Times Beach Risk Assessment

[Cdstelzer@aol.com]

I'm a reporter for the Riverfront Times in St. Louis. I'm working on a story
about the push to fire up the Times Beach dioxin incinerator by the EPA,
Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Syntex, the corporation liable
for the cleanup.
       The EPA health risk assessment claims that there will be less than one
additional excess cancer death caused by the incineratior's dioxin emissions.
       The risk assessment does not, however, factor into its calculations
the pre-existing background levels of dioxin that the general population has
already been exposed to. My understanding is that the average American has
already been overexposed to dioxin, according to the EPA's own standards.
This comes from the draft reassessment published last year. I also understand
that that the pre-existing exposure levels exceed the amount necessary to
cause more than one excess cancer death.
       If this is true, than the site risk assessment isn't valid. 
      Would someone please comment on this for me. I need for some scientific
authorities to examine the risk assessment and give their opinions on it. 
       I can be reached at cdstelzer@aol.com or by phone/fax at 314/781-1270.

                               Thanks,