Executive Summary
NATIONAL DRINKING WATER ADVISORY COUNCIL
MEETING
HELD JULY 25, 1997
IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AT EPA HEADQUARTERS
Background
The National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) met by conference
call on Friday, July 25, 1997, to discuss the results of the Consumer
Confidence Working Group report that was presented by Council members,
Susan Seacrest, Maurice Arel and Diana Neidle. All members of the Council
were present on the call. The Council chose to review the Draft Consumer
Confidence Regulations (Attached) by section, dealing with the issues
posed by the Working Group as they appeared in the draft. The following
is a result of the meeting:
CONTENT OF REPORTS - §141.153
RECOMMENDATION 1 - Information on Source of Water Purveyed (§141.153(b)(
2))
Council member Diane Kiesling proposed the language written as (2): "Each
report must include information readily available to the operator regarding
sources of contamination which may have an impact on the quality of the
source water" be struck from the draft. Motion was seconded by Jim Cleland
and carried with three opposing votes, Jim Tripp, Paul Nannis and Diana
Niedle.
RECOMMENDATION 2 - Level of Detected Contaminants (§141.153(d)(2)(iii)(D))
The Council considered simultaneously the language offered in Issue 1
"Each report must contain relevant information to provide customers with
an accurate picture of the highest level of contaminants they may have
been exposed to during the year" and Issue 2 "The highest test result
used to determine compliance with the National Primary Drinking Water
Regulation." The Council recommended the following language to become
(D) of this Section instead of what was offered as Issue 2: "When
the number to be reported is a system-wide average and 10% or more of
the population is exposed to levels that exceeds the MCL, then the report
should provide information on the magnitude and location of the level
of the exposure." This motion carried.
As part of this recommendation, the Council does not accept the language
in Issue 1.
RECOMMENDATION 3 - Health Effects Language (§141.153(d)(2)(v))
The Council took up Issue 3, "The statute provides that the Administrator
may require health effects language for no more than 3 regulated contaminants
detected at levels below the MCL." Of the three options proposed by the
Working Group, the motion was made by Wally Bishop and seconded by Diane
Kiesling to recommend Option 1: No specific requirement.
That motion carried with three opposing votes, Jim Tripp, Diana Neidle
and Paul Nannis.
RECOMMENDATION 4 - Monitoring for Radon (§141.153(d)(vi)(4)(iii))
The Council discussed Issue 4 to accept as (iii) "an explanation
of the significance of the results" as opposed to "canned language"
from EPA in the appendix describing the health effects of radon. A motion
to accept this proposed language was made by Susan Seacrest and seconded
by Wally Bishop. The motion carried with two opposed, Jim Tripp and Diana
Neidle, with Paul Nannis abstaining.
RECOMMENDATION 5 - Additional Monitoring (§141.153)(d)(vi)(5))
A motion by Jim Cleland and seconded by Will VanDeValk to change a word
in the following language "If the system has performed any additional
monitoring which includes that contaminants for which a regulation has
been proposed or a health advisory has been issued are present in the
finished water the report must may include."
The motion carried with one opposing vote by Diana Neidle.
RECOMMENDATION 6 - Additional Information (§141.153)(g)(1))
A motion was made to make a change to (1) under this Section: "The reports
must may contain a brief explanation regarding contaminants
which may reasonably be expected to be found in drinking water including
bottled water." This motion carried with six opposing votes from Nina
McClelland, Susan Seacrest, Maurice Arel, Jim Tripp, Diana Neidle and
Wally Bishop. Nina McClelland stated she will file a minority report on
this issue.
A motion was made by Will VanDeValk and seconded to add the word "wildlife"
to the end of (ii) and a second change to the same sentence was put forth
by John Scheltens and seconded to change the word "feedlots" to now read
"Biological contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which
may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, and feedlots
agricultural livestock operations and wildlife." This
motion carried unanimously.
Another motion to change in (iii), first sentence, "In order to ensure
that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit
the amount of certain contaminants in water sold provided
by public water systems . . ." was made and accepted unanimously.
With all three motions accepted and incorporated, a motion was made by
Jim Tripp and seconded by Diana Neidle to accept all of (g) as amended.
The recommendation carried with six opposing votes from Diane Kiesling,
Nina McClelland, Patrick Banegas, Susan Seacrest, Tom Yohe and Jim Cleland.
REQUIRED HEALTH INFORMATION (§141.154)
RECOMMENDATION 7 - Required Health Information (141.154)(a)
A motion (on Issue 5) by Wally Bishop and seconded by Diane Kiesling
to accept the language as written was passed with four opposing votes
from Susan Seacrest, Diana Neidle, Jim Tripp and Paul Nannis. The language
recommended reads, (a) "All reports must prominently display the following
language: Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking
water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as
persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone
organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders,
some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk for infections.
These people should seek advice from their health care provides. EPA/CDC
guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium
are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791)."
RECOMMENDATION 8 - Special Primacy Requirements (§142.16(f)(2))
A motion on Issue 7 (actually Issue 6) by Wally Bishop and seconded by
Susan Seacrest to accept the language written as (2) "Each state that
has primary enforcement responsibility must make reports submitted to
the States in compliance with §141.156(b) available to the public
upon request or maintain a list of telephone numbers for operators of
community water systems" was carried with three opposing votes from Diane
Kiesling, Patrick Banegas and Jim Cleland.
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I certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the foregoing minutes
of complete and accurate.
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L.D. McMullen, Chair, National Drinking
Water Advisory Council
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Date
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Charlene E. Shaw, Designated Federal Officer
National Drinking Water Advisory Council
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Date
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