|
Calling vapor
intrusion - the contamination of indoor air by volatile
chemicals from polluted soil and groundwater - one of the most
significant emerging environmental issues, Assemblyman Thomas P.
DiNapoli (D-Great Neck) today released a report from a public
hearing on the issue, and called on the Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) to develop a comprehensive
policy for addressing vapor intrusion in New York State.
DiNapoli,
Chairman of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee,
held the hearing in Endicott (Broome County), where the
Committee received testimony from government officials, public
health and environmental experts and citizens representing
affected communities.
"Vapor
intrusion occurs when contaminants vaporize and rise up through
the foundations of homes and other buildings," DiNapoli said.
"We know that vapor intrusion has occurred at several Superfund
sites throughout New York and will potentially surface as a
problem at brownfield sites as well."
While DEC,
the State Department of Health (DOH), and the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have all issued draft
guidelines pertaining to various aspects of vapor intrusion, no
guidelines have been finalized.
Assemblymember Donna Lupardo (D-Binghamton), whose district
includes the Village of Endicott, stated "The promulgation of
the TCE guideline has resulted in the inconsistent treatment of
homes in Endicott. Before October 2003 vent systems were
installed in homes where TCE was detected at levels above 0.22
mcg/m3. However, under the new guideline, homes tested after
October 2003 only qualified for vent systems if TCE is detected
at levels above the 5 mcg/m3 threshold. This has led to
confusion and frustration for those living in the community."
"Vapor
intrusion poses serious challenges for sound public policy
making. New Yorkers need clear health and environmental
standards for indoor air pollution, particularly TCE, the most
common chemical found at contaminated sites," DiNapoli said.
"Our most important recommendation is that DOH should revise its
guideline for TCE to reflect the most conservative assumptions
about toxicity and exposure. If there is uncertainty, then DOH
and DEC should err on the side of protection."
Taking a
precautionary approach requires that where threats of harm to
human health or the environment exist, lack of full scientific
certainty about cause and effect should not be viewed as
sufficient reason for government to postpone precautionary
measures to protect public health and the environment.
Other
recommendations of DiNapoli’s committee include:
-
Upon
request, DEC and DOH should test the indoor air of any
resident living near a contaminated site with a potential for
vapor intrusion, but outside the perimeter of the current
testing area.
-
Once direct
exposures have been mitigated, sources of vapor intrusion,
i.e. soil and groundwater contamination, should be cleaned up
as quickly and aggressively as possible.
-
DEC should
take steps to protect ambient air quality at vapor intrusion
sites, including the adoption of requirements that would limit
the emission of contaminants from indoor air mitigation
systems.
Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, (D-Ithaca), whose district
includes sites with vapor intrusion problems, stated "Government
must provide citizens with complete and accurate information on
the potential health and environmental impacts associated with
vapor intrusion. The process must provide citizens with
opportunities for meaningful participation."
"We held
this first hearing - and we will hold more throughout the State
- to learn from past experience and to ensure that New York
State takes a protective approach to addressing the issue of
vapor intrusion. We must use the knowledge we have today to
eliminate exposures from vapor intrusion," DiNapoli concluded.
|
