska, Nevada. New ttonwide-system or develop guidelines for Hampshire, New Jmey, New Mexico, processors wbo dmose to place open Obio, Okla.lloma., Oregon, Pennsyl\'an.ia. dates on their product.,. Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin and The report said there is liWe precise the Distnct of Catumbia. \
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Greensboro Daily News Nov. 87 1979 Datill'gNOi --: J Freshness Guarantee: BY PENNY GmARD .TllltLNA...-~ .-n# WASBINGTON The use of open dating techniques to better determine the shelf life of foods does not guarantee a product's fzeslmess, according to a new federal~ I The study, preparm bf the ~Techttglon ~group which advises OD science issues. esamined the use of open datinl.-,. its benefits, and some of the potential costs of ~"' a Ullifrm system nationwide. --Opm dating meam puttiq legible dates on food products to tell consumers. as well as retailers. when the contents should best be sold ot eaten to ensure ~.:. .. freshness. While comamen iDCNUingly support open datinlh:: the nll)Ol't said. there still are a number of issues to ba-..,. resolved. 'n1ese iDclude the lack of. a UDiform open da.h::. iDg sY',ltem nationwide. sirable gal),1 in scieDtific lmowt,,..,, edge about food freshness. and potential costs to industry and COIIS1IUll!rS for cm,ing out a aaticmwi~,:.i program. ~!ti The concept of dating food inot new. Caded dates~;., were used as early as the 1930s, but they were primarilr:., a part of inventory control. ,~!It! Today, 21 states and the District of Columbia hawi.i.u adopted some fom of open dating for food, but methods used vary from state to state. Some states ~-:quire the date the food was paclcag1!d. others prefer the:.,1t dates when a product should be sold, consumed qr:,:.: discarded. As one of its major fmdings, the report raised con. cerns about how much consumers sbould depend ~,0 open dating as an assumnce of food freshness. ,..: "There is little eYidence to support or to negate tlle-:r. contention that there is a direct relationship between-,v1 open (shelf-life) dating and the actual freshness of food::. products when they are sold," tbe coagressional advi sory group said. I 90, Aa:ordiJlg fa the the lack of a mliform sn,:....; tem. or of any industry guideilnes, bas resulted in con-,-: sumer confusion. : "Consumeri complain that since they C3DDOt inter-,.,;, pnt the codes. they C3Dl10t tell whether or not the food:.:: they are buying is fresh." the report said. nn-, "Indeed. sometimes employees at both the retail,aad wholesale level C2IUIOt read the codes either and thus are unable to use them as a means of la!eping:---:-l! stocks in date." the study added. ,1:ft1 The group also said that while the use Of open aar., ,:;; ing. does inform the consumer about the time lapse be--"' I rftllJ pac:taging and pure.base or use of the product.>J 1 tbere are other factors such as processing conditions.:.~: i,adtaging, and storage that can contribute to the food'su,1. fresJmess and shelf life. i A study of 25 su~ in Minnesota revealed:;.::: that all of the stores bad some outdated food on their'" shelves. ::~ i: Another study, also in Minnesota. found that 44 percent ofthe baby formula being sold was outdated. Howa~ ever. since 64 pen:ent of the store managers could nob.ii read a coded date. it was impossible for them to rotate the stock, the federal report said. ._ .. The Jaclc of adequate scientific knowledge about the:,.., amount of freshness lost during sbelf live of a product ..: .further compounds the issue. 0-:~'!1 "What appears at first to be a simple task of con-"'" verting (manuiactum"s packagingJ code to open dates:~ readily becomes comi,ies with many unanswered ques-tions," the report said. .,,,._j
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!he Arizona Daily Star Dec. l2, 1979 ... ,..... .., -"T, .,.., J _,, .Fos1:.ee!ng is:'.:_~'!!1l!.'!~.:a.~tu?.t!!!2~~Gm< =--1'11e ,1111 mflll Jina ume evidence to support a direct relationship ers the molt relfflnt information, but costly w ASHINGTON caasumers like to see between food dating and actual food freshto implement and difficult to verify scientifl-foods dated for freshness on p-oc:ery shelves. ness. cally. bat: there js llttle evidence that the ~c:tice 'nlescudy said the practice of putting dates "What appears at first to be a simple task assures actual tresnnen whm the food iS -cm food goes back to the early 19308. but the of converting code to open dates readily be-so.Id. according to a receat congressional dates usually are in coded forms designed for comes c:omplex With many unanswered quesstudy. iaveutory amcrol and to usiaC ID product re-tionS.'" the study said. The Office of Teclmol9S% Assessment said calls. For mmple, it said. even though dating ail suneys show ibat conswners wam dates : Consumers, andsometimeswbolesaleand can apply to ail foods. some lose their fresh-aa food so they can decide-when it's ba to retail employees. can't read the codes. it -ness faster than others. Variables such as buy or~ the products. 9licL temperature. humidity, light and time on gro. But because there ii no fl!Cilftl policy on The Office of Technology Assessment, cers' shelves would make determining spe-. daan& a Wide variadon in srate laws and no wbfdl advises Congress on policy options in :~:"tes oa_foods difficult to do accurately, IIDiform industry g,Jidellnes. "the result is tedmicai areas. said three types of dating Some form of mandatory open-dating law often consumer confusion, .. said the report. could be used on food packages: Is in effect in 21 states and the District of "A survey conductid for (the congres Packaging date: Easiest and least exColumbia. but the laws cover different prod-sianal smdy) shawl that three out of four pensive for. the food _industry to adopt, but. ucts and have different ~rements in each consumers can correctly identity the type of providfn& the least infonnadon for consumstate. date on milk.'" the report said. .. But only one In four knows the type of date on breakfast M$ale by'' date: Provides retailers with ~!:'ge {:!era' 8:'~mentat's cereal, and OnJyone ID three knows the-of Op v UIW prese VO un ry 11-greater Inventory control, but does not tell system conttnue with no interference. Indus. date on ground beef.,. c:omumerwhen food 'should be eaten or dis-try is developing and adopting 'l)en-dating Because of tlnaaCia1 and sdentiflc w:acer ~ed. i standards.
