As part of COG’s ongoing monitoring of regional water quality concerns in the Potomac watershed and in light of recent USGS reports regarding ‘intersex fish’, the COG Board of Directors were briefed on October 11th on the topic of endocrine disruptors by various local and national experts.  They also issued a Resolution calling for a report to assess the public health and environmental concerns posed by endocrine disrupting compounds and other compounds of emerging concern in the Potomac River Watershed.  The report is scheduled to be presented to the Board at their February 14, 2007 meeting.  COG staff is developing this report in conjunction with COG’s Chesapeake Bay and Water Resources Policy Committee, Water Resources Technical Committee, and key stakeholders.

COG also co-sponsored a ‘Regional Science Forum for the Mid-Atlantic’ on November 16th, on “Endocrine Disruptors:  What We Know & What We Don’t.” along with the Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC) and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Water Program (i.e., a partnership of USDA CSREES and Land Grant Colleges and Universities).  Following up on that event, a less technical information forum is being planned for late February/early March of 2007 to focus on the findings, concerns and recommendations from the November 16th science forum.

If you are interested in getting information about the upcoming forum, please send an e-mail to endocrine.disruptors@mwcog.org and include your contact information.  That information will be used to create a list of interested parties that will be sent additional information once specific details of the forum have been confirmed.