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