U.S. patent application number 11/128968 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-20 for method of disposing of hazardous wastes connected with criminal activity.
Invention is credited to Lewis, Larry D..
Application Number | 20050229825 11/128968 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46304562 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050229825 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lewis, Larry D. |
October 20, 2005 |
Method of disposing of hazardous wastes connected with criminal
activity
Abstract
A method of disposing of hazardous wastes connected with
criminal activity comprising transporting a portable incinerator to
the site of the criminal activity, sorting through waste materials
at the site and selecting waste materials which are combustible and
will not emit harmful emissions. The selected waste materials are
placed within the incinerator and heated to a temperature of
between 1600-1900.degree. F. Non-combustible containers used to
practice the illegal activity can be sterilized at the same time.
The residue from the incinerator can then be collected and buried
in a non-toxic landfill.
Inventors: |
Lewis, Larry D.; (Cedar,
IA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ZARLEY LAW FIRM P.L.C.
CAPITAL SQUARE
400 LOCUST, SUITE 200
DES MOINES
IA
50309-2350
US
|
Family ID: |
46304562 |
Appl. No.: |
11/128968 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11128968 |
May 13, 2005 |
|
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10100325 |
Mar 18, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
110/342 ;
110/346 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23G 5/02 20130101; F23G
5/16 20130101; F23G 7/00 20130101; F23G 2201/50 20130101; F23G
2201/603 20130101; F23G 5/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
110/342 ;
110/346 |
International
Class: |
F23B 007/00; F23G
001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of disposing of hazardous wastes connected with
criminal activity, comprising, transporting a portable batch-type
incinerator to a site where certain hazardous wastes are located
connected to criminal activity, sorting through the waste materials
and selecting waste materials from a group which are combustible in
the presence of heat without creating hazardous air pollutants,
placing the selected waste materials within the incinerator,
heating the incinerator to a temperature of between
1600-1900.degree. F. for a period of at least one hour to create a
particulate residue, cooling the incinerator to ambient
temperatures, removing the residue from the incinerator into a
portable container, removing the portable container from the site
and depositing the same in a non-toxic landfill, and removing the
portable incinerator from the site.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the site is a criminal justice
building, and the waste is comprised of materials gathered from a
crime scene.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the site is a crime scene and the
waste is comprised of wastes not required as evidence for a
subsequent investigation or judicial proceeding.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the site is a meth lab site and
the waste is comprised of ingredients and paraphernalia used in the
creation of methamphetamine.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein non-combustible paraphernalia are
gathered from the site and placed in the incinerator for
sterilization purposes.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the incinerator is heated to a
temperature range of 1100.degree. F.-1300.degree. F. for a period
of time before being heated to 1600.degree.-1900.degree. F. to
properly combust certain wastes which are more easily combusted and
destroyed at a temperature lower than 1600.degree. F.-1900.degree.
F.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the incinerator has an
after-burner through which the emissions from combustion of the
selected waste materials are channeled to further combust any
particulate material in the emissions.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the temperature in the
after-burner exceeds 1600.degree. F.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing
an incinerator having an interior of the incinerator lined with
firebricks.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing
fuel to the incinerator, wherein the fuel comprises a mixture of
diesel fuel, either, and white gas.
11. A method of disposing of hazardous wastes connected with
criminal activity, comprising, transporting a portable batch-type
incinerator to a site where certain hazardous wastes are located
connected to criminal activity, sorting through the waste materials
and selecting waste materials from a group which are combustible in
the presence of heat and placing these selected waste materials
within the incinerator, sorting through the waste materials and
selecting waste materials from a group which are non-combustible in
the presence of heat and placing these non-combustible materials
within the incinerator for sterilization, sorting through the waste
materials and selecting waste materials from a group which are
treatable without combustion and excluding these treatable without
combustion materials from the from the incinerator, heating the
incinerator to create a particulate residue, cooling the
incinerator to ambient temperatures, and removing the residue from
the incinerator.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the selected waste materials are
selected from the group consisting of completed supplies of meth,
sludge from the meth manufacturing containers, and meth
ingredients.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the non-combustible materials
are selected from the group consisting of laboratory glass ware,
coffee filters, and tubing.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the treatable without combustion
materials are selected from the group consisting of iodine
crystals, red phosphorous, lithium, sodium crystals, sodium metals,
lye, anhydrous ammonia, liquid brake fluid, brake cleaner, drain
cleaner, and acid mixes.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of sorting through the
waste materials includes sorting through the waste materials and
selecting waste materials from a group which are combustible in the
presence of heat without creating hazardous air pollutants.
