Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxics (PBT) Program Setting the Context TOM MURRAY, USEPA EPA PBT Monitoring Workshop April 22, 2002 Raleigh, North Carolina

Happy Earth Day!

I’M HERE TO …. Provide some context Provide some context Explore the question: Who cares? Explore the question: Who cares? A Perspective on the Monitoring Strategy A Perspective on the Monitoring Strategy Share a few thoughts on the challenges that lie ahead Share a few thoughts on the challenges that lie ahead

The Context The PBT Program as an organizing principle The PBT Program as an organizing principle GPRA goals and measures GPRA goals and measures Our scope Our scope The PBT Program National Action Plans The PBT Program National Action Plans

The Context The PBT Program as an organizing principle The PBT Program as an organizing principle

What is the PBT Program? All programs working together to All programs working together to Identify and reduce risks to human health and the environment from current and future exposures to priority PBT pollutants Identify and reduce risks to human health and the environment from current and future exposures to priority PBT pollutants Stop their transfer across environmental media! Stop their transfer across environmental media! Prevent new PBT chemicals from entering commerce Prevent new PBT chemicals from entering commerce

What are its Program Goals? Reduce risks to human health and the environment from current and future exposures to priority PBT contaminants Reduce risks to human health and the environment from current and future exposures to priority PBT contaminants Reduce/eliminate PBT emissions in U.S. and promote international reductions Reduce/eliminate PBT emissions in U.S. and promote international reductions Reduce exposure of general U.S. populations, especially high risk populations Reduce exposure of general U.S. populations, especially high risk populations

The National PBT Program Agenda Focus on Mercury, Dioxin/Furans, PCBs first Focus on Mercury, Dioxin/Furans, PCBs first Focus on two cross-cutting issues: Focus on two cross-cutting issues: MONITORING MONITORING Outreach/risk communication Outreach/risk communication Derive actions from National Action Plans Derive actions from National Action Plans Get the resources to where the action is Get the resources to where the action is Build on successful efforts Build on successful efforts Provide the tools to “get the job done” Provide the tools to “get the job done”

What is the value added by the PBT Program? It facilitates corporate decisionmaking. It simplifies communication to outside stakeholders. It fosters holistic problem solving. It engenders the use of sound science. It leads to win-win solutions, more responsible spending and more effective coordination among programs both within and outside of EPA.

NHANES NHANES Alaskan Native Fetal Cord Blood Monitoring Program Alaskan Native Fetal Cord Blood Monitoring Program Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program

What fuels the PBT Program? Human Health and Ecological Concerns Human Health and Ecological Concerns Realization that some single-medium approaches fall short Realization that some single-medium approaches fall short Realization that for efforts like monitoring, no one program can do it Realization that for efforts like monitoring, no one program can do it States, Tribes, Legislators, Stakeholders States, Tribes, Legislators, Stakeholders Tenacity, hard work and determination Tenacity, hard work and determination A specified Agency-wide budget A specified Agency-wide budget

PBT Program Management Structure

The Context The PBT Program as an organizing principle The PBT Program as an organizing principle GPRA goals and measures GPRA goals and measures

GPRA GOALS GPRA GPRA EPA EPA DOI DOI DOC DOC HHS HHS

The Context The PBT Program as an organizing principle The PBT Program as an organizing principle GPRA goals and measures GPRA goals and measures Scope Scope

PBTs -- A Global Priority "Pollutants that are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic have been linked to numerous adverse effects in humans and animals. The United States has taken extensive action over the years to address these pollutants. But such pollutants not only remain in the environment for years and even decades, they also travel far beyond their initial points of release, posing threats across national and geographic boundaries. Only by addressing the threat of these pollutants on a global scale can we help to meet our goal of leaving America's air cleaner, our water purer, and our land better protected.” - Christine Todd Whitman

