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Headquarters Press Release
Washington, DC
.
Date         03/20/2001
Published:
Title:       EPA TO PROPOSE WITHDRAWAL OF ARSENIC IN DRINKING
             WATER STANDARD; SEEKS INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

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                    FOR RELEASE: TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2001

             EPA TO PROPOSE WITHDRAWAL OF ARSENIC IN DRINKING
                 WATER STANDARD; SEEKS INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

                Robin Woods 202-564-7841/woods.robin@epa.gov
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman
announced today that EPA will propose to withdraw the pending arsenic
standard for drinking water that was issued on January 22. The rule would
have reduced the acceptable level of arsenic in water from 50 parts per
billion to 10 ppb.

EPA will seek independent reviews of both the science behind the standard
and of the estimates of the costs to communities of implementing the rule.
A final decision on withdrawal is expected after the public has an
opportunity to comment.

"I am committed to safe and affordable drinking water for all Americans. I
want to be sure that the conclusions about arsenic in the rule are
supported by the best available science. When the federal government
imposes costs on communities-especially small communities-we should be sure
the facts support imposing the federal standard," said Whitman. "I am
moving quickly to review the arsenic standard so communities that need to
reduce arsenic in drinking water can proceed with confidence once the
permanent standard is confirmed."

While scientists agree that the previous standard of 50 parts per billion
should be lowered, there is no consensus on a particular safe level.
Independent review of the science behind the final standard will help clear
up uncertainties that have been raised about the health benefits of
reducing arsenic to 10 parts per billion in drinking water.

"It is clear that arsenic, while naturally occurring, is something that
needs to be regulated. Certainly the standard should be less than 50 ppb,
but the scientific indicators are unclear as to whether the standard needs
to go as low as 10 ppb," said Whitman.

"This decision will not lessen any existing protections for drinking water.
The standards would remain the same, whether the rule went through or not,
until it was time to enforce it under the compliance schedule five to nine
years from now," said Whitman. "But, in the interim, EPA will examine what
may have been a rushed decision."

Some cities and states that will have to comply with the arsenic rule have
raised serious questions about whether the costs of the rule were fully
understood when the rule was signed in early January. EPA estimates the
cost to be about $200 million per year. Many small communities will be
affected by the drinking water standard for arsenic, making it especially
important to ensure that the Safe Drinking Water Act provision allowing
balancing of costs is based on accurate information.

Arsenic is an element that occurs naturally in several parts of the
country. The highest concentrations of arsenic occur mostly in the Western
states, particularly in the Southwest. At unsafe levels, arsenic causes
cancer and other diseases.

EPA today will ask for a 60-day extension of the effective date of the
pending arsenic standard for drinking water, and expects to release a
timetable for review within the next few weeks.

Whitman plans to attend the Western Governors Association meeting in
Denver, Colorado on March 22 and March 23, where she plans to participate
in round table discussions on arsenic with stakeholders.

R-42 ###
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