AMERIND-US-SE-L Archives

From:
Subject: Bush thinks arsenic in water is ok
Date: Mon, 7 May 2001 18:00:26 EDT

Subj: No wonder Bush thinks Arsenic in water is ok
Date: 5/7/01 9:22:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: <A HREF="mailto:Aimfl">Aimfl</A>
To: <A HREF="mailto:SGMAIMFL">SGMAIMFL</A>
BCC: <A HREF="mailto:REDSKI9136">REDSKI9136</A>



Limiting uranium in water could be costly
The Associated Press


SCOTTSBLUFF - In two years, uranium levels in drinking water will be
regulated for the first time by the Environmental Protection Agency,
and that could prove costly to many Nebraska cities.
The EPA issued a rule in December limiting uranium levels to 30
micrograms per liter of water. The rule takes effect in 2003.

Anne Pamperl, drinking water program specialist for the state Health
and Human Services System, said at least 32 towns and cities either
will or could have a problem meeting that standard.

There may be more cities, Pamperl said Friday, but she was still
checking measurements of uranium.

Options for many towns would include drilling new wells or treating the
water, she said.

"It's going to be expensive," Pamperl said. "Most of the towns affected
are small. New wells are not cheap, and treatment plants are not cheap,
either."

Uranium is found in rocks and soil in parts of Nebraska, particularly
the North Platte, Platte and Republican river valleys, which largely
run from western to south-central Nebraska.

High levels of uranium can lead to cancer and kidney disease. Pamperl
said she was not sure how prevalent any health problems might be across
the country from uranium content in water.

The town farthest east that would be affected is Silver Creek, Pamperl
said, which is about 25 miles southwest of Columbus.

Bridgeport and Morrill in the west will have to take measures to lower
uranium levels in drinking water, Pamperl said.

Communities including Bayard, Broadwater, Gering, Lyman, Minatare,
Mitchell and Terrytown are on the edge of the new standard, and will
have to test their uranium levels to determine whether action is
needed, she said.

Bridgeport City Manager Finley DeGraffenreid called the EPA rule an
unfair, unfunded mandate.

"I don't think the EPA has properly assessed those costs," he said.

Nebraska officials have criticized certain other EPA regulations on
drinking water as expensive and unnecessary. Attorney General Don
Stenberg has filed lawsuits challenging orders to reduce copper and
arsenic levels.

Deputy Attorney General Steve Grasz said Friday the uranium regulation
may be out of the reach of a state lawsuit.

"It's my understanding that this is final," he said.

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