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Water Headlines for August 11, 2008Benjamin H. Grumbles Water Headlines is a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water. In This Week’s Water Headlines:
EPA Continues Work to Understand Potential Impacts of Pharmaceuticals in WaterEPA is seeking comment on an Information Collection Request (ICR) that will be used in a detailed study of unused pharmaceutical disposal methods by hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospices and veterinary hospitals. EPA is seeking more information on the practices of the health care industry to inform future potential regulatory actions, and identify best management and proper disposal practices. This is one of several actions the agency is taking to strengthen its understanding of disposal practices and potential risks from pharmaceuticals in water. "The agency's work to increase industry stewardship and scientific understanding of pharmaceuticals in water continues," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA's assistant administrator for water. "By reaching out to the National Academy of Sciences and requesting information from the health care industry, EPA is taking important steps to enhance its efforts." The agency is also commissioning the National Academy of Sciences to provide scientific advice on the potential risk to human health from low levels of pharmaceutical residues in drinking water. The National Academy of Sciences will convene a workshop of scientific experts Dec. 11-12, to advise the agency on methods for screening and prioritizing pharmaceuticals to determine potential risk. Other actions the agency is taking include: expanding a recent fish tissue pilot study to sample nationally to determine whether residues from pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) may be present in fish and waterways; developing a methodology to establish water quality criteria to protect aquatic life; and conducting studies to examine the potential occurrence of PPCPs in sewage sludge and wastewater. To facilitate these efforts, the agency has developed state-of-the-art analytical methods capable of detecting various pharmaceuticals, steroids and hormones at very low levels. EPA also is participating in an international effort with the World Health Organization to study appropriate risk assessment methods for pharmaceuticals as environmental contaminants. All these actions reflect advice the agency sought from a broad range of stakeholders including environmental and public health groups, drinking water and wastewater utilities, state water and public health agencies, and the agricultural community. EPA’s four-pronged approach for PPCPs in water is aimed at strengthening scientific knowledge; improving public understanding; building partnerships for stewardship; and taking regulatory action when appropriate. EPA will accept public comments on the Health Care Industry ICR for 90 days after it is published in the Federal Register. More information on EPA’s research and response to PPCPs in the environment: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/ppcp/ EPA Approves Hopi Tribe's Water Quality StandardsOn July 8, 2008, EPA approved water quality standards for the Hopi Tribe located in Northeastern Arizona. Across the U.S., there are now 33 tribes with water quality standards effective under the Clean Water Act. EPA's approval action culminates a two-step process that began with EPA's April 2008 finding that the Tribe was eligible to be treated in the same manner as a state (TAS) for administering a water quality standards program. The second step -- approval of the water quality standards -- ensures that all surface waters within the exterior boundaries of the Hopi Indian Reservation are covered by standards under Section 303(c) of the Clean Water Act, including designated uses and water quality criteria. The standards can now form the basis for federally-enforceable regulatory requirements. EPA provides technical assistance to tribes to develop and implement water quality standards, and to manage other water quality programs. For more information, please contact Frances Desselle at 202-566-0375. More Information on Indian Tribal Approvals: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/tribes/approvtable.htm Subscribe to Water HeadlinesPlease forward this message to your friends and colleagues who share an interest in water-related issues and would like to hear from EPA’s Office of Water. To subscribe to the Water Headlines listserve: Send an email message, leave the subject line blank, and address it to: In the body of the message write: Subscribe Water Headlines first name last name (Please leave one blank space between each word, do not include any other message, and use your actual name- i.e. Subscribe Water Headlines Robert Jones)
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