16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of providing
an incinerator having an interior of the incinerator lined with
firebricks.
17. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of providing
fuel to the incinerator, wherein the fuel comprises a mixture of
diesel fuel, either, and white gas.
18. The method of claim 11 wherein the incinerator is heated to a
temperature range of 1100.degree. F.-1300.degree. F. for a period
of time of about one hour before being heated to
1600.degree.-1900.degree. F. to properly combust certain wastes
which are more easily combusted and destroyed at a temperature
lower than 1600.degree. F.-1900.degree. F.
19. A method of disposing of hazardous wastes connected with
criminal activity, comprising: transporting a portable batch-type
incinerator having an interior of the incinerator lined with
firebricks to a site where certain hazardous wastes are located
connected to criminal activity, and wherein the waste is comprised
of ingredients and paraphernalia used in the creation of
methamphetamine; providing fuel to the incinerator, wherein the
fuel comprises a mixture of diesel fuel, either, and white gas;
sorting through the waste materials and selecting waste materials
from a group which are combustible in the presence of heat without
creating hazardous air pollutants, placing these selected waste
materials within the incinerator, and wherein the selected waste
materials are selected from the group consisting of completed
supplies of meth, sludge from the meth manufacturing containers,
and meth ingredients; sorting through the waste materials and
selecting waste materials from a group which are non-combustible in
the presence of heat and placing these non-combustible materials
within the incinerator for sterilization, and wherein the
non-combustible materials are selected from the group consisting of
laboratory glass ware, coffee filters, and tubing; sorting through
the waste materials and selecting waste materials from a group
which are treatable without combustion and excluding these
treatable without combustion materials from the from the
incinerator, and wherein the treatable without combustion materials
are selected from the group consisting of iodine crystals, red
phosphorous, lithium, sodium crystals, sodium metals, lye,
anhydrous ammonia, liquid brake fluid, brake cleaner, drain
cleaner, and acid mixes; placing the selected waste materials
within the incinerator; heating the incinerator to a temperature
range of 1100.degree. F.-1300.degree. F. for a period of time of
about one hour before being heated to 1600.degree.-1900.degree. F.
to properly combust certain wastes which are more easily combusted
and destroyed at a temperature lower than 1600.degree.
F.-1900.degree. F.; cooling the incinerator to ambient
temperatures; removing the residue from the incinerator into a
portable container; removing the portable container from the site
and depositing the same in a non-toxic landfill; and removing the
portable incinerator from the site.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.
10/100,325 filed Mar. 18, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The methamphetamine (meth) lab problem is prevalent
throughout the United States and the rest of the World. Meth labs
used to make the illegal drug are discovered in houses, apartments,
motel rooms, sheds, or even motor vehicles. In recent times,
Federal, State and Local authorities were involved in the seizure
of more than 500 labs in a single state, and the number of such
labs seized by law enforcement agencies increases each year.
[0003] After a lab is seized by law enforcement officials,
professionals trained to handle hazardous materials are generally
called in to remove lab wastes and any bulk materials. Some of the
chemicals can be disposed of at the site by being mixed with water
or other ingredients. However, there are certain chemicals and
paraphernalia that must be carefully carried to a special truck or
vehicle, and then transported to a far distance point where they
are ultimately disposed of in a secluded landfill sometimes located
hundreds and hundreds of miles from the site at which they were
discovered. The long transportation of these hazardous wastes and
materials invites a great problem in the event that any of them
would be wrecked, thus creating a dangerous situation wherever such
an accident might have taken place.
