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Public Health Goals for Nickel and Uranium

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) of the California Environmental Protection Agency announces the availability of the final technical support documents for the Public Health Goals (PHGs) for nickel and uranium in drinking water. The first drafts of the documents were posted on the OEHHA Web site on October 8, 1999, and the second drafts have been posted on the OEHHA Web site since February 11, 2000. In addition, a one-day public workshop was held on November 5, 1999, at the auditorium in the Elihu Harris Building, 1515 Clay Street, Oakland, California to discuss the scientific basis and recommendations in the draft documents. OEHHA follows the requirements set forth in Health and Safety Code Sections 57003(a) and 116365 for the workshop and public input. Oral and written comments received from the public at the workshop and during the two public review and scientific comment periods, as well as from reviewers at the University of California system and state and federal agencies were considered during revisions of the documents. After the public input and the workshop, OEHHA has incorporated responses to major comments received and is providing the final documents.

The published PHGs for nickel and uranium are available on the Web site. As indicated in previous announcements, the workshop as well as the public review and scientific comment periods were to encourage a dialogue between OEHHA scientists and the public to discuss the PHG recommendations and to receive comments. Following the workshop and public input, OEHHA has revised the documents as appropriate. The responses to the major comments are also available on the OEHHA Web site. This announcement of PHGs for nickel and uranium and the technical support documents is published in the California Regulatory Notice Register and posted on the OEHHA Web site.

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 publish 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. Written requests should be addressed to:

Cal/EPA-OEHHA-PETB
Water Toxicology
P.O. Box 4010
Sacramento, CA 95812-4010

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