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TSR&TP Advisory Committee - Spring 1998 Minutes
MINUTES

UC Toxic Substances Research and Teaching Program
Public Advisory Committee Spring Meeting
Air Resources Board Building, Sacramento
Wednesday, March 25, 1998

 

The meeting was brought to order at 10:10am. Minutes from the fall 1997 meeting were approved with the provision that changes should be sent to the Director's Office by Friday, April 3, 1998. Changes/corrections requested before then will be made before the minutes are posted on the TSR&TP website.

Jerry Last began the discussion on programmatic planning by referring to the list of TSR&TP research needs printed from the web. Grant applicants are directed to our web site and research needs posted there to guide them in preparing their proposals. The Executive Committee also uses the list to refine decision-making in grant awarding. The TSR&TP continues to try to encourage research in economics and policy, both in terms of lead campuses and individual grants. Jerry updated the committee on the SB 521-mandated MTBE research. Six grants were awarded in January; a list of grants funded and research areas covered is available on the TSR&TP website. We will be hosting a workshop at UC Davis in June to faciliate preparation of the MTBE reports due to the legislature at the end of October. A summary of the research findings from this workshop will appear on the website as well. Jerry informed the committee of further interactions between TSR&TP and state government/legislature. The TSR&TP is assisting DTSC with evaluation of their risk assessment practices by administering their contract with the National Research Council, which will perform a peer review.

Jim Stratton directed the committee to the discussion on research needs. He began by asking what role the human genome project will play with TSR&TP in the future. Jerry Last answered that two related areas are already part of TSR&TP. The Health Effects lead campus program at UC Berkeley is working on the relationship between biomarkers and susceptible subpopulations. The human genome project will be a major part of federal programs in the future. Stratton asked if it would be made a TSR&TP priority in the near term. Last confirmed that genetic research is a priority and the TSR&TP will make it a targeted area of research by the year 2000. The majority of human genome research in California is performed at the national labs (Lawrence Livermore and Lawrence Berkeley), and it is difficult to build collaborations because of high indirect costs and reduced discretionary employee time. Stratton added that molecular level research can be disconnected from real world programs in government. The private sector is looking for technology transfer and the funding should not be just for basic research, but practical applications as well. Last said the TSR&TP needs help in answering these questions. Stratton commented that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is planning a Human Genetics and Disease Conference in Atlanta in mid-May. The CDC invites states to attend as well. The Human Genome Project raises both ethical and scientific questions. Last requested guidance from the Advisory Committee on this subject over the next year.

Bill Vance asked about the peer review of Cal EPA's risk assessment model CalTox. Was UC following this? Last confirmed that it was. CalTox will be peer reviewed by the NAS under subcontract to UC for Cal EPA's Department of Toxic Substances Control. Vance mentioned that there will be more reports next fiscal year for UC to peer review. This is part of Senate Bill 1320 requiring external scientific peer review of the science behind any "rules" developed by Cal EPA boards and departments. Last responded that the TSR&TP was eager to help.

Jim Stratton asked if the committee should add a reference to genetic biomarkers or the genome project to the research needs list. Leslie Stewart commented that it falls under anticipatory research, but it has a high profile and others may not see it as part of that general topic. Steven Book responded that he thought it should be added as a priority. Stratton made the motion to add it. All were in favor, and none opposed. Niall Mateer announced that he would try to secure some UC funds for leveraging interactions between UC and the national labs. Last volunteered the TSR&TP to help distribute the funds.

The committee continued the discussion of research needs and made several suggestions. Winona Victery requested that criteria pollutants be added to the research priority of non-conventional and non-criteria pollutants. Bruce La Belle said that he believed non-conventional endpoints (other than toxicological, societal, economic and political) were also important. He expressed his concern about the problem of addressing multiple stressors in measurement and monitoring. Jim Hunt asked the committee if they thought pathogens qualified as toxic substances. Jim Stratton agreed and said that toxic molds and interactions between chemicals and biologicals in the body that create toxics would apply. For example, prions can survive normal sterilization processes and become toxic to humans. Mike Paparian asked if biological toxins issues were being addressed elsewhere in UC. Last responded that large blocks of funding go to the health and biotechnology programs. Paparian commented that the area was interesting, but he didn't believe it was appropriate for TSR&TP. Jim Hunt asked Niall Mateer if UCOP had any research programs to address this area. Mateer answered not specifically, but there are other groups. Jerry Last mentioned that fumonisins, a food issue, are heavily studied. Victery inquired about the issue of disinfection byproducts. Jim Hunt answered that Water Resources does that. Winona Victery requested a list of formal UC research programs. Niall Mateer volunteered to provide the list, but qualified that it is only titles of programs and not a list of targeted research.

