USEPA re-evaluating perchlorate science

Source: AWWA Streamlines

US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson announced today that the agency seeks public comment on its re-evaluation of the scientific information on risks associated with perchlorate levels found in drinking water, particularly among infants and young children.

At Jackson's direction, agency staff reviewed the preliminary decision by the Bush Administration in 2008 not to regulate the rocket fuel chemical in drinking water. The agency subsequently established an interim advisory level of 15 micrograms/L.

As detailed in an Aug. 5 press release, the agency "is now considering a broader range of alternatives for interpreting the available data on the level of health concern, the frequency of occurrence of perchlorate in drinking water, and the opportunity for health risk reduction through a national primary drinking water standard. These alternative interpretations may impact the agency’s final regulatory determination for perchlorate."

USEPA reported that it received more than 32,000 comments on the 2008 preliminary determination, which it will consider along with comments to be submitted on its re-evaluation, to be published in a forthcoming Federal Register notice. Such comments will be accepted for 30 days.