Perchlorate in Groundwater Conference

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Complete information for the following described conference on
Perchlorate in Groundwater can be viewed on the web at:
http://www.agwt.org/events/perchlorate_info.htm

The conference dates are:
Phoenix, AZ: Feb 9 . 2004

Las Vegas, NV: Feb 11, 2004

Salt Lake City, UT Feb 13 2004
________________________________

Perchlorate is of growing concern as a water contaminant in Arizona,
Nevada, Utah and at least 27 other states in the US. It is a
manufactured chemical used as the main ingredient of rocket fuel,
safety flares, matches and fireworks. It is also used in some
batteries, and vehicle air bags. Chemically, perchlorate is an anion
that originates from the dissolution of ammonium, potassium, magnesium,
or sodium salts. It is very mobile in ground water and surface water
systems and can persist for many decades. Perchlorate travels with
water and unlike some contaminants, doesn't stick to surfaces within
the soil or aquifers. Perchlorate contamination of ground water only
became widely known in the late 1990's when new laboratory techniques
lowered the detection limit in water from 400 to 4 micrograms/L.

Forty-two states have known manufacturers or users of perchlorate and
it is known to have contaminated public water supplies in 22 states.

For more background on perchlorate visit:
	• 	US Environmental Protection Agency - www.clu-in.org/ (search for
contaminant, then perchlorate)
	• 	Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (TERA) -
www.tera.org/Perchlorate/
	• 	Environmental Working Group - www.ewg.org/reports/rocketwater/
	• 	Council on water quality - www.councilonwaterquality.org/

The principal health concern is that if perchlorate gets into drinking
water it could interfere with the thyroid gland, which controls growth,
development and metabolism. At sufficiently high doses perchlorate
inhibits iodide uptake into the thyroid gland, and because iodide is an
essential component of thyroid hormones, it may disrupt how the thyroid
functions. Impairment of a woman's thyroid function during pregnancy
may impact the baby and result in delayed development and decreased
learning capability. Changes in thyroid hormone levels may also result
in thyroid gland tumors.

For contaminated site clean up, many different technologies are under
development, including biological treatment and large-scale ion (anion)
exchange systems. Biological processes (bioremediation) may be the most
cost efficient, and research continues with bioreactor treatment
systems and with below ground in-situ treatment involving trenches
filled with bio-barriers of organic material.

The United States EPA has published a draft estimate of a protective
level of 1 microgram/L for perchlorate and is continuing to review
health risks to assist with future rulemaking. Federal drinking water
regulations for perchlorate could take several years to develop. The
EPA is developing a national database by monitoring perchlorate in
utility source water. California has drafted a public health goal of 2
to 6 micrograms/L for water utility supply which is under review for
use in setting a state-wide standard. Other states are beginning to
address the perchlorate issue and are developing their own standards.
Assessing the problem, and finding site-by-site solutions, is likely to
be an issue for many years to come.


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WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
	• 	Water Utility Managers
	• 	Landowners and major water users
	• 	Land owners and companies with water rights where perchlorate
contamination is proven or suspected
	• 	Regulatory authorities concerned with water management and public
health
	• 	Environmental organizations and concerned citizens
	• 	Manufacturers / suppliers of treatment technologies that may
provide clean-up and treatment solutions
	• 	Geologic and engineering professionals involved with quantifying
and managing water resources
	• 	Legal professionals involved with water supply and environmental
issues

PURPOSE OF THE WORKSHOP

The mission of the American Ground Water Trust is to protect ground
water, promote awareness of the environmental and economic importance
of ground water and provide accurate information to assist citizens,
communities and decision makers in water resource issues.

