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PA EPA PROVIDES ADVANCE NOTICE OF POTENTIAL CHANGES IN DRINKING WATER MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

Release Date: 07/03/97
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FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1997
EPA PROVIDES ADVANCE NOTICE OF POTENTIAL CHANGES
IN DRINKING WATER MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

EPA is providing advance notice of its intent to propose at a later date revisions to drinking water monitoring requirements for 64 already regulated chemicals. At the same time, EPA is seeking comment on draft permanent monitoring relief guidelines and on several suggestions for reducing regulatory burdens. The new l996 Safe Drinking Water Act authorizes more risk-based monitoring flexibility as a result of criticism that the current system is too rigid; among other restrictions, the current system often forces the expenditure of public resources on monitoring for contaminants unlikely to appear in local drinking water. The intent to change monitoring requirements would provide more cost-effective health protection by allowing states and water systems to better prioritize monitoring requirements for those contaminants most likely to appear in their drinking water, depending on local conditions or during vulnerable periods of contamination, such as increasing monitoring for pesticides during spring planting season. At the same time, the flexibility would allow states and water systems to reduce monitoring where there is little or no likelihood of contamination from certain chemicals. The intent to propose is expected to be published in the Federal Register on July 3. EPA will hold three public hearings: July 8 in Denver; July 9 in Chicago; and July 22-23 in Washington, D. C. For additional information, the general public can call the Safe Drinking Water hotline at 800-426-4791.

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