Document vVGXxw7BDpnL69X0MjQej8MgZ

May * 19S2 TOi Official Hubers LIA Environmental Health Cnulttee LIA Energy Committee FROM: Rosalind i. Volpe Baseerch Associate, Eohironmantal Health SUBJECT: EPA's Public Hearings on Lead In Gasoline The Environmental Protection Agency's Public Hearings concerning Lead in Geso&lna vere held on April 15 and 16 at the Hyatt Arlington in Washington D.C. The issues considered at the hearings vers: the overall standard, its environmental lapacts, the health effects, the need for se&ll refinery exemptions, for regulation of laported gasoline, the appropriate treatment of bleaders, and the cost implications of the program. Eighty-seven people testified at the bearings which lasted until 7:30 p.a. Friday evening. Several major oil companies and independent refiners said that the current standards which limit lead in gas to .5 grama par gallon (*5g/g) should be left intact. Cone of the major eoapanAaa, hoaaver, called for atlleast soma relaxation of the standard to save money end ell. All the major refiners agrsed that whatever lead limits vara Imposed should apply to all companies. Mr. Stamfels who represented Rational Petroleum Refiners Association end dasrtesn Petroleu Institute favored rescission, hut acknowledged it an extrema raasdy given the current political situation and strong political sensitivity of the proceedings. Tbs Mad antiknock producers, the Lead Industries Association and soma small refiners asked for total rescission of the standard. Anti-Lead activists such as Dr. C. Plomelll and Dr. Xeedleaan, as veil as representatives from tha Environmental Defease fund. Consumers Union, and the Haturel Resources Defense Council stated that stringent limite on lead in gasoline net be retained. The Lead Industries Association presented six witnesses. Dr. J. F. Cole, Dr. C. Emhart, Dr. Be McCabe, Dr. F. Berry, Dr. F. Hammond, end ftr* J. Chisolm. Dr. Cole stated that rescission of tha limitations will result temporarily in e slight increase in lead co-centration la the ambient sir which '^11 then continue to decline as the natural phasedown continues. Analyo-,; M projected lead levels by E. X. duFBont de Hemours Company ln~ dlcsta hit that tha incremental sir lead increase will be leas than 0.5 u?/m3 all raglona impacted by mobile source emissions end only one Air L IA0323 2 N 3694 -2- Qnality Control Region will potentially exceed the elr lead standard by a snail nargln In 1983 doe to notor vehicle activity if the pUtaedovn la re scinded on October 1, 1982. but even that region would be in cooplienee in 1983. The LIA witnesses presented testimony noting that a) the swell increase in air lead levies would result in insignificant increased absorption of lead b) this lndrease will result in no adverse health effects and c) that there is no evidence of adverse health effects at low blood lead lesals. The six LIA witnesses spoke to the health impact of a .5ug/w3 air lead increase, stating that it would have minimal impact on the blood concentration of ch children. Copies of the LIA testimony and that of its witnesses are abailable on re quest. Sincerely, Soaallnd Volpe Research Associate, Environmental Health wad* * ilK. > is; 0222?