ADVICE FROM EPA: BUSINESS CAN DEFER SOME ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- An Environmental Protection Agency official Thursday told business leaders they could defer some of the high cost of environmental clean-up programs by preventing pollution and recycling waste.

Morris Kay, regional administrator for Region VII of the Environmental Protection Agency, was the guest speaker at a Clean Air Act seminar here Thursday.

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event, which included discussion of the impact the 1990 Clean Air Act will have on businesses and industry.

"We think the legislation is going to be complex, and we know that it's complex in its implementation," said Kay.

He said most business and economic development officials consider only the high costs associated with complying with the Clean Air Act.

But Kay said the legislation presents new opportunities for businesses who look for ways to help other companies and communities comply with the law.

"When we think about the ramifications the Clean Air Act might have on large industry and small businesses, we often look at the economics to the legislation, and the cost can be extremely high," he said.

"But it seems to me there's an opportunity for economic development in helping other companies and other communities come in compliance with environmental legislation."

Kay said the United States spends about $100 billion annually on environmental programs, mostly designed to clean up pollutants. He said if more businesses and communities worked harder to prevent pollution, there would be less cost for cleanup programs.

"We would like to see, in the future, a stronger effort made to prevent pollution in the first place," Kay said. "It makes sense: Instead of continuing to clean things up and make that investment, why shouldn't we make the investment to prevent pollution from occurring in the first place?"

Kay told those at the seminar to consider ways to generate as little waste as possible at their businesses and in their homes.

"There are many things you can do to prevent pollution, thereby lowering the cost of cleanup," he added.

Kay said one way to lower environmental costs is to recycle whenever possible.

"In many, many communities, the solid waste problem has become an immense problem environmentally," he said. "It is the environmental problem we'll have to deal with in the '90s."

Kay said that Americans generate about 3 pounds of solid waste per person each day. He said that compares to only a half pound of waste per person each day in Japan and about 1 pounds per person in Germany.

"What that tells us is, we can all do better to reduce the amount of waste being generated," Kay said. "If you do have to generate waste, let's find ways to recycle."

Kay said environmental activity during the past 20 years has helped reduce pollutants in the air, land and water throughout the country. He said continuing those efforts, through measures like the Clean Air Act, will assure that the environment will continue to improve.

Kay said an improved environment helps to lower health costs and prolong Americans' life expectancy.

"We're trying to do the job for you, the public, and we're trying to do the best job possible," he said.

Kay said that, through seminars like Thursday's and public hearings throughout the state, the EPA hopes to garner input from business and community leaders regarding their concerns about the Clean Air Act.

Robert Hendrix, president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, said that about 50 people attended the day-long seminar held at the Drury Lodge.

Three EPA representatives Wayne Kaiser, environmental specialist; Michael Marshall, environmental engineer; and Dewayne Durst, senior air adviser were on hand during informational panel sessions to discuss the Clean Air Act with seminar participants.

Hendrix said he thought the seminar was a success, but that he wished more people would have attended.

"I think it's gone real well," he said. "We've got the real experts here that have the answers."

Kay has more than three decades of experience in both business and government.

He served three terms in the Kansas House of Representatives, from 1966 to 1972, and was majority floor leader from 1970 to 1972. He was elected Republican state chairman in 1979, and again in 1981. He served as a member of the Republican National Committee from 1979 to 1982.

Kay served as president of the Lawrence, Kan., Chamber of Commerce, and has served on the Kansas Advisory Council for the Kansas State Geological Survey.

He also served as chairperson of the Greater Kansas City Federal Executive Board (FEB) from 1987 to 1989, and now serves on the FEB executive committee.