URGENT BULLETIN
News and status We have a pre-hearing conference scheduled for April 24, 2008 for the PUC case. It is important that any person who is part of that suit via filing a complaint with PUC come to one of the first two meetings listed below. Of course ALL concerned citizens are welcome to attend. We will update you on our progress so far and the process of the upcoming hearing. Meetings: April 16, 2008 New Cumberland Fire Hall 6p.m.- 9p.m. OR April 19, 2008 GIANT Camp Hill 2p.m.- 4p.m. This meeting is scheduled after the pre-hearing conference so we can let you know the date of the BIG HEARING where the issue of chloramine safety will be litigated on May 9, 2008 at Frederickson Library 6p.m.- 8p.m. Anyone who has e-mail is welcome to stay in touch with me through e-mail. Two-thirds of our groups have no e-mail address and postage is expensive. These meetings will help us reach you with vital information as we approach this very important hearing date. Other Urgent Notices: Brief update to let you know what it going on in the chloramine front here and in VT. - First and most importantly - we still do not have chloramine in our water thanks to all of you and our statement of outrage. - The Patriot is working on an investigative piece that should be coming out soon. - Still have not heard from PUC as to whether they have jurisdiction on our complaints there. - on the DEP complaint, I will be meeting with DEP attorney for a 'settlement' conference required by the Environm. Hearing Board judge next week. I am checking into whether I can bring other interested citizens if anyone wants to come. - A student at Widener is doing research for us on the legal aspects - I am looking into filing with the Environmental Quality Board to ask them to consider a Rule prohibiting the use of Chloramine until further research can be done on the health effects - Jennifer reserached the filter companies and found that 1) they really don't know much about chloramine and even less about the by products, 2) no one has said that they can keep the by-products out of your water with any system currently available (remember it is the byproducts that are cancer-causing not the chloramine itself) BE CAREFUL IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A FILTER to address chloramine. These filter costs thousands and you may be buying something that doesn't do what you want it to do. Below is the update from Vermont - they still have not heard from CDC but have other interesting news. I'll update you and our efforts pick up again. Susan 1. Meeting at Vermont's Department of Health with CDC and EPA on Sept. 26. There were meetings all day involving representatives of the CDC and EPA, and the CDC stayed around for a couple days and interviewed people who complained about symptoms, and they did a phone survey (conducted by VDH but results sent to CDC) with people they didn't get to meet in person. VCE and PCAC (Ellen's group) attended only one of the meetings held on the 26th. We put on a presentation (30 minutes), after which we discussed the issues with the folks in the room. There were about 8 legislators present including Sens. Racine and Lyons. Here's a link to the audio http://www.vce.org/CDC:EPA:VDH:Sept.27.WMA. PCAC's presentation is at the beginning. The most relevant thing to come out of it was this statement from WCAX's broadcast on Sept. 26: "In terms of the kinds of health effects that people are complaining about, there really haven't been any studies to really address that issue in a statistically significant way," said Lorraine Backer from the Centers for Disease Control. The other important thing that came out of the meeting was said by Mr. Grubbs of the EPA (contact info below). I asked what disinfection by-products of chloramine are regulated and he said they do not regulate any disinfection byproducts of chloramine (except the HAAs and THMS that are the regulated DBPs of chlorine). That's on the audio, in the latter portion of the meeting as I recall. Supposedly the CDC will be releasing the results of its investigation any day now. I recall hearing it would be at the end of the year. I do not have a phone number for Lorraine Backer but I did get the card of the top guy from the EPA who came, and you could call him and get Lorraine's contact info to get an update on when we can expect them to release their findings: Thomas R. Grubbs, P.E., Environmental Engineer, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, EPA, Washington DC, (202 564-5262. 