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Dioxin / Furans

Stakeholders Minutes - December 16, 2003
Draft Workgroup Meeting Minutes

Workgroup Leaders:
Anita Wong, EC
Erin Newman, EPA

Facilitator:
John Menkedick

Introduction and Meeting Objectives

The workgroup leaders welcomed the attendees. The agenda and meeting objectives were reviewed. These included a presentation on coplanar PCBs, finalization of the Burn Barrel Strategy, finalization of the Dioxin/Furan (D/F) Workplan, and discussion of priority sources for release characterization and sources in the rural sector. There were no additions to the planned agenda.

Presentation on Coplanar PCBs

John Menkedick introduced the presentation on coplanar PCBs, noting that the purpose was for information sharing and for framing issues, recognizing there would not be time to develop action items at this meeting. Dwain Winters presented an overview of coplanar PCBs, beginning with a discussion of “dioxin-like toxicity” for dioxin, furans, and coplanar PCBs. Dwain described these compounds and their toxic effects, including cancer, developmental toxicity, immunotoxicity, endocrine effects, chloracne, and others. Examples of issues discussed included:

The group discussed whether exposure to coplanar PCBs via the food supply should be considered in its management of PCB disposal. At the end of the PCB presentation session, the PCB and dioxin workgroups separated for the rest of each workgroup's meeting.

General Announcements from the Workgroup Leads

Anita gave an update on Canadian activities. She noted that EC planned to release the 2000/2001 Canadian Inventory in the following year. Public comments on the CEC dioxin/furan/HCB North American Regional Action Plan (NARAP) have been received during the summer, and the Task Force has considered all comments and will incorporate them as appropriate. Stack testing has been conducted on a crematoria, and the dioxin level was about 300 pg(TEQ)/m3. A stack test conducted on an incinerator (EcoWaste) that burns municipal solid waste showed that it can meet Canada-wide Standards without the use of a scrubber. Stack testing has also been done at a Kraft boiler and at an animal carcass incinerator. Canada has added a dioxin sampler at Burnt Island, one of the IADN sites.

Erin announced that the MACT compliance data is indicating that they will meet target reductions. A document on the 2000 Inventory will be ready for peer review by spring; it should contain good facility-specific data on chemical manufacturing. EPA is still collecting data from the National Dioxin Ambient Monitoring Network.

Burn Barrel Strategy: Review and Finalization

Bruce Gilles discussed recent meetings of the Burn Barrel group and the evolution of the strategy document. The subgroup has also been working with parks and campgrounds to limit garbage burning in camp fires.

Bruce also introduced the issue of finalizing the strategy. He reviewed changes made to the strategy thus far. There was discussion about wording to characterize open burning emissions relative to emissions from municipal waste incinerators. John Jackson raised the issue of whether a sentence should be added saying that small commercial burning is also a problem - this may be added to outreach materials. The group discussed the infrastructure and regulatory action aspects of the strategy and how practical these parts of the strategy were. One option discussed was peer-to-peer help between communities. It was suggested that the need for alternative waste management options needs to be part of one of the messages. The PVC description will continue to be reviewed. A description for “household garbage burning” is to be added.

Dwain Winters put forth a motion of adoption on the Burn Barrel Strategy, and it was approved unanimously with the changes suggested. The subgroup will have an opportunity for final approval at their January conference call.

Dioxin/Furan Workplan: Review and Finalization

Erin and Anita stepped through the work plan. Jim Raub raised a question about the sentence that mentions going beyond PCP to include creosote and CCA, questioning whether the BTS Level 1s are associated with creosote or CCA. Anita responded that there was interest in coordinating with other workgroups that have contamination issues with other treated wood. The group discussed how to select new sectors for focus. Anita raised the issue of examining the level of activity first and then working towards release estimates. The issue of outdoor boilers was raised in light of indications that outdoor boilers are becoming much more prevalent.

After further discussion, the group accepted this as the workgroup's workplan for the next couple of years.

Volunteers were asked to examine how they can help with any of the seven key areas of emphasis.

Dioxin Sources in the Rural Sector

The group then discussed dioxin sources in the rural sector, including discussion of a National Academy of Sciences Report on exposure to dioxins in the food supply. It was noted that the report is consistent with EPA's approach to reduce human exposure through emissions reductions and pathway interventions. The workgroup leaders asked if there would be interest in inviting someone from the FDA or another speaker to address dioxin exposures through the food chain. There was support for inviting such an individual to the next stakeholder meeting, particularly for inviting Rick Canady from FDA to present on actions being taken by the food agencies.

The group also discussed issues to be addressed by a joint HCB/BaP and D/F Meeting. This meeting will allow the groups to jointly gather information on wood boilers and tire fires. It will also facilitate building an inventory for the unintended production of HCB and PCBs in the near future.

May Stakeholder Meeting: Agenda Development

The next stakeholder meeting is scheduled for 5/19/04 in Toronto. Work plan items to be discussed at a conference call and next meeting include:

  1. Government responsibility versus stakeholder responsibility for work plan activities
  2. The role of government and stakeholders in drafting inventories (which are due out in March for the U.S. and Canada)
  3. Report out on some of the sectors from which more information on releases is needed.

Action Items

 

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