The Context The PBT Program as an organizing principle The PBT Program as an organizing principle GPRA goals and measures GPRA goals and measures Scope Scope The PBT Program National Action Plans The PBT Program National Action Plans

National Action Plans National Action Plans Alkyl-LeadBenzo(a)PyreneDioxins/FuransHexachlorobenzene Mercury and Compounds OctachlorostyrenePCBsPESTICIDES Aldrin/Dieldrin, Chlordane Mirex,DDT(+DDD+DDE), Camphechlor(Toxaphene)

What are the major monitoring needs identified in the NAPs? Magnitude and nature of the human Exposure Problem (Hg, Dioxins, B(a)P, HCB) Magnitude and nature of the human Exposure Problem (Hg, Dioxins, B(a)P, HCB) Magnitude and nature of exposure for high-risk populations (PCBs, Dioxins, HCB, B(a)P) Magnitude and nature of exposure for high-risk populations (PCBs, Dioxins, HCB, B(a)P) Long-term National Environmental Trends (Hg, PCBs,Dioxins, Pesticides,HCB, B(a)P and OCS) Long-term National Environmental Trends (Hg, PCBs,Dioxins, Pesticides,HCB, B(a)P and OCS)

What are the major monitoring needs identified in the NAPs? International Contribution (Mercury, PCBs, Dioxins, Pesticides, HCB, B(a)P International Contribution (Mercury, PCBs, Dioxins, Pesticides, HCB, B(a)P Monitoring data to support environmental modeling needs in predicting environmental levels and multimedia transfers (Hg, PCBs and Dioxins) Monitoring data to support environmental modeling needs in predicting environmental levels and multimedia transfers (Hg, PCBs and Dioxins) Support for Fish and Wildlife Consumption Advisory Programs (Hg, PCBs, Dioxins and pesticides) Support for Fish and Wildlife Consumption Advisory Programs (Hg, PCBs, Dioxins and pesticides)

What are the major monitoring needs identified in the NAPs? Source Characterization (Hg, PCBs, Dioxins, HCB, B(a)P and OCS Source Characterization (Hg, PCBs, Dioxins, HCB, B(a)P and OCS

Who Really Cares?

Our decision makers care! Our Senior Management Officials Our Senior Management Officials The White House Office of Science and Technology The White House Office of Science and Technology U.S. General Accounting Office U.S. General Accounting Office Commission for Environmental Cooperation Commission for Environmental Cooperation UNEP UNEP

But, more Importantly

Our Tribal Partners Say: Abnormalities in animals and fish (e. g. wormy whitefish and lesions on salmon, and Whirling disease) Moose meat tastes different and there are water bags in their lungs Muskrats have spots on their liver and lungs Caribou have runny bone marrow

A National Routine Monitoring Strategy should: Summarize and orchestrate current PBT monitoring activities Summarize and orchestrate current PBT monitoring activities Discern trends in both human health and ecosystems (GPRA?) Discern trends in both human health and ecosystems (GPRA?) Measure the effectiveness of national actions to meet the PBT program goals Measure the effectiveness of national actions to meet the PBT program goals Integrate across environmental media Integrate across environmental media Integrate modeling Integrate modeling

Challenges

#1. No single governmental jurisdiction can solve the problem!! All federal, state, tribal, international organizations must work together!

#2 Monitoring is Costly Find ways to leverage

#3 Monitoring takes time to yield valid results Persevere! And think of ways to keep impatient decision makers happy Maryland Terps National Champions!! Maryland Terps National Champions!!

#4. Maintain the vision “As pollution problems become more complex, our monitoring programs must become more sophisticated and cost- effective. We cannot control what we cannot measure and we cannot correct what we do not know”. “As pollution problems become more complex, our monitoring programs must become more sophisticated and cost- effective. We cannot control what we cannot measure and we cannot correct what we do not know”. John R. Quarles, Jr. Deputy Administrator John R. Quarles, Jr. Deputy Administrator