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Drinking Water Safety and Right to Know LegislationOn Wednesday, February 02, 2011, Senator Lautenberg issued the following statement at a hearing examining the safety of drinking water in the United States. He also announced plans to introduce legislation to require greater monitoring and disclosure of pollutants in drinking water. Senator Lautenberg has long advocated for increased disclosure about environmental contaminants, and is an author of the 1986 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. "Clean, safe drinking water is essential to our health -- and especially to the health and well-being of our children. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, we've made big strides in cleaning up our country's water supply, but too many people are still drinking water that is contaminated with dangerous pollutants. "Too often, public water supplies are found to be in violation of EPA standards. But public health is at risk even when water doesn't violate the law because the EPA has either failed to set limits on pollution at all -- or because the limits are too weak. "Since 2004, more than 62 million Americans have been exposed to drinking water that meets EPA standards but actually contains potentially harmful contaminants, including some that are toxic. In fact, research shows there are more than 140 chemicals in our drinking water that the EPA does not regulate. "In some parts of our country, these chemicals include gasoline additives and pesticides. In other states, drinking water contains so-called fracking chemicals, which are used to produce natural gas. In some communities near drilling rigs, you can turn on the tap and literally light the water on fire. "As if that isn't disturbing enough, late last year, chromium six -- a carcinogen linked to leukemia, stomach cancer and other cancers -- was found in the water supplies of 31 American cities. These cities include some of the nation's largest -- such as New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Phoenix and Washington, DC. "Chromium pollution is also a major problem in New Jersey. So this is an issue that hits close to home for me, as well as EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, who previously led the state's Department of Environmental Protection. "Make no mistake: When Administrator Jackson arrived at EPA, she had her work cut out for her. Under President Bush, the EPA was required on several occasions to consider setting limits on contaminants found in drinking water. But each and every time the EPA was given an opportunity to improve water safety during those years, the agency sat on its hands and decided not to regulate. "Fortunately, under Administrator Jackson's leadership, the EPA is moving in the right direction and working on the public's behalf. As we will hear today, Ms. Jackson is taking steps to set new limits on chemicals in our drinking water and doing more to determine the impact of natural gas drilling on our country's water supply. Administrator Jackson is making good use of the tools she has under the Safe Drinking Water Act, but the law itself limits EPA's ability to protect the public's right to know. "Twenty-five years ago, I authored the Right to Know Law on toxic chemical releases to make sure people know about potentially hazardous substances in their communities. The public also has a right to know what's in their water. "That's why I will soon introduce the Drinking Water Right to Know Act. The Safe Drinking Water Act only allows EPA to require temporary monitoring of a small group of unregulated contaminants. So the public has no idea that they might be drinking water laden with unregulated contaminants like chromium six, gasoline additives or other toxics. "My bill would fix this problem by allowing EPA to require a targeted increase in monitoring for unregulated pollutants that could be hazardous. In addition, my bill would require EPA to make information on contaminants in drinking water more readily available online and in simple English. "More information on contaminants will empower citizens and help government make better decisions on pollutants in the water supply." # # #
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