Jan 31, 2005 By Kathleen A. Mcginty 4 min read

In so far as the purpose of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s recently released report, “Pollution Unchecked,” is to send a message that we have much more to do to protect public health and clean up the environment, we at DEP agree. Indeed, that’s exactly why Gov. Edward G. Rendell is exerting such effort to require cleaner energy sources to be used in Pennsylvania; expedite the cleanup of some 258 million tons of waste coal that scar the landscape and degrade waterways; and through his Growing Greener II initiative, propose substantial new funds for pollution prevention and remediation of contaminated sites statewide.

But details matter, and NRDC has most of them wrong.

NRDC charges that DEP regularly waives drinking water supply testing requirements. That’s not accurate. The state has adopted and follows the full suite of federal requirements in this regard. As set forth in federal law, the department has required three years of finished water testing for inorganic chemicals, including arsenic. Only if all sample results from this intensive three-year period are found to be below maximum contaminant levels are sampling requirements reduced to once every nine years, as spelled out in federal regulations.

In addition to administering these federal rules, DEP also conducts its own periodic checks and takes action if there is any evidence of problems. The state maintains the authority to require any monitoring deemed necessary to ensure public health and safety, regardless of whether a water supply is on a three-year or nine-year testing cycle.

In 2001, DEP conducted a sample water survey of the Monongahela River in Greene County. Results for untreated water for arsenic were consistently below 4 parts per billion. The maximum contaminant level for arsenic in drinking water is 50 parts per billion. It will be lowered to 10 parts per billion in 2006. Recent tests by area water authorities showed no detectable levels of arsenic.

NRDC also takes aim at Allegheny Energy, Inc., owner of Hatfield’s Ferry Power Station. The suggestion is that DEP has turned a blind eye to the environmental performance of Allegheny Energy’s assets. But here, too, the report is misleading. DEP not only assessed $10,800 against Allegheny Energy only late last year for problems associated with the Hatfield plant’s continuous emission opacity monitors, but we also issued a notice to the company of our intention to sue them for Clean Air Act violations. Environmental groups followed the state in taking action in this regard — the state did not have to be pushed to exercise our regulatory authorities.

While not a scientific study, it is interesting in this regard that Greenpeace’s recent Mercury Hair Sampling Project in Greene County suggested that people who live near Hatfield’s Ferry seem to be living with much lower mercury levels in their bodies than people in other areas of the county.

The commonwealth is setting up a network of additional air volume samplers that will track information about particulates, including heavy metals. One ambient air quality monitor in Greene County measures carbon monoxide, ground-level ozone and other smog-producing compounds in the area, and is part of a larger network of air monitors throughout southwestern Pennsylvania to ensure public health.

DEP also requires surface and groundwater testing at coal ash disposal sites. The sites are in full compliance of state regulations, and no exceedances of “primary” drinking water standards have been detected. There have been elevated levels of “secondary” standards related to manganese and aluminum, but these are aesthetic and not health-based. No violations have occurred. Research indicates these elevated levels are likely the result of mine drainage in the area.

NRDC alludes to higher cancer rates in Greene County, particularly for “bronchus” and lung cancer. But DEP’s review shows the rates to be statistically similar to the rest of Pennsylvania and the nation. Even if above average incidences of cancer had been detected, the environment cannot cavalierly be assumed the cause. Factors such as smoking, access to health care, challenging economic conditions and workplace exposure may be involved.

Although our commonwealth has made tremendous environmental strides, it is indisputable that we still have a lot of work to do to reclaim the scars of the past. But poorly researched, inaccurate and alarmist strategies distract us from this work, rather than help us move forward.

Kathleen A. McGinty is the Department of Environmental Protection secretary.