OPPT NEWSBREAK Monday 29 March, 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 "Credits to Emit Sulfur Dioxide Fetch Record $53 Million at Annual EPA Sale." Wall Street Journal, 29 March 99, B5A. The Chicago Board of Trade said sulfur dioxide emission allowances sold for a record $53 million at EPA's annual auction. A total of 150,010 spot allowances, which can be used immediately, were sold at an average price of $207.03. The auction is held as part of EPA's plan to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide by permitting utilities that cut their emissions below the number of allowances they hold to trade or sell the allowances. Each allowance permits the utility to emit one ton of sulfur dioxide. Utilities can reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide beyond allowable limits by installing scrubbers on their boiler smokestacks at a cost of $200 to $400 per ton of sulfur dioxide removed. "Makeshift Pharmacies Are Dispensing Death." New York Times, 29 March 99, A19. Special task forces have been set up in Los Angeles County and Orange County, Calif., to deal with the problem of makeshift pharmacies and clinics, many of which are located in neighborhoods with uninsured immigrant populations. The task forces are working to find and shut down the back-room clinics and to educate the public about the dangers and the alternatives to such clinics. Two toddlers in Orange County died after receiving injections at back-room clinics. Since last June, authorities in Los Angeles County have raided nearly 160 pharmacies, seized over $2 million in illegally imported prescription medications, and arrested more than 50 people. "Warner-Lambert Drug Avoids Disaster Before FDA Panel but Sales May Suffer." Wall Street Journal, 29 March 99, B6. A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel decided that the benefits of Warner-Lambert Co.'s diabetes drug Rezulin outweighed its potential to cause deadly liver damage. The panel also said that the drug should not be used as a stand-alone therapy and that new, plain-language warnings for patients need to be included with prescriptions. The FDA is not required to follow the panel's recommendations. "Researchers Focus on Stubborn Earaches That Torment Kids [Health Journal]." Wall Street Journal, 29 March 99, B1. This week's health column reports that pediatricians are seeing more and more earaches that are caused by drug-resistant bacteria. In an effort to curb the growth of these strains of bacteria, the Centers for Disease Control is recommending that doctors treat middle ear infections, or otitis media, with simple antibiotics in higher doses and avoid using "new designer antibiotics that widen resistance to the drugs." EDITORIALS & COMMENTARY "A Quality of Life Law [Op-Ed]." Washington Times, 29 March 99, A19. Jack Evans, the Ward 2 representative on the D.C. Council, explains why Bill 13-58, the Motor Vehicle Excessive Idling Fine Increase Act of 1999 is needed to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods like Southwest--to control noise and air pollution. ACROSS THE USA, From USA Today "Hazelwood Apology [Nationline]." USA Today, 29 March 99, 7A. The captain of the Exxon Valdez has issued an apology to Alaskans. "I do apologize for what's happened," and he acknowledged that no effort to apologize "would be enough." Later this summer, his sentence begins. It is to spend 1,000 hours picking up garbage along Anchorage-area highways. "Nuke Shipment [Nationline]." USA Today, 29 March 99, 7A. The first shipment of radioactive trash to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant was postponed due to thick fog. The truck from Los Alamos National Lab, containing contaminated clothes, tools and other debris, will depart late Thursday for WIPP, the $1.8 billion, first underground storage site for nuclear waste. Although WIPP opponents failed to stop the transport in court they will stage protests along the 356 mile route. The radioactive rubbish will be stored in salt beds 2,150 feet below ground. "Sacramento, California [Across the USA]." USA Today, 29 March 99, 7A. The state Department of Transportation and county agencies have been accused by Californians for Alternatives to Toxics of spraying roadside weeds with more than 132,000 gallons of liquid and 93,000 pounds of chemical herbicides during the past year. The group says that the chemicals may cause cancer and birth defects. "Evansville, Indiana [Across the USA]." USA Today, 29 March 99, 7A. Although Con Agra Incorporated has suspended major spending on the $225 million project, it still plans to build a large soybean-processing plant in the southwestern portion of the state. Two environmental groups and a competitor have contested the outcome of its air pollution permit; it was at this point that Con Agra made the monetary decision. "Helena, Montana[Across the USA]." USA Today, 29 March 99, 7A. Environmental studies will be conducted by the National Park Service to find out the impact of allowing commercial development of Yellowstone National Park's geothermal microbes. A federal judge has ruled that the park must consider the environmental impact of its contract with a California biotechnology company. Diversa Corporation plans to farm hotspring microbes for industrial uses. "Seneca, South Carolina [Across the USA]." USA Today, 29 March 99, 7A. Federal regulators say that Duke Energy, owner of Oconee Nuclear Station, has improved operations and that inspections will return to normal. Since problems were uncovered 19 months ago, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has been meeting bimonthly with Duke. An official stated that Duke has changed management and invested $40 million in new equipment procedures. * 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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