Editorial Notes
References in Text

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(B)(i)(II), is act June 25, 1947, ch. 125, as amended generally by Pub. L. 92–516, Oct. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 973, which is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 136 et seq.) of chapter 6 of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 136 of Title 7 and Tables.

The Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996, referred to in subsec. (b)(13)(A), is Pub. L. 104–182, Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1613. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1996 Amendment note set out under section 201 of this title and Tables.

The Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (e), probably means the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 which is Pub. L. 95–155, Nov. 8, 1977, 91 Stat. 1257. Provisions of the Act establishing the Science Advisory Board are classified to section 4365 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 104–182, § 102(c)(2), struck out “paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of” before “subsection (b)” in two places.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–182, § 102(a), inserted heading.

Subsec. (b)(1), (2). Pub. L. 104–182, § 102(a), added pars. (1) and (2) and struck out former pars. (1) and (2) which related to publication of maximum contaminant level goals and promulgation of national primary drinking water regulations for certain listed contaminants or substituted contaminants.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 104–182, § 103, added par. (3).

Pub. L. 104–182, § 102(a), struck out par. (3) which related to publication of maximum contaminant level goals and promulgation of national primary drinking water regulations for contaminants, other than those referred to in pars. (1) or (2), which may have an adverse effect on human health and are known to occur in public water systems.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 104–182, § 104(a)(1), designated first sentence as subpar. (A), inserted par. and subpar. (A) headings, designated second sentence as subpar. (B), inserted subpar. (B) heading, substituted “Except as provided in paragraphs (5) and (6), each national” for “Each national” and “specify a maximum contaminant level” for “specify a maximum level”, and added subpar. (C).

Subsec. (b)(4)(D). Pub. L. 104–182, § 104(a)(2), (3), redesignated par. (5) as subpar. (D) of par. (4), inserted subpar. heading, and substituted “this paragraph” for “paragraph (4)”.

Subsec. (b)(4)(E). Pub. L. 104–182, §§ 104(a)(4), (5), 105, redesignated par. (6) as subpar. (E)(i) of par. (4), inserted subpar. and cl. headings, substituted “this subsection” for “this paragraph”, and added cls. (ii) to (v).

Subsec. (b)(5), (6). Pub. L. 104–182, § 104(a)(6), added pars. (5) and (6). Former pars. (5) and (6) redesignated subpars. (D) and (E)(i), respectively, of par. (4).

Subsec. (b)(7)(C)(v). Pub. L. 104–182, § 106, added cl. (v).

Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 104–182, § 501(a)(2), substituted “section 300j–1(e)” for “section 300j–1(g)”.

Pub. L. 104–182, § 107, inserted heading, realigned margins, and substituted “At any time after the end of the 3-year period that begins on August 6, 1996, but not later than the date on which the Administrator promulgates a Stage II rulemaking for disinfectants and disinfection byproducts (as described in paragraph (2)(C)), the Administrator shall also promulgate national primary drinking water regulations requiring disinfection as a treatment technique for all public water systems, including surface water systems and, as necessary, ground water systems. After consultation with the States, the Administrator shall (as part of the regulations) promulgate criteria that the Administrator, or a State that has primary enforcement responsibility under section 300g–2 of this title, shall apply to determine whether disinfection shall be required as a treatment technique for any public water system served by ground water.” for “Not later than 36 months after June 19, 1986, the Administrator shall propose and promulgate national primary drinking water regulations requiring disinfection as a treatment technique for all public water systems.”

Subsec. (b)(9). Pub. L. 104–182, § 104(c), amended par. (9) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (9) read as follows: “National primary drinking water regulations shall be amended whenever changes in technology, treatment techniques, and other means permit greater protection of the health of persons, but in any event such regulations shall be reviewed at least once every 3 years. Such review shall include an analysis of innovations or changes in technology, treatment techniques or other activities that have occurred over the previous 3-year period and that may provide for greater protection of the health of persons. The findings of such review shall be published in the Federal Register. If, after opportunity for public comment, the Administrator concludes that the technology, treatment techniques, or other means resulting from such innovations or changes are not feasible within the meaning of paragraph (5), an explanation of such conclusion shall be published in the Federal Register.”

Subsec. (b)(10). Pub. L. 104–182, § 108, amended par. (10) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (10) read as follows: “National primary drinking water regulations promulgated under this subsection (and amendments thereto) shall take effect eighteen months after the date of their promulgation. Regulations under subsection (a) of this section shall be superseded by regulations under this subsection to the extent provided by the regulations under this subsection.”

