A proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guideline for ensuring safe drinking water following a radiological incident is causing concern among environmentalists, agency officials and other experts, Defense Environment Alert reported yesterday (see GSN, April 2).
The issue is addressed in the draft version of the EPA Protective Action Guidance for Radiological Incidents, which could include a "dirty bomb" attack or the release of dangerous material from a nuclear power plant, weapons site or manufacturing facility.
Should such an incident occur, the EPA guide says alternative sources of drinking water must be provided only for contamination levels that are much higher than the level at which bottled water or another new source is necessary following an emergency at a Superfund site.
There is also concern that weak guidelines in the EPA publication could strengthen the hand of industry representatives and federal officials seeking less stringent response proposals for various contaminated locations.
"Once these kinds of numbers are published in a guidance they tend to be misused," according to one state source.
The Homeland Security Department has developed a similar radiological response guide -- now being finalized -- that has also proven controversial (Douglas Guarino, Defense Environment Alert, April 29).