Arsenic is Ubiquitous.

Arsenic, with the exception of hazardous waste hot spots, occurs naturally in the environment. The distribution of arsenic in soil, groundwater and surface water has been extensively investigated during the past two decades. The USGS has collected and analyzed arsenic in potable water from over 18,000 wells in nearly 600 counties across the US. While arsenic is ubiquitous and generally detectable at some concentration, the issue of focus is to what extent are detections of arsenic significant with regard to protecting water supplies and public health.

Regulatory Process Stymied.

For centuries, arsenic has been recognized as a toxic element. In 1999, the National Research Council (NRC) reported on historical toxicological studies relating to arsenic and its contribution to a variety of cancers. Further, the NRC recommended that the present maximum contaminant level (MCL) for arsenic in drinking water of 50 ug/l be lowered. After decades of scientific study, followed by the USEPA regulatory process of public review and comment, the USEPA in January 2001 recommended that the standard be lowered to 10 ug/l. Shortly thereafter, in March 2001, the process for EPA to reach a final decision on the rule came to an abrupt halt. With the entrance of the new political administration, and a new head of the USEPA, the recommendation to lower the standard was delayed for reasons cited to be a lack of "clear proof" of the health risk and the need to allow for independent reviews of the science behind the studies and estimates of implementation costs.

Arsenic Symposium

While the extensive and prolonged process of reevaluating the arsenic MCL had reached a tentative milestone early this year, the delay has caused intense focus on the regulatory process of developing or changing drinking water standards. This Symposium is planned to bring the scientific community, regulators, water purveyors, industry, attorneys, and political representatives up-to-date on the current issues surrounding arsenic in groundwater.

The one-day conference will be similar to GRA's recent symposium on Hexavalent Chromium and includes the following sessions:

1. Arsenic Geochemical Characteristics and Distribution
   
2. Risk, Toxicology and Regulations
   
3. Water Supplies and Social, Political, Economic and Legal Issues
   
4. Treatment and Remediation

Program Agenda - Wednesday, October 3, 2001

8:00-8:45 am -- Registration and Pastries 8:45-9:15 am -- Welcome and Overview of the Problem and Day               Tim Parker, President, GRA Dr. Lee Shull, Principal/Senior Toxicologist, Montgomery Watson Harza 9:15-10:00 am -- Session One:               Arsenic Characteristics, Geochemistry and Distribution               Moderators: Richard Shatz, Bookman-Edmonston Martin Steinpress, Montgomery Watson Harza               Arsenic In Groundwater in the United States: Occurrence and Geochemistry Allan Welch, USGS Water Resources Division, Reno, NV               Sources of Arsenic Groundwater Contamination Dr. T.R. Hathaway, DTSC, Cal-EPA 10:15-10:30 am -- Break 10:30-12:00 pm -- Session Two:               Risk/Toxicology and Regulations               Moderators: Paul Parmentier, IT Corporation Dr. Lee Shull, Montgomery Watson Harza               Discussion on the MCL Bruce Macler, US EPA Region 9               Risk Assessment for Arsenic in Drinking Water, Cal-EPA PHG Dr. Robert A. Howd, Chief, Water Toxicology Unit, OEHHA, Cal-EPA Implementation of the Public Health Goals and the Future of Drinking Water Standards for Arsenic Dr. David Spath, Drinking Water Division Chief, CA DHS Sampling and Analysis of Arsenic and Arsenic Speciation Bart Simmons, DTSC, Cal-EPA 12:00-1:30 pm -- Lunch: Keynote Presentation, TBA 1:45-3:00 pm -- Session Three:               Treatment & Remediation               Moderators: Zaid Chowdhury, Malcolm Pirnie Rula Deeb, Malcolm Pirnie Implementing Arsenic Controls for Groundwater Utilities Michelle Frey, McGuire Environmental Consultants Arsenic Chemistry and Traditional Water Treatment Processes for Arsenic Removal Dr. Steve Reiber, HDR, Inc.               Treatment for Arsenic in the Context of Remediation Joseph Drago, Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, Inc.               Innovations in Water Treatment Processes for Arsenic Removal Dr. Sunil Kommineni, Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. 3:00-3:15 pm -- Break 3:15-4:45 pm -- Session Four:               Social and Political Impacts, and Legal Issues               Moderators: Thomas Johnson, LFR Levine Fricke Debbie Reid, KOMEX Panel: Krista Clark, Association of California Water Agencies Joseph Gonzalez, Esq., Masry & Vititoe James Goodrich, Water Resources Consultant, Chair, AGWSE Div. of NGWA John Gregory, Esq., LeBouef, Lamb, Greene & MacRae LLP Dr. Janet Hering, California Institute of Technology Susan Umshler, Esq., P.E., Law & Resource Planning Associates 4:45-5:00 pm -- Conclusion               Tim Parker 5:00-6:00 pm -- Reception