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St. Louis Labor Tribune Nov. 29, 1979 How to kn~W~t-he~:---food you buy is fresh Fresh food. We all waat to be sure of it when we buy. Overwhelming majorities al 75 to 90 percent haft rqistered coacem in numerous surve,s, the latest by the Food and "\,!'!:;!=~-The'!,=~~ pibtiefurorsome years bade when 10-year-old peas and espired baby food '1Nl'I! found Oil stare shelves. Aftar tbat, some al the undecipherable codes oo cans and packages began to give way to~ called open dating. By this method.. calendar dates tell either when an item was packed, the last day it sbollld be smd. or tbe last day itsimwd be consumed for best nsults. ID some cases. manufaeturenand retailers haft vohmblrily undertaken the open dating. ID addition., 21 states and the District IX Calmnbia require it on specilied foods, mainly perisbables. with the type IX date varying from state to state. Only Massadmsetts requires _opel'.1 dating OIi items with Jong sheJf li'Vl!S aa well as on perismOles. What. we have., in is :. rnisbrnasb On a loaf al bread, the twister seal may teil you the day al the week it was baked. Many dairy ifllms and 4!IP. say. "sell by.'' Meats may disclose eitber a paddag., wtHJf or use-by date. And, under a voluntary program initiated last year by the Nalional Food Proeessor.i Assoc:iatioa .. some canners. such as Campbell and Libby, label their goods. "For best remtts, use by-." Many can still bear private codes. bowe-lv. Caafused? You have lots of company. In a survey by the Office al Teclmo-Assessment , the research arm ii Congress. Ftiutli:S of tbe shoppers lcnew that milk had a seJl.by date. However, only qne in four i~ed the use-by date oa breakfast cereal; more tban one third thought it was a sell-by date. OTA coaducted the survey as part of a tbol"Ollgb examination of open dating and the feasibility of national standarcls. Tbe report clearly recognizes the aeed for a uniform system oi open dating. However, OTA concludes that "although such a step appears simple and. sensible at first gJance-, it entails many scientific and financial uncertainties and invoi~ so1:119 complelC choices." ~-' According to interviews with manufacturers. ret.ailers and coosumer leaders, OTA unfortunately errs in im assess-ment of the problems. .. -: For example, OTA exagger.a tes the gaps in scientific and tecJmological data. Actually, data is substantial and rapidly growing; that's why companies have increasingly entered the voluntary open dating program of NF'PA. Similarly. OTA is mistaken in judging as .. unreliable" cer tain device& that measure the combined effect of time and teml)el"atureoo packaged foods as a meamof quality control during.transport an~ storage. Without ad~uat.e ~ty con trol. of course. open datint loses much "! its mea_mng. If. for instance milk stands for hours on a loading dock ID 90 degree temeerature, i~ spoil __ v,,. b~o~ .i.~ -~tion da~e. Perhaps OTA's biggest m11ta1ee is. its contention that ..there is no consensus on which type of date < pack. sell by or use by> to use for which products or even which products to date at all:" The industey and consumer representatives who were interviewed agreed that: All products need dating since nothing lasts forever. While canned goods won't become contaminated as long as the can isn't damaged. after a certain time there is loss of texture. color, flavor and sometimes nutrients. For long-sbeJf-life-items sueh as canned soup or com. it's fine to use the canners' "For best results use bv -. On perishables such as milk and semi-perishables such as processed meats. tbe package sbouid say, For best results, usewi~ys Ot" weeksof---c selling date-)." This would give retailers the dates th_ey lleed for stock rotation and consumers the information they need about home storage. Perishables should aJso be labelled with instructions such as ''keep refrigerated" or "store in a cool, dry place." Congressman Benjamin Rosenthal; D-N.Y., for years has sponsored a bill pl'Op(]Sing similar requirements. It has langujshed in committee and will have an even harder time getting attention after OTA's report comes out. That's just fine as far as manufacturers and retailers are-concerned. Despite their support of uniformapen dating, they buck the aotion of federal regulation. Consumer leaders, though believe that legislation would be the oniy way toacbieveuniformity and to get it with some speed. Still,-no one is i:usrung very bard ... What we need." said a Rosenthal staffer, "is a sense that ~le are clamoring for it ... No one bas died yet .. We need an emergency around. here to get action. maybe a case er. two ol botulism."
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RJOO 'TECHNOl.DGY !!_~,ILL ,..,..nm.YS.SOO NOV 1979 OTA l'l!Jport on O{Jllll dating "[f ~-':e ~~-~echno~gy Assessment has issued a 120-p report analyzing the 8S1 1 _ty a,IQ cost of open shelf-life dating of food. OTA concluded that ""there is =dence to sup!'tt o~ negate the contention that there is a direct relationship n .?Pn shel!-1,fe dating ana the actual freshness of food products when the are sold. OTA estimat!d the cost to producers of establishing open dates at abou~ $100.000 for each penshable food product (such as milk products) and $ 200 000 for those that remain fresh longer (such as canned vegetables). The cost t~ the federal government could be as high as half a million dollars dependin -;:ether Congress maintai~s the existing voluntary system or esrablishes so~e ~i: th man~tory system. Cop,es_of the report-which includes detailed discussions of ---.... .. e ~PPI!~tion of open dating to specific foods. basie food preservation and ::t~r;;>rati~nfrmodels, and technological evaluation of shelf life-are available for eac om the U.S. Government Printing Office. MAT\OM~S HEALTff WASH I-NGTON0 O. C. IONTHI.Y S9.S 0 OCT 1979 fJ;f'--,,,,; .,,A ISSN I c...,es Doting of Food Examined The United States is a notable exception among developed countries in not having mandatory open dating .. on prepaclcaged foods with short sheif lives. ai:cording to a recent repo~ from the Congressional Office 9f Technolog OimSJPeJU However, co create government regulations for dating foods would raise a complexity of questions including where to draw the line between fresh and not fresh. and what type of date the pacicages should carry. The report, which was done to ~d Congress in deciding whether to pass a law on open dating, concludes. unung other things. that such rules might minimize nutrient loss in some foods by promoting better handling practices. However, say OT A, it wol.lld probably afford tittle benefit in improved microbiological safety of foods, since microbiological hazards result from failures in processing, contamination after procassing, and abuse in storage and handling. These factors have little to do with the age of the produce. The report raised the possibility that open dating might even create a contamination hazard since a conmmer might use a product despite the f~t that it looked and felt bad. simpiy because the pac:kage date said it should still be good. OTA cites as a major problem the lack of knowledge to accumteiy determine how long products stay fresh. For instance, the deterioration of food is affected by environmental factors. There are also questions as whether to use the pack d:ite which is simple for the producer to provide but gives the consumer little information: or the "sell-by date" which still does not tell consumers how long they can keep the product; or the "'best-if used by" date which would tell when a product is not at its top quality. To scientifically determine the "best if used by'" date would cost as much as SZ00,000 and two months for each product, according to the OTA. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia pre!endy have open~date labeling requiteme-nts, bill. the laws are for different products and require different typa of dates. There h.as been longterm congressional interest in open-dating. althou~ no action up tu this point.
