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Six Year Review
of Drinking Water Standards
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires EPA to review each National
Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) at least once every six years
and revise them, if appropriate. SDWA specifies that any revision must
maintain or increase public health protection. EPA published its review
protocol and its preliminary revise/not revise decisions for 69 NPDWRs
in the April 17, 2002 edition of the Federal Register to request public
comment. The Agency received and reviewed comments from 44 commenters.
Today the Agency is announcing the completion of its review of these 69
NPDWRs that were established prior to the 1997. These 69 NPDWRs include
68 chemical NPDWRs and the Total Coliform Rule (TCR). Based on the Agency's
preliminary review, as well as the public comments received and other
new information, EPA believes that it is appropriate to revise the Total
Coliform Rule (TCR). The Agency also believes that it is not appropriate
to revise the 68 chemical NPDWRs at this time.
Schedule
Statutory Requirements
Section 1412(b)(9) of the Safe Drinking Water Act states,
"The Administrator shall, not less often than every 6 years,
review and revise, as appropriate, each national primary drinking
water regulation promulgated under this title. Any revision of a national
primary drinking water regulation shall be promulgated in accordance
with this section, except that each revision shall maintain, or provide
for greater, protection of the health of persons."
Links
- Announcement of Completion of EPA's Review of Existing Drinking
Water Standards
- Support Documents EPA's Review of Exisiting Drinking Water
Standards
- April 2002 Preliminary Results and Request for Public Comment
- Issue papers for the November 17, 1999 stakeholder meeting:
In a related effort, EPA must periodically consider the need for
new drinking water standards and include greater public participation
in its decisions. The Contaminant Candidate List was developed to
help EPA determine priorities for additional research, occurrence
monitoring, possible rulemaking.
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