[0004] The cost of loading, transporting, and burying waste
materials from typical meth labs can run upwardly of $10,000 per
meth lab, and sometimes substantially more.
[0005] It is therefore a principal object of this invention to
provide a method of disposing of hazardous wastes connected with
criminal activity at the site of the activity.
[0006] A further object of this invention is to provide a method of
disposing of hazardous waste materials connected with criminal
activity which is both safe and inexpensive.
[0007] These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in
the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A method of disposing of hazardous wastes connected with
criminal activity involves the steps of transporting a portable
batch-type incinerator to a site where certain hazardous wastes are
located connected to the criminal activity, such as a meth lab
site. The next step is identifying the waste materials and sorting
through them and selecting waste materials from a group which are
combustible in the presence of heat without creating harmful
emissions. The selected waste materials are then placed within the
incinerator. The incinerator is then heated to a temperature of
between 1600-1900.degree. F. for a period of at least one hour and
between one hour and two hours to create a particulate residue. The
incinerator is then cooled to ambient temperatures, and the residue
is collected from the incinerator and put into a portable
container. The portable container is then moved from the site and
deposited in a convenient local non-toxic landfill. The incinerator
is thereupon removed from the site.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED INVENTION
[0009] The ingredients and equipment that may be involved in
typical meth lab activity include the following:
[0010] Pool acid/Muratic acid
[0011] Lye
[0012] Acetone
[0013] Brake Fluid
[0014] Brake Cleaner
[0015] Iodine Crystals
[0016] Lithium Metal/Lithium Batteries
[0017] Lighter Fluid
[0018] Drain Cleaners (Drano or Liquid Fire)
[0019] Cold Medicine Containing Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
[0020] Ethyl Ether (Starting Fluid)
[0021] Anhydrous Ammonia (stored in propane tanks or coolers)
[0022] Sodium Metal
[0023] Red Phosphorus
[0024] Ephedrine
[0025] Laboratory Glassware
[0026] Coffee Filters
[0027] Table Salt
[0028] Two Quart Plastic Type Containers for anhydrous ammonia
[0029] One gallon metal container or glass container of white
gas.
[0030] Sludge comprised of a mixture of all the chemicals located
in various containers
[0031] Various types of glassware used to mix the chemicals
[0032] Plastic pop bottles, air tubing and the like
[0033] The first step in cleaning up a meth site is to take an
inventory of the material at the site and identify the same. At the
same time, a portable incinerator pulled behind a pickup truck or
the like is brought directly to the site. An incinerator suitable
for practicing the method is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,752, and
the drawings and descriptive portion thereof are herein
incorporated by reference. Any suitable number of wheels can be
applied to the incinerator of U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,752 to enable it
to be towed to the site. The incinerator has an after-burner
through which emissions from the combusted material are channeled
to permit particles in the emissions to be further combusted.