Leslie Stewart began the public interest groups update. She referred the committee to her handout. The Contra Costa air district is training community members to take air samples and be "sniffers" for air quality monitoring to augment data colleced by the air district. This is a chance for the neighborhood to get involved and the hope is to gather more baseline data on normal levels for ambient air. Winona Victery announced that EPA has an Environmental Monitoring RFP on their website that closes in May. Bill Vance asked about how the testing is done. Stewart answered that when sniffers smell something they take a sample. The samples are not analyzed by the air quality district's labs, but by an outside lab. Another important issue for Contra Costa County and the whole state is environmental justice. The Bay Area Quality Management District is considering the model of the South Coast district's program in environmental justice. The program includes methods for determining if environmental justice is a problem and how to handle it, and looking at policies in place so the problem isn't aggravated and new problems are avoided. They are grappling with the question of how one determines which policies create environmental justice problems. A third issue of concern is diesel emissions. The Oakland Port's expansion plans may affect how it meets air quality district requirements. Most of the impact comes from interstate commerce and is not locally controllable; however, this is becoming an Oakland neighborhood issue. Neighboring communities are protesting ongoing activities and port expansion. A fourth concern is the issue of what to do with contaminated sediments. There are more spoils than anyone has use for. Contamination causes a problem with marine dispoal and upland disposal can result in water quality problems. Dioxin contamination continues to be an issue in the vicinity of refineries and incinerators. A final concern is MTBE and the local community impact. Some local recreation districts said they might have to ban 2-stroke engines and ban boating in some areas altogether. People are asking why they can't use their boats and why specialized marine fuel without MTBE isn't available. Mike Paparian added that 2-stroke engines are such an issue because approximately 1/4 of the gas going into a 2-stroke engine does not get burned. Bill Vance commented that on the economic side, in some areas where boats have been banned, districts charging fees for boating are now losing that income.

Mike Paparian presented his report from the Sierra Club. He began with a question of what happens when we face uncertainty. With perceived certainty, bold action takes place followed by a paradigm shift and then denial when it turns out to be wrong (as in the MTBE issue). We may be in similar situation with the Ward Valley Radioactive waste dump. With uncertainty, we get inaction, followed by endless studies. Should actions be taken pending resolution? Paparian handed out copies of two articles from the Wall Street Journal on the proposed radioactive waste dump and health risks of pesticides. Leslie Stewart commented that children exposed to pesticides is also an important issue. A discussion followed about the lack of data on the effects of pesticides. Leslie Stewart commented that there is starting to be a ground-swell in public policy with a focus on children.

Syed Ali referred to his handout for the Water Resources Board state government update. He gave a brief overview of the draft Functional Equivalent Document for the Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program on Water Quality Control Policy for Guidance on the Development of Regional Toxic Hot Spot Cleanup Plans. If anyone is interested in a full copy of the document, he requested that they contact him. Ali announced the RFP for water quality planning & non-point source pollution. The deadline for proposals is April 17, 1998. The California Urban Water Agencies (CUWA) is concerned about water quality in the Delta. Representatives from CUWA will address the State Water Board at the April 1, 1998 workshop. He also announced that the 1994-95 report from the Toxic Substances Monitoring Program is available on request, and monitoring data from this program is posted on the Water Board's web site (www.swrcb.ca.gov).

Bruce La Belle updated the committee on recent activities of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), and handed out a summary sheet. The DTSC is coordinating training efforts around the nation for state and federal regulators on the natural attenuation of chlorinated solvents in groundwater. The training has been well received, and so far over 400 regulators have been trained. Cal EPA is working with Environment Canada on comparing their certification and verification programs. There are some common elements, but also some difficulties with evaluating environmental technologies. The two countries have different protocols and many categories are problematic. OEHHA is working with Cal EPA on emerging environmental technologies and identifying important environmental issues 5-10 years in the future. A workshop is planned for June 25-26, 1998, in Sacramento. Yoram Cohen, the director of the TSR&TP Engineering lead campus component, is speaking at this workshop. It is the same workshop that was previously to be hosted by UCLA. The brochure for the workshop was distributed to the committee. For future workshop planning, Jerry Last recommended that committee members contact the TSR&TP Director's Office if they would like to collaborate with faculty affiliated with the TSR&TP.

