Interior Gets Tougher

At long last and after due provocation, the U.S. Government rushed in where states have feared to tread. Last week, invoking the Water Quality Act of 1965, Interior Secretary Walter J. Hickel announced that the Federal Government was proceeding forthwith to "prosecute those who pollute."

Hickel's first targets include four large steelmakers (U.S. Steel, Republic, Jones & Laughlin and Interlake), a Kansas mining company (Eagle-Picher Industries) and the City of Toledo.

All of the accused polluters were duly identified during the late days of the Johnson Administration. Then, in theory, it was up to the states concerned to enforce remedial action. But the state authorities got nowhere--either delayed by countering lawsuits or a lack of enthusiasm for prosecuting industries that were also major taxpayers.

The accused polluters have been summoned to appear before the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, where they will be given firm deadlines to devise a plan to clean up their effluents. If they do not meet those deadlines, they can be prosecuted by the Justice Department for contempt of court.

"This is just a beginning," warned Hickel. Next on his agenda are the major polluters along the Passaic and Savannah rivers. After that? Hickel just smiles grimly.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.