[CPEO-MEF] Industry letter for less stringent perchlorate standard

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

On August 9, 2004, a coalition of industry and agribusiness 
organizations sent a letter to California's Department of Health 
Services (DOHS) advocating a higher perchlorate (less stringent) Maximum 
Contaminant Level (MCL) than the Public Health Goal (PHG) of 6 parts per 
billion. The following is the conclusion of the letter. To download the 
entire letter, go to the California Space Authority web site at
http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/images/worddocs/perchlorate-coal-letter.doc


"From a risk management perspective, DHS clearly should set the MCL at a 
level substantially higher than the PHG.   DHS will also fulfill its 
statutory obligation to take economic and technological feasibility into 
account, while also fulfilling its obligation to protect public health, 
if it sets an MCL for perchlorate that is higher than the PHG.

"Finally, the potential consequences of a perchlorate MCL should not be 
viewed in isolation.  Not only does the law also require the evaluation 
of indirect costs, such as those on agriculture, when DHS sets the MCL, 
there are many other treatment costs facing water purveyors, including 
arsenic, that should be factored into the DHS evaluation of the MCL for 
perchlorate.  There are also substantial financial costs for myriad 
other environmental problems in California, some with far more serious 
public health consequences than the issues presented by perchlorate. 
All of these facts argue against setting an overly-conservative MCL.

"Our organizations very much appreciate your consideration of our 
concerns and requests."

--
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
http://www.cpeo.org


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