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The article reports on the involvement of the public in environmental policy development in the U.S. Federal legislation has required the public to get involved in the development of policy about programs affecting the environment. The National Environmental Policy Act of the Congress has directed federal agencies to develop procedures to insure public information and understanding. A publication by the Environmental Protection Agency states that participation is most effective when concerned individuals share their efforts in environmental actions.

The article announces that the U.S. secretary of commerce Maurice H. Stans reported that 138 anti-pollution patent applications have been approved for priority processing since last February 17, 1971 when the federal government accelerated the patent process for applications relating to environmental protection. 113 of these patents have already been acted upon by an examiner. Though the number of patents which will be issued on these applications is not yet known, the agency expects that 70 percent of these applications will be patented.