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OPPT NEWSBREAK Monday, 22 February 1999 Today's "Toxic News for the Net" Brought to you by the OPPTS Chemical Library http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/oppt_nb.txt NEWS "Bombs-to-Plowshares Program Criticized." New York Times, 22 February 99, A8. The GAO's study of two Energy Department programs reveals that American aid may have been supporting Russian scientists still working on projects related to nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. The Energy Departments programs were established to employ former Soviet weapons scientists in peaceful, profitable work. One of the programs is being criticised for being poorly supervised. Some changes recommended in the report are being implemented. A description of the report's key findings are given. "Everglades Restoration Plan Does Too Little, Experts Say." New York Times, 22 February 99, A1, A15. Nearing draft completion, the Federal-state Everglades plan, designed to restore a natural water flow to the Everglades and re-establish a healthy ecosystem, is being questioned by ecologists who say that the project would leave the South Florida peninsula too dependent on a system of compartmentalizing levees, canals, pumps and reservoirs etc. rather than known-to-work natural processes for water distribution. In a letter to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, ecologists and other scientists asked that the plan, due in July, be submitted for scientific review. The establishment of a panel to continuously evaluate the restoration project over the next few decades is expected. Water that is currently being artificially pumped into the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean would be partly rechanneled under the plan and released as needed in the Everglades. "A Chemical-Plant Explosion Killed...[What's News]." Wall Street Journal, 22 February 99, A1. Five people were killed and 14 injured on Friday as a result of a chemical-plant explosion in Allentown, Pa. "Tainted Fruit Suspected In Florida Typhoid Cases [National News Briefs]." New York Times, 22 February 99, A15. The FDA has warned consumers not to eat the El Sembrador brand of a tropical fruit called mamey or frozen juices made from mamey. The fruit is showing a strong link to typhoid fever hospitalizations that have occurred since mid-December, primarily in Hispanic communities in South Florida. El Sembrador's mamey, from Guatemala, was found in the home freezers of the victims or at restaurants where some ate the fruit. "Waste Management Stirs an Analysts' Food Fight." Wall Street Journal, 22 February 99, B5A. Stock market analysts are debating whether Waste Management, Inc. is raising prices in the New York City market. The industry giant is cited for proposing a 40% price raise for garbage sent from New York City to its Virginia and Pennsylvania landfills. The increase is expected to impact third-party disposers that are not under contract who use WMI landfills. There hasn't been any input from WMI to douse the debate. "India, Pakistan Pledge to Reduce Nuclear-War Risk." Wall Street Journal, 22 February 99, A1. "India Leader's Pakistan Visit Ends in Pledges to Make Peace." New York Times, 22 February 99, A4. Ending with a promise to warn one another in advance about ballistic-missile tests, the prime ministers of India and Pakistan closed their summit meeting. Both countries, capable of launching nuclear-warhead missiles, agreed to take action to reduce the chance of accidental nuclear war. Both countries have agreed to make efforts to resolve conflicts about Kashmir, a divided region that has been the focus of two previous wars between the two countries. EDITORIAL & COMMENTARY "EPA Can't Win This Country's Sprawl Brawl [Op-Ed]." Washington Times, 22 February 99, A21. Jonathan H. Adler, senior director of environmental policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute and the author of "Environmentalism at the Crossroads," criticizes the Clinton-Gore Administration's new multibillion-dollar environmental agenda, which includes a $700 million subsidy for EPA-approved bonds for local environmental projects. He favors returning control over environmental policy to state and local governments: "In many instances, the best thing the federal government can do to enhance environmental protection is get out of the way--and eliminate those policies and programs which subsidize or encourage environmental harm." "Attack of the Killer Potato [Review & Outlook]." Wall Street Journal, 22 February 99, A18. Lectin, a protein used in Britain to increase potatoes' resistance to nematodes and insect pests, has recently caused these genetically modified (GM)potatoes to be dubbed "killer potatoes". An audit of the lectin experiments at Rowett Institute, however, shows that the growth of rats who ate the potatoes was not affected, as falsely claimed to the media by research scientist Arpad Pusztai. About 20 "supposed" independent scientists supporting Mr. Pusztai's research were traced to the radical environmentalist lobby Friends of the Earth. If brought