SEC. 2. REFERENCES; EFFECTIVE DATE; DISCLAIMER.
(a) REFERENCE TO SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT.—
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this
Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an
amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision,
the reference shall be considered to be made to a section
or other provision of title XIV of the Public Health Service
Act (the Safe Drinking Water Act) (42 U.S.C. 300f and
following).
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as otherwise speci-
fied in this Act or in the amendments made by this Act,
the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the
date of enactment of this Act.
(c) DISCLAIMER.—Nothing in this Act or in any
amendments made by this Act to title XIV of the Public
Health Service Act (the Safe Drinking Water Act) or any
other law shall be construed by the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency or the courts as affect-
ing, modifying, expanding, changing, or altering (1) the
provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, (2)
the duties and responsibilities of the Administrator under
that Act, or (3) the regulation or control of point or
nonpoint sources of pollution discharged into waters cov-
ered by that Act. The Administrator shall identify in the
agency’s annual budget all funding and full-time equiva-
lents administering the Safe Drinking Water Act sepa-
rately from funding and staffing for the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS.
(a) 
NEW
CONTAMINANT
SELECTION.—Section
1412(b)(3) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(3) REGULATION
OF
UNREGULATED
CONTAMI-
NANTS.—
‘‘(A) PROPOSED LISTS.—(i) Within 1 year after
the enactment of the Safe Drinking Water Act
Amendments of 1994, the Administrator, after con-
sultation with the scientific community, including
the Science Advisory Board, shall select and publish
a proposed list of not fewer than 15 contaminants
which are known or anticipated to occur in public
water systems, which are not subject to any pro-
posed or promulgated national primary drinking
water regulation, and which may require regulation
under this title.
‘‘(ii) Within 5 years after the enactment of the
Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1994 and
every 4 years thereafter, the Administrator, after
consultation with the scientific community, including
the Science Advisory Board, and after considering
the occurrence data base established under section
1445(g), shall (in addition to the contaminants list-
ed under clause (i)) select and publish a proposed
list of not fewer than 12 contaminants which are not
subject to any proposed or promulgated national pri-
mary drinking water regulation, which are known or
anticipated to occur in public water systems, and
which may require regulation under this title.
‘‘(iii) If, after the year 2010, the Administrator
determines that the number of unregulated contami-
nants meeting the criteria for the list under clause
(ii) is fewer than 12, the Administrator may, by
rule, waive the requirement to select at least 12 con-
taminants every 4 years under that clause. At any
time after such rule is promulgated, the Adminis-
trator may, after consultation with the scientific
community, including the Science Advisory Board
and after considering the occurrence data base es-
tablished under section 1445(g), select a proposed
list of 1 or more contaminants (in addition to the
contaminants listed under clause (i) or (ii)) which
are known or anticipated to occur in public water
systems, which are not subject to any proposed or
promulgated national primary drinking water regula-
tion, and which may require regulation under this
title.
‘‘(iv) In selecting unregulated contaminants for
the proposed lists referred to in this paragraph, the
Administrator shall select contaminants that present
the greatest public health concern. The Adminis-
trator, in making such selection, shall take into con-
sideration, among other factors of public health con-
cern, the effect of such contaminants upon
subgroups that comprise a meaningful portion of the
general population (such as pregnant woman and
children) that are identifiable as being at greater
health risk than the general population, based on
adequate scientific information. The unregulated
contaminants considered for such proposed lists
shall include, but not be limited to, substances re-
ferred to in section 101(14) of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response Compensation and Liability
Act of 1980, and substances registered as pesticides
under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act.
‘‘(v) The Administrator’s decision whether or
not to select an unregulated contaminant for a pro-
posed list pursuant to this paragraph shall not be
subject to judicial review.
‘‘(B) FINAL LIST.—Each proposed list estab-
lished in subparagraph (A) shall be subject to public
comment for a period of at least 60 days. Within 6
months after the close of the public comment period,
and not later than 1 year after the proposed list is
published, the Administrator shall publish in the
Federal Register the final list of contaminants meet-
ing the requirements of subparagraph (A), together
with responses to significant comments. Each final
list shall include at least the minimum number of
contaminants specified in subparagraph (A).
‘‘(C) DETERMINATION TO REGULATE.—At any
time after the final list of contaminants established
under subparagraph (B) is published, but not later
than 30 months thereafter, the Administrator shall
determine, by rule, whether or not to regulate each
of the contaminants on such final list. The Adminis-
trator, after notice in the Federal Register, may ex-
tend the period for making such determination for
any or all of the contaminants on the list for up to
9 months. The Administrator shall allow at least 90
days for public comment prior to making a deter-
mination under this subparagraph. A determination
to regulate a contaminant shall be based on the fol-
lowing three findings:
‘‘(i) A finding that the contaminant is
known to occur in public water systems.
‘‘(ii) A finding that, based on the best
available public health information, the con-
taminant occurs in concentrations which have
or may have any adverse effect on the health of
persons.
‘‘(iii) A finding that regulation of such
contaminant presents a meaningful opportunity
for public health risk reduction for persons
served by public water systems.
