[for complete version with links to supporting documents, go to:
http://www.wolfenotes.com/2010...
Perchlorate found in 1 in 6 DEP sampled NJ water systems - thousands of NJ residents exposed to chemical linked to thyroid damage that can slow brain development in children.
The saga over attempts to protect NJ's drinking water from the chemical perchlorate continue - see "Rocket Fuel in Your Water?" and "Playing Politics with Your Drinking Water" and "Chemicals Found in Infant Formula"
When we last left this story in January 2009, former NJ DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson was being criticized during her US Senate confirmation for EPA Administrator for failing to adopt protective standards during her 3+ year tenure, despite the warnings of DEP's own scientists, NJ Drinking Water Quality Institute's 2005 Report recommendations, federal Center for Disease Control studies, and public health experts across the country. The 2005 DWQI Report recommended a 5 ug/L (ppb) standard in part because:
Pregnant women and infants are considered to be sensitive subpopulations for perchlorate's effects, as hypothyroidism can have serious consequences on neurodevelopment.
When reporters asked why Jackson had failed to act for almost 4 years, here's the answer some gave:
[DEP Commissioner Lisa] Jackson's supporters blame Corzine, not Jackson, for New Jersey's failure to regulate perchlorate.
"I am very disappointed that the state hasn't moved faster on developing a perchlorate standard," said David Pringle of the New Jersey Environmental Federation, who sat on the panel that urged the state to regulate perchlorate. "That being said, I fully lay the blame on the governor's office. DEP was ready to roll two years ago. It was the governor's office that prevented us from moving forward faster." Jan. 13, 2009 ProPublica
Well fast forward to March 2010 and now we have a new Sheriff in Town, one that was endorsed by Dave Pringle. And what did Christie do?
He issued a moratorium that effectively killed the perchlorate standard finally proposed by DEP in March 2009, after 4 years of delay (barring, of course, unforeseen events between now and March 16, the deadline for the March 2009 proposal to lapse. It is highly unlikely that DEP will be able to respond to sham Red Tape Review process comments by then, because Red Tape review ends on March 15. It would be virtually impossible for DEP to read nonetheless respond to public comments in 24 hours. Of course, Christie or Regulatory Czar Guadagno could exempt perchlorate under the public health exception to Executive Order #1, but that too is highly unlikely because it has not been done thus far. The Perchlorate standard should never have been included on EO#1 target list in Attachment A. Given the new Christie regulatory policies in EO 1, 2 and 3, any perchlorate MCL is not likely to be re proposed for some time and probably not at the 5 ug/L level. This is just another in numerous examples of how Christie's Executive Orders are quietly rolling back public health and environmental protections.)
PEER Press Release (use this link for better resolution) |
