The Michigan Daily- Friday, May 4, 1984 - Page 17
State studies changes in toxic substance laws
LANSING (UPI) - Hearings begin ted in 1973 - began in 1976. Hearings the scientific validity of the rule's risk models that only one person in a million
next week in an effort to gauge public were held on a proposed document in level, the question of whether industries can understand. Nevertheless, it's a
opinion on fundamental changes in 1979 by the Joint Legislative Rules will be required to do better than the step in the right direction."
Michigan's regulation of toxic substan- Committee, which subsequently han- rule's minimum standards if the The caution attached to their
ces - changes that one observer says ded the issue to the state Water Resour- technology is available and what hap- statements by Schmidt and other en-
affect the "bible" of the pollution laws. ces Commission to develop a com- pens when many regulated chemicals vironmentalists perhaps reflects the
Key to the changes is a "risk promise. The legislative committee mix together. importance they attach to the rule.
assessment" system that essentially still has the final authority, however. "THE ONE in 100,000 is voodoo," "These standards are the blueprint or
allows industry to discharge cancer THE PROPOSED rule covers charged Wayne Schmidt, environmen- the bible by which water quality is
causing substances as long as the Michigan surface waters and aims to tal specialist for the Michigan United protected in this state," Schmidt said.
chemical does not cause more than one protect them from containing "in- Conservation Clubs. "With . . . five The DNR publication said that in 1981
additional case of cancer in 100,000 jurious levels of toxic substances that (chemicals) added together, I don't alone, Michigan industries reported
people exposed to it. would adversely affect public health, know what you'd call it." making or using more than 2 billion
THE REVISIONS are being made to safety or welfare, plant and animal life Despite his reservations, Schmidt pounds of hazardous or toxic
state rule 323.1057, which is generally or the designated uses of those waters," said the MUCC probably will support chemicals. Of that amount, between 5.6
called just Rule 57. a Department of Natural Resources the rule as it is now proposed. His million and 8 million pounds were dum-
Environmentalists are divided on the publication said recently. dilemma typifies the uncertainty the ped into the environment.
issue of whether the rule change is a But questions remain in many en- rule has caused in the environmental Public hearings conducted by the
good thing, but they believe some vironmentalists' minds about how far community. Water Resources Commission on Rule
revision is necessary. the rule will go in meeting that goal, "For all the shortcomings of the ap- 57 begin Tuesday in Lansing. Other
Revision of the current rule - adop- and how safe the toxic levels it proach, it's the best anyone's been able hearings are scheduled for Wednesday
--_ -___--- regulates really will be. to come up with," Schmidt said. "It's in Grayling and Thursday in Marquet-
E x-M S Up rof Those concerns generally center on based on extremely complicated te. All hearing times are7 p.m.
sentenced
for income
tax evasion
GRAND RAPIDS (UPI) - A former
Michigan State University professor
was fined $20,000 and ordered to per-
form 25 hours of community service
each week for one year for income tax
evasion, the U.S. Attorney's Office said -
Wednesday.
George Martin, a retired mechanical
engineering professor, is to perform the
community service work during the fir-
st year of a three-year probation sen-
tence, U.S. District Judge Wendell
Miles said.
A $10,000 fine was assessed for each
of two counts of income tax evasion
filed against Martin for failing to report
income from 1977 to 1979. Martin
pleaded guilty to the counts.
Miles said all or part of the second
$10,000 fine will be forgiven in exchange " " -
for Martin's contribution to an un-
named charitable organization. .
In addition to the fines, Martin is
responsible for all civil taxes, penalties " "
and interest on the unreported income
for those years, Miles said.
Martin also was ordered to report any
royalty income received on his textbook . ,
"Kinematics and Dynamics of
Machines," which was published by .
McGraw Hill in 1969.
Martin, 66, taught at MSU from 1955
to 1979, a university spokesman said.
Classifieds
results! * . ' .