WASHINGTON — US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson has announced that the agency is seeking public comment on its re-evaluation of the scientific information on the rocket-fuel chemical perchlorate in drinking water, according to an August 5 EPA news release.

Under the previous administration, EPA made a preliminary decision not to regulate perchlorate. Jackson has directed EPA staff to review that decision and, as part of that review, the agency said it is putting special emphasis on evaluating the impact of perchlorate on infants and young children.

The analysis presented in the current notice more directly evaluates children’s exposure to perchlorate. According to EPA, “This step takes into account the fact that infants and children consume more water per body weight than do adults. EPA is now considering a broader range of alternatives for interpreting the available data on the level of health concern, the frequency of occurrence of perchlorate in drinking water, and the opportunity for health risk reduction through a national primary drinking water standard. These alternative interpretations may impact the agency’s final regulatory determination for perchlorate.”

In response to a 2008 preliminary determination not to regulate perchlorate, EPA received and reviewed comments from more than 32,000 individuals and organizations. EPA said it will consider those comments, as well as new comments received during the 30-day comment period on the current notice, before making a final decision on whether to regulate perchlorate under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

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