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_CRIIJA_ - - - - - - W'~ - - - - - - ~~ }Y1[Jb~re Be Changes by the EPA? other hand, could see no problem with cur- more stringent and expensive, both to enforce rent laws and stated emphatically that the ad. and to implement, without providing cred- ministration \\'35 at fault and not the ible health or environmental improvement or Democratic Congress. Representative Camp- protection. It was generally felt by all. indud- bell seemed to feel that redirecting the ErA's ing to some extent the ErA, that the regula- priorities was in order and was concerned tions are becoming more oriented toward with community problems. "percei\'ed risk" rather than real and proven On May 12th, Herman Wooten, Program risk. Secondarily, many of the entities ex. Manager for the Colorado Rural Water AS5Q- pressed a desire to be more involved in the ciation, drove from his office in Pueblo to meet regulation formulating process, rather than just with us in Denver. Information derived from the endpoint--caught between the regulators this meeting was extremely helpful in prepar- and the consumer. ing us for the meeting with the EPA, both in Mike Pompili, Assistant Health Commis- regard to protocol and specific information on sioner of the City of Columbus, provided an affected communities in Colorado. Later that excellent presentation using the EPA's own same day, we met with Jerry Biberstine of the numbers to cite examples of the lU1feality of Colorado Department of Health. His major the "perceived risks" versus real risk. For ex- concern was the possible loss of Primacy and ample, if the national cancer rate is that one in the problems created for everyone in the in- five persons will be stricken with cancer, then dustry by having the program turned back to why are the regulations written to protect one the EPA by the State. Jerry provided us with a in a million persons using theoretical data copy of legislation that had just P,1SSed through instead of empirical data and utilizing a 90 the State House and Senate and that will prob- percent safety factor? ably be signed by the Governor lA'hich could Another point made during and after the return Primacy control to the EPA if addi- meeting \vas that perhaps another method be tional funding vvere not made available" found to communicate with the regulated en- The meeting with the EPA Deputy Admin- tities, in addition to the Federal Register, to istrator, F. Henry Habicht, and several of the provide general information, such as solicita- EPA Division Directors went as scheduled on bons for comment. This was well-received by May 15. We were in good company with rep- the ErA, but the problem may not be easily resentatives from Columbus, Ohio, Lewiston, solved. If it weren't for organizations such as Maine, Sublette County, Wyoming, and the the CRWA, most of us in the industries af- State of Texas, The meeting took place in an fected wouldn't ha\'e any foreknowledge at EPA conference room in Washington and, in alL addition to the large audience of EPA person- This meeting \\'as one of several held recently nel, the meeting was \'ideo linked to all of the by the EPA, including meeting with representa- regional offices of the EPA across the country. tives from such organizations as the National The format of the meeting \...as a formal Governors' As..."Ociation, the ='Jational Associa- panel discl6sion with all representath'es given tion of Counties, the N'ationalleague of Cities, scheduled time to introduce ourseh'es and to and the American \Vater \\'orks Association. All present our concerns about current and future of these meeting are com"incing the EPA that the regulations, with time allocated for questions regulated communities are ready to revolt agai.nst and discu~sion, spending more money to accomplish nothing. There were several issue~ brought to light The ErA, as a result of these meetings, seems and many were concerns addressed by more to recognize the need for regulation changes than one entity. The primary issue addressed and simplification, and may call a national by all \'.."35 that the regulations are becoming (Contilluedoll PaXt' 17) . . . 16