Getting information to the public on CCA

[Charles Franklin <franklin.charles@epa.gov>]

Hello, my name is Charles Franklin and I am Chief of the Communication Services Branch in OPP's Office of Pesticide Programs.  I would like to thank Ms. Rist, Ms. Powers, Mr. Puchalsky, and others who are taking the time to provide feedback on their interaction with the pesticide program at EPA. 
 
I noticed several messages encouraging EPA to provide more information to the public on what EPA is doing regarding wood treated with chromated copper arsenate, otherwise known as CCA.  In particular, a number of individuals commented on the need for EPA to provide more consumer information on the risks of the treated-wood itself, our work with industry to push for increased consumer education in stores, and the status of EPA's regulatory program with respect to CCA.  

We hear the call for more information on these issues and we are working hard to finalize a CCA-resource site on our web page that the public will be able to access through our Office of Pesticide Program (OPP) home page at www.epa.gov/pesticides.  This information will update and augment the CCA Question and Answers Document currently already on the OPP home page and on our our "In the News: site at http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/cb/csb_page/.  If you would like information on the revised site when it becomes operational, or on future public participation opportunities related to CCA, I encourage you to sign up for our pesticide program update service (you can do so by clicking "join our mailing list" from the web page or by going directly to: http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/cb/csb_page/form/form.html.  

The issues we work on are challenging.  We understand that if we are to give the public confidence in the tough decisions we are making, we must consistently make well-reasoned decisions, supported by sound scientific principles, in the most tranparent manner possible.  Over the last several years, we have been making a concerted effort to increase the opportunity and meaningful public participation in our decisions, with special attention to the internet's potential to augment traditional public participation tools.  

We look forward to reviewing the comments being provided through this dialogue I hope our continued efforts toward increased transparency will demonstrate that we are hearing and acting on the comments you have provided.  

Charles Franklin, Chief
Communication Services Branch
Office of Pesticide Programs
US Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.gov/pesticides