Evening star., 1935-12-24

Therefore 1t has ceased to be mere
matter of local interest. 1t has be-
come a matter Of national concern.
Third, that industrial pollution and
municipal sewage pollution must be
attacked as a single problem and at
the same time. Taxpayers will spend
no money to clean public streams
which industries continue to use as
private sewers.
Fourth, that the most effective ar
gument that industrial polluters ad-
vance against enforcement of anti
pollution laws by their States is the
plea that they should not be put at
competitive disadvantage with indus
tries located in other States that fail
to act While this argument is more
plausible than sound, it is very effec-
tive with the public. 1t causes confu-
sion and hesitation, which weakens
the drive for strict enforcement in any
State.
Claim Funds Unavailable.
Fifth, that both municipalities and
industries very generally plead lack
of funds.
Summarized, these propositions de-
mand new approach to the problem,
and a plan which would meet the fol-
lowing requirements: (a) Provide uni
| formity of enforcement, bearing down
| equally on industries as well as mu-
inequalities irrespective of location: (b)
provide for immediate installation Of
sewage disposal plants and trade waste
treatment works by furnishing funds
for both, and (c) provide watershed
pollution control irrespective of State
| boundaries.
Obviously, these requirements can
| only be met through the intervention
of the Federal Government. If it does
! intervene, a central authority must be
set up or powers conferred upon some
existing agency to conduct the follow
| ing activities:
! l. To attempt through State CO.
! operation to obtain uniformity Of State
laws, procedures and enforcement Of
water pollution preventive and correc-
| tive measures.
Would Set Standards.
2 To assist the proper State agency
/ in the studies necessary to determine
the extent of the pollution of any
/ waters within the State, to establish
standards of purity Of these waters and
to determine the necessary corrective
measures for attaining these standards.
/ g. To direct that studies be made by
| existing agencies of the Federal Gov
eminent qualified to make such studies
of such interstate watersheds as ap-
pear necessary, and to finance these
studies.
a. To determine from the studies the
area of each interstate watershed to
be established as a water pollution
abatement district, to be known there
after as the sanitary water district,
/ and to set up for that district stand
ards of purity and minimum require
ments as to treatment of polluting
material before the same is discharged
into the waters thereof.
5. To create for each sanitary wa
ter district SO established by the Ma
tional Board a sanitary water district
board to the number to be determined
by the National Board, such boards
to be given authority to require abate-
ment and prevention of all water pol
luton within the area of the district.
to require installation of such sewage
disposal plants and such treatment
works for industrial works as may
be necessary TO cleanse, protect and
safeguard the purity of the waters
within the district. and to arrange for
the necessary financing and construc-
ton of the required sewage disposal
plants and treatment works of in
dustrial waste by offering Govern
ment loans.
Damage Suits Possible.
Such a program should also spe-
cifically reserve the right of any indi-
vidual or persons or corporation or
any municipality or community suf-
/ fering injury by reason Of the pollu-
e IL l..