[0034] The professionals at the site should then sort through the
waste materials and select waste materials from the total group of
materials which are combustible in the presence of heat and which
can be subjected to heat without creating harmful health emissions,
defined herein as hazardous air pollutants as described by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency as "those pollutants that are known
or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such
as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental
effect". Examples of hazardous air pollutants include benzene,
which is found in gasoline; perchlorethlyene, which is emitted from
some dry cleaning facilities; and methylene chloride, which is used
as a solvent and paint stripper by a number of industries. Examples
of other listed hazardous air pollutants include dioxin, asbestos,
toluene, and metals such as cadmium, mercury, chromium, and lead
compounds. As defined by the EPA and as defined herein hazardous
air pollutants mean the following chemicals:
1 CAS Chemical Number Name 75070 Acetaldehyde 60355 Acetamide 75058
Acetonitrile 98862 Acetophenone 53963 2-Acetylaminofluorene 107028
Acrolein 79061 Acrylamide 79107 Acrylic acid 107131 Acrylonitrile
107051 Allyl chloride 92671 4-Aminobiphenyl 62533 Aniline 90040
o-Anisidine 1332214 Asbestos 71432 Benzene (including benzene from
gasoline) 92875 Benzidine 98077 Benzotrichloride 100447 Benzyl
chloride 92524 Biphenyl 117817 Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
542881 Bis(chloromethyl) ether 75252 Bromoform 106990 1,3-Butadiene
156627 Calcium cyanamide 105602 Caprolactam(See Modification)
133062 Captan 63252 Carbaryl 75150 Carbon disulfide 56235 Carbon
tetrachloride 463581 Carbonyl sulfide 120809 Catechol 133904
Chloramben 57749 Chlordane 7782505 Chlorine 79118 Chloroacetic acid
532274 2-Chloroacetophenone 108907 Chlorobenzene 510156
Chlorobenzilate 67663 Chloroform 107302 Chloromethyl methyl ether
126998 Chloroprene 1319773 Cresols/Cresylic acid (isomers and
mixture) 95487 o-Cresol 108394 m-Cresol 106445 p-Cresol 98828
Cumene 94757 2,4-D, salts and esters 3547044 DDE 334883
Diazomethane 132649 Dibenzofurans 96128 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane
84742 Dibutylphthalate 106467 1,4-Dichlorobenzene(p) 91941
3,3-Dichlorobenzidene 111444 Dichloroethyl ether (Bis(2-
chloroethyl)ether) 542756 1,3-Dichloropropene 62737 Dichlorvos
111422 Diethanolamine 121697 N,N-Diethyl aniline (N,N-
Dimethylaniline) 64675 Diethyl sulfate 119904
3,3-Dimethoxybenzidine 60117 Dimethyl aminoazobenzene 119937
3,3'-Dimethyl benzidine 79447 Dimethyl carbamoyl chloride 68122
Dimethyl formamide 57147 1,1-Dimethyl hydrazine 131113 Dimethyl
phthalate 77781 Dimethyl sulfate 534521 4,6-Dinitro-o-cresol, and
salts 51285 2,4-Dinitrophenol 121142 2,4-Dinitrotoluene 123911
1,4-Dioxane (1,4-Diethyleneoxide) 122667 1,2-Diphenylhydrazine
106898 Epichlorohydrin (1-Chloro-2,3- epoxypropane) 106887
1,2-Epoxybutane 140885 Ethyl acrylate 100414 Ethyl benzene 51796
Ethyl carbamate (Urethane) 75003 Ethyl chloride (Chloroethane)
106934 Ethylene dibromide (Dibromoethane) 107062 Ethylene
dichloride (1,2- Dichloroethane) 107211 Ethylene glycol 151564
Ethylene imine (Aziridine) 75218 Ethylene oxide 96457 Ethylene
thiourea 75343 Ethylidene dichloride (1,1- Dichloroethane) 50000
Formaldehyde 76448 Heptachlor 118741 Hexachlorobenzene 87683
Hexachlorobutadiene 77474 Hexachlorocyclopentadiene 67721
Hexachloroethane 822060 Hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate 680319
Hexamethylphosphoramide 110543 Hexane 302012 Hydrazine 7647010
Hydrochloric acid 7664393 Hydrogen fluoride (Hydrofluoric acid)
7783064 Hydrogen sulfide(See Modification) 123319 Hydroquinone
