Clean Watershed Campaign

EPA Administrator Delivers

Late this morning EPA’s Lisa Jackson delivered on her promise to establish an interim number for dioxin in soils pending the release of the dioxin reassessment next year.

The interim number for soil is 72 ppt for residential areas which is even less than the state’s 90 ppt. Vindication all around…

Lone Tree Council’s Press Release issued moments ago:

ENVIRONMENTALISTS APPLAUD EPA ON YEAR-END DIOXIN GUIDELINES

Draft Dioxin Numbers of 72 ppt in Residential Soil More Protective of Human and Environmental Health

The Saginaw Bay Watershed group, Lone Tree Council, long associated with raising the issue of dioxin contamination in the Great Lakes Bay Region, is singing the praises of EPA administrator Lisa Jackson. In what environmentalists are saying is the ‘best end of the year environmental news in awhile’, they are acknowledging that the Obama Administration has taken the unprecedented step of updating the risk assumptions of dioxin.

The EPA announced today its draft interim preliminary remediation goals for cleanup of dioxins in soil. The EPA’s current remediation goals of 1,000 parts per trillion (ppt) for residential soil and 5,000 to 20,000 ppt in commercial/industrial soil, have long been criticized as not protective of human and environmental health. The EPA, in several local meetings, promised the community new clean up goals before the end of the year. After an evaluation of state standards, and the science of dioxin, it has honored that commitment. The new EPA guidelines for dioxin in soil are 72 ppt for residential land uses and 950 ppt for commercial/industrial soils. These numbers are interim pending the release of the dioxin reassessment next year.

“This is a wonderful New Years’ present,” said Michelle Hurd Riddick of the Lone Tree Council. “We knew if the science and not the politics was properly evaluated, the EPA would come back lower than Michigan’s 90 ppt for dioxin in residential soils. The EPA numbers are far more protective of human health, and we would like to personally thank Lisa Jackson for doing what no other EPA administrator has done – apply the science, look at public health and do what is right for communities and their natural resources”.

“Dioxins may cause a large number of different health effects, like cancer and reproductive effects” according to the EPA’s press release. “Dioxins are of concern because they are the result of combustion, and are absorbed from the air into the food chain where they can stay for many years.”

“After some disappointing end of the year news on global warming efforts and coal plant approvals, this is the best end of the year environmental news,” said Lone Tree chairman, Terry Miller. “Hopefully fewer people will be exposed to dioxin, and our valley can begin the process of a long overdue cleanup and began to heal.”

The EPA press release highlighting their decision can be found here: “EPA Seeks Public Input on Interim Guidance for Dioxins in Soil Cleanup Goals“