PUBLIC LAW 114–45—AUG. 7, 2015 129 STAT. 473 

Public Law 114–45 

114th Congress 

An Act 

To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide for the assessment and management of the risk of algal toxins in drinking water, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Drinking Water Protection Act’’. 

SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT. 

(a) AMENDMENT.—Part E of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 

U.S.C. 300j et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following 

new section: 

‘‘SEC. 1459. ALGAL TOXIN RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT. 

‘‘(a) STRATEGIC PLAN.— 

‘‘(1) DEVELOPMENT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall develop 

and submit to Congress a strategic plan for assessing and 

managing risks associated with algal toxins in drinking water 

provided by public water systems. The strategic plan shall 

include steps and timelines to— 

‘‘(A) evaluate the risk to human health from drinking 

water provided by public water systems contaminated with 

algal toxins; 

‘‘(B) establish, publish, and update a comprehensive 

list of algal toxins which the Administrator determines 

may have an adverse effect on human health when present 

in drinking water provided by public water systems, taking 

into account likely exposure levels; 

‘‘(C) summarize— 

‘‘(i) the known adverse human health effects of 

algal toxins included on the list published under 

subparagraph (B) when present in drinking water provided by public water systems; and 

‘‘(ii) factors that cause toxin-producing 

cyanobacteria and algae to proliferate and express 

toxins; 

‘‘(D) with respect to algal toxins included on the list 

published under subparagraph (B), determine whether to— 

‘‘(i) publish health advisories pursuant to section 

1412(b)(1)(F) for such algal toxins in drinking water 

provided by public water systems; 

Deadline. 

Health and 

health care. 

42 USC 300j–19. 

Drinking Water 

Protection Act. 

42 USC 201 note. 

Aug. 7, 2015 

[H.R. 212] 


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129 STAT. 474 PUBLIC LAW 114–45—AUG. 7, 2015 

‘‘(ii) establish guidance regarding feasible analytical methods to quantify the presence of algal toxins; 

and 

‘‘(iii) establish guidance regarding the frequency 

of monitoring necessary to determine if such algal 

toxins are present in drinking water provided by public 

water systems; 

‘‘(E) recommend feasible treatment options, including 

procedures, equipment, and source water protection practices, to mitigate any adverse public health effects of algal 

toxins included on the list published under subparagraph 

(B); and 

‘‘(F) enter into cooperative agreements with, and provide technical assistance to, affected States and public 

water systems, as identified by the Administrator, for the 

purpose of managing risks associated with algal toxins 

included on the list published under subparagraph (B). 

‘‘(2) UPDATES.—The Administrator shall, as appropriate, 

update and submit to Congress the strategic plan developed 

under paragraph (1). 

‘‘(b) INFORMATION COORDINATION.—In carrying out this section 

the Administrator shall— 

‘‘(1) identify gaps in the Agency’s understanding of algal 

toxins, including— 

‘‘(A) the human health effects of algal toxins included 

on the list published under subsection (a)(1)(B); and 

‘‘(B) methods and means of testing and monitoring 

for the presence of harmful algal toxins in source water 

of, or drinking water provided by, public water systems; 

‘‘(2) as appropriate, consult with— 

‘‘(A) other Federal agencies that— 

‘‘(i) examine or analyze cyanobacteria or algal 

toxins; or 

‘‘(ii) address public health concerns related to 

harmful algal blooms; 

‘‘(B) States; 

‘‘(C) operators of public water systems; 

‘‘(D) multinational agencies; 

‘‘(E) foreign governments; 

‘‘(F) research and academic institutions; and 

‘‘(G) companies that provide relevant drinking water 

treatment options; and 

‘‘(3) assemble and publish information from each Federal 

agency that has— 

‘‘(A) examined or analyzed cyanobacteria or algal 

toxins; or 

‘‘(B) addressed public health concerns related to harmful algal blooms. 

‘‘(c) USE OF SCIENCE.—The Administrator shall carry out this 

section in accordance with the requirements described in section 

1412(b)(3)(A), as applicable. 

‘‘(d) FEASIBLE.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘feasible’ 

has the meaning given such term in section 1412(b)(4)(D).’’. 

(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 90 days after the 

date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 

United States shall prepare and submit to Congress a report that 

includes— 

Health and 

health care. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–45—AUG. 7, 2015 129 STAT. 475 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 212: 

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 114–26 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015): 

Feb. 24, considered and passed House. 

Aug. 5, considered and passed Senate. 

Æ 

(1) an inventory of funds— 

(A) expended by the United States, for each of fiscal 

years 2010 through 2014, to examine or analyze toxinproducing cyanobacteria and algae or address public health 

concerns related to harmful algal blooms; and 

(B) that includes the specific purpose for which the 

funds were made available, the law under which the funds 

were authorized, and the Federal agency that received 

or spent the funds; and 

(2) recommended steps to reduce any duplication, and 

improve interagency coordination, of such expenditures. 

Approved August 7, 2015. 


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