Pollution control: new priorities in an energy conscious world

The effects of pollution control regulations on industry efforts to conserve energy and switch to more abundant fuel supplies are discussed. Industry managers have argued that environmental policies must be reshaped with an eye to the economic and technological feasibility of such regulations. Provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 that affect industry's efforts to dispose of hazardous wastes are reviewed. Both RCRA and the Clean Water Act of 1977 were designed without much regard for economic or technological impacts. (5 photos)