# Presentation: 742928

## An Overview of  the Radionuclides Rule 

- Andrea Matzke, USEPA                    *Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water*
- June 29, 2004

## Web Cast Series for Radionuclides and Arsenic

**Web Cast 2:  Radionuclides Rule**
**August 4, 2004**
-  Treatment/Disposal
-   POU/POE
-   Operator Safety
-   SPARRC Model Demo

**Web Cast 3:  Arsenic Rule**
**September 15, 2004**
-  Monitoring schedules
-   Compliance Calculations
-   Lab Analysis
-   Exemptions, Health Effects

## Web Cast Series for Radionuclides and Arsenic, cont.

**Web Cast 4:  Arsenic Rule**
**October 20, 2004**
-  Treatment
-  Disposal
-  POU
-  Case Studies/Update on Arsenic Demonstration Projects

**EPA Websites:**
- http://www.epa.gov/safewater/new.html
- http://www.epa.gov/safewater/rads/implement.html
- http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ars/implement.html
**For Downloading Presentations:**
- _http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwa/rules.html_

## Slide 4

## Overview Agenda

-   MCLs
-   Monitoring
-   Compliance
-   Variances and Exemptions

## The Final Radionuclides RuleFR Notice:  December 7, 2000Effective:  December 8, 2003

**Sets a **_**new**_** MCL for:**
-    		**Uranium**** **
**Retains the **_**existing**_** MCLs for:**
- 		**Radium-226/228**
**   ****	****	****Gross alpha particle     ****	****	****    radioactivity **
**   ****	****	****Beta particle and photon           **
** ****	****	****    ****activity**

**Revises monitoring requirements**
- 	**Standardized Monitoring Framework**
**Applies to all CWSs**
- 		**Groundwater and ****	****Surface water      ****	****Sources**

## Maximum Contaminant Levels

| Radionuclide MCLs |  |
| --- | --- |
| Ra 226/ Ra228 | 5 pCi/L |
| Gross alpha particle | 15 pCi/L |
| Uranium (new MCL)  | 30 g/L |
| Beta/photon emitters* | 4 mrem/year |
| *A total of 179 individual beta particle and photon emitters may be used to calculate compliance with the MCL |  |

## Monitoring Requirement Dates

- Grandfathered
- Data

**June 2000**

**Dec. 8, 2003**

**Dec. 7, 2000  (Final Rule) **

**Dec. 31, 2007**

- Begin Initial Monitoring

- Future Mon. Determined

- If State allows, systems can use grandfathered data from EPTDS or distribution to comply w/ initial monitoring requirements

- Systems collect 4 consecutive quarterly samples at each EPTDS

- Results determine monitoring frequency

## How Is Compliance Determined?

-    Determined immediately based on the annual average of initial quarterly samples or results from appropriate grandfathered data
-   Water systems with existing radionuclides monitoring data which is out of compliance with new provisions would have been out of compliance on December 8, 2003
-   Water systems with existing data that demonstrates non-compliance with the 1976 Rule are currently in violation

## Variances 

- Generally allows a system to exceed an MCL due to source water quality, as long as it’s still protective of human health
***General Variances*** are available for all radionuclide MCLs
***Small System Variances*** are not available for any of the radionuclide MCLs

## Exemptionsonly available for uranium

-  **Provides Additional Time for Systems to:**
-  Obtain Financial Assistance
-   Restructure
-   Plan, Construct & Start-up Treatment
** ****Informing the Public is Required**
**  ****	**Consumer Confidence Report/PN
-    Public hearing

## ExemptionsEligibility Requirements

**Due to compelling factors:**
- Unable to comply with the MCL(e.g. economically); or,
- It cannot develop an alternative source of supply;
** ****Must be in operation before December 2003; or,**
- If operating after 12/03 and there is no reasonable alternative source of supply;
**Management and/or restructuring changes will not    lead to compliance or improve the quality of water.**** **
**The exemption will not result in an unreasonable risk to public health**

## ExemptionsEligibility Requirements, cont.

**Unable to Achieve Compliance                                        ****	****No exemption shall be granted unless:****  **
**  **Capital improvements cannot be completed before effective date
-   System has entered into an agreement to obtain financial assistance
-   System has entered an agreement to become part of a regional PWS**	****	****              **
**          **

## ExemptionsCompliance Requirements

** ****If granted an exemption, a PWS has up to ****3**** ****additional years to comply with the uranium MCL**
-  **Systems serving **_**3,300 persons or fewer**_** may be able to extend their exemptions for up to**** 6**** years **

**HQ Contact Information**
- Holly Fleming  (202) 564-9909

## EPA Radionuclide Contacts

**HQ****	****     **Andrea Matzke      	     (202) 564-3842
- 	      Dave Huber          	      (202) 564-4878**	****     **
**Region 1**  Anthony Ciccarelli 	     (617) 918-1609
**Region 2**   Robert Poon 	 	       (212) 637-3821
**Region 3**   Jennie Saxe     	  	      (215) 814-5806
**Region 4**   Tom Degaetano  	 	       (404) 562-9479

**Region 5**   Miguel Del Toral 	       (312) 886-5253
**Region 6**   Kim Ngo             	 	       (214) 665-7158
**Region 7**   Ken Deason     	 	       (913) 551-7585
**Region 8**   Bruce Suchomel  	       (303) 312-6001
**Region 9**   Jill Korte             	 	      (415) 972-3562
**Region 10**  Gene Taylor      	 	       (206) 553-1389