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∂AIL Professor Miro Todorovich
↓Scientists and Engineers for Secure Energy
↓570 Seventh Avenue, Suite 1007↓New York, N.Y. 10018∞
Dear Miro:
Enclosed is material on indoor pollution, mainly from Henry Hurwitz.
It seems to me that the next step is some legal research about what
programs might require environmental impact statements.
I am not sure what SE2 should do. Certainly we should help Hurwitz
publicize the information he has collected. Possibly he should
initiate a suit demanding an environmental impact statement for some
program of tax or other subsidies given to insulation.
Another possibility is simply to petition for suspending subsidies
for insulation pending an environmental impact statement. Nader seems
to get plenty of publicity for his petitions, and they are probably
much less expensive than suits. I suppose one petitions DOE or maybe
IRS if they are tax concessions.
A mere statement by the steering committee with a press release
including some of Hurwitz's material might be helpful. The main
content of the statement might be
(1) There seems to be a problem - at least by the criteria
for danger that have been applied to energy generating.
(2) Out of an ideological belief that they are the good guys,
the EPA has ignored it. Perhaps, it should be said differently - out
of an enthusiasm for energy conservation, it has been difficult for
them to take seriously the idea that it might have dangers. These
dangers have been known for some time.
(3) The mechanism for deciding exists. They should do the
research required for an environmental impact statement and issue
one for any government activity in the area of improved insulation.
(4) SE2 will help them do their duty by a suit if necessary.
(5) With present knowledge, it looks like generating more
energy presents less danger to the public than super insulation.
(6) Aside. Maybe air exchangers will solve the problem, but
this isn't known, and they aren't available in the U.S., nor is their
use part of the government plans.
A press conference in Wahsington might be necessary A grander activity
would be to co-sponsor a conference, possibly together with one of the
more responsible environmental organizations if there is one.
However, some people here regard such suits as a wrong activity on the
grounds that they add to the atmosphere of legal guerrilla warfare
which we deplore. Moreover, a small suit on our part might serve to
legitimize the much greater activities in this direction by the other
side.
All this would be much clearer if we had someone who actually knew
the legal situation.
We won't be able to do much before the election, and what we will
want to do may depend on how the election turns out.
.reg