A Copper Alliance Member
Copper Industry Group Seeks to Correct Record In Flawed California Environmental Impact Report
September 14, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK - The Copper Development Association
has filed a detailed response to the "Draft Environmental Impact
Report for CPVC Pipe for Use for Potable Water Piping in Residential
Buildings" with the California Department of Housing and Community
Development. The HCD draft report, released in July, was part of
an effort that would allow CPVC pipe to be used along with copper
tubing for domestic water distribution systems. CPVC pipe is not
permitted under current California codes.
"It is not our goal to keep plastic pipe out of California," says Dr. Dale
Peters, CDA's vice president for environmental matters. "But we do want
to set the record straight where the report contains misinformation and
false implications about the environmental effects of copper."
CDA's 100-page response corrects suggestions that corrosion of copper pipe
contributes to excessive levels of copper in San Francisco Bay and that
the use of CPVC pipe will significantly reduce copper levels in the water
and sediments. Independent experts, writing comments for CDA, say the draft
report overstates the extent to which Bay waters are affected by copper
in general, and by copper tube in particular. According to CDA, the draft
report fails to account for naturally occurring sources of copper in the
Bay and erroneously concludes that copper pipe is a significant contaminant.
CDA points out that the HCD incorrectly based its analysis on a single
point source from the Bay using an outdated water quality study and then
attempted to extrapolate those results to other bodies of water throughout
the state. Citing water chemistry analyses from two dozen monitoring stations
around San Francisco Bay, the CDA response asserts that copper concentrations
have not exceeded water quality standards in recent years, nor is there
any evidence that copper concentrations have been harmful to aquatic life.
The industry group also points to data showing that overall levels of copper
released to the Bay have actually decreased during the last 10 years.
"Because California has a strong reputation for making environmental laws
based on reliable scientific information, the state's policies are extremely
influential throughout the USA and all the developed nations," Dr. Peters
says. "That's why we are certain that HCD wants complete and accurate information.
CDA is in a good position to help HCD with the scientific analyses needed
to prepare its final report. We believe our input serves the interests
of the department and the community at large, as well as those of the copper
industry."
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