EPA May 29 Latest Developments 5/29/2003
From: Dave Ryan of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 202-564-7827; e-mail: ryan.dave@epa.gov WASHINGTON, May 29 -- Following are the latest developments from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For more information on any of these subjects, call the appropriate contact: BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT PRIORITY AT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SITES Contact: Dave Ryan 202-564-7827/[email protected] Marianne Lamont Horinko, EPA's Assistant Administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, and Paul Chistolini, General Service Administration's (GSA) Deputy Commissioner for Public Building Service, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding at a National Press Club ceremony in Washington, D.C. to address Brownfields. EPA and GSA are members of the Brownfields National Partnership, which last year brought together 28 organizations, including more than 20 federal agencies, to expand the national movement to revitalize abandoned under-used industrial and commercial facilities. In the Memorandum of Understanding, EPA is committed to providing as much as $850 million for Brownfields over the next five years through assessments, cleanups, revolving loan funds, job training, and state/tribal grants; GSA is committed to jointly reviewing federal real property holdings to identify potential Brownfields candidates and to expedite their cleanup, redevelopment and reuse. GSA is the U.S. government agency responsible for purchasing the buildings, products, technology, and essentials that other federal agencies need. Since the Brownfields program began in 1995, it has awarded 645 grants to assess more than 4,000 Brownfields sites, leveraged more than $4.6 billion in private investments, and helped create more than 20,000 jobs. Every acre of reclaimed Brownfields saves 4.5 acres of greenspace, such as park and recreation areas. In January 2002, President Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, which authorizes up to $250 million a year for Brownfields grants. For more information, go to: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/ --- FRAMEWORK FOR CUMULATIVE RISK ASSESSMENT RELEASED Contact: Suzanne Ackerman 202-564-7819, e-mail: ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov To advance the application of sound science to policy-making, EPA has released the "Framework for Cumulative Risk Assessment," an integrated approach to environmental risk assessment. Cumulative risk assessment is the analysis of the combined risks to human health or the environment from multiple pollutants transmitted through multiple pathways of exposure. This holistic approach differs from the traditional study of one pollutant's effect on one population through one medium (air, water, land), in recognizing that people and ecosystems are impacted by a number of stressors simultaneously through different pathways. The Framework identifies key terms and basic elements of the assessment process and provides a flexible structure for addressing relevant scientific issues. EPA risk assessors will use the Framework as a basis for future guidance as EPA continues with assessment and regulatory activities. The Framework document is available on the Internet at: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/raf --- EPA SCIENTISTS IDENTIFY METALS AS POSSIBLE AIR POLLUTION COMPONENTS THAT EXACERBATE ASTHMA Contact: Suzanne Ackerman 202-564-7819, e-mail: ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov In research on environmental factors that contribute to asthma, EPA scientists have identified metals as components in air pollution that may affect the severity of asthma. This international study is the first to link animal and human data to show the possible role of metals in aggravating asthma, and is available online in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal (http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/). The study was done in collaboration with researchers at the German Research Center for Environment and Health. Although particulate matter (PM2.5) is known to exacerbate asthma, it is critical to identify which components in PM2.5 have this effect. Allergic asthma is epidemic in the U.S., afflicting 20 million Americans, including six million children. Since 1980, the biggest growth in asthma cases has occurred in children under five. In 1997, EPA established National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM2.5. These standards are set at levels that protect public health, including the health of sensitive populations such as people with asthma, children, and the elderly. In 2002, EPA announced the Asthma Research Strategy to focus research on pollutants that contribute to asthma, susceptibility factors, and risk management. For more information on EPA's Asthma Research Strategy, go to the website: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm . For resources on managing asthma, call the Childhood Asthma "Fish Out of Water" hotline at 1-800-315-8056 or go to EPA's asthma website at: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/asthma --- PESTICIDE SCIENCE PANEL WILL REVIEW KEY INFORMATION ON HERBICIDE ATRAZINE, POSSIBLE AMPHIBIAN EFFECTS Contact: Dave Deegan 202-564-7839/[email protected] EPA has completed an evaluation of currently available data regarding potential effects of the herbicide atrazine on amphibian development. After evaluating 17 laboratory and field studies drawn from published research and studies submitted directly to the Agency, EPA has developed a "white paper" which assesses the strengths and limitations of the available studies. EPA has also evaluated the nature and strength of dose-response relationships and developed a conceptual model to address uncertainties in determining a causal relationship between atrazine exposure and amphibian development. Under an amended consent decree with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), EPA is required to develop and submit a paper to a Scientific Advisory Panel for review and comment that considers data available as of Feb. 28, 2003 on the potential effects of atrazine on amphibians. The Scientific Advisory Panel is meeting on June 17 in Arlington, Va. EPA will consider any comments submitted by the Panel when it issues a revised "Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision" for atrazine, which will occur on or before Oct. 31. Information on the public meeting, including a link to the paper, is available at: http://www.epa.gov/scipoly/sap/(pound-sign)june | |