[Pharmwaste] New Resource: MICROPOLLUTANTS CLEARINGHOUSE PROJECT

[DeBiasi, Deborah (DEQ)]

http://www.micropollutants.org/about.php#more

A Project of the Texas Tech Center for Water Law and Policy


THE PURPOSE OF THE MICROPOLLUTANTS CLEARINGHOUSE PROJECT is to provide
an on-line, publically accessible, research resource on the legal,
regulatory, institutional, policy, and related scientific aspects of
micropollutants in fresh water systems. It is designed as a dynamic and
robust database of documents, reports, information, analyses, articles,
and other materials that:

a. relate to micropollutants -- such as pharmaceuticals, endocrine
disruptors, and personal care products -- that affect fresh water
quality; 

b. address existing, proposed, and alternative legal, regulatory, and
institutional mechanisms for dealing with water quality issues;
 
c. present the scientific underpinning for existing, proposed, and
alternative legal, regulatory, and institutional mechanisms for dealing
with water quality issues; and
 
d. address related decision-making mechanisms or processes. 

The long-term objective of the Micropollutants Clearinghouse project is
to continue building on the existing knowledge of information and to
expand the contents available in the Clearinghouse on this important
topic. This is critical for developing and evaluating water laws,
regulatory actions, and policies relevant to the presence and effects of
micropollutants in fresh water systems.

The expected audience that may be interested in and should benefit from
the Micropollutants Clearinghouse include the general public, academic
and industry researchers, legislators and legislatures, government
agencies at all levels of civil society, and stakeholders involved in
various decision-making scenarios related to micropollutants in fresh
water systems. It should prove especially useful for individuals and
groups involved in the development and implementation of water laws,
regulations, and policies throughout the United States and
internationally.

The Micropollutants Clearinghouse was developed as part of a Study Grant
provided through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that was
designed to undertake three distinct but interdependent components.

* Project 1 involved the development of this database as an on-line,
publically accessible, research resource on the legal, regulatory,
institutional, policy, and related scientific aspects of micropollutants
in fresh water systems. 

* Project 2 entailed a field study in Lubbock, TX that focused on
improving our understanding of the fate, transport, and presence of
mixtures of micropollutants in the environment.
 
* Project 3 involved analyzing existing and alternative legal and
regulatory strategies for addressing the presence and effects of
micropollutants in fresh water systems.
 
As the outcomes and work-product of Projects 2 and 3 are finalized, they
also will be presented on this website.
In order to achieve this objective and to provide visitors to the
Clearinghouse with an updated and productive experience, we ask that
anyone identifying material that is missing from or that otherwise
should be included in the database, please kindly submit this
information to us (see Contact Us page).



Deborah L. DeBiasi 
Email:   Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov (NEW!)
WEB site address:  www.deq.virginia.gov 
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality 
Office of Water Permits and Compliance Assistance Programs 
Industrial Pretreatment/Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Program 
PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents
www.deq.virginia.gov/vpdes/microconstituents.html 
Mail:          P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA  23218 
Location:  629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA  23219 
PH:         804-698-4028 
FAX:      804-698-4032