PAGE 112
Tli.NSPORTA'l'ION
PAGE 114
--.~ov;; :.t9 .~~~c~':4;:,c~,,;;,~ ,~: ~; ,; < < 0;,:?1 ~-, -... : MC,~E~-~~ ~~yei. o~~P~RSON_IC_ R.~~EARC~ RECOMMENoe9_ ,J ... ;,: "i : _: \t~= .. :;:~/>,:~:;,:::-.:f~:~~;:,,;,J'be Director of tbs CU(ce at Tosbootow A:w;sry,ent has recommended that NASA-_~-~~'.-~ .,,spend a{'rrioderatelevel':of_~rch--anct development funds on an advanced supel'10nic transport (AST). >:<. In. testimony before tha House Science and Technology subcommittee on: transportation, aviation and com-:,:::". . .. -.. 'lt:~ munications, OTA-Director John .. Gibbons: said. co~nued research is necessary ~~to further develop factual_ :. ,,_: .. information. and, reducesome of th& technicat;. uncertainties/-: --A decision. should be made: soon on whether .,, /_ttta_ resean:tt. sttou,d. be:acce1~~0l{~t~~~tf~~:t.f~t~ti~Ii~t~~~:it~~."?~?1i\]&1i8:ii;~J.::f,~fj(; 1,J.:)~oTAi.is in. .thee.middle: of 'technology aSsessmerit. study for:the-cammitte&, the,."tmpact of.Advance:f: ... ;:" _:r;,;Air"Trarrsport'. Technofogy~"~)ncfGibbons'_~-~im9ny was based'c,n interim~:findings.' Gibbons said most : <~,> ::. manufacturers agree-that ttie tect,nofogy. is,not'yet available to produce a supersonic airplane that would ~ .. :_'. beconsidered a "justifiable. risk.'": He.-$3id,-.. Until further_ tec:tinology advances and_validation are accom~ .,,~--'} :: .. plished~ and until a variety. af ~onomi~-questicns are clearer, an .AST isnot likely to be a prudent investment." .; ;.:ji>Ti,~'qiiestion to be.:'addressecfnow. is. whether the. long-range promise of an-advancad supersonic-. :-> ; :~~sport _, one thu may_ be _designed' perhaps ii :to'. years from now is sufficient to j_ustify the in. :_ -: vestment in getting thetechnology ready: If we. keep with past ~ractice, the burden of financing such re-. :'. : search would fail __in large measure. Of! th~ ~Ame~can taxpayer," .. G~bbons said. ,;; -;;,,.: __ ,_. :~ :. _;:;_:;;.;;;;.::' :,;. -.,_.;:-.. ,:'.:}_ ~'i ,. : _. -~~-~t;.;i\VI~?~~:?{t.f.~J!i~i~ tt~{.\cceptabJe ~ST. :: ~ ; ._: {-: :~j;,\:f(r:\:rz}!~/:>\~}t~/-;'fi':: .:'',~.:--,f~;jt: .-~~--:--:':,, Reviewing the prospects and Iincertainties-,, OT A believes that :'.Fhere is a,, good possibility that an en. : vironmentally acceptable-_ and economicaUy viableAST could be d9'.eloped and could play a significant ,-_~; :.: rcle irt the _long-range. overwater __ travet-.~rket -~-the.end of the:Cl!f'.ltury/~ Gibfl9f'.l5,-.~id th~ an. _AST _:. :,, .. might capture. about $60 billion 'of, the-estimated $"150 billion in". safes expected: for 'the aircraft market . -,_\; -(:,through-the year-_2010-; if(*{~~~::til~t~;;f~}Jfff'.~t1l~t'~;fj.;fffiHqjj\~f~1\s-::,.:'::,;\,':,f,:_;;:\.;,:c.: }-~-}jl :, .. :/ The prospects for a com~rclai-supersonic transport ,,..appear attractive-'enough to keep. our supersonic. : C ~rch effort active, and reasonably 'healthy,~~:Gibbons said, but "'*the uncertainties-that $Urround an AST. -: :'-specifically fuel. price;: fuef availability: and noise,. 'ara too. significant: to.~ warrant' an accelerated research and .. -: ;-development pf'l"\nflll'ft until .they a betterresolv~'~ :-:,,-~ ~l.a,~~-..:.:.;-'":;'.,4;.jok:~>-.:: .,;:.\;i"tr',.-~--!, .?+-~":'.-~: ,:"'. :.,_. .. Y:. -~-. : ; :;: ~j:i";"-~:.:,.. .. ~~Jo-_ ..,"""'-~ ... -. --:-' -~. ,~ ~ ,/'" ..... One of the most important factors affecting aircraft. design of both subsonic and supersonic wirt be the type, price ancf~vailability. of fuef in future-years. One uncertainty-for researchers is what type of fuel an aircraft. shouki be -designed-for;, since most aircraft will be in service for 2o; to 30 years. -' : ; ;:.',_ii~t/~t-~-f/1;~~:tt~~~ji5~Gt;-.j~&l)}$~::{~~{~jtF~,-Sourca ~-:~.-_---,~--~.2t::;:\~:1:~ff\i[f, ;,> f;.,_ ,:. :-r:;/\.?2} '.:. ::< l.f' s.ynthetic... fuef is: usect, then ai~aft wm not, have to be_ redesig_n,. but "if th& energy track is to '. ,: usefuels. significantly different; from petroleum 'such: as methane or ~vdrogen, these fuels will require new -. .. aircraft designs,' Gibbons said. Price and availabjlitv are. of course~ important since a supersonic aircraft. : consumes about twice the fuel -subsonic aircra~ he' said.. -~ '\:, --~, >:,_.c..::. .: .<... -~,:. .. .-.; ;, ";-:.';' ".:!.. :'' :-;0-_'.K\The:_most ~Ii-~ .. f9f. developin~ an.AST.is -i~p~;i~g:ai~ft p~~~vify ;fnce-,a sup~~-; -,:~ :. sonic. aircraft can_ carry ~t?out .twice as mariy passe~ge!S: day as can a subsonic: plane,. Gibbons said. The : major dm-vback,. in-_ the-Past. that the, ~atE:'r. _C9ff has o_utweigheti theproductivity gain. "Over time,: however,. this .cast penalty has been decreasing tflat is, the. difference in---the potential cost of supersonic ai'rcraft" ~nip~ to subsonic ai~ft. ~. ~ shrinkin~f:. While rising: energy costs could slow the. trend, it is reasonabfe_ :~.:-~~~ th~, through, ~no[ogical !~p~vernents this __ ccnvergence will con' unue," Gibbons said. ""'-,-'';:,7.7:_~"'.::'/t'f,.7~~?.;:,::q_:'.t::~:~::cJ: :-.:.: .. ,::..~ .-,\'it>>~o; \_'-/'.'':-'::> : -.. -; -' -': Other uncertainties include noise and environmental problems.: "Present. NASA work indicates the possibility of meeting ( FAR Part 36, Stage 2) noise ret]Ulations. More research and development and tech nology validation will be needed: to meet Stage~ 3 requirements." Gibbons said OT A believes that "th& uncertainty about noi.se fromsupersoni~ aircraft will have to be reduced. significantly before any manu.. facturer is likely' to"_~mit to: a new supersonic "aircntt program; The investment is too large to risk failure .fer no~ m~ng a more stringent noise sta. ndar~.~,,Therefore, "substantial ~arch and engine ~-~~~"1.!8sti"g_ wilt bft:-~.!2..~-~~o?~~~-~~ ~i!._.T~rgi'!_2~rtaj~_.._.
