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<br />0025~! <br /> <br />,,~ <br />>;;~;i~ <br />-'\'-..;1;': <br /> <br />~rt~ <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />- 14 - <br /> <br />data, it is not possible to present a complete picture of the industrial <br />waste situation. It is probably safe to estimate tpat industrial waste <br />discharged separately into streams is over twice as much as municipal <br />waste and that only about half the industries provided treatment. In <br />reporting their needs, a quarter of the municipalities and almost half <br />the industries reported that they needed treatment facilities, and <br />approximately 10 per cent of each category reported that they needed <br />to replace existing plants. <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />Both the President's Water Resources Policy Commission and the <br />Missouri Basin Survey. Commission recommended legislation to expedite <br />abatement programs and to assist municipalities in financing necessary <br />treatment facilities. The Missouri Basin Commission further recommended <br />that the whole program of pollution control be coordinated with water <br />supply and storage problems from the first planning for a project and <br />carried out and maintained as an integral part of the program. More <br />recently, Progress Report No. I of the Joint Federal-State Action Com- <br />mittee, released last month, emphasized the need for state and local <br />initiative in developing waste treatment facilities. The Committee <br />recommended that the states strengthen pollution control programs as <br />needed, provide such financial assistance for waste treatment.facilities <br />as may be necessary, and improve municipal capacity to finance waste <br />treatment works. They recommended that federal grants for local waste <br />treatment facilities be discontinued. <br /> <br />The pollution control and abatement needs in the Missouri Basin <br />at the state level seem to relate primarily to program execution rather <br />than to administrative organization or broad authorizing legislation. <br />Some administrative coordination may be desirable and certain additional <br />legislation may be necessary, but the broad framework is there. What is <br />needed is the active and forceful execution of a program that will <br />appreciably decrease pollution as rapidly as possible. Admittedly, there <br />are a number of problems that must be faced. Requirements for treatment <br />have to be kept within economically feasible and reasonable limits. Time <br />has to be allowed for the financing and construction of necessary <br />facilities. However, these considerations should not be allowed to pro- <br />tract undUly the execution of the necessary measures. <br /> <br />The states' responsibility is two-fold. Not only must an active <br />enforcement program be maintained but, also, the state must be prepared <br />to provide technical and perhaps economic aid to assist in satisfying the <br />demands of the enforcement procedures. Many of the specific needs parallel <br />those indicated for water supply projects. The states need to provide <br />enabling legislation to allow municipalities, counties and other units of <br />government to cooperate in developing facilities. The formation of special <br />districts needs to be authorized. Again, proliferation of special dis- <br />tricts with limited powers and financing should be avoided. Broad general <br />purpose or multiple purpose districts, encompassing sewage disposal along <br />with water supply and other functions, may be the answer. <br /> <br />Some states have made loana and grants available to localities. <br />Those states that have not heretofore offered such assistance may find <br />that this will be necessary if they want. to establish an effective pol- <br />lution abatement program in the state within a reasonable period of time. <br />