EPA Extends Comment Period For Perchlorate Finding

Water Technology Online
Published November 11, 2008

WASHINGTON — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on November 10 that in response to requests, the agency is providing more time for public comment on its preliminary regulatory determination not to regulate perchlorate in drinking water at a national level. The agency now is asking that comments be submitted by a new deadline of November 28. On October 3, the EPA announced that after “extensive review of scientific data related to the health effects of exposure to perchlorate from drinking water and other sources,” a national primary drinking water rule for the chemical is not necessary. The EPA said a national primary drinking water regulation would not provide a meaningful opportunity to reduce the health risk from perchlorate, as WaterTech Online™ reported. Perchlorate is a chemical that has been used at military installations and defense plants as a rocket fuel, and also in conventional fireworks. As originally published in an October 10 Federal Register notice by the EPA, entitled “Drinking Water: Preliminary Regulatory Determination on Perchlorate,” the agency was to make a final regulatory determination for perchlorate after considering comments and information provided in the 30-day comment period following the notice. Environmental advocacy groups, including the Environmental Working Group, said they would sue the EPA if its final perchlorate regulatory determination is that no national standard is needed, as WaterTech Online reported. Substances that are placed on the primary drinking water contaminant list are assigned a maximum contaminant limit (MCL) that is enforceable for public drinking water supplies. For information on Drinking Water Regulatory Determinations, go to: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccl/reg_determine2.html. To read the full EPA announcement, click here. For related information, click here.