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Aviation Week Nov. 12, 1979 Congressional Branch Forecasts Wuhiap,a-U. S. industry will be ready to build an economical supersonic transport by the tum of the century, and the current "modes,.. investment of S l O million in tu dollars per year should be continued, but not increased. the Office of Technology Assessment has found. The office. a branch of Congress. was requested to take a fresh look at eventual widcscale introduction of advanced, high speed aircraft by former Rep. Olin E. Teague (D.-Tex.) on Apr. 13, 1978. John H. Gibbons. director of the office. told the House Science and Technology Committee: ~ouring the next 20 years the market for long-range aircraft will a>ntin ue to be dominated by subsonic aircraft. for which there is still substantial opportu nity for advancing technology to improve j energy efficiency, general economic per fonnance and environmental eampatibili ty. At the other end of the performance spectrum-hypersonic aircraft-we doubt that there will be any a>mmerciai applica tions within the next JO years." The office found that the relative total operating cost per seat mile of supersonic and subsonic aircraft. back to the Douglas DC-3, is converging over time. The costs will reach their closest point in the mid1990s. Gibbons said an advanced supersonic transport will have these characteristics: An advanced supersonic transport could capture SSO billion, in 1979 dollars, of the S 150-billion long-range aircraft market through the year 2010. Fares will be 1.3 times subsonic fares, while current supersonic fares arc two to three times more than the lowest subsonic fares. It will still be required to ft y subsoni cally over !and, with supersonic flight restricted to water. Aviation WHk & Sp-TecnnalOQy, No,,emce, ,2. 1979 -1 U.S. SST Feasible by Year 2000 1 It will have efficient subsonic opera tion OYCr land. The variable-qcle engine under study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will operate at near optimum fuel efficiencies while cruising at either supersonic or subsonic speeds, Gibbons said. Internal configuration will achiCYe significant reductions in noise levels at talceoff' and landing. Fuel price is the determining factor in how cost-efficient a future supersonic transport will be. Gibbons estimated that if fuel prices increase 3% annually, the operating ccst of a supersonic aircraft will be 25% higher than that : i a subsonic aircraft. That calculation .IS made last summer, prior to signific:.,it aviation fuel increases. At Sl.29 a gallon (in 1978 dollars), in the year 2010, supersonics would eost JS% more than subsonic. Noise standards could become stricter by the tum of the century, raising new problems for the development of super sonic aircraft. Practical aerodynamic solu tions for sonic boom appear to be many years off', Gibbons said. Depletion of the earth's ozone layer is not seen by Gibbon's office as the impedi ment it once was to the development or a U. S. supersonic transport. '"Studies, including a Federal Aviation Administration program now in progress to monitor the upper atmosphere, indicate that previous predictions of ozone loss through subsonic and supersonic aircraft pollution appear to have been substantially overstated," Gibbons told the committee. He summarized the repon, because it had not be..-n. officially released. The impact of the report is expected to be pressure for keeping variable-cycle engine research funding ior NASA at its present levels.
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The Journal of Commerce Nov. 30, 1979 ,,,... .. ... Our Love Affair With the Automobile ly L.aTl!R R. IROWN For many Americam. filling the tank of a standard-sized automobile wttll psollne at $1 a galloa is an unseWlng experienee. Bat for motorists In time countries where a combinatioft of-costly imported oil and stiff gasolfJle taxes have eluded hen are India, Japan. -Mr. Brown is a l'ftffrdt-South Africa. and Yugoslavia, er at WortdwatcJl.-lnsfltute And in France, which will in Washintton# 0.C:.., and probabiy be the first Western co-4uthor of Running on industrial country to peg gaso-. Emirt',: T1le FutuN of line at above $3 a gallon, Automobile ln,,an OH-Short filling a standard-sized AmeriWortd (W.W. Nortan# Nocan automobile at the current vemtler 1979). price of $Z.90 a gallon already pUlbed prices past $3 a gallon. prices are likely to go. As tbis WOllld. be a lmury of the recently as 1973. oil cost S3 a first order. barrel. At the June OPEC Aside from baying boase, a meeting, the official price car is the most expensive... range was set at $18 to $23.SO purchase that most consumers per barrel, with the euct ever make. Given the average price depending on the grade automobile life apeetancy of of the oil and its geographical 10 to 13 years, intelligent pl'Olimity to tu purchaser. consumer decisions require a By October, several OPEC knowledge l10t only of c:umnt members bad already broun fuel prices but. more impor-ranks and mewed their espdrt tant.ly, of wllat prices are prices above the top of the likely to be over the next range. Short of dec:isM! action decade-or so. Yet the sales by the United States and other sticur, which l.adudes imorleading petroleum importers mation oa annual gasoliDe to cut back sharply on oil use, expenditures at receat prices,. nothing is likely to interrupt gives no hint of bow espensive the movement toward $olO a fuel will be in the-future. barrel. The only question is Neitber the manufacturer of .how quickly tbat level will be the automobile nor the person reached. who sells it can usure th~ fuel Although the price of gasosupplies needed to nm it 1D the liDe has climbed some 50 yea.rs ahead. percent since the beginning of Washington bas provided 1979, this i.acrease is small precious little illtormation on compared with what lies fuei costs over the nm 10 ahead.: While gasoline prices Department of have been rising steadily elseprojections did not aaticipate. wllere in the world as oil the 1'9C8Dt rises in gasoJine prices climbed. they have reprices. An analysis of the maiDed artifidally low in tbe future of the automobile by United States becHse of ; tll1t Congressional Office of emmeat oi price COIH!'Ois. Tedmology Assessmet---;iile Some aotion of __,. U.S. some assumptlODS about fa-gasoiiDe prices are heeded as tare gasoline prices but it the damesiic priee oi oil is milled the mark badly. Pttb-' decomrolled can be gieaaed lisiied iD the spring oi 19119. .Eraill the ---eise'lllhen and IJSiDg. lffl doilars, it ia tlMt worid. Gas amedy aaumed tut b 19115 gaseiioe coses mere than $3 a galloa "\10l1ld cost 1'T cents per gallon BuJgaria, East Gffmaoy, and the world prie9 ot oil Greeee, s~ and Tur we411d reach 118.50 a baneL lief. la a IDHil lall8f' 81Q11C> of OU priee ft!lda offer 8llideaima-. is ,apidlJ W9 M Mt ..,. piQiille atll)P"l9PNI@ 'tie $11 Jllllli. la,._ costs$58. Witll the recent decision in Washington to decontrol domestic oil prices, American : drivers are faced with a double set of adjustments. Like motorists e.lsewhere, they will be affected by the future rises ill world oil prices. But they also face the gasoline price consequences of closing the gap between low domestic oil prices and the current world price, as domestic: controis -are phased out between now : and 1981. As world oil supplies tignten : in the years ahead, .intenla. tional pressure to iac1'ease the U.S. tu on gasoline ami thus cut cmisumption will intensify: The current tax OD gasoline, federal and state combined. averages 12 cems per gallon; la SeftrBi Emopean c01totries, inchtciiag "France, Italy, the Nemer laads. and West Germacy, tbe ta alolle is aueariy .. $1.. per gaUoa. It would be prudent .for anr American ~Wini the pwehase of a sew cw to assasel!hatgasotillewleost $Z per-gaHena felJl',eanaod S3per,aloadnn!lgdle,,.. de's tiiemne. A reeet m. varsity of Miehiga of. ..,.a1htmdnd ....... illdllsiry eaieeuiwe6 i!!diceW -epeet gamlla p,riell!I to-. reaeh u.sa par pilea b.J was as msa wed ia 19ml Dan. : The dar .._ a taalmi a1 --ISi ii .as& larail.
