February 7, 2002
Frank Sanders, Director
Antimicrobials Division
MailCode 7510C
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
Re: Petitions to Cancel and Suspend Registration of CCA and Pentachlorophenol
Dear Mr. Sanders,
I would like to extend our thanks to you and Connie Welch for meeting
with us yesterday. As we mentioned, we are encouraged by press reports
that EPA is considering acceptance of a proposal by registrants to voluntarily
cancel non-industrial uses of chromated copper arsenate (CCA). But we
are also quite disturbed that you are discussing with registrants many
of the matters addressed in our petitions of December 21, 2001 without
public involvement and input.
As you know, our petitions request cancellation and immediate suspension of all registered uses of CCA and pentachlorophenol because of demonstrated exposure risks. We are particularly concerned about the relatively narrow scope of the reported proposal and the possibility of a lengthy phase-out period for voluntarily withdrawn uses. We interpret the Agency's acceptance of the proposal as described in press accounts, which you agreed are "not totally inaccurate," as tantamount to a denial of most of the elements of our petition.
We believe that the Agency's acceptance of the proposal would prejudice further, more complete regulatory action by EPA, including completion of the risk assessment. If no further urgent action is taken, the result of a phase-out of non-industrial uses of CCA-treated wood amounts to the Agency's approval of much continued CCA contamination and exposure. A large universe of exposure to workers, children and the environment, including soil and groundwater contamination would remain un-addressed. For example, uses such as utility poles (approximately half of which are treated with CCA) constitute enormous continued exposures.
A lengthy phase-out
period is simply not appropriately protective of public health and the
environment. You have asserted that the treated wood industry may need
some time for process modifications in order to replace CCA with less
toxic alternatives, but we are aware of facilities that have switched
to replacements in a period of months. Thus, to adequately protect human
health and the environment, any phase-out and replacement must be accomplished
expeditiously in order to minimize further harm. We are confident that
our request for suspension will not cause economic dislocation, given
the availability of alternative materials.
In our view, the Agency already has sufficient data to support immediate
suspension and cancellation of CCA. But, if as reported, the Agency intends
to retain industrial uses for the immediate future, we feel it is incumbent
upon the Agency to proceed with the full and comprehensive risk assessment
because of the need to address the considerable quantity of CCA-treated
wood already in use as well as continued worker and environmental exposures.
During yesterday's meeting, Ms. Welch commented that "originally"
(prior to EPA's current discussions about voluntary cancellation of selected
CCA uses), EPA had planned to complete the preliminary risk assessment
for CCA "by March 2002 and to finalize it by summer." We see
no reason that the proposed voluntary cancellation agreement should preclude
or delay completion of this risk assessment process.
The continued presence
of CCA in wood products in existing structures and their eventual disposal
creates potential for ongoing human and environmental exposures. For instance,
we have learned of alarming instances where treated wood is being sold
as mulch for gardening. We urge the Agency to mandate a Consumer Awareness
Program for re-used wood products treated with CCA and a public educational
program for residential uses (e.g., decking and other private structures)
that goes well beyond the existing program. To address migration of CCA
out of existing structures, we recommend a program to conduct soil and
surface leaching tests around all public structures made with CCA?treated
wood products, including (but not limited to) public playgrounds, decks
and picnic tables. Based on the results, we urge EPA to mandate removal
or application of sealants on a yearly basis and that public awareness
sheets be clearly posted.
Because CCA-treated wood fails the RCRA TCLP or "leach" test,
it is clearly evident that disposal of CCA-treated wood leads to significant
environmental releases which the Agency must address to adequately protect
public health and the environment, particularly ground and surface water.
Thus, we also urge EPA to set national standards for safely disposing
of all used CCA-treated wood, and to ban the burning and mulching of used
wood products containing CCA.
Again, we support action to reduce CCA exposure, including the proposed voluntary cancellation, but we are extremely concerned that this action may prejudice ongoing efforts that must address broader contamination and exposure issues. We view the long history of inaction on both these chemicals and the attendant accumulation of scientific data and experience with their toxic effects as exceedingly troubling in light of the daily adverse impact that they have on children and the public.
Thank you for your
attention to these matters.
Sincerely,
Jay Feldman
Executive Director
cc: Christine Todd Whitman, Connie Welch, Agricultural Resources Center, Center of Health, Environment and Justice, Clean Water Action, Farmworker Justice Fund, Greenpeace USA, Healthy Building Network, Learning Disabilities Association of America, Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, Pesticide Action Network North America, Vermont PIRG, Sierra Club, U.S. PIRG, and Washington Toxics Coalition.
View the CCA
petition and the Penta petition.