[CPEO-BIF] Reps call for protective interim approach for TCE

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

[Today a bipartisan group of 13 members of Congress sent a letter,
initiated by Rep. Sue Kelly (R-NY) to U.S. EPA calling for a "protective
interim approach" to TCE exposure. I have typed in the signatures  and
added identifying information below. ? LS]


June 24, 2005



The Honorable Stephen L. Johnson
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building (1101A)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460
 
Dear Administrator Johnson:
 
Millions of Americans are exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE) every day
in their water and air. Many scientists believe TCE to be carcinogenic,
immunotoxic, and neurotoxic. As you know, EPA drafted a Human Health
Risk Assessment in 2001 that determined TCE is 5 to 65 times more toxic
than previously believed.  The Assessment received a positive review
from EPA's Science Advisory Board, which commended EPA for its
"groundbreaking" work. Based upon the Assessment, EPA regions developed
new, more protective provisional screening levels, and some even began
using these provisional standards in the field.
 
However, other federal agencies considered the new levels overly
conservative, and EPA agreed to send the scientific issues raised by the
Assessment to the National Academy of Sciences' National Research
Council for re-review. Gradually, EPA's regions de-emphasized the more
protective screening levels. When Members of Congress wrote letters to
EPA asking that the protective standards be used, Henry L. Longest, II,
Acting Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Research and
Development, responded, "EPA is current evaluating a number of interim
approaches for screening levels while awaiting a final TCE risk
assessment." Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Solid
Waste and Emergency Response, Thomas Dunne, wrote, "For vapor intrusion
issues ... EPA has not developed national guidance."
 
It is expected that it will be years before EPA finalizes its TCE risk
assessment, and Americans are constantly being exposed to this and
similar toxic substances. We therefore strongly urge EPA to adopt a
protective "interim approach." EPA should use provisional screening
levels based upon the 2001 Human Health Risk Assessment until a new risk
assessment is completed. For example, based upon work done by several
EPA regions, the screening level for TCE in air would be about .02
micrograms per cubic meter.
 
EPA personnel developing or overseeing the development of remediation
and mitigation strategies should consider those levels. Most
immediately, vapor exposure investigations should use sampling
technologies designed to detect TCE down to those provisional levels.
 

We appreciate your attention in this matter, and we look forward to
hearing your response.
 
Sincerely,

Susan Kelly (R-NY)
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ)
Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
Major R. Owens (D-NY)
Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD)
Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA)
Katherine Harris (R-FL)
Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio)
Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)
Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY)
Howard L. Berman (D-CA)


-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org
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