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Times (Franklin, Ill.) Sept. 27, 1979 e~ FINDLEY If the recent shoruge of gasoline had ,;no.: ~th~ positive impact, it at least made us appreciate all the more that modem mirade of personal transportation, the automobile. In a report on the automobile and its future, the Office of :r:hmlngy .. .Assessment-COTA) says, "Cars provide a degree of comfort, convenience, and personal mobility unparalleled in history and make a major contribution to the U.S. economy. OTA is absolutely correct. The automobile makes possible a degree of freedom never dreamed of by our ancestors and unparalleled in any other country. Millions of Americans live in comfortable subur ban and country homes. with spacious yards, using cars to get to work, schools, stores and ~tertainm~t. Automobiles open to-the average Ameru:an--not Just the privileged few as-in most o~ .. i:;9u~~~~ur nation's parks, historic:al. sites,.. and reaeational opportunities from coast to coast. Additionally, an industry ot restaurants, motels, and amusement centen that provides millions of jobs has developed because of the auto.mobile and our modern highway network. Millions more work ~o build car~ service them, and provide fuel. In America 100 million cars account for more than 90 percent of personal travel. In a re~ sen~, a car_ is an extension of personal freedom. It lS the first ma1or purchase most people make, well wol"th sacrificing or delaying other purchases. &he biggest challenge to the future of the automobile-and the freedom it makes possible-is assuring adequate fue! supj:ilies. Dwindling oil r~erves will eventually dictate a shift from gasoline to other energy sources. The cars of tbe .. futur~ ~Yl run on alcohol blends, liquid fuel from coal, shale oil, and sand tars; or electricity from coal, n~ear, or sclar energy generating plants. Future cars will pollute the air less. More people will be driving more cars more miles. Slmply to keep the air quality we now have, exhaust emissions_ will hav': to be cleaner. Owning and using an automobile will continue to be expensive. Fuel costs will rise, a.s will o~er cos~. Government will be hard pressed to keep highways 10 good repair. Sa!ety will also remain a concern w1th the growing use of cars. Forrunat~~y, safer c~s an~ better roads have cut traffic fatalit1es per mile driven by nearly i,.o percent since 1966. Talk of restricting automobile use, rationing gasoline, and forcing Americans to cut back on the.ir driving makes little sense. Any suet,-scheme would drasticaJly lower the American standard of living~ It would take away much of the freedomwe have taken for granted for decades. On!y a national emergency would justify such extreme measures, and no such emergency exists today. Since the dawn of the automobile age at the turn of the century government policy has helped to expand -our horizons and improve the quality of our lives. A strong priority of government should continue to be helping keep Arneri~ nation~ _) er
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Chicago Sun-Times Nov. 8, 1979 NOTPUBUC TRANSPORTATION Automobile Claimed Best Cure For Energy, Po,ll~ion Problems By DENNIS BYRNE CJdeago SUn-'nmes The auto, and not public transportation, is the best hope for solving the nation's energy and pollution problems. You'd expect that. kind of statement !o be uttered by iasoline and auto conglomerates. Or by car fanat-tcs whose ljlve affairs with their wheels weren't cooled by $1-a,,gallon priC1!S or long lines at the pumps. Or from mas~ transit haters who squirm at the thought o( sharing a crowded bus or. train with. the masses. But they may be s:ight. A growing number ot ., researchers are concluding that the proposed; spending of tens oC billions of dollars on ml!SS transit will have little effecton energy and pollu tion problems. The_ cure. theY, say, is with the auto. THEIR REASONING IS because the car is in such wide use,. it holdathe hope for more rapidly reducing energy c:on.sumptio~ and air pollution than mass transit. A small gain in each car's gasoline mileage performance or. reduction in emissions will trans late into large total gains across the nation. But huge costs involved in doubling the. number of people who ride mass transit would have only a minimal impact. Some o{ the new findings by researchers fly in the race of a virtually unchallenged article of faith among urban liberals that people should get out of their cars and QJl'to the buses anq traiMTheycome just as more and more people are turning to public-. transiL And they gi'1e credence to the highway lobby, while challenging the premises of an increasingly powerful transit lobby. Just how difficult it is to challenge those assump tions was illustrated several years ago by the uproar after disclosure of President Carter's handWl'itten note to his transportation secretary suggesting that "many transit systems are grossly oYerdesigned." That hung Carter with an anti-mass transit image that he still has been; unable to. shake, despite his rec:e!'lt proposal to increase federal tran sit aid by $13 billion in the 1980s. A FEW MONTHS AFTER the Carter note, the Congressional Budget Office produced a controver sial 81-page study in which one of the main conclu sions was: "Of ail the commonly held notions about ener~e .. ffi~i_!n!;L..,I!.C!l!>ably tr.e ;noSJ...m.Y.ll!i1.ed are those concerning rapid rail transit. The findings of this study indicate that, under typical conditions. new rapid rail systemll. actually waste energy rather than save it." Researchers were off and running. The curnnt best-seller, "Energy Futl.tre," edited by Harvard University P'l'ofessors Robert Stobaugh and .Daniel. Yergin, challenges the idea that the solution lies in reducing dependence on the auto. A.lso in October, Editorial Research Reports,. a publication of the respec~ed Congressional Quarterly, raised the issue and noted; "Almost ail energy economists are sken-ticai about the prospects for mass transit." One ot the recent attacks came from a Massachu setts Institute of Technology professor with good mass transit credentials. As Massachusetts secretary ol transportation in the early 1970s, P'l'ofessor Alan Altshuler was instrumental in crafting federal legis!atlon that permitted the diversion of money from federal interstate highways ~o mass transit. ALTSBULER'S NEW challenge to the old assump tiol\S comes in a justpubllshed book; "The Urban Transportation System: Politics and Policy Innova tion" (MIT P'l'ess). It summarizes transit research from economic:, political, sociological and teclmoiog ica.t perspectives. Not only does the promotion of mass transit hold virtually no potential for saving energy or for reducing airpollution, it won't even Peduce the transportation accident toll, he con_cludes. .. Hbw can that be, when; according to Congress's Office of Technology Assessment, the car now c:onsumes. one-1:hird of the petroleum used in the na tion, Sl)eWS about 80 million tons o( poilut.ints into the air annually, and each year contributes to the death of 48,000 people and the injury of 4.4 million in traffic accidents? "Imagine the boldest type of strategy to double urban (mass) transit travel," Altshuler said in an interview. "It would cost $11 billion in 1980 and would involve _eliminating all fares and doubling service on existing routes. "BUT IT WOULDN'T save a .lot of energy, be cause somewhere between one-half and two-thirds of the patrons would not b~ people drawn from autos. When there are major improvements of servi~. at least one-half of the patrons come from people who have not been traveling before, or from people who have been riding as passengers in cars.. It would remove only 1.4 percent of the people from the driving mode. In effect. you would be reducing auto mileage by l_ to Z percent for SU billron, witile c:o~ming a. lot of energy with transit," he said. Autshuler is far -from suggesting that mass tran sit systems should be shut down or that efforts shouldn't be made to improve heavily used transit service _in densely populated urban areas. But. he added, "what we found,. based on a review of ail the research, was that the vast majority of expansions of transit servi<:1! are not into core markets, but into markets where the load factor is much lower. In suburbs, we're almost always talk ing about expansions_ into areas wnere the load, factors ar~ row," he said .. 1H~ EXPAN'SIONS, HE says, are very costly, es~iaJly for ra!l rapid transiL "When we expand ~IS rapid transit system. we are talking about ~e"-cons~ction that consumes a lot of energy at ; ~e beginning before the system carries even a J s1n;!e passenger."
