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December 6, 2009

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Fallon ready to comply with EPA on arsenic

Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000 | 5:22 a.m.

Under an order from the Environmental Protection Agency, the city has until Sept. 15, 2003 to reduce the arsenic level or face penalties up to $27,500 a day.

City Attorney Mike Mackedon said the city will build treatment facilities for the arsenic but may try to negotiate a different time frame with the EPA.

"The city has committed itself to the development of a water treatment which will remove arsenic from its drinking water supply to a level meeting EPA standards," Mackedon told the Lahontan Valley News and Fallon Eagle Standard.

Fallon's water contains naturally occurring arsenic in concentrations of 100 parts per billion. The current federal maximum is 50 ppb and the EPA is proposing the legal amount be reduced to 5 ppb.

EPA attorney Julie Walters said the agency would consider the city's proposal. But "we do believe the schedule is very reasonable," she said.

The city drinking water supply pumps 1 million gallons a day, serving more than 8,000 residents.

Long-term consumption of water high in arsenic is associated with certain types of cancers, like lung and skin, the EPA said.

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