78591 Isophorone 58899 Lindane (all isomers) 108316 Maleic
anhydride 67561 Methanol 72435 Methoxychlor 74839 Methyl bromide
(Bromomethane) 74873 Methyl chloride (Chloromethane) 71556 Methyl
chloroform (1,1,1- Trichloroethane) 78933 Methyl ethyl ketone
(2-Butanone) 60344 Methyl hydrazine 74884 Methyl iodide
(Iodomethane) 108101 Methyl isobutyl ketone (Hexone) 624839 Methyl
isocyanate 80626 Methyl methacrylate 1634044 Methyl tert butyl
ether 101144 4,4-Methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) 75092 Methylene
chloride (Dichloromethane) 101688 Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate
(MDI) 101779 4,4&&-Methylenedianiline 91203 Naphthalene
98953 Nitrobenzene 92933 4-Nitrobiphenyl 100027 4-Nitrophenol 79469
2-Nitropropane 684935 N-Nitroso-N-methylurea 62759
N-Nitrosodimethylamine 59892 N-Nitrosomorpholine 56382 Parathion
82688 Pentachloronitrobenzene (Quintobenzene) 87865
Pentachlorophenol 108952 Phenol 106503 p-Phenylenediamine 75445
Phosgene 7803512 Phosphine 7723140 Phosphorus 85449 Phthalic
anhydride 1336363 Polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclors) 1120714
1,3-Propane sultone 57578 beta-Propiolactone 123386 Propionaldehyde
114261 Propoxur (Baygon) 78875 Propylene dichloride (1,2-
Dichloropropane) 75569 Propylene oxide 75558 1,2-Propylenimine
(2-Methyl aziridine) 91225 Quinoline 106514 Quinone 100425 Styrene
96093 Styrene oxide 1746016 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
79345 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 127184 Tetrachloroethylene
(Perchloroethylene) 7550450 Titanium tetrachloride 108883 Toluene
95807 2,4-Toluene diamine 584849 2,4-Toluene diisocyanate 95534
o-Toluidine 8001352 Toxaphene (chlorinated camphene) 120821
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 79005 1,1,2-Trichloroethane 79016
Trichloroethylene 95954 2,4,5-Trichlorophenol 88062
2,4,6-Trichlorophenol 121448 Triethylamine 1582098 Trifluralin
540841 2,2,4-Trimethylpentane 108054 Vinyl acetate 593602 Vinyl
bromide 75014 Vinyl chloride 75354 Vinylidene chloride (1,1-
Dichloroethylene) 1330207 Xylenes (isomers and mixture) 95476
o-Xylenes 108383 m-Xylenes 106423 p-Xylenes 0 Antimony Compounds 0
Arsenic Compounds (inorganic including arsine) 0 Beryllium
Compounds 0 Cadmium Compounds 0 Chromium Compounds 0 Cobalt
Compounds 0 Coke Oven Emissions 0 Cyanide Compounds (*1) 0 Glycol
ethers (*2) 0 Lead Compounds 0 Manganese Compounds 0 Mercury
Compounds 0 Fine mineral fibers (*3) 0 Nickel Compounds 0 Polycylic
Organic Matter (*4) 0 Radionuclides (including radon) (*5) 0
Selenium Compounds NOTE: For all listings above which contain the
word "compounds" and for glycol ethers, the following applies:
Unless otherwise specified, these listings # are defined as
including any unique chemical substance that contains the named
chemical (i.e., antimony, arsenic, etc.) as part of that chemical's
infrastructure. (*1) X'CN where X = H' or any other group where a
formal dissociation may occur. For example KCN or Ca (CN) 2. (*2)
Includes mono- and di-ethers of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol,
and triethylene glycol R-(OCH2CH2)n -OR' where n = 1, 2, or 3; R =
alkyl or # aryl groups; R' = R, H, or groups which, when removed,
yield glycol ethers with the structure: R-(OCH2CH)n-OH. Polymers
are excluded from the glycol category. (See Modification). (*3)
Includes mineral fiber emissions from facilities manufacturing or
processing glass, rock, or slag fibers (or other mineral derived
fibers) of average diameter 1 micrometer or less. (*4) Includes
organic compounds with more than one benzene ring, and which have a
boiling point greater than or equal to 100.degree. C. (*5) A type
of atom which spontaneously undergoes radioactive decay.
