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11/01/01 11:03 PM: Mmm Arsenic
Damn. I wanted to drink more arsenic. Damn moderate conservatives giving into those treehuggers.
Bush Administration Adopts Clinton Arsenic Regs It Once Rejected for Drinking Water
WASHINGTON – Reversing course, the Bush administration will accept a new, tougher arsenic standard for drinking water that was issued in the last days of the Clinton presidency.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman said the decision will reduce the maximum of arsenic allowed in drinking water from 50 parts per billion—a level first set in 1942—to 10 parts per billion by 2006.
Former President Clinton had adopted the tougher standard three days before leaving office. The Bush administration suspended that action, citing at least $200 million in new costs to local communities and questioning the scientific basis behind the new standard.
“Throughout this process, I’ve made it clear that EPA intends to strengthen the standard for arsenic by substantially lowering the maximum acceptable level from 50 ppb,” Whitman said Wednesday. “This standard will improve the safety of drinking water for millions of Americans and better protect against the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes,” she said.
The new rule had been suspended until next February, leaving in place the old standard. In July, EPA began gathering public comment and Wednesday was the deadline for submissions.
