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Background Information
In 2001, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts began documenting the abnormally high perchlorate levels found in Massachusetts groundwaters. Recently, Carol Rowan West, Director for the Office of Research & Standards at MassDEP, testified before the US Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works with regards to the increasing levels of perchlorate being found throughout the public water supplies in Massachusetts, as well as the rest of the United States. Below is a transcript of her testimony and follow-up questions from members of the committee. Please visit the U.S. Senate Committee's Environment & Public Works hearing page to view a webcast of the entire testimony. (please note that to view some webcasts, users must have Real Player installed on their computers.)
Transcript of testimony
MS Word 40 KB | PDF 60 KB
Transcript of follow-up questions
MS Word 48 KB | PDF 31 KB
In 2008, U.S. EPA determined that a national drinking water regulation for perchlorate would not present "a meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction for persons served by public water systems," and requested public comment on this preliminary determination. MassDEP has responded to the notice with the following comments.
Federal Register summary: Web site
MassDEP's response to the preliminary regulatory determination
MS Word 89 KB | PDF 77 KB
Office of the Inspector General's report: Web site
MassDEP's response to Office of the Inspector General's report
MS Word 61 KB | PDF 13 KB
In July 2009, MassDEP published a paper on the "Basis of the Massachusetts Reference Dose and Drinking Water Standards for Perchlorate" in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. To review a copy of the paper, please see the link below.
Environmental Health Perspectives Web site (PDF, 325 KB)
EPA is now reconsidering their decision not to regulate perchlorate in drinking water. A Federal Register notice issued August 19, 2009, contains EPA's re-evaluation of their decision and includes new evalutions of the impacts and risks of perchlorate on infants and children and associated health risk limits for drinking water. EPA seeks comments from the public on its re-evaluation.
Federal Register summary
PDF 90 KB
MassDEP has reviewed EPA's August 2009 Federal Register and provides comments on the updated assessment of risks, including proposed health risk limits to protect sensitive subpopulations.
MassDEP's comments
MS Word 68 KB | PDF 35 KB
Fact Sheet: Addressing Perchlorate and Other Emerging Contaminants in Massachusetts
MassDEP efforts to address perchlorate in Massachusetts water supplies
Web page
Perchlorate Q&A
Web page
Official Communications Regarding Perchlorate
Letter to USEPA Assistant Administrator Grumbles on Perchlorate Contamination in Drinking Water in Massachusetts
PDF 43 KB
Fireworks Best Environmental Management Practices
Letter to fireworks contractors and other interested parties concerning fireworks containing perchlorate
Web page
Letter to Blasting Contractors and Interested Parties
Web page
Letter to Certified Labs Regarding Perchlorate Testing
MS Word 47 KB | PDF 37 KB
Perchlorate Toxicological Profile and Health Assessment
June, 2006 Update
MS Word 700 KB | PDF 408 KB
Addendum to the Perchlorate Toxicological Profile and Health Assessment
June, 2006 Update
MS Word 239 KB | PDF 157 KB
Letter to Public Water Suppliers concerning new perchlorate regulations, September 2006
Web page
Perchlorate fact sheet for Public Water Suppliers, September 2006
Web page
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priorities & results
drinking water