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MISCELLANEOUS
PAGE 121
Carter Vetoes lVIeasure On Effects of Dioxins; Orders Study Himself lli,a W.uJ. liTNtd a bill ordering a new rederal study of tht> f'f reets or dioxins. but be called ror Ult" study to be conducted. anyway. Tlle ill'tion is part of a lon,c-nmning dis pub> bPtween tlle Pl"PSUient and Conrress over 1lle so-called lects,ativt'. veto. DioxJns an byproducts ot herbicidfs: they bavt> bMl found to cause birth *ff'CtS. c:aDCff and otAr ~rs In laboratory' Jn'\ imals. T1le bill Mr. Clrter vetOf>d would have required thl' Health. Education and \Yeffare Department to study till' t-ffects of dioxins-on. humans. T1le President said R fu!ly supports the study and said hl' will ask HEW to conduct it. anyway. But he said he coulctnt approve tlle lertsJation becruise it contained an mconitlt11donat:" legiSlative Vt'to. This was a. requimnent t!lat HEW get details of the study approved by tbP Q{_fice of Technology Assessment. an ann of Collfl"l'SS. TIit' President recently signed a bill that autllorlzt'd tlle-VetttanS Administration to study the effect of dioxins on Vietnam-era veterans. with the same requirement for ap l provaj by the Office of Teclmology Assf'Ss l rnent. But be t'XPlained that bill incJudrd l funds for other veterans progr:uns. so he couldn't veto it. Hl' said he will instruct the Vtterans AdmlntstratiOn that it shouldn't regard tile lfliSlative vflto as binding. The Vleaiam-ern study will focus in part on tlle contl'9Versiaf herbicide Annt Oralll", which many vett'rans havt' complained contaminated tlrem wht'D it was used as a defoliant In South Vietnam. The Ten O'Clock News January 3, 1980 10:00 PM Study of Dioxins The Wall Street Journal l/3/80 WTTG TV Washington. o.c. DELORES HANDY: President Carter cast his first veto of 1980 today, rejecting a bill that required a federal study of the effects of dioxins on humans. Dioxins are chemicals found in Vietnam --in the Vietnamese defoliant known as Alien [sic] Orange. Mr. Carter said he vetoed the bi I I because of a provision which would require a branch of Congress, the Office of Technology Assessment, to approve the dioxin study before it could oe implemented.
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Kansas City Times Jan. 4, 1980 ',s,9'... 4 ... -~.Ccrter_Vetoes a Congressional Veto of the~ federal government its members attuned to the wishes of their con:_feeds on public suspicion. Congress. has. stituents. some of whom may claim they were :,-awarded itself. more power over the! minute exposed to dioxin.) Can the VA do a respect--~workings of the 6-X~ve branch in the form : ably objective job of examining the effects of ;;of the legislative veto. This week President dioxin on thousands_ of veterans. only to fmd it -;.. Carter struck a symbolic blow against the has pro~ded ammunition in the form of :? growth 9f this potentially crippling legislative technical data to veterans, who will turn ~(weapon by vetoing a bill to study effects on around and sue the V Ji.. for damages caused by ~civilians of the highly noxious component of '_-exposure to Agent Orange? '. Agent Orange. dioxin. . Quest:ions of this complexity always will Carter's gesture was symbolic .because arise in congressional committee hearings : the study by the Department of Health. Edu-and during debate on the floors of the House :~ cation and Welfare will be carried out regard-and Senate. But the legislative veto is a short: ~ess. A parallel study by the Veterans Admincut that often is meddlesome and even para:::_ stration of Vietnam veterans is to be conductlyzing when misapplied. Instead of being used :: ed under conditions jdentical to those Carter as an oversight tool. it becomes a political found objectionable in the HEW study. -hatch~. It also dangerously blurs the lines of '"' In each case, the Office of Techno!g.il,..A&-~~ation of powers of the e."tecutive and leg, sessment. an auxiliary staff to Congress set up islative branches. ~, to help members understand a variety of com President Carter is right in his fight plex issues, would apprOYe the design and against the legislative veto. If Congress is scope of the study before it would be started. worried about the performance of an execu, That's where the distrust comes in. tive agency, it should put its muscle into the 1 A major point of controversy in the ques-tion of dioxin exposure is that the federal government was the exposer, at least in Vietnam, and therefore has a vested interest in not mak ing a thorough investigation of dioxm' s harm-ful effects on human beings exposed to it. Such a report could become the basis for costly damage suits against the federal government. Therefore, according to this reasoning. th~ federal government has a large stake in or. _ganizing the study to minimize its liability to ,untold American citizens. The review by OTA could prevent cheating by the executive branch. . .,_ -,, Congress has a right~ and dutyto wor. ry about the ability of the federal government to investigate itself. (One also could argue with some persuasion that OTA. as an adjunct of Congress. would be susceptible to political influence because Congress is a political body, ., .(" .. traditional oversight responsibilities in the au-thorization and appropriations process. ;' -----
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The Sun (Baltimore, MD) Nov. 8, 1979 Cov.e l?6int: -the EN' G 'H~~d-. I _"':,. -:_., -_-.;,:: .. .t .; ... .-_ 'I ~archers were saying a year ago that llquifled. .bfa LNG-Corporation. are not at faulL Why? Because .-aturar gas terminals like the, one at Cove Point in th~ federal ~tory agencies involved allowed such southern Marylaad were very-safe. Modem ~gy. .. ; large p~ to exist In plant safety rules that the agenthey insisted. bad precluded an LNG accident like the --_ ci~ must be~ with most of the blame. 1944Clemand disaster that killed 1%8 people. The conBut the Maryland Oc:eupational Safety and Health anmona1 8fflce of T~ Assessment agreed ageacybas cited Columbia LNG with "willful" riolaUtere had been major advancesmsatety technology ti~ of safety law._ MOSH's reasoning_ apparently is since 1944. but it sugg--that federal.regulatloa of. wflether or not the plant.was technically In riolaLNG safety still needed muc:h improvement. :: ... ::_: : tkm.'of _federal safety standards. the company violated Well. iDOctober a gas. aplosioa at the Cove Point simple conmion sense In not haviq better safeguards. terminal killed one plant employee and Injured aaotb. TJitt MOSB judgment Is yet to be-affirmed. But the er. WlliJe.. the accident was not oa a scale witll Clefeageaey: seems correct when it says. in effect, that if the land. it must now be asked Jf this was just sheer luck. company-was. careless. it should not be allowed to use For Cove Point lacked necessary safeguards. Ju federaJ regulation as an excuse for its carelessness. F"ll'St. an inadequateseal oa an LNG pump f111ed. This is not to suggest. of course. that federal regulaSecoad;, an afann system that should have-warnecfof. tioaof LNq: does not need to be tightened up, quickly. eicapiag gas was not sufficiently sensitive. Third. As it turns out. the Office of Tedulology Assessment operation of a cimlit breaker to turn off the pump was correct In its earlier misgivings, and there was no af~ the leak_ '!IS dbcovere4 ~asecl an_ '1ectrica1 excuse f~ the_ ages;tcies not havJag corrected deficienspark wbida set off the explosion. Ia a property built cies then. There is even less excuse now-for it seems amt operated plant. none of this would have oecumd. all too clear that an accident of the kind that happened Bu& who -is to blame?. The federal NaUoaal Trans. iD Cleveland In 1944 is not nearly as-impossible as. the portation-SafetyBoard sa~ operators., the Colum.. -~ogists ~ave been telling us. .. .. .. .. : ..... ,: .. .; -----------..-...... .. ,._;_;,;...:,..:_. ... ... .... -J.~ ...... ...... --------------
