Show Environmental Costs Will be Included in Consumers' Consumers Total Bill The cost of protecting the environ environs ment must now and forever be included In the cost of any item says former Secretary of the Interior Walter J J. J Hick el cl WRITING IN N his autobiography Who Owns America recently published by Paperback Library says rays The polluters of the past were providing goods and services for the public obvious obvious ob ob- to the environmental consequences ces of their actions I cannot blame them Even 20 years ago the industrial and municipal effluent being discharged into into in in- to public waters was in most cases too little to pollute Nature has a in built-in system to break and clear away tion BUT TODAY it Is a different story Many of the rivers and lakes have passed pass ed cd the level of tolerance and even the oceans are In danger Today's polluters cannot avoid the issue of environmental responsibility The additional cost to protect the environment Hickel emphasizes in Who Owns America must now and forever forever for for- ever be included in the cost of any item I 1 BELIEVE this expense Is acceptable table to the consumer who is Ls now willing willing will will- ing to pa pay a few cents more per month to insure that the production of goods not pollute the environment stated Mr Hickel |