Steven Book of the Department of Health Service's Drinking Water Technology Program Branch passed out a summary of his updates and discussed the problem of perchlorates in the water. The US EPA is hosting a workshop on perchlorates in mid-May in Nevada. His office will be making a recommendation on secondary drinking water standards for MTBE by July 1, 1998, and a primary standard based on health effects by July 1, 1999. In California secondary standards are enforceable and can be voted on by consumers for enforcement. The drinking water source assessment has new requirements, and some assessments will be done by utilities. A schedule of activities and draft guidance can be viewed on the DHS website. Jerry Last reported that the TSR&TP Health Effects lead campus program is planning on whether to host a perchlorates workshop in late May in Berkeley; details will be posted on the TSR&TP website as they become available. He added that TSR&TP will link to the EPA website for information on perchlorates.

Bill Orr reported on the Integrated Waste Management Board's (IWMB) Strategic Plan. Four action teams formed to reduce waste will be fast-tracked over the next 18 months to investigate facility compliance, local government performance on mandates to decrease waste by 50% by the year 2000, reduction of construction and demolition materials and organic materials. The organics action team is also dealing with permit tier and composting issues. The IWMB is working on making the new Cal EPA building a showplace as a green building.

Jim Stratton gave his update from the Department of Health Services (DHS). Some recent studies have been released by the DHS on trihalomethane and spontaneous abortions associated with drinking water. The studies concluded that there appeared to be a dose-related response in the amount of tap water consumed and spontaneous abortions. The message from these results is that consumers need to know what's in the water; it doesn't mean that pregnant women should only drink bottled water. Also, this was the first study done in this area. Descriptions and results from these studies are available on the DHS epidemiology website. The poisoning of the fish in Lake Davis and resulting contamination is still an issue. Some of the toxics are persisting and the lake cannot be returned to a drinking water source until the level of toxics is down to zero. The community is not happy and is lobbying for the Department of Fish and Game to pay for deep wells for an alternative drinking water source. The DHS is conducting a survey on lead paint in schools, and they are testing the lead levels in water fountains. The report will be released in April. The DHS will give recommendations to school districts about how to deal with the problem, and they will provide training seminars for schools in the future to take appropriate steps to mitigate the problem.

Bill Vance reported from Cal EPA. This was his first meeting as the Cal EPA representative. He moved from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) to fill Val Siebal's position. He passed around two handouts: a fact sheet for OEHHA (printed from the website), and Cal EPA's peer review guidelines. Vance explained that 1,4-dioxane, the stabilizer for TCE, may be an issue for leaking underground storage tanks (LUSTs). It may move in the water like MTBE. Cal EPA is currently looking at toxicity and movement in water. Vance is the liaison with the Air Resources Board. Diesel exhaust health assessment is another issue Cal EPA is grappling with. The report is scheduled to go to SRP in April. Approximately twenty five draft public health goals (PHGs) for chemical contaminants in drinking water will come out of OEHHA this year, including one for MTBE. The schedules and reports will be posted on OEHHA's home page. This is a active year for Prop 65. The health and risk assessments on approximately 66 pesticides will be moved through the process by the end of this year. Vance reported that Cal EPA's peer review policy has been finalized and will be posted on their website within a week.

The committee broke for lunch at 12:10pm and reconvened at 12:35pm.

Jim Stratton directed the committee back to the representative updates. Winona Victery from US EPA began by complimenting the group on its interaction. She referred the committee to several handouts: research needs for EPA's Region IX, research and technical needs identified by the National Regional Science Council, and three issues of the STAR Report. MTBE and other oxygenates was identified as a major priority by the Office of Research Development (ORD). Jerry Last questioned why the EPA does not use existing California data on MTBE for federal guidelines. Victery replied that the Agency is divided on what should be done. When California decides what to do about MTBE, EPA may follow suit. Stratton added that nothing in California state law requires the use of MTBE, but there is a federal requirement for oxygenates. A discussion followed on why state and federal agencies do not interact on the MTBE issue. Bill Vance commented that there is currently no memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Cal EPA's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and US EPA's Office of Water for peer review of the drinking water Public Health goals; however, there is an MOU with US EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment for other environmental chemicals of concern. Hopefully, an MOU with US EPA's Office of Water can be developed in the future.