2. DEC held a conference on disinfection and disinfection byproducts for water system operators on Nov. 1. A lot of interesting things came out of the conference. One of the main ones I would point to is the lack of data on chloramine. That is evidenced best by Dr. Richard Bull's presentation. Ellen and I had lunch with him and talked the situation in Vermont over with him. He said we need a toxicological study, not an epidemiological study, and it's very expensive and won't ever happen. I recorded the conference and provide those audio links below (though someone tells me that Crombie and somebody else got mixed up, so two of the links are mislabeled). Also I put in below the link to the web site where you can find the power point presentations posted by DEC. Near the end of his talk, Dr. Bull said something that is really important I transcribed it, am attaching the last page of his power point. He is saying that the whole basis for this EPA rule that is causing water systems to switch to chloramine is not backed up by science. Very interesting. Here's what he said: “I think the THMs and HAAs are not particularly good indicators of risk from DBPs and I always object to it when it comes out or being talked about in that context. I don’t mind talking about THM or HAA in the reg when appropriate but to connect it to the bladder cancer risk for example or even the reproductive developmental toxin effect is probably not very logical. It’s certainly not scientific.” -- Dr. Richard Bull at “Disinfection and Disinfection ByProducts Symposium” held in Vermont on Nov. 1, 2007. Sponsored by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. Appeal in process! Hello everyone! I received notice from the Environmental Hearing Board today of our hearing schedule which sets out time for discovery AND a required settlement meeting between the parties (DEP, PAWC and us)! It is the beginning but at least we are on the road to being heard! They can't just ignore us now! I will be asking for your input as we go through this process. We all look at this issue through different eyes. I need everyones thoughts on what to ask for in discovery so we make sure we get everything we need to present our best case at the hearing. If any of you have done independent research on chloramine, chlorine, their by-products, filters, corrosion, lead issues or anything else related to this issue PLEASE share it with me so I have as much of what is out there as I can get. ALSO if ANYONE knows a toxocologist, a chemist, an environmental engineer, physicians who might be willing to be expert witnesses, please let me know as soon as possible. THank you all for your work and support. We are not done yet!!! Susan PLEASE TAKE ACTION AND WRITE TO PAWC PRESIDENT KATHY PAPE ASKING HER TO APPLY FOR A GRANT TO FUND ULTR-FILTRATION AND UV LIGHT ALTERNATIVES TO CHLORAMINE. THE ADDRESS IS 800 HERSHEY PARK DRIVE, HERSHEY 17033. This is a golden opportunity. We need to act now! N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA Dept. of Environmental Protection Commonwealth News Bureau Room 308, Main Capitol Building Harrisburg, PA 17120 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10/29/2007 CONTACT: Kerry Chippo Phone: (717) 787-1323 GRANTS AVAILABLE TO UPGRADE MUNICIPAL SEWAGE FACILITIES, DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS State Investment Critical as Federal Support Continues to Decline HARRISBURG – Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty announced today that municipalities, municipal authorities and public school districts have until Dec. 15 to apply for a portion of $1 million that is available to help finance improvements to existing sewage facilities and drinking water systems using new or innovative technologies. “Pennsylvania’s water and wastewater infrastructure plays a critical role in growing our economy and keeping our residents safe,” said McGinty. “While the funds are important and will have a measurable impact on preventing pollution prevention, conserving water and reducing energy consumption in Pennsylvania, it’s not enough.” The Clean Water State Revolving Fund has been a significant part of the commonwealth’s water quality improvement efforts for two decades. The program combines state and federal funds to upgrade aging infrastructure, but the federal government has cut the fund by nearly half in just the last three years. In 2004, $1.34 billion was available, compared to $886 million last year. Pennsylvania’s share of the fund was cut by $30 million to $27 million. “These steep cuts jeopardize our ability to tackle the serious environmental and economic infrastructure challenges facing our communities,” said McGinty. “As federal support for the state’s water and wastewater infrastructure continues to decline, these investments become even more critical.” Grants of up to $500,000 are available through the Growing Greener program to make physical improvements to existing facilities, as well as sanitary and combined sewer collection/conveyance systems. Preference will be given to wastewater treatment projects that use new or innovative technology to reduce energy consumption compared to conventional processes. Incorporating advanced technologies also improves the efficiency, effectiveness and reliability of existing facilities. New or innovative technology refers to an approach that is commercially available but is not yet used widely in Pennsylvania, and should provide one or more significant advantages over conventional technology. “By making critical investments now to maintain and improve Pennsylvania's infrastructure, we are helping to ensure that drinking water and wastewater systems will meet the needs of tomorrow,” said McGinty. The deadline for submitting innovative water and wastewater grant applications is December. 15. The application form is available electronically at www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Growing Greener Innovative Technology.