Business Week, P 64-65, October 9, 1971 1 Photo2010-02-152010-02-151971 Oct 9http://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/2319464-65THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN TO USE THE LITTLE KNOWN REFUSE ACT OF 1899 TO CRACK DOWN ON WATER POLLUTION AT FIRST MET WITH LITTLE SUCCESS. HOWEVER, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) RECENTLY ASKED THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO SUE 28 COMPANIES WHICH HAD NOT APPLIED FOR WASTE DISCHARGE PERMITS. THE FIRST CASE TO REACH TRIAL INVOLVED THE ARMCO STEEL PLANT ON THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL. ARMCO HAD DECIDED TO STOP ROUTINELY DUMPING A VARIETY OF HARMFUL CHEMICALS IN THE CHANNEL AND INSTEAD COMMENCED DRILLING TWO 7,000 FOOT WELLS TO STORE THE WASTES. WHILE THE DRILLING WAS APPROVED BY THE TEXAS WATER QUALITY BOARD, EPA OBJECTED AND OBTAINED AN INJUNCTION HALTING THAT ACTIVITY ON GROUNDS THAT THE WASTES COULD SEEP INTO WATER SUPPLIES. THE COURT BANNED USE OF THE WELLS UNLESS 18 NEARBY UNUSED OIL WELLS WERE PLUGGED TO PREVENT WASTE SEEPAGE. THE COST OF IMPLEMENTING THIS CONDITION EFFECTIVELY SHUT DOWN THE PLANT. THE CASE IS NOW ON APPEAL. EPA FAVORS A TREATMENT PROCESS WITH INCINERATION OF THE RESIDUE. IN ANOTHER CASE U.S. STEEL SUBMITTED WASTE DISCHARGE PERMIT APPLICATIONS BUT COMPANY OFFICIALS FAILED TO SIGN THE REQUISITE FORMS. THESE SIGNATURES WERE OBTAINED AFTER OTHER COMPANIES SIMILARLY SITUATED FAILED TO TAKE SIMILAR ACTION. THE GOVERNMENT CLEARLY INTENDS TO ENFORCE THE PERMIT SYSTEM. (GRANT-FLORIDA)*INDUSTRIAL WASTES*INJUNCTIONS*JUDICIAL *PERMITS*RIVERS AND HARBORS ACTADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIESADOPTION OF PRACTICESHEAT TREATMENTHoustonHouston Ship ChannelINDUSTRIAL WATERLEGALLEGAL ASPECTSLEGAL REVIEWNAVIGABLE WATERSOilPENALTIESPERMITSPOLITICIAL ASPECTSPOLLUTIONPROHIBITORYSeepageSW 3070 Water quality controlSW 4050 Water law and institutionsTexasWASTE DISPOSAL WELLSWASTESWATERWATER POLLUTIONWater pollution sourcesWater qualityWATER QUALITY CONTROLWATER QUALITY STANDARDSWater supplyWellsJournal