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MARCH 23, 2001

At the Western Governors Association in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christine Whitman said her agency will implement its own arsenic water standards by 2006.

Earlier this week, Whitman rescinded stricter arsenic standards finalized by the Clinton administration. They reduced the acceptable level of arsenic in drinking water from 50 parts per billion to 10 ppb.

Whitman said it does need to be lowered, but that no scientific evidence has yet shown to what level. She also said the Clinton standards wouldn't have gone into effect until 2006, so her agency is on track to forming new standards.

South Dakota Governor Bill Janklow (R), the chair of the meeting, said federal funding will be needed to ensure small, rural communities in the West can meet any new standard imposed.

Whitman yesterday also supported keeping the position of an independent ombudsman at the EPA. The Clinton administration had begun working to lessen the powers of the position. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) today plans on introducing legislation to establish an independent ombudsman.

Get the Story:
Tougher arsenic standard promised (The Denver Post 3/23)
Whitman backs ombudsman (The Denver Rocky Mountain News 3/23)

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Environment: The GOP strikes back (3/21)