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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send email to [log in to unmask] Make the message text (not the Subject): SIGNOFF IOWA-TOPICS