EPAWATCH
Dredging planned for PCB-contaminated river In an action that could set a precedent for cleaning up the Hudson River and other aquatic sites contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), EPA will dredge part of the Housatonic River in Pittsfield, Mass. Next spring, Region I officials plan to begin dredging two miles of the river from bank-to-bank at the estimated cost of about $10 million, officials said on April 6. The agency contends that this emergency action is necessary because, despite attempts to control the spread of contaminated sediments, river flooding continues to spoil residential properties along the river shore. General Electric, whose Pittsfield plant is the source of the contamination, maintains that EPA failed to consider the alternatives before proposing the dredging, which a company spokesperson labeled "the most invasive and potentially destructive remedial action." GE proposed limited remediation of highly contaminated reviewed studv of the risks adverse impacts costs and benefits of dredging The company Titans *Ti n n n n s e
EPA's decision said the SDokesperson Throughout the United States, controversy surrounds the issue of how to deal with PCBs, a probable human carcinogen, and other chemicals in sediments that bioaccumulate. Proponents of dredging view it as a solution that removes the contaminants permanently. Others argue that leaving PCB-contaminated sediments undisturbed is the best option, because dredging can remobilize contaminants. GE however, says that PCBs are not linked to cancer or other adverse human health effects. The dredging decision came after the failure of six months of negotiations between government agencies and GE. In addition, EPA is nominating the 245-acre Pittsfield site for Superfund listing, proposing a
Coal remining promoted to cut mine drainage Abandoned coal mines that are causing pollution in streams and rivers would be cleaned up by mining companies at their own expense under an interagency proposal released in March. By reducing regulatory barriers, such as water quality monitoring and its associated costs, companies would be encouraged to return to abandoned sites, mine the remaining coal, and reclaim the land to prevent further water quality degradation. The discussion paper titled "Water Quality Issues Related to Coal Mining," issued by EPA, the Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining, and the Interstate Mining Compact Commission, praises coal remining projects in Appalachian states for reducing acid mine drainage and levels of heavy metals. Remining has also been endorsed by The Nature Conservancy as "the best hope for remediating abandoned sites." The remining effort is part of the Clinton administration's Clean Water Action Plan announced earlier this year. The paper outlines several options to "judiciously removje] some disincentives" in the permitting requirements for remining. The most "onerous" barrier cited is the cost of water quality monitoring associated with remining permits. An alternative permitting process is proposed that would ease data collection and analysis requirements and rely on implementation of best management practices rather than numerical effluent limits. State inspectors would visit remining sites more often to monitor the effectiveness of management practices. The agencies hoped to meet to review public comments on the proposals in May.
Permitting water releases without endangering species
The negotiations to better coordinate protection of endangered species between EPA, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) began last year. A draft agreement proposes that the FWS and the NMFS have early input on water permit requests submitted to state regulators. The agreement is designed to simplify the process for the states, according to Tom Charlton, attorney with EPA's Office of Water. Even though it is drawing mixed reviews at the state level the three federal agencies expect to issue a. memora.ri dum of agreement this fall
New efforts to ensure that state water permits protect endangered species are moving ahead despite recent setbacks, according to officials in the Office of Water. A March federal court action tiirew a wrench into EPA efforts to add endangered species considerations into several new state water agreements, agency officials said. But negotiations with other federal agencies on the issue are continuing.
EPA has been introducing endangered species protections on a stateby-state basis when it negotiates agreements to allow states authority to manage Clean Water Act-mandated programs. Though the first 40 state agreements that EPA negotiated did not include endangered species provisions, the agency changed its tactics in 1996. At that time, EPA began inserting new provi-
brownflelds redevelopment program for the plant site, and establishing a citizen's advisory panel. EPA's decision for the Housatonic River could point toward a solution for handling GE's responsibilities in the Hudson River, where PCB-related contamination is now under study by EPA, agency scientists said. A GE official insisted that this move does not set a precedent, saying that the regional offices operate differently and mat the site conditions are unique.
0013-936X/98/0932-257A$15.00/0 © 1998 American Chemical Society
JUNE 1, 1998 / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / NEWS » 2 5 7 A