Subsec. (b)(11). Pub. L. 104–182, § 501(a)(1), realigned margins.

Subsec. (b)(12). Pub. L. 104–182, § 109(a), added par. (12).

Subsec. (b)(13). Pub. L. 104–182, § 109(b), added par. (13).

Subsec. (b)(14). Pub. L. 104–182, § 110, added par. (14).

Subsec. (b)(15). Pub. L. 104–182, § 111(a), added par. (15).

1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–339, § 101(a), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows:

“(1) The Administrator shall publish proposed national interim primary drinking water regulations within 90 days after December 16, 1974. Within 180 days after December 16, 1974, he shall promulgate such regulations with such modifications as he deems appropriate. Regulations under this paragraph may be amended from time to time.

“(2) National interim primary drinking water regulations promulgated under paragraph (1) shall protect health to the extent feasible, using technology, treatment techniques, and other means, which the Administrator determines are generally available (taking costs into consideration) on December 16, 1974.

“(3) The interim primary regulations first promulgated under paragraph (1) shall take effect eighteen months after the date of their promulgation.”

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 99–339, § 101(b), substituted provisions establishing standard setting schedules and deadlines for provisions relating to establishment of maximum contaminant levels and a list of contaminants with adverse effect but of undetermined levels.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 99–339, § 101(b), substituted provisions authorizing the Administrator to substitute contaminants for those referred to in par. (1) and to supply a list of the contaminants proposed for substitution, with the decision of the Administrator to regulate such contaminant not subject to judicial review, for provisions which authorized the Administrator to publish in the Federal Register proposed revised national interim primary drinking water regulations and 180 days after the date of such proposed regulations to promulgate such revised regulations with modification as deemed appropriate.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 99–339, § 101(b), substituted provisions directing the Administrator to publish maximum contaminant level goals and promulgate national primary drinking water regulations for contaminants, other than specified in par. (1) or (2), which may have an adverse effect on health and are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems, to establish an advisory working group to aid in establishing a list of such contaminants, and to publish, within a specified time, both proposed and final goals and regulations for provisions which required that revised national primary drinking water regulations specify a maximum contaminant level or require the use of treatment techniques for each contaminant, which level or technique was to be as close to the recommended level or technique as feasible, and defined the term “feasible”.

Subsec. (b)(4) to (11). Pub. L. 99–339, § 101(b), (c)(1), (d), added pars. (4) to (8), redesignated former pars. (4) to (6) as pars. (9) to (11), respectively, in par. (9) substituted “National” for “Revised National” and inserted provision that review include analysis, and publication in Federal Register, of innovations in technology, treatment techniques or other activities occurring during previous three years and their feasibility, and in par. (10) substituted “National” for “Revised National”.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 99–339, § 101(e), amended subsec. (e) generally, substituting provisions which relate to the request by the Administrator of comments by the Science Advisory Board prior to proposal of a maximum contaminant level goal and national primary drinking water regulation for provisions which related to study by the National Academy of Sciences to determine the maximum contaminant levels, report to Congress, and funding therefor.

1977—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 95–190 inserted provisions relating to revisions of the required report and cl. (G).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for Arsenic

Pub. L. 106–377, § 1(a)(1) [title III], Oct. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 1441, 1441A–41, provided in part: “That notwithstanding section 1412(b)(12)(A)(v) of the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended [42 U.S.C. 300g–1(b)(12)(A)(v)], the Administrator shall promulgate a national primary drinking water regulation for arsenic not later than June 22, 2001.”

Applicability of Prior Requirements

Pub. L. 104–182, title I, § 102(b), Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1620, provided that: “The requirements of subparagraphs (C) and (D) of section 1412(b)(3) of the Safe Drinking Water Act [42 U.S.C. 300g–1(b)(3)(C), (D)] as in effect before the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 6, 1996], and any obligation to promulgate regulations pursuant to such subparagraphs not promulgated as of the date of enactment of this Act, are superseded by the amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section].”

Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts

Pub. L. 104–182, title I, § 104(b), Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1625, provided that: “The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may use the authority of section 1412(b)(5) of the Safe Drinking Water Act [42 U.S.C. 300g–1(b)(5)] (as amended by this Act) to promulgate the Stage I and Stage II Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rules as proposed in volume 59, Federal Register, page 38668 (July 29, 1994). The considerations used in the development of the July 29, 1994, proposed national primary drinking water regulation on disinfectants and disinfection byproducts shall be treated as consistent with such section 1412(b)(5) for purposes of such Stage I and Stage II rules.”