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Washington Star Dec. 19, 1979 -~----~-. -. "' ... Our awful power to strike back A recent column by Eawtn. M. Yoder Jr., relying heavily on state ments by Sen. Daniel Moynihan. expressed concern over Soviet strate gic doctrine. The question is ~b.ether tb.e Russians merely intend to deter a nuclear war or wb.etb.er they would like to flgb.t and wln one. Certainly the prospect that in a few years tb.e. SoViets will have tb.e theore~cal capability to destroy so to 90 percent of our ICBMs is not pleasant.. But we should not forget that ICBMs consttnne only one-third of our strategic strength. Soviet capability to resist our manned bombers and cruise missiles is poor, and their capability to resist our alert missile submarines is zero. In one of tb.e very few competent and disinterested studies of this subject, the Off~ _of ,'.I'~logy.Assessmen t found tb.at less than one per cent or our strategic warheads could destroy three-quarters of SoViet pe troleum refib.ing capability. Even after absorbing a full Soviet first strike; U.S. retaliation would destroy 70 to 80 percent of Sovtet net eco nomic worth and "would remove that nation from a position of power and influence for tb.e remainder of 1 tb.iscentury." Collapse and "derussification" of the SoViet-Union would be a serious possibility, since tb.e Russian half of the Soviet Union would suffer more serious dam'.1ge tb.an the otb.er half. In the face of tb.is overwhelming threat wb.ich Soviet leadership understands will become even more se1r:ere over tb.e next lS years as .we deploy our cruise and Trident mis siles -the best thing to do with questions of Soviet doctrine is to for get tb.em. Whether the. Soviets like the doctrine of assured destruction is of no. importance as long as the threat of assureddestruction re mains a fact. They may not like the. law of graVity either, b_ut as long as they retain a trace of rationality, tb.ey will not step out of a 10th-story window. In short, we should be in serious .error to concern ourselves about playing by their rules when we have the power to make them play by ours. Washington, D.C. -\ Bob Carr, 0-Mlch /IMffitoer of Con;reu -
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Physics Today October 1979 An assessment of the effects of nuclear war The indirect and long-term effects of a nuclear war, though incalculable, are at least as significant as the immediate deaths that analysts attempt to quantify, according to The Effects of Nw:lear War, an analysis from the Congressional Offi:,L of Tech~ ~~t. The study was cam out at the request of the SenateForeign Relations Committee as background for the SALT II deliberations. Four years ago, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee aaked OT A to validate testimony by then Secretary of De fense James Schlesinger in which he pre sented surprisingly low DOD estimates of casualties that would result from a limited nuclear war. The OT A concluded that the DOD made certain unreasonable as sumptions in calculating its rigures. The oon t.hen revised it.s estimates. Last yeliF t!ii or,u~n .t!.eTuu;,n,. vomm1tti;e asked the OT A to perform the same sort of analyses for a broader range of cases, and to update ita earlier fuidings for present nuclear arsenaJs. .. Some of the past studies hypothesized that the Rus sians would have very many extremely large warheads (25 Mt); we operated on the basis that as the Russians go to ~IRVs, they have more warheads. but most of the warheads are smaller;" Peter Sharfman. director of the Nuclear War Effects Project, told PHYSICS TODAY. Using already existing models of nuclear explosions, OT A analyzed four dif ferent kinds of nuclear attack against both the US and the Soviet Union: attacks against a single city (Detroit and Lenin grad), against oil refineries (with only 10 missiles used), against counterforce tar gets (with two warheads per ICBM silo) and against the full range of military and urban/industrial targets. OT A. also assessed the long-term health hazards from fallout radiation. noting that millions who did not contract immediate radiation sickness could nevertheless be expected to die eventually from cancer. The study revealed some difference in the vulnerability of the US and the Soviet Union. E.quivalent nuclear attacks would probably kill more Americart5 in the short run because Soviet weapons a.re larger and because more Americans live near po tential targets. but the Soviet economy appears to be more susceptible to crip-0031.g,2211191100105,,,0,USQQ.50 e ,,n.....,... ....... ot~ Radloac:tlw fallout pattern expected from a 1-Mt surface burst In Oetrolt if winds were blowing at 15 tnlll'I towards Canada. The pattern wouJd be longer and thinner if the winds were more intense. The contours show 7-day aecumwated dose, without shielding. of 3000. 900, 300 and 90 Rem. pling damage because it is smaller, less efficient and more centralized. A large-scale nuclear exchange between the US and the Soviet Union could kill more than 250 million people in those two countties alone, according to the report. The numbers killed in the first few days would depend on the exact number of nuclear weapons used and places of det onation, the time of year, extent of warn ing and the weather. US deaths would probably range between 70 million and 160 million, while Soviet deaths would be between 50 million and 100 million. Many ''survivors .. would probably die later from starvation. exposure or disease, particularly in areas where the immediate deaths were relatively low. A ''limited" nuclear exchange would have enormous impact as well, even if there were no escalation. An exchange limited to 10 MIRVed missiles aimed at oil refmeries, for example, could kill five million Americans and destroy 64% of the US refining capacity and 73% of the Soviet capacity. An attack directed solely at missile silos might kill as many as 20 million Americans. Despite the deaths and destruction from such attacks, ac cording to the report, the consequences might be endurable and economic recov ery possible. because they would be on a scale with wan and epidemics that na tions have endured in the past. The Soviet attack on VS oil refineries represents a kind of nuclear attack that FHYSICS TOOAY / OCT08el ~9i9 '105
