Announcement of Public Comment Period for Draft Public Health Goals for Styrene and Oxamyl in Drinking Water
The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) of the California Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the availability of draft technical support documents for proposed Public Health Goals (PHGs) for styrene and oxamyl in drinking water. The draft document on styrene is a new risk assessment, while the document on oxamyl is an update of an existing PHG for this chemical. The draft documents are posted on the OEHHA Web site, www.oehha.ca.gov. OEHHA is soliciting comments on the draft reports during a 45-day comment period. The Office will also hold a public workshop on July 15, 2008 at the Elihu Harris Building, 1515 Clay Street, Oakland, 94612, Room 10, 10 a.m.-12 noon, or until business is concluded. OEHHA follows the requirements set forth in Health and Safety Code Sections 57003(a) and 116365 for conducting the workshop and receiving public input.
The workshop is provided to encourage a dialogue between OEHHA scientists and the public, to discuss the scientific basis of the proposed PHGs, and to receive comments. Following the workshop, OEHHA will evaluate all the comments received, revise the documents as appropriate, and make them available for another 30-day comment period. After any subsequent revisions, the final documents will be posted on our Web site along with responses to the major comments from the public at the workshop and during the public review and scientific comment periods.
Oral and written comments received at the workshop will be considered during the revision of the draft technical support documents. Written comments must be received at the OEHHA address below by 5:00 p.m. on July 15, 2008 to be considered during this revision period for the documents. The PHG technical support documents provide information on the health effects of contaminants in drinking water. The PHG is a level of drinking water contaminant at which adverse health effects are not expected to occur from a lifetime of exposure. The California Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996 (Health and Safety Code Section 116365), amended 1999, requires OEHHA to develop PHGs based exclusively on public health considerations. PHGs published by OEHHA will be considered by the California Department of Health Services in setting drinking water standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels, or MCLs).
If you would like to receive further information on this announcement or have questions, please contact our office at (510) 622-3170 or the address below.
Michael Baes (Hermelinda.Jimenez@oehha.ca.gov)
Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology Branch
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
California Environmental Protection Agency
1515 Clay St., 16th floor
Oakland, California 94612
Attention: PHG Project
Note: the comment period for Styrene has been extended. Follow this link for information
[Update] The second draft of the styrene Public Health Goal was made available on February 04, 2010