As those of us in the regulated community know, the environmental business is increasingly complicated and always dynamic. That is why we routinely provide updates on environmental compliance issues, environmental site assessment and remediation issues, developments in emerging issues such as vapor intrusion, and more.
What makes it frustrating for the regulated community, and at times even the regulators, are when sensationalized “environmental issues” get distorted. This is exactly what happened recently, at least according to one outspoken regulator.
Chromium 6 in Drinking Water?
Chromium 6 (a.k.a. hexavalent chrome and chromium VI) is naturally occurring and an industrial byproduct. At certain concentrations and exposure scenarios, chromium 6 may be toxic (as is virtually every chemical and substance, including water). This form of chromium was made “famous” in the movie, Erin Brockovich, which focused on chromium 6 in groundwater in Hinkley, California.
Recently, several news outlets, including CNN, picked up the press release and report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), “Chromium-6 in U.S. Tap Water.” The CNN article in September 2016 provides in part, “…the new report indicates that levels of chromium-6 are at or above 0.03 parts per billion in 75% of the samples tested by local water utilities on behalf of the EPA between 2013 and 2015.” EWG also provides an interactive map to assist the public to find results in their (and your) community.
EWG also states, “At least 74 million Americans in 42 states drink chromium-polluted tap water, much of it likely in the cancer-causing hexavalent form.”
The problem, in this instance, is the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for total chromium (all forms of chromium combined) is 100 parts per billion (ppb). There currently is no national MCL for chromium 6. California, the only state to establish an MCL specific to chromium 6, has an MCL of 10 ppb…a far cry from the 0.03 ppb.
Ohio EPA Not Pleased with EWG Scare Tactics
One state agency responding to the news release was the Ohio EPA. Craig Butler (Ohio EPA) said, “They (the Environmental Working Group) are manufacturing a concern in the state of Ohio where none exists… How they drew the conclusion that there was a significant problem with Chromium 6 in the drinking water is beyond me.”
Butler also said, “These distractions are increasingly frustrating to the Environmental Protection Agency. They waste valuable time and resources that companies and municipalities can ill afford to waste.”
Should the EPA issue more stringent standards, Butler said, “We will act quickly to make sure a proper treatment is in place, and that we are well below the standard, if that is necessary… But for them to be calling for action before the research is done really is an alarmist tactic.”
Municipalities have no shortage of issues to address from aging infrastructures, combined sewer overflows, emerging concerns about lead in older communities, and more. Likewise, companies have numerous environmental compliance obligations, not to mention the business-of-business concerns. Dealing with “distractions” can only slow and hamper their efforts of addressing more immediate and real concerns.
We’ll continue to provide updates on those more immediate concerns and share them with you as we see them. In the meantime, feel free to contact us at 248-932-0228 should you need assistance with an environmental compliance, assessment, or remediation issue.