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What is going on at the EPA?
Indoor air pollution and mold
aren't top priorities?
On Feb. 3rd, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency's CIAQ (Committee on Indoor Air Quality) held one of its three yearly meetings in Washington, DC. Prior to this meeting, the US GAO Mold Audit Workgroup was to have met again, in Jan. 2010, to determine how to protect health by informing the American public about mold hazards, prevention and solutions, maintaining consistency across federal agencies (one of their very few meetings scheduled since designated to do so by the GAO in its Oct. 2008 report).Their progress was to have been reported in the CIAQ meeting, as CIAQ oversees this workgroup. But it was a no-show for the mold workgroup. In fact, nothing about mold problems was even on the agenda! We'd like to know WHY. Whose decision was that? We want that information made public, with a detailed explanation. There are signs that under the new Obama-appointed EPA administrator, Lisa Jackson, indoor air pollution is not a top priority.
Members of the public were able to participate in the CIAQ meeting by phone, muted, recognized occasionally for commentary, after registering for a webinar, in addition to those physically present. There were many unhappy people on those phone lines, especially since it certainly appeared that the EPA's CIAQ group was dodging the issues about why the workgroup made no report. After three hours, one of the EPA administrators present, David Rowson, of the Center for Asthma and Schools, finally admitted that the mold workgroup hadn't met. Also, that the minutes from the last CIAQ meeting in Oct., 2009, detailing information about this workgroup, among other topics, hadn't been written or published. The mold comments that were made by phone participants on Feb. 3rd were going to be cut from the audio of this CIAQ meeting and posted separately, "somewhere", we were all told by Mr. Phil Jalbert, of the CIAQ. Considering research from WHO, IOM, and thousands of scientists have shown mold and dampness-related illnesses seriously impact the health of millions, we find this negligence on the part of EPA to be inexcusable. It is an ominous sign that even with a new agency head appointed, we note that indoor air pollution didn't even make it onto the list of EPA priorities for its budget of 2010 (see below). We are particularly disappointed that this leading cause of asthma has been left off the list, in the midst of an increasing, serious asthma epidemic for school-aged children.
The SMH Director and Board President attended the CIAQ meeting by phone, as we have for numerous others, along with individuals representing at least 8 other mold activist groups. The CIAQ has the responsibility, given to it by the US General Accounting Office, research arm of Congress, to coordinate the mold information in a manner that will benefit the public. We insist that this be continued and the task completed. It has been 1.5 years since the US GAO Mold Audit was published. The stalling and avoidance must stop. The public deserves protection via scientifically accurate, up-to-date, consistent information from all government agencies. For example, to date, none of the US gov't agencies have yet informed the public about the WHO findings (July 2009) that indoor dampness can cause new asthma cases, and that mold and dampness are associated with immunological problems. Mold and dampness are rampant in our schools, workplaces, and homes. We call upon the US EPA and its new administrator, Lisa Jackson, to make clean, healthy indoor air a top priority of the US EPA, continuing the work of the CIAQ's GAO Mold Audit workgroup on a fast track, and for all EPA administrators to be responsive to the public. We call upon Mrs. Jackson, the mother of a child with asthma, to make up-to-date education about indoor mold and dampness, coordinated with other gov't agencies, with EPA child protection from these dangerous conditions, the EPA's highest priorities.(SMH)
To write the CIAQ, email
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and address your letters to Phil Jalbert, Executive Secretary.
To write Mr. David Rowson, Director, Center for Asthma and Schools, Indoor Environments Divison, US EPA email rowson.david@epa.gov.
We suggest writing President Obama about this as well, as ignoring and avoiding public health issues adds significantly to the public health burden and economic problems of the nation. President Obama has ordered all administrators to exercise transparency at their federal agencies. We are really disappointed in the EPA in this respect.
We hear over and over again, from mold-ill people or parents of school mold-ill students, that they are frustrated that United States government agencies are of no help to them what-so-ever. We have a serious public health threat that isn't being properly addressed because our government agencies have been remiss. The US GAO Mold Audit (2008) agreed. We are disappointed with the EPA's attitude during the CIAQ meeting and with the lack of prompt and responsible action at the federal level.
To learn how to support The Center for School Mold Help's efforts, click here.
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THE FOLLOWING MEMORANDUM FROM EPA ADMINISTRATOR JACKSON SHOWS THAT INDOOR AIR POLLUTION AND MOLD ARE NOT ON HER LIST OF PRIORITIES FOR THE EPA BUDGET. WE CALL UPON HER TO ADD IT, PROMPTLY!
From: U.S. EPA <
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>
Sent: Tue, Jan 12, 2010 2:33 pm
Subject: EPA News Release (HQ): Memorandum From Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator to EPA Employees
CONTACT:
Adora Andy
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202-564-6794
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2010
MEMORANDUM
From: Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator
To: All EPA Employees
Colleagues:
Almost one year ago, I began my work as Administrator. It has been a deeply fulfilling 12 months and a wonderful homecoming for me. As our first year together draws to a close, we must now look to the tasks ahead.
