Comment Period - Initiation of Risk Assessments for Chemicals in Drinking Water
The Calderon-Sher California Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996[1] requires the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) to post a notice on its website when initiating the development or update of public health goals (PHGs) for contaminants in drinking water. PHGs are concentrations of chemicals in drinking water that are not anticipated to produce adverse health effects. PHGs are non-regulatory in nature but are to be used as the health basis to support California's primary drinking water standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels, or MCLs) established by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) for chemicals subject to regulation.
This public notice announces the initiation of reviews for four chemicals:
- Cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene
- Trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
- Hexavalent Chromium
- Nickel
Updates of existing PHGs for these chemicals are being initiated based on the availability of new data, methodology updates, occurrence in California drinking water supplies, and/or potential public health significance. OEHHA is requesting information on these contaminants that could assist in updating the risk assessments and potentially calculating revised PHGs. A notice that provides information the office has identified to date as relevant to the preparation of the PHGs for the chemicals listed here is available for download below.
All information submitted to OEHHA in response to this request is considered public. Please do not submit proprietary information. In order to be considered during the update process, information must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 28, 2016. OEHHA encourages submission of information in electronic form, rather than in paper form. Information transmitted by e-mail should be addressed to PHG.Program@oehha.ca.gov with the chemical name in the subject line. Information submitted in paper form may be mailed or delivered in person to the address below:
Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology Branch
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
California Environmental Protection Agency
P.O. Box 4010, MS-12B
Sacramento, California 95812
Attention: PHG Program
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Hermelinda Jimenez at (916) 324-7572 or email PHG.Program@oehha.ca.gov.
[1] See Health and Safety Code section 11636