IN ARIZONA WE CALL THIS DISCLOSURE

Senators blast EPA over news of drugs in water… Agency criticized for letting public hear of issue from AP investigation updated 6:12 p.m. MT, Tues., April. 15, 2008 …
WASHINGTON – EXCERPTED …The Environmental Protection Agency was lambasted during a Senate hearing Tuesday for allowing the American public to learn that traces of pharmaceuticals are in much of the nation’s drinking water from an Associated Press investigative series, not the federal government. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, angrily chided Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA assistant administrator for water, for the agency’s failure to require testing for drugs and for public disclosure of test results.

The five-month inquiry found that while water is screened for drugs by some suppliers, they usually don’t tell customers they have found medication in it, including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones.

Grumbles was grilled on why water providers are not required to test for pharmaceuticals, on why the EPA’s budget for testing of endocrine disruptors in waterways has been slashed 35 percent and why the agency has not disclosed all of its test results.

Grumbles said it would be unreasonable and expensive to require such testing, given the uncertain risk to humans. In remarks prepared for his testimony, he seemed somewhat less reluctant. “Some have argued that it does not make sense to monitor for pharmaceuticals in water if there is limited information about the health effects at the concentrations that could be detected,” his prepared remarks read. “We disagree. Information about occurrence and health effects is complementary and should be developed in tandem.” However, in his actual testimony, Grumbles declined to commit to such testing by water providers. “I think that they should disclose information that is useful to the public.”

Perhaps you were operating under the mistaken belief that your EPA was honestly accountable and responsible for the “safety” of the water your purveyor provides to you.

Sorry, EPA is charged with protecting the bottom line of the many for-profit corporate water purveyors and the purchased “soience” provided them by their ensnared confederates within academia.

The assistant administrator for your EPA is on public record … it would be unreasonable and expensive to require such testing, given the uncertain risk to humans … any questions…?

Surprise, surprise under President Bush’s leadership corporate profits thump any concern about your long term health.

And in Arizona, we call this form of disclosure - transparency… WOW