to market, GM potatoes are expected to offer a higher yield with less dependence on chemical pesticides. Genetically modified versions of corn, soy beans and tomatoes are currently sold in Britain. PEOPLE IN THE NEWS "6th Ford Worker Dies From Injuries in Blast [National News Briefs]." New York Times, 22 February 99, A15. Ron Moritz is the sixth Ford Motor Co. worker to die of injuries he sustained from the natural gas explosion at Ford's River Rouge complex in Dearborn, Michigan on February 1. "One Man's Poisons: Jan Schlichtmann's Last Pollution Case Turned Into a Toxic Obsession. Now He's Digging for the Truth >From a Different Angle." Washington Post, 22 February 99, C1, C8. This lengthy article profiles Jan Schlichtmann, the lawyer whose nine-year battle against "[t]wo corporate giants found responsible for contaminating the water" in Woburn, Mass., was the inspiration for the best-selling book and the movie "A Civil Action." Schlichtmann now represents families in Toms River, N.J., "where childhood cancer rates are unusually high." He and his co-counsels are in discussions with Union Carbide and Ciba Specialty Chemicals, whose chemical wastes may have polluted the town's wells. Union Carbide has already spent $15 million on cleanup, and Ciba has already spent $200 million. ACROSS THE USA, from USA Today "Washington, DC [Across the USA]." USA Today, 19,20 &21 February 99, 10A. The Washington Surgical Center, an abortion clinic, received a package with a warning that it contained "Anthrax". This caused authorities to close off a roadway intersection for an hour. The FBI will investigate the contents. "Elkhart, Illinois [Across the USA]." USA Today, 19,20 & 21 February 99, 10A. An experimental power plant that cleanly burns high-sulfur and coal will be awarded $22 million in state money. A high-efficiency, low-emissions boiler system power plant is planned for the Turris Coal Mine. It is projected to burn 300,000 tons of coal a year, providing 3,000 homes with electricity. "Coos Bay, Oregon [Across the USA]." USA Today, 19,20 & 21 February 99, 10A. High winds delayed plans to tow the broken bow of the derelict freighter, New Carissa, into deep water to sink it. Instead, the Coast Guard has been pumping oil out of the ship which had run aground earlier in the month. Although 200,000 gallons of oil have been burned off, 70,000 gallons have spilled onto beaches and 135,00 gallons remain in the ship. "Newport, Rhode Island [Across the USA]." USA Today, 19,20 & 21 February 99, 10A. A consultant says that the Navy should remove contaminated sediment and other wastes by dredging the waters off McAllister Point in Middletown. A nearby landfill, once operated by the Navy, is the source of the sediment. AROUND THE BELTWAY: DC/MD/VA REGIONAL NEWS "Sewer Bans Become a Weapon in the War on Sprawl." Washington Post, 22 February 99, A1, A8. In the town of Dunkirk in Calvert County, Md., residents blocked a plan by the county to build a limited sewer system for the town's small commercial center. The existing stores, medical facility, fire station, and other small businesses are all using septic tanks. County planners and economic development officials said the system would attract businesses to the area, but residents argued that the plan would encourage sprawl and take away the town's rural character. Similar battles were fought in other fast-growing regions of the Washington area, including Prince William County, Va. LIVING IN THE INFORMATION AGE "Year 2000 and Home PCs: The Fix May Not Be In." Wall Street Journal, 22 February 99, B1, B4. Simple date errors and other non-crippling home PC problems are anticipated as the new millennium takes hold. This concern applies to programs that rely on dates as well as others that do not, such as some graphics software that are used in conjunction with Y2K-sensitive software. This article names some corrective software packages for sale by retailers as well as lists a sample of Web sites that provide PC-evaluating software to download. "U.S. Warns of A-Alert If Computers Misread Year." New York Times, 22 February 99, A8. Fearing that the year 2000 computer problem might set off a false nuclear alert by disrupting Russian systems, the United States has prompted Russia to establish a joint missile-warning center to reduce this risk. Russians have responded favorably. Though Pentagon officials say that the danger of inadvertent nuclear war is minimal they are pressing for implementation of the agreement before January 2000. Discussions will continue regarding the diagnosis and repair of technical issues affected by the year 2000 problem. * All items, unless indicated otherwise, are available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxics Substances (OPPTS) Chemical Library Northeast Mall, Room B606 (Mailcode 7407) Washington, D.C. 20460 (202) 260-3944; FAX x4659; E-mail for comments: [email protected]. (Due to copyright restrictions, the library cannot provide photocopies of articles.) *Viewpoints expressed in the above articles do not necessarily reflect EPA policy. 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