[0035] Typical chemicals or utensils that can be subjected to heat
would include, without limitation, completed supplies of meth
itself which appear as hardened solid particles which are typically
smoked. Sludge from the meth manufacturing containers is also
collected as combustibles along with such meth ingredients as
Sudafed.RTM. and Ephedrine. Equipment which can either be
incinerated or at least sterilized would include laboratory glass
ware, coffee filters, tubing, and the like. Such components are
placed within the incinerator which is then ignited and heated to a
temperature of preferably 1600-1900.degree. F. for a period of at
least an hour and preferably two hours. The temperature in the
after-burner should be 1600.degree. F. or higher.
[0036] Due to the high temperatures, conventional incinerators
having metal interiors or metal on metal drawers or other moving
pieces may be subject to substantial warping and/or degradation
during the incineration process. Accordingly, in one embodiment the
present invention provides an incinerator having an interior of the
incinerator lined with firebricks. More particularly, each
sidewall, each end wall, bottom wall, and each lid includes a
firebrick lining. Likewise, the present invention provides an
incinerator having a combustion chamber lined with firebricks.
[0037] A proper fuel is provided for thorough combustion. A primary
burner of the incinerator preferably burns No. 2 diesel fuel,
though other fuel may be utilized. For example, the fuel may
comprise a mixture such as (diesel fuel/either/Coleman.RTM. Fuel).
As used herein the term Coleman.RTM. Fuel means a particular brand
of the more generic product, white gas.
[0038] Other components could be the subject of incineration, but
harmful emissions might result so they should not be incinerated.
For example, iodine crystals, red phosphorous, Lithium, sodium
crystals/metals, and lye can be stored in separately labeled
Teflon.RTM. containers and kept dry for further disposal in
accordance with Hazardous Laboratory Chemicals: Disposal Guide:
Z28,182-4.
[0039] Other harmful components such as anhydrous ammonia can be
rendered harmless by being mixed with water under controlled
conditions and disposed of at the site. Liquid brake fluid and
brake cleaner, for example, can be absorbed by common floor dry and
disposed in a landfill. The same would be true for drain cleaner
(such as Drano.RTM.) or acid mixes that have been neutralized by a
neutralizer (e.g. baking soda) and which could be mixed with common
floor dry to be disposed of in a local landfill.
[0040] The metal or other containers placed in the incinerator and
subjected to the foregoing conditions of heat will be thoroughly
sterilized after the one hour period. The chemicals which have not
been vaporized typically will form a fine particulate material
which can be taken from the incinerator after it is cooled to
ambient temperatures, placed in a suitable container, and
transported to a local non-toxic landfill. The incinerator is
thereupon towed from the site and is prepared to repeat the
activity at the next discovered meth site.
[0041] The method of this invention is also useful at other crime
scenes where there is a residue of evidence after the law
enforcement persons have removed whatever physical evidence is
necessary. The incinerator can be brought to such a site and can be
used for disposal purposes of residue material whether it be toxic
waste or otherwise without having to introduce special toxic waste
transporting equipment for transportation to far distant
points.
[0042] Similarly, the method of this invention can be used at
Courthouses and the like after meth or toxic ingredients have
completed their function as evidence in a completed criminal
case.
[0043] It is therefore seen that the method of this invention will
permit the swift disposal of many toxic ingredients at a meth lab
site or other criminal scene in a very short time, under very safe
conditions, and at a very low expense as compared to loading,
transporting and then disposing of the same ingredients at a far
distant point.
[0044] Some of the selected wastes, such as meth, the meth sludge,
are preferably combusted at a temperature of between
1100-1300.degree. F. In that case, the incinerator is first heated
to that temperature for about one hour, and then the heat is
increased to 1600-1900.degree. F. to deal with the remaining
selected combustible ingredients.
[0045] It is therefore seen that this invention will achieve at
least all of its stated objectives.
* * * * *