I think it'll be fine.  Thanks for your help!  I'll make sure to let everyone
know what the rule ends up looking like.

Amber

In a message dated 2/2/99 10:37:51 PM Central Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<<  wrote and mailed five letters.  I just have to trust that they will
 realize that the docket number is wrong.

 Peggy Murdock

 At 12:56 PM 1/29/99 -0500, you wrote:
 >I know I've already sent this out, but it's very important, and I now have
an
 >email address to submit comments to, so it's even easier.
 >
 >The EPA is considering expanding Right to Know reporting requirements for
 >highly toxic chemicals like mercury and dioxin.  However, their current
 >proposal falls short. For example, EPA's proposal currently fails to include
 >stricter reporting requirements for lead--a substance well known for being
 >extremely dangerous and highly persistent.  In addition, EPA is considering
 >setting reporting thresholds at levels that would still allow a significant
 >amount of mercury pollution to go unreported.
 >
 >As little as 1/70th of a teaspoon of mercury is enough to contaminate an
 >entire lake. In order to protect public health and the environment, EPA must
 >set a zero threshold for reporting of persistent or bioaccumulative toxins.
 >
 >EPA has opened a public comment period on this issue.  Please send a comment
 >to the EPA and forward this on to others.  You can send comments by mail, or
 >you can email them to [log in to unmask]  The following is a sample
 >letter.  Please CC: these comments to me at [log in to unmask] and feel free to
 >copy them to your Congressperson as well. Be sure to include the docket
 number
 >at the top.  Call me at 515-274-9984 or email me if you have any questions.
 >
 >Sincerely,
 >
 >Amber Hard
 >U.S.PIRG Plains States Organizer
 >3520 Beaver Ave. Suite G
 >Des Moines, IA 50310
 >515-274-9984
 >[log in to unmask]
 >
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 > SAMPLE LETTER/EMAIL TO EPA ADMINISTRATOR BROWNER
 >
 >The Honorable Carol Browner                                 Docket
 >#OPPTS-400132
 >U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
 >401 M St., SW
 >Washington, DC 20460
 >
 >
 >Dear Administrator Browner:
 >
 >I am writing to express our/my concern about a serious gap in the federal
 >Right to Know program.  Currently the public is left in the dark about the
 use
 >and release of some of the most dangerous substances known to science.
 >Substances like dioxin, mercury and lead have been linked to cancer, birth
 >defects, hormone disruption, and other serious health problems.  Many of
 these
 >substances are extremely hazardous in small quantities and escape public
 >reporting because existing thresholds are set too high.
 >
 >We have a right to know about the release of any quantity of these
substances
 >in our communities.  I urge the EPA to require industries to report all uses
 >and releases of substances that are highly toxic, persist in the environment
 >for long periods of time, or accumulate in the tissue of humans and
wildlife.
 >The EPA should set a reporting threshold of zero for these dangerous
 >substances.
 >
 >Please stand strong against pressure from the polluting industries and
expand
 >the Right to Know program to cover persistent or bioaccumulative toxins.  We
 >have the right to know about and to protect ourselves and future generations
 >from these dangerous chemicals.
 >
 > Sincerely,
 >
 >
 >
 > cc:   U.S.PIRG, Your Congressperson >>

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