EPA's Latest Developments 4/19/2002
From: Robin Woods, 202-564-7841 or woods.robin@epa.gov; Dave Deegan, 202-564-7839 or deegan.dave@epa.gov, both of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WASHINGTON, April 19 -- Following are the EPA's latest developments: EPA COMPLETES SIX-YEAR REVIEW OF EXISTING DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS Contact: Robin Woods, 202-564-7841; e-mail: woods.robin@epa.gov EPA announced today that it has completed a detailed review of 69 existing drinking water standards. Based on that review, the agency is requesting comment on its preliminary decisions to revise the standard for total coliforms. Coliform bacteria are indicators of possible microbiological contamination, but do not necessarily make people sick. The agency's revisions to the standard will be designed to better indicate potential risks to public health. EPA also examined standards for 68 chemical contaminants and determined that, at this stage, they should not be revised. However, the agency notes that new health assessments are currently underway for 36 of these contaminants. The results of those studies will be considered as soon as they become available and the agency will decide whether revisions for these standards are warranted. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA must periodically review existing standards and, if good science indicates there is a threat to public health, revise them. The current review addresses standards developed prior to 1997. "We've conducted a thorough review of these existing drinking water standards for the first time in the agency's history. We welcome public comment on our analyses and will carefully consider those comments," said Cynthia Dougherty, director of the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water. "We also recognize that there are a number of scientific assessments underway, and we will examine new data as they become available." The public has the opportunity to comment on these preliminary decisions for the next 60 days. The agency will also hold a public meeting and consult with EPA's Science Advisory Board. The results of the review were published in the Federal Register on April 17. The list of standards is available in a fact sheet with additional information at: http://www.epa.gov/safewater, click on "What's New." --- REGIONAL GRANT FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR STATES AND TRIBES TO DEVELOP PESTICIDE RISK REDUCTION PROGRAMS Contact: Dave Deegan, 202-564-7839; e-mail: deegan.dave@epa.gov Almost a half-million dollars in grant money is being made available to states and tribes to develop programs designed to reduce the risks associated with pesticide use in agricultural and non-agricultural settings in the United States. The grants are being administered under EPA's Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program, which fosters voluntary partnerships among EPA and different industries and agricultural sectors committed to reducing the risks from pesticides. A total of $497,000 is eligible to be awarded for research, public education, training, monitoring, demonstrations and studies that advance pesticide risk reduction. Priority consideration will be given to projects that advance pesticide pollution prevention and that apply principles of integrated pest management (IPM) on a state or tribal level. Examples of programs that could be considered for grants include use of IPM in schools, research on children's health issues related to pesticides and development of research methods to document adoption of IPM or the reduction of risks associated with changes in pesticide use. EPA specifically seeks to build state and local IPM capacities and to evaluate the economic feasibility of new IPM approaches at the state level. Local governments, private universities, private non-profit entities, private businesses and individuals are not eligible for these specific grants. Applications must be received by the appropriate EPA regional office by May 27, and EPA will make its award decisions by July 10. Additional information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/PESP/regional(underscore)grants.htm. | |