Draft Technical Support Document on Proposed Public Health Goal for Perchlorate in Drinking Water

Dec 7, 2013

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) within the California Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the availability of the revised draft technical support document for a proposed updated Public Health Goal (PHG) for perchlorate in drinking water. Revision of the draft document has not changed the present proposal to revise the existing perchlorate PHG from 6 parts per billion (ppb) to 1 ppb. The Office previously offered a 45-day public comment period and held a public workshop for perchlorate on February 23, 2011. During the first public comment period, an external scientific peer review of the draft PHG document was requested. The peer review was conducted pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 116365(c)(3)(D). The revised draft document, as well as responses to peer review comments, are available here. OEHHA is soliciting comments on the revised draft report during a 30-day comment period that OEHHA is extending for two weeks due to the holiday season. OEHHA follows the requirements set forth in Health and Safety Code Sections 57003(a) and 116365 for receiving public input.

This public comment period is the second request for public input. OEHHA will evaluate all the comments received and revise the document as appropriate. Written comments must be received at the OEHHA address below by 5:00 p.m. on January 22, 2013, to be considered before publication of the final document. The final document will be posted on the OEHHA web site along with responses to the major comments received during the public review periods.

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 (codified at Health and Safety Code, section 116270 et. seq.), requires OEHHA to develop PHGs based exclusively on public health considerations (Health and Safety Code section 116365(c)). PHGs published by OEHHA are considered by the California Department of Public Health in setting drinking water standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels, or MCLs) as required by Health and Safety Code section 116365(a-b).
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.

Hermelinda Jimenez (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

Public comments are available below 01/28/13

[Update] Perchlorate PHG finalized 02/27/15