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ha not been studied before-a "limited" war Charlottesville. V'arginia. The acauack oa econom.ic targets. The OT A count portrays the social and economic inwsupted what mipt happen if the collapse of a town that had been spared Swiac Union auempced to inilicc as much the effec:ta of a direct attack. ec:onom.ic damage as possible with an at-Copies of TM Effecu of Nt.11:lear War tack limited to 10 misliles. Thouch are available from the US Government pollible. it is unlikely that the Soviet Printing Office. The GPO stock number Uaioa would launch such aa attack. is 052-003-0()El;S..5; the price is $4.75. A Sha.rfman told us, sizace it "lives your hardbound. edition will be published in enemy a muimum incentive and allo a December by Allanbekl. Osmun & Co --muimwn-capabiiity-w"fftaliate apjmt.-Montclair;N-.J.-M&f you; you are hurting mm so badly that he ,has to do sometbiai. but you aren't interfering with his ability to do som .. thine-" It is a more likely kind of an at-tack by a minor nuclear power, whoee weapon supply is limited. he added. .. From an ecoDomic point of view; and pcaibly from a political and social viewpoint as well. coaditiom after an attack would pt wone before they started to get better," the OTA document. states. People could live off prewar supplies and babita for awhile, but patt.erm of behavior would be c:banpd by worsening shortages and the enormous psychological shock a nuclear war would produce. A failure to achieYe economic viability (production equallins consumption) before stocks ran out would cause many additional deaths. and further ICODomic.social and political deterioration. "This postwar damage could be u devastating aa the damage from the actual explosions," the group concluded. In addition to the economic effects of the war. the authon a1lo comidered other lonr-term effects, such as Ioq-t.erm somatic and genetic damap from radiation. poasible-chufe9 in the environment (incluciiDe the possibility of damage to the ozone layer) and possible ecological changes. Previous studies of the effects of nuclear war have neglected such long term effects. OTA concluded that the effec:ta of damage to the Earth's ecolog ical system might be oa the same order of magnitude aa the immediate effects, but it is not known bow to calculat.e or even. estimate their likelihood." One chapter of the report is devoted to the subjeci of civil de!eme. It concludes that although effective sheltering and evacuation could save lives. "'it is not clear that a ciVl1 de!eme-procnua based oa providia, sbelt.ers or planning evacuation would necessarily be effective." because of the difficulties of locating safe places and providing ample supplies. Because the economic. social aad political effects of nuclear war are literally incalcwable. DO pemmeDt could predict with coafidence what the comequences of even a limited nuclear attack would be. The OTA poup feels that these uncertai.ntiis. along with the certainty that the minimum effects would be enornioua, help to deter nuclear war. To provide a more eoncret.e under standing of the situation that survivon of a nudear war would face. OTA included in the report a fictional scanario of post-
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-'""" ~--~ .. .. r ... 0 .. ?l' .... t~-r~ .,,, ... OCi 6 f'\ ::~: ,:, .;. t97~ .. :-:, -----0"'r ...Y. Energy recovery from waste .. 'makes sense,' report says In our struggle ta con serve energy and protect the environment. it appears now that resource recovery from municipal waste may be an economically sound course to follow. par ticwariy in our part of the country, declares Rep. Edwin B. Forsythe. 6th-N.J. At least that is the con clusion of a report sub--,-...,_ nutted to the House Committee on Science and Technology of .which Forsythe is a member. The report was prepa~ by the Congressional om& ~nolo~ A8'1P.!l'!fflenf --al' th conimittiies request inanefforttodetermi the viability of r%rce recovery centers It concludes that in areas of the country where the cost of environmentally sound landfills and energy is high, as well as in areas where there is a strong market for .recovered materials, resource recovery makes a great deal of economic and en. viromnentaJ sense. .. In view of the problems om: own area has been having with the entire question of sanitary land fills-and the disposal oi solid wastes, this is encouraging_ news,". said the congressman. It is particularly im portant because each man, woman and child in this country generates an average of 3.5 pounds a day in so-ealled municipal solid waste. This includes more than two-thirds of the paper and glass consumed in the country, a fifth of the a!wninwnandnearlyoneeigbth of the iron and steel, according to the report. From just the energy standpoint alone, if an this material were burned it would be equal to roughly 2 percent. of the national ,-... __,,,,. energy use annually, Rep. Forsythe asserted~. There are two ways of approaching the separation of solid wastes such as bottles, papers and meta.ls. First by having the consumer separate his own solid waste material and second, by doing it at a central recovery facility. A combination of these, according to the report, is. the most effective approach in most situations. study also notes that the "optimum'' size resource center would be able to recover from 50 to 1,000 tons. of municipal solid waste daily, depending on the sizeof the area in volved. With this new information. Congress can begin to better deal with the solid waste problems facing our area and country. One of the major tasks before us now one Congress will be working on. in the months to come will be changing federal law and policy to ""cou,a~ development of resource recovery cent7s. Rep. Forsythe said.
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Solid Wastes !-fanagement Oct., 1979 J Medium may be most economical size for resource recovery facilities Resource recovery plants that take in between 1,000 and 1,500 tons of refuse per day are probably more economical than either larger 9y&ma.ller plants, according to the Congress' Office of Technology Assessment. The OT A notes, in a report prepared for the House Committee on Science and T echnoiogy, that plants with processing capacities of 3,000 to 6,000 tpd have run into institutional difficulties that have dampened earlier enthusiasm for such large facilities. Maximum economic efficiency is essentially a tradcoff between the scale economies obtainable with large plants and the higher transportation costs associated with them, the report points out. The OT A report also observes that in areas where landfill and energy costs are high or there are good marketS for recovered materials, recycling and resource recovery can be economically sound waste disposal methods. But elsewhere landfill may be the better alternative both economically and environmentally. The OTA rejects the idea of federal subsidies to cover capital or operating costs for large resource recovery facilities around the nation. "There is no a priori reason to subsidize resource recovery if sound alternative disposal methods, such as landfill with adequate environmental controls, are available at lower cost," the report concludes. It says federal policy should continue to focus on the areas in which state and local government bodies and the private sector appear to need the most help: public he:ilth protection, environmental preservation, and research and development related to new + technology. Industry Nov., 1979 S'~aDer waste plants Smatr..scaJe facilities to recover materials and energy from wastes can help local govern. ments manage the more than .135 miUion tons of soHd wastes American& generate annually; according to the Office of Jech nology Assessment (OTA). --. ~------. OTAs.report. requested by the House, Committee onScience .. ane Technology. notes that the : earty;enthusiasm for large. cen. _, traHzed plants-capableof proc,esseng.3.000 tons of wastes or mare:daiJy has faded as their costs-and. institutional problems ,-hav&. become. clear. rnstead,..current information .. suggests that the largest "eco-. nomicaily optimum" plants. for -~most locations may be those -~-whfctr operate in the-1000. to _:,,:-1500 tons-per-day range.. In .; some communities, however, :..."plants.as: small as SO tct 200 tons-per.-day may prove to be _t!fOst-sat!sfactory.n
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