[CPEO-MEF] [Fwd: RELEASE: Clinton Introduces Legislation to Help Communities with TCE Contamination]

[Lenny Siegel <lennysiegel@gmail.com>]

[Please excuse the redundant posting to multiple lists. - LS]

Statements & Releases - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York
For Immediate Release
August 1, 2007


CLINTON INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO HELP COMMUNITIES WITH TCE CONTAMINATION

Introduces Toxic Chemical Exposure Reduction Act
(TCE Reduction Act)

Bill requires the EPA to protect the public from exposure to
Trichloroethylene (TCE)

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Washington, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) today announced
that she has introduced the "TCE Reduction Act" to require the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set tougher regulations to
protect the public from exposure to the carcinogenic chemical
Trichloroethylene (TCE).

Today's announcement follows earlier efforts by Senator Clinton to urge
the EPA to address the growing TCE contamination crisis in New York.
http://clinton.senate.gov/documents/news/05_31_07_epa.html.  The
legislation is cosponsored by Senators Dole (R-NC), Boxer (D-CA),
Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Kerry (D-MA).  Representatives Solis and Hinchey
plan to introduce companion legislation in the United States House of
Representatives.

TCE is one of the most widespread industrial water contaminants in the
nation, and is found at many sites across New York.  Of the 86 federal
Superfund sites in New York alone, more than 30 have been found by the
EPA to have TCE contamination.  Endicott, Franklin Square, Garden City,
Hopewell Junction, Ithaca, Norwich and Victor are a few of the
communities throughout New York that are known to be contaminated with
TCE.  Senator Clinton's bill follows lengthy delays by EPA in setting a
new standard in the face of growing scientific evidence and
contamination that is more widespread.

"It is unacceptable that the EPA has failed to protect the public from
TCE in the face of stronger scientific evidence that it causes cancer,
and growing exposure problems in New York and across the country.
Numerous scientific studies make it clear that TCE has the potential to
cause cancer, damage the nervous and immune systems, and cause
developmental effects in children. Unfortunately, the EPA has ignored
the science rather than taking action.  As a result of EPA delays,
communities across New York continue to be exposed to potentially toxic
levels of TCE," Senator Clinton said. "The 'TCE Reduction Act' will
force the EPA to protect children and other vulnerable populations from
TCE in the water they drink and the air they breathe." Senator Clinton said.

"The government has failed the people of New York who face the threat of
TCE contamination," Congressman Hinchey said. "This bill will help
complement the legislation we recently passed in the House that directs
additional funds to the EPA for the agency to expedite work on
developing a revised and final TCE risk assessment as was recommended by
the National Research Council. This will be one more weapon in our
arsenal to get the federal government to focus its attention and make
progress on preventing human health threats posed by the pervasive TCE
contamination in parts of New York and throughout the nation.  I look
forward to working with Vice Chairwoman Solis to draft the House version
of Senator Clinton's bill."

A draft EPA Risk Assessment in 2001 found TCE to be as much as 40 times
more carcinogenic than previously thought, but rather than using EPA
science to set a more protective standard for TCE in drinking water, the
Bush administration called for more study.  The National Research
Council (NRC) was directed to conduct an in depth study the health
studies involving TCE.  Far from repudiating EPA's 2001 findings, the
final NRC report, issued in 2006, found that "the evidence on
carcinogenic risk and other health hazards from exposure to
trichloroethylene has strengthened since 2001." The report went on to
say, "The committee recommends that federal agencies finalize their risk
assessment with currently available data so that risk management
decisions can be made expeditiously."

Senator Clinton has previously pressed the EPA to set a standard based
on the latest science, but the EPA has failed to act or set a timeline.
According to the EPA's website, EPA does not plan to release a revised
standard until the end of 2010.

The "TCE Reduction Act" would force EPA's hand, requiring EPA to:

    * Issue a revised health advisory for TCE within 6 months of enactment.

    * Issue revised draft health standards for TCE in drinking water
      within 12 months of enactment, and final drinking water standards
      within 18 months.

    * Issue a health advisory standard for TCE vapor intrusion within 12
      months of enactment.

    * Establish an Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) reference
      concentration (RfC) of TCE vapor within 18 months of enactment.

    * Ensure that all standards set under the bill fully protect
      susceptible populations (including pregnant women, infants, and
      children) from the adverse health affects of TCE.

To download a list of many of the confirmed TCE sites in New York, go to
- http://clinton.senate.gov/documents/news/NPL.pdf

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--


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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