June Andersen from IBM's Environmental Programs presented these private sector priorities. (1) Developing technology for risk-based waste classification; (2) Mobile source emission reductions; (3) Setting standards to protect populations, especially children's health; (4) Developing practical technology for product life cycle assessment; (5) ISO 14,000, a tool for environmental operations. Industry would like to have researchers at UC evaluate ISO 14,000 and come up with independent conclusions. Jerry Last asked if IBM would be willing to fund some remediation strategies research on MTBE. Andersen responded that she will consider it.

Jerry Last gave a brief report from the TSR&TP Director's Office. TSR&TP's 11th Annual Research Symposium is scheduled for April 24-25th, at the Berkeley Marina Marriott. All members were encouraged to attend. Six grants were funded beginning in January for the SB 521-mandated research on MTBE. A list of projects is on the website. Updates from the June and October workshops and the final report will be posted when they are available.

Jerry asked the committee if they would approve of having their email addresses added to the list of TSR&TP Public Advisory Committee members on the web. Jim Stratton affirmed, and the committee agreed to posting their e-mail addresses. Last announced that the TSR&TP Research Directory would no longer be published in paper form, but entirely on the web in the future. He asked the committee to contact him if they had any objections. Bill Orr asked about web links from the TSR&TP site. Last answered that requests for links should be sent to Paul Davis (prdavis@ucdavis.edu), the TSR&TP webmaster. Jerry directed the committee's attention to the most recent issue of the TSR&TP's newsletter from the web. Leslie Stewart asked for an e-mail announcement when a new newsletter issue is on the web. Paul Davis confirmed that announcements are sent to the listserv, and committee members will be included in that list in the future. Winona Victery requested that announcements for workshops be added to the web sooner.

TSR&TP Lead campus reviews were briefly discussed by Jerry Last. About every five years, the TSR&TP reviews its lead campus programs. Subgroups of the Executive Committee comprise the site visit teams. The first two reviews of the Engineering lead campus (CERR) at UCLA and the Health Effects lead campus at UCB took place in early March. Formal reports are pending, but the Health Effects program at UCB gave a very positive impression. The program is oriented to teaching, but research is implicit with toxicologists. The epidemiologists and engineers are coming out with good knowledge of what each other is doing. The program at UCLA is in the process of reinvention - the engineering component is reaching out to public health faculty, but the program is still primarily research; they have been encouraged to concentrate on developing the teaching aspect. The committee was encouraged to contact Jerry for further details. In the fall or winter of 1998-99, the TSR&TP will review the Ecotoxicology Program and Coastal Toxicology Program. The Director's Office is also scheduled to be reviewed by an ad hoc group in late 1998. Reports from each review will be sent to the UC Office of the President.

Niall Mateer asked if the supply of highly trained personnel is an issue for the toxics industry. June Andersen commented that UCD is a good source and UC is doing a good job with training; Only engineering graduates are in short supply. UC needs more support to enhance the engineering programs and K-12 education to augment math and English skills. Last asked Andersen what level of graduates the private sector hires. She answered that most often it is graduates with a bachelor's in chemical engineering or civil engineering or a master's or Ph.D. in toxicology. Last asked if the work force is sufficient in southern California? Andersen said the graduates are mobile. The problem of short supply is mainly for assembly workers that can be trained for hazardous wastes. She said University Extension (UNEX) programs provide excellent training for certificates in hazardous materials, hazardous waste and air quality, and industry depends on these program a lot. Last added that TSR&TP helped fund these UNEX environmental management programs from the start.

Niall Mateer gave a brief synopsis of the UCOP update. The new UC campus, UC Merced, is actively being planned, and it is scheduled to open in 2005. The initial research focus will be agriculture and environment, with an attempt to establish an intellectual anchor to get a research reputation established before 2005.

Marc Aarens gave the UCOP budget report. He announced that there were budget hearings today. UC's highest priority is unfunded student costs. They are trying to get the funding back from the state for students and for K-12 teaching funds. The research budget is what was expected.

The location of the next meeting was briefly discussed. The committee agreed to meet in the Bay Area (probably Berkeley) for one of the next three meetings, and Sacramento for the rest of the meetings.

The meeting adjourned at 1:20pm.

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