EPA Official Sees Ruling On A Water Contaminant This Year

Tue. May 6, 2008


A top EPA official told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today it will decide by year's end whether to regulate levels of a rocket fuel chemical found in drinking water in 35 states. Under questioning by Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin Grumbles said the decision may not propose government regulation of perchlorate. Grumbles said perhaps a recommendation will be made to issue health advisories through state water commissions.

Perchlorate is used by the military and industry for making solid rocket propellant -- some leaching into the soil from missile silos, explosives, flares and car batteries that can contaminate groundwater, soil and food. It can have a deleterious effect on the human thyroid gland, especially in pregnant women. Boxer told Grumbles the agency had enough scientific information now to regulate perchlorate after studying the issue for 10 years. "I can say to you that your explanation today doesn't make any sense," Boxer said to Grumbles. She called the EPA "a shadow of its former self -- lots of words, no action."

Boxer said there were 400 sites in 35 states contaminated with perchlorate. Her home state of California has 106 sites, according to a GAO study in 2005. She said EPA has issued guidelines for cleaning up perchlorate at toxic waste sites. But the guidelines were based on levels of exposure to a 154-pound adult, she said, and failed to cover children and pregnant women. Grumbles urged Congress to hold off on legislation while EPA considers its next move and not demand that EPA require perchlorate standards in water. Several bills are pending on perchlorate. Boxer also wanted tougher standards for trichloroethylene, a degreasing solvent that EPA regulates. Sens. James Inhofe, R-Okla., and Christopher (Kit) Bond, R-Mo., said EPA should base its decisions on scientific evidence without political interference.

by Michael Posner