search  current discussion  categories  safety - toxicity 

asers lesislative committee/dioxin

updated tue 24 oct 00

 

Terpstra Karen K on mon 23 oct 00


Those of you keeping abreast of the dioxin issues, here are some of the
latest from the lesilative committee of ACerS:
(sorry the format may be screwed up)
Karen Terpstra
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

DIOXIN UPDATE



As a follow-up to our earlier report, it is important that

members of ACerS understand that dioxin has re-emerged as an

issue of concern for the mined clay and ceramics industry.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed

significant new regulatory initiatives, including a

reassessment of the risk of dioxin exposure and will be

looking at all sources of dioxin and the levels of exposure.



EPA is moving forward with this initiative and it will not

stop with ball clays. Manufacturers of all clay products must

be prepared to prove that their raw materials and finished

products are free from dioxin contamination and that exposure

levels do not unduly impact their workers.



LPAC has asked Dr. Marcus Cooke, a leading expert on

dioxin-related issues, to report on the issues and impact on

the ceramic industry and this report will appear in the LPAC

column of the Ceramic Bulletin later this year. If you have

any questions about this issue, please don't hesitate to

contact Dr. Cooke at wmcooke1@aol.com.



In addition, if you would like to work with LPAC in developing

various options and approaches in working with EPA, please let

us know at jflatley@navista.net.

OTHER KEY LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY ISSUES



Dioxin - EPA Science Advisory Board, Dioxin Reassessment Review

Committee (DRRC), to Meet November 1 - 2 in Alexandria,

Virginia - To Review and Comments on the Changes Agency Staff

have made to the Agency's Draft Report, Titled: "Exposure and

Human Health Reassessment of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-

Dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds," which is a scientific

reassessment of the potential health risks of exposure to

dioxin and related compounds that was reviewed by the DRRC in

1995.



Regulation of Dioxins and Furans in the Great Lakes - EPA

Seeks Public Comments by November 30 on a Draft Report, Titled:

"The Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy; Canada-United

States Strategy for the Virtual Elimination of Persistent

Toxic Substances in the Great Lakes," which addresses a

four-step process that Environment Canada and the US EPA,

in cooperation with their partners, will use in working

toward the virtual elimination of Dioxin and Furans and other

hazardous/toxic substances from the Great Lakes - The four

step process addresses technical and source-related

information about the substances (step 1); the analysis of

current regulations, initiatives and programs which manage or

control the substances (step 2); the identification of

cost-effective options to achieve further reductions (step 3);

and the implementation of actions toward the goal of virtual

elimination (step 4) - EPA notes that the draft report on

Dioxins/Furans relates to steps 1 and 2 of the analytical

process - An electronic copy of the draft report should be

posted at the following EPA www site: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/bns/
-

A paper copy should be available from, and questions may be