Re: [CPEO-BIF] [Fwd: California Human Health Screening Levels (CHHSLs)]

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Submitted by "Hickey, Joe" <JHIC461@ECY.WA.GOV>

I would say yes, Washington has something MORE extensive; it's called
our cleanup law and regulation.  I guess screening levels would be
useful in the absence of cleanup standards, but if cleanup standards
exist, it seems like an extra step.

Here is a link to our cleanup standards tools, directly from our cleanup
regulations (Chapter 173-340 Washington Administrative Code): 
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/tools/CLARC_v_3.1/clarc_v_3_

Joe Hickey
Brownfields and Voluntary Cleanup Program Coordinator,
Washington State Department of Ecology,
Northwest Regional Office

> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lenny Siegel [mailto:lsiegel@cpeo.org]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 10:39 AM
> To: Brownfields Internet Forum
> Subject: [CPEO-BIF] [Fwd: California Human Health Screening Levels
> (CHHSLs)]
> 
> The CHHSLs described below are the "non-regulatory" look-up tables
> that
> Brownfields practitioners in California have been seeking for some
> time.
> I find it particularly significant that the numbers are based on
> multiple pathways, including vapor intrusion. See the report on the
> Cal/EPA methodology, as linked below.
> 
> I would be interested in learning whether other states have anything
> so
> comprehensive, and if not, whether they are likely to follow
> California's lead. - LS
> 
> EPAListmaster@calepa.ca.gov wrote:
> >
> > The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) is pleased
> to announce the availability of the California Human Health Screening
> Levels (CHHSLs), concentrations of 54 hazardous chemicals in soil or
> soil gas that Cal/EPA considers to be below thresholds of concern for
> risks to human health at most commercial/industrial  and residential
> developments in California.
> 
> >
> > The CHHSLs were developed by the Office of Environmental Health
> Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) on behalf of Cal/EPA, in conjunction with
> the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), the State Water
> Resources Control Board (SWRCB), and the Regional Water Quality
> Control Boards (RWQCBs).
> 
> >
> > The CHHSLs are contained in a guidance document entitled: Use of
> California Human Health Screening Levels (CHHSLs) in Evaluation of
> Contaminated Properties (Cal/EPA, January 2005).  This guidance, along
> with OEHHA's report on the methodology used to develop the CHHSLs and
> a spreadsheet calculator for use when multiple contaminants are
> present, can be found at:
> 
> > http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Brownfields/SB32.htm.
> >
> > Links to the CHHSLs information can also be found at OEHHA's
> (http://www.oehha.ca.gov), DTSC's (http://www.dtsc.ca.gov), SWRCB's
> (http://www.waterboards.ca.gov) and the RWQCBs'
> (http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/regions.html) Internet sites.
> 
> >
> > Both residential and commercial/industrial CHHSLs have been
> developed to screen sites for potential human health concerns where
> releases of hazardous chemicals to soils have occurred.  They are not,
> however, regulatory cleanup standards.  See the guidance document for
> more important information about the use and limitations of these
> screening levels.
> 
> >
> > We hope these screening values become a very valuable brownfields
> tool, and that their availability and use encourages many more
> brownfields to be cleaned up and redeveloped in California.
> 
> >
> > Questions or comments about the CHHSLs can be directed to any of the
> Brownfields Contacts found at:
> http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Brownfields/Contacts/, or by email to
> Cal/EPA's Brownfields mailbox (Brownfields@calepa.ca.gov).
> 
> >
> >  Cal/EPA's regulatory boards and departments play an essential role
> in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect public health and the
> environment. For more information go to Brownfields program at
> http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Brownfields/ .
> 

-- 


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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