Italy investigates official in a toxic-waste mystery

Legal proceedings opened against the special commissioner responsible for cleaning up a 1976 chemical plant explosion here. The case involved the mysterious disappearance last fall of 41 containers of dioxin waste.

After well-publicized investigations by several West European countries, the containers were found last week in an unused slaughterhouse in northern France. Judicial sources said Luigi Noe, appointed by the government to supervise the Seveso plant rehabilitation, was warned he was under investigation for alleged misdemeanors in connection with the movement. Mr. Noe had repeatedly said he did not know where the dioxin waste was.