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Summary:
In 1996, Congress directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to propose a new standard for arsenic in drinking water by January 1, 2000, and to issue a final standard by January 1, 2001. Congress also directed EPA and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to study arsenic's health effects to support the rulemaking effort. The current standard for arsenic, 50 parts per billion (ppb), was issued in 1975. Substantial scientific consensus has emerged that this standard does not protect public health adequately, and, in 1999, the NAS recommended that EPA tighten the standard as soon as possible. On June 22, 2000, EPA proposed a revised standard of 5 ppb. This level is stricter than many stakeholders expected, and EPA projects that compliance could be costly and technically difficult for smaller communities. A question of ongoing scientific debate is whether adverse health effects occur from exposure to arsenic at very low levels. EPA will take comments on the proposed rule through September 22, 2000. The committee report accompanying the FY 2001 House-passed VA-HUD and Independent Agencies appropriations bill (H.R. 4635) addresses arsenic regulation. H. Rept. 106-674 strongly urges EPA to focus its efforts on developing its new rule and to cease enforcement of the current standard in communities that have yet to comply. The Committee expressed concern that enforcing the current standard while a new standard is pending may impose dual and significance costs on these communities. According to EPA, almost all systems meet the 50 ppb standard, which is infrequently exceeded by only a few water supplies. This report will be updated.
