<html>
<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)">
<style>
<!--
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
pre
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";}
span.EmailStyle17
{font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:navy;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration:none none;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'><a
href="http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-18-2006/0004364629&EDATE">http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-18-2006/0004364629&EDATE</a>=</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=649
style='width:486.75pt'>
<tr>
<td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>Pennsylvania
Governor Rendell Announces Study to Protect Drinking Water Sources </span></font></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;display:none'> </span></font></p>
<table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=649
style='width:486.75pt'>
<tr>
<td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<pre><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><!-- #BeginEditable "release" --> Goal is to Determine Presence of Unregulated Compounds, Identify Treatment</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> Alternatives</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> </span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>HARRISBURG</span></font><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>, </span></font><font size=2><span style='font-size:
10.5pt'>Pa.</span></font><font size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>today announced the state's partnership with the federal government on a</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>landmark study that will determine the occurrence and concentration of</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>unregulated compounds, such as prescription and non-prescription chemicals,</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>in the waters of central </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Pennsylvania</span></font><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>.</span></font></pre><pre><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> "Safe drinking water is essential," Governor Rendell said. "This study</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>represents the first step in protecting public health: documenting the</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>existence and significance of any potential threats.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> "Previous studies in parts of </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Pennsylvania</span></font><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'> and from around the world</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>suggest that minute concentrations of unregulated chemicals may occur in</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>our water sources. The effects of these compounds at trace levels on public</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>health and aquatic life have not been determined. But when it comes to our</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>health and the maintenance of trust in such an essential piece of public</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>infrastructure, we cannot afford to wait."</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> The Department of Environmental Protection launched the joint research</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>with the </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Pennsylvania</span></font><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'> </span></font><font size=2><span style='font-size:
10.5pt'>Water</span></font><font size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Science</span></font><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'> </span></font><font size=2><span style='font-size:
10.5pt'>Center</span></font><font size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> at the </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>U.S.</span></font><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'> Geologic Survey in</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>February. Sampling will be conducted on a quarterly basis, leading to a</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>final report in 2007.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> Thousands of prescription and non-prescription chemicals are used by</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>humans and farm animals every year.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> Recent research has revealed that pharmaceuticals are present in the</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>environment as a result of improper disposal of regulated drugs and</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>excretion of metabolized and unmetabolized drugs into sanitary sewers.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> Other studies indicate an increasing frequency in the detection of</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>these compounds, likely due to a growing awareness among the scientific</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>community, population growth and the constant development of new drugs.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> The primary objective of this new research is to screen for</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>pharmaceutical and antibiotic compounds present in streams and groundwater</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>in south central </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Pennsylvania</span></font><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>, and then to determine their concentrations.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>This reconnaissance study also will suggest the sources of the compounds</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>and determine seasonal variations in their concentrations.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> "We need to better understand whether the chemicals we are using to</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>improve our health and agricultural practices may have unexpected</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>consequences," DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. "The information</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>will be used to assess any potential public-health risks and guide future</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>policy to ensure our drinking water supplies meet the cleanest, safest</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>standards."</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> The study was commissioned at this time because laboratory analytical</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>methods are only now evolving to detect chemical concentrations in</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>parts-per- billion or trillion. A part-per-billion can be thought of as one</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>grain of salt in an Olympic-size swimming pool.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> The levels of pharmaceuticals found in surface waters by previous</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>studies were far below daily therapeutic doses of the medications.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> Although other studies have been done, significant uncertainties</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>remain, including: synergistic or additive effects of the compounds in</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>combination, differences in how the compounds may affect aquatic organisms</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>and humans, and how to eliminate the compounds if necessary.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> Beginning in 2007, pending funding approval, DEP will initiate a second</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>phase of the study to expand water sampling across the state and attempt to</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>determine whether existing treatment technologies are adequate to remove</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>identified compounds. As the studies progress, DEP will work with the state</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Department of Health to determine the human health effects of any compounds</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>identified in the research.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> DEP also will work with other state agencies and partners to develop</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>strategies for collecting and destroying unwanted medications from</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>consumers. In addition, the department will collaborate on best management</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>practices for hospitals, pharmacies and others who are authorized by law to</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>possess controlled substances and prescription drugs.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> DEP follows national procedures in the Safe Drinking Water Act for</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>regulating contaminants in public drinking water supplies. The </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>U.S.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Environmental Protection Agency develops health advisory values that give</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>an estimate of the acceptable levels for drinking water. EPA has health</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>advisory values for more than 165 chemicals, 95 of which are for</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>unregulated chemicals.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> DEP has opened a dialogue with EPA regional staff to request federal</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>funding for more research. If approved, the funding would allow DEP to:</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> - Develop thresholds that may be used in assessing the impact on</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> designated uses (e.g., public water supply use, aquatic life and water</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> recreation).</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> - Measure and track the impact of DEP's programs on the occurrence and</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> concentrations of identified compounds in the environment to further</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> protect </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Pennsylvania</span></font><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>'s drinking water sources.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> - Train </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Pennsylvania</span></font><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>'s water system operators and administrators about</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> this issue.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> </span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> For more information, visit DEP's Web site at</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><a
href="http://www.depweb.state.pa.us" target="_new">http://www.depweb.state.pa.us,</a> Keyword: "Water Quality Standards."</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> The Rendell Administration is committed to creating a first-rate public</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>newsletter, visit his Web site at: <a
href="http://www.governor.state.pa.us" target="_new">http://www.governor.state.pa.us</a>.</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> CONTACT: Kate Philips</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> 717-783-1116</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> </span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> Charlie Young, DEP</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> 717-787-1323</span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> </span></font></pre>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:Arial'>SOURCE </span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Pennsylvania</span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial'> Office of
the Governor</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>Deborah L. DeBiasi</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Email:
dldebiasi@deq.virginia.gov</span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>WEB site address: </span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><a href="www.deq.virginia.gov"><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>www.deq.virginia.gov</span></font></a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>Virginia</span></font><font size=2
color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'> </span></font><font
size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>Department</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'> of Environmental
Quality</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>Office of Water Permit Programs</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>Industrial Pretreatment/Toxics Management
Program</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>Mail:
</span></font><font size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>P.O.
Box 10009</span></font><font size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
color:navy'>, </span></font><font size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;color:navy'>Richmond</span></font><font size=2 color=navy><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>, </span></font><font size=2 color=navy><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>VA</span></font><font size=2 color=navy><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'> </span></font><font size=2 color=navy><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>23240-0009</span></font><font size=2
color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>Location: </span></font><font size=2
color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>629 E. Main Street</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>, </span></font><font
size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>Richmond</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>, </span></font><font
size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>VA</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'> </span></font><font
size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>23219</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>PH: 804-698-4028</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>FAX: 804-698-4032</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>