EPA RESISTS CONGRESSIONAL PRESSURE TO DEVELOP INTERIM TCE LEVEL

EPA is resisting calls to develop an interim cleanup standard for the ubiquitous contaminant trichloroethylene (TCE), despite new interest in the issue from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and a call for hearings in the House. The renewed pressure comes after President Bush in August signed EPA's fiscal year 2006 spending bill, which included language calling on the agency to develop interim approaches for TCE, a solvent found at numerous defense and industrial sites nationwide. The agency in June declined...