News Briefs: (1) EPA Issues Guidance for Protective Cleanups of Perchlorate; (2) EPA Administrator Names John Howard as Head of Policy Advisory Group

*News Briefs 

*If you need more information on any of these subjects, call the listed Press Officer.* 
* 
For Release: (Washington, D.C. -- Thursday, January 26, 2006) 
* 
(1) EPA Issues Guidance for Protective Cleanups of Perchlorate 
(2) EPA Administrator Names John Howard as Head of Policy Advisory Group* 
 

*(1) EPA Issues Guidance for Protective Cleanups of Perchlorate * 

Contact: Kerry Humphrey, 202-564-4355 / humphrey.kerry@epa.gov 

EPA issued new protective guidance for cleaning up perchlorate contamination today recommending a preliminary clean-up goal for perchlorate of 24.5 parts per billion in water. EPA's guidance is derived from the agency's reference dose for perchlorate which is based on the 2005 recommendations and conclusions of the nation's foremost science advisory committee (National Academy of Sciences). 

This preliminary goal is a starting point for an evaluation of site-specific conditions. Consistent with current practice, final clean-up determinations should take site-specific information into consideration. Today's action offers clear guidance to site managers to help ensure national consistency in evaluating perchlorate in light of widely varying state guidance. This decision was based on the best available science and will be updated as new information becomes available. 

Perchlorate has been detected in groundwater or drinking water at approximately 45 of the 1,500 sites on the Agency's National Priorities List. Perchlorate salts were first produced in the United States in the mid-1940s, primarily for use by the United States military for explosives and rocket propellants. Perchlorate salts also have been used in other applications, including pyrotechnics and fireworks, blasting agents, matches, lubricating oils, air bags and certain types of fertilizers. 

To read the guidance document, visit: http://epa.gov/newsroom/perchlorate.pdf [ http://epa.gov/newsroom/perchlorate.pdf ] (3 pp., 443KB PDF file) 

*(2) EPA Administrator Names John Howard as Head of Policy Advisory Group 

*Contact: Dave Ryan, 202-564-4355 / ryan.dave@epa.gov* 

*EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson today appointed John L. Howard, Jr. as the new chair of the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT), a group that since 1988 has provided advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of environmental policy, technology, and management issues. NACEPT represents diverse interests from academia, industry, non-governmental organizations, environmental groups, and local, state, and tribal governments. It has directed the work of approximately 30 standing committees (each one established to address a specific issue), and has produced over 50 major reports containing over 1,000 recommendations to the EPA Administrator. Mr. Howard currently is a Partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP, one of the world's largest international law firms. He has previously served as the Senior Associate Director for the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Environment and Natural Resources Policy Director for then-Governor Bush in Texas. He also served as the Federal Environmental Executive, promoting environmental stewardship throughout the federal government. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Baylor University and received his law degree from the University of Texas. He resides in Austin, Texas, with his family. For more information on the Council, refer to: http://www.epa.gov/ocem/nacept [ http://www.epa.gov/ocem/nacept ] 

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