In my First Day Memo, I outlined five priorities for my time as Administrator. We have made enormous strides on all five, and our achievements reflect your hard work and dedication. By working with our senior policy team, listening to your input and learning from the experiences of the last 12 months, we have strengthened our focus and expanded the list of priorities. Listed below are seven key themes to focus the work of our agency.
Taking Action on Climate Change: 2009 saw historic progress in the fight against climate change, with a range of greenhouse gas reduction initiatives. We must continue this critical effort and ensure compliance with the law. We will continue to support the President and Congress in enacting clean energy and climate legislation. Using the Clean Air Act, we will finalize our mobile source rules and provide a framework for continued improvements in that sector. We will build on the success of Energy Star to expand cost-saving energy conservation and efficiency programs. And, we will continue to develop common-sense solutions for reducing GHG emissions from large stationary sources like power plants. In all of this, we must also recognize that climate change will affect other parts of our core mission, such as protecting air and water quality, and we must include those considerations in our future plans.
Improving Air Quality: American communities face serious health and environmental challenges from air pollution. We have already proposed stronger ambient air quality standards for ozone, which will help millions of American breathe easier and live healthier. Building on that, EPA will develop a comprehensive strategy for a cleaner and more efficient power sector, with strong but achievable emission reduction goals for SO2, NOx, mercury and other air toxics. We will strengthen our ambient air quality standards for pollutants such as PM, SO2 and NO2 and will achieve additional reductions in air toxics from a range of industrial facilities. Improved monitoring, permitting and enforcement will be critical building blocks for air quality improvement.
Assuring the Safety of Chemicals: One of my highest priorities is to make significant and long overdue progress in assuring the safety of chemicals in our products, our environment and our bodies. Last year I announced principles for modernizing the Toxic Substances Control Act. Separately, we are shifting EPA’s focus to address high-concern chemicals and filling data gaps on widely produced chemicals in commerce. At the end of 2009, we released our first-ever chemical management plans for four groups of substances, and more plans are in the pipeline for 2010. Using our streamlined Integrated Risk Information System, we will continue strong progress toward rigorous, peer-reviewed health assessments on dioxins, arsenic, formaldehyde, TCE and other substances of concern.
Cleaning Up Our Communities: In 2009 EPA made strong cleanup progress by accelerating our Superfund program and confronting significant local environmental challenges like the asbestos Public Health Emergency in Libby, Montana and the coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee. Using all the tools at our disposal, including enforcement and compliance efforts, we will continue to focus on making safer, healthier communities. I am committed to maximizing the potential of our brownfields program, particularly to spur environmental cleanup and job creation in disadvantaged communities. We are also developing enhanced strategies for risk reduction in our Superfund program, with stronger partnerships with stakeholders affected by our cleanups.
Protecting America’s Waters: America’s waterbodies are imperiled as never before. Water quality and enforcement programs face complex challenges, from nutrient loadings and stormwater runoff, to invasive species and drinking water contaminants. These challenges demand both traditional and innovative strategies. We will continue comprehensive watershed protection programs for the Chesapeake Bay and Great Lakes. We will initiate measures to address post-construction runoff, water quality impairment from surface mining, and stronger drinking water protection. Recovery Act funding will expand construction of water infrastructure, and we will work with states to develop nutrient limits and launch an Urban Waters initiative. We will also revamp enforcement strategies to achieve greater compliance across the board.
Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism and Working for Environmental Justice: We have begun a new era of outreach and protection for communities historically underrepresented in EPA decision-making. We are building strong working relationships with tribes, communities of color, economically distressed cities and towns, young people and others, but this is just a start. We must include environmental justice principles in all of our decisions. This is an area that calls for innovation and bold thinking, and I am challenging all of our employees to bring vision and creativity to our programs. The protection of vulnerable subpopulations is a top priority, especially with regard to children. Our revitalized Children’s Health Office is bringing a new energy to safeguarding children through all of our enforcement efforts. We will ensure that children’s health protection continues to guide the path forward.
Building Strong State and Tribal Partnerships: States and tribal nations bear important responsibilities for the day-to-day mission of environmental protection, but declining tax revenues and fiscal challenges are pressuring state agencies and tribal governments to do more with fewer resources. Strong partnerships and accountability are more important than ever. EPA must do its part to support state and tribal capacity and, through strengthened oversight, ensure that programs are consistently delivered nationwide. Where appropriate, we will use our own expertise and capacity to bolster state and tribal efforts.
We will also focus on improving EPA’s internal operations, from performance measures to agency processes. We have a complex organization -- which is both an asset and a challenge. We will strive to ensure that EPA is a workplace worthy of our top notch workforce. Our success will depend on supporting innovation and creativity in both what we do and how we do it, and I encourage everyone to be part of constructively improving our agency.
These priorities will guide our work in 2010 and the years ahead. They are built around the challenges and opportunities inherent in our mission to protect human health and the environment for all Americans. We will carry out our mission by respecting our core values of science, transparency and the rule of law. I have unlimited confidence in the talent and spirit of our workforce, and I will look to your energy, ideas and passion in the days ahead. I know we will meet these challenges head on, as one EPA.
Sincerely,
Lisa P. Jackson
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