Report on WA Board of Health Hearing – Audrey Adams
After just 20 minutes of one-sided discussion and prior to any public comment, it was no surprise that the Washington Board of Health voted to deny the Petition for Rule Making on Water Fluoridation that would have limited fluoridation to FDA approved substances only. To have approved the petition, a board member stated, would essentially stop all fluoridation in Washington. So true.
However, this is what the Environmental Health Committee, with verbal testimony presented by Ned Therien, “board staff”, recommended in person and was contained in a handout at the BOH meeting:
“Motion: The Board denies the petition for rule making from Dr. William Osmunson dated May 11, 2010 because the US Food and Drug Administration has a memorandum of understanding with the US Environmental Protection Agency clarifying that the latter agency has authority for regulating tap water.” The motion passed unanimously with virtually no debate.
After the vote, when public testimony was finally allowed, WASW president Dr. Bill Osmunson and WASW VP and attorney James Robert Deal strongly challenged the interpretation and legality of the basis of the BOH’s conclusion, specifically, the memorandum of understanding between the FDA and EPA. Attorney Gerald Steel and Eloise Kailin submitted a challenging letter as well. Myself, Olemara Peters and Phillip Bradshaw also testified regarding harm experienced by fluoridation and three more came in support of WASW—a total of 8. Next time maybe we’ll double or triple that?
This is just one step in the road. It was not a surprise and it is certainly not defeat in the long haul. As Bill said, this was a good learning experience and the BOH has not seen the last of us.