Perchlorate's presence in surface water and ground water is a real,
emerging and controversial issue. The regulatory and water management
responses to "solving" the problem are likely to have a significant
impact on future water availability and water costs in many parts of
the country. The American Ground Water Trust believes that these
perchlorate workshop sessions in AZ, NV and UT will provide an
opportunity for information and opinion exchange among all parties with
an interest in the issue. The issue won't go away. Policy decisions,
which will impact citizens and communities, are potentially too
important to be left to any one segment of society or any one group of
professionals. These workshops are intended to be inclusive, and to
represent a starting point for debate and discussion.

AMERICAN GROUND WATER TRUST

The American Ground Water Trust is a not-for-profit organization. Its
mission is to protect America's ground water, promote awareness of the
environmental and economic importance of ground water, and provide
accurate information to assist citizens, communities and decision
makers in water resources issues.

The participation of speakers at this workshop from specific private
sector companies does not imply that the Trust is endorsing or
recommending particular companies, products, services or commercial
applications of technology.

All presenters at Trust Programs are volunteers and receive no payment
for their participation. Revenue from registration fees and sponsors is
applied to support the Trust's ground water education programs.

For more information about the Trust, or to become a Trust member,
please email or call (603) 228-5444.

EXHIBIT AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Space for a limited number of tabletop exhibits will be available in
the lecture room. Rental includes one skirted 6-foot long table. See
below for details of corporate co-sponsorship opportunities.

The Trust is seeking corporate sponsors to help support the cost of
developing and presenting the Perchlorate Workshops. Sponsors receive
the following benefits:

$5,000 sponsorship:
	• 	Ten complimentary registration certificates* (Value $2,000)
	• 	Framed certificate of appreciation
	• 	Promotion of your company's name as a program sponsor in workshop
program documents and on the Trust's web site workshop information
	• 	Complimentary tabletop display space at the workshop
	• 	Verbal podium announcement at the workshop thanking sponsoring
companies by name
	• 	Distribution of your company literature to all workshop attendees
	• 	A list of names and addresses of all workshop participants in
electronic format
	• 	Listing of your company on the Trust's Web site "Links"

$2,500 sponsorship:
	• 	Five complimentary registration certificates* (Value $1,000)
	• 	Promotion of your company's name as a program sponsor in workshop
program documents and on the Trust's web site workshop information
	• 	Complimentary tabletop display space at the workshop
	• 	Verbal podium announcement at the workshop thanking sponsoring
companies by name
	• 	Distribution of your company literature to all workshop attendees
	• 	A list of names and addresses of all workshop participants in
electronic format
	• 	Listing of your company on the Trust's Web site "Links"

$1,000 sponsorship:
	• 	One complimentary registration certificate* (Value $200)
	• 	Promotion of your company's name as a program sponsor in workshop
program documents and on the Trust's web site workshop information
	• 	Complimentary tabletop display space at the workshop
	• 	Verbal podium announcement at the workshop thanking sponsoring
companies by name
	• 	Distribution of your company literature to all workshop attendees
	• 	A list of names and addresses of all workshop participants in
electronic format
	• 	Listing of your company on the Trust's Web site "Links"


$500 sponsorship
	• 	Promotion of your company's name as a program sponsor in workshop
program documents and on the Trust's web site workshop information
	• 	Distribution of your company literature to all workshop attendees
	• 	Verbal podium announcement at the workshop thanking sponsoring
companies by name
	• 	A list of names and addresses of all workshop participants in
electronic format

(*) Complimentary Registration Certificates
These (numbered) registration certificates are provided to workshop
sponsors. The sponsor has full discretion about their use. For example,
sponsoring companies may choose to use the certificates for their
employees or clients, for elected officials, members of organizations
likely to be interested in the conference, or for graduate students.
Each certificate is for one full workshop registration. All that the
recipient has to do is provide the Trust with the certificate number
when they register. (Instructions are printed on each certificate).

Please call (603) 228 5444 or e-mail - astone@agwt.org if you are
interested in helping the Trust's public education mission by being an
event sponsor. We will immediately mail to you the Registration
Certificates.

For further information, please go to:
http://www.agwt.org/events/perchlorate_info.htm

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