The Administrator may regulate a contaminant that
does not appear on a list published under subpara-
graph (A) or (B) if the determination to regulate is
pursuant to this subparagraph.
‘‘(D) REGULATION.—For each contaminant
under subparagraph (C) that the Administrator de-
termines shall be regulated, the Administrator shall
promulgate, by rule, maximum contaminant level
goals and national primary drinking water regula-
tions as provided in paragraphs (4) and (5) of this
subsection. The Administrator shall propose the
maximum contaminant level goal and national pri-
mary drinking water regulation not later than 18
months after the determination to regulate under
subparagraph (C), and may publish such proposed
regulation concurrent with the determination to reg-
ulate. The Administrator shall allow at least 90 days
for public comment on any such proposed goal and
proposed regulation. The Administrator shall pro-
mulgate a maximum contaminant level goal and na-
tional primary drinking water regulation within 18
months after the proposal thereof. The Adminis-
trator, by notice in the Federal Register, may extend
the deadline for such promulgation for up to 9
months.
‘‘(E) HEALTH ADVISORIES.—The Administrator
may publish health advisories (which are not regula-
tions) or take other appropriate actions for contami-
nants not subject to any national primary drinking
water regulation.
‘‘(F) STUDY OF HEALTH EFFECTS.—As part of
the Administrator’s study, under existing authorities
of the Administrator, of the health effects of con-
taminants for regulatory purposes, the Adminis-
trator shall examine, among other health related is-
sues, methods for identifying subpopulations that
may be impacted by contaminants and the extent
and nature of such impacts, taking into consider-
ation other risks to such subpopulations. There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary for the Administrator to examine the
health effects of drinking water contaminants for
such regulatory purposes.
‘‘(G) CRYPTOSPORIDIUM.—(i) Not later than
December 31, 1996, the Administrator shall publish
a maximum contaminant level goal and promulgate
an interim national primary drinking water regula-
tion for cryptosporidium for public water systems
serving 10,000 persons of more. Such regulation
shall take effect not later than 24 months after the
date of promulgation.
‘‘(ii) Not later than December 31, 1998, the
Administrator shall promulgate a national primary
drinking water regulation for cryptosporidium. Such
regulation shall take effect, for public water systems
of all sizes, not later than 24 months after the date
of promulgation.
Each date for publication and promulgation specified in
clause (i) and (ii) may be delayed by up to 6 months if
the Administrator determines that such additional time is
necessary to review information under the Administrator’s
information collection rule.’’.
(b) LIMITED ALTERNATIVE
TO FILTRATION RE-
QUIREMENTS.—Section 1412(b)(7)(C) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following:
‘‘(v) As an additional alternative to the regulations
promulgated pursuant to clauses (i) and (iii), including the
criteria for avoiding filtration contained in 40 CFR
141.71, a State exercising primary enforcement respon-
sibility for public water systems may establish, on a case-
by-case basis and after notice and an opportunity of at
least 90 days for public comment, alternatives to filtration
requirements in effect on such date of enactment, in the
case of systems having uninhabited, undeveloped water-
sheds in consolidated ownership, and having control over
access to, and activities in, those watersheds if (taking into
consideration the effects of wildlife in such watersheds)
the State determines (and the Administrator concurs) that
the public health will be fully protected by such alter-
natives consistent with the requirements of this title. The
authority of a State to establish alternatives under this
clause shall expire 3 years after the enactment of the Safe
Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1994.’’.
(c) COMPLIANCE DATES.—Section 1412(b) is amend-
ed by striking the first sentence in paragraph (10) and
by adding the following at the end thereof:
‘‘(12) Within 24 months after the promulgation of
a national primary drinking water regulation under this
subsection, each State exercising primary enforcement re-
sponsibility for public water systems shall adopt cor-
responding State regulations under section 1413(a)(1).
The Administrator shall specify the date upon which pub-
lic water systems must comply with each national primary
drinking water regulation promulgated under this sub-
section. Such compliance date may not be more than 36
months after the date of promulgation, except that if the
Administrator determines that additional time is nec-
essary for capital improvements required to meet the na-
tional primary drinking water regulations, the Adminis-
trator may establish a later compliance date. Such later
date shall not be later than 48 months after the date of
promulgation (or 60 months in the case of systems serving
fewer than 3,300 persons). Each State with primary en-
forcement responsibility may determine a public water sys-
tem’s eligibility for any extension beyond 36 months.
Nothing in this paragraph shall limit the discretion of the
Administrator to differentiate among the compliance dates
on the basis of system size or other factors considered ap-
propriate by the Administrator, or to establish interim
compliance milestones.’’.
SEC. 4. STANDARD SETTING.
Section 1412 is amended as follows:
(1) The second sentence of subsection (b)(4) is
amended by inserting before the period the follow-
ing: ‘‘or a treatment technique established pursuant
to paragraph (7)(A) of this subsection’’.
(2) Subsection (b)(5) is amended as follows:
(A) In the first sentence, strike ‘‘feasible’’
after ‘‘means’’ and insert ‘‘achievable’’; and
after ‘‘technology’’ strike ‘‘, treatment tech-
niques and’’ and insert ‘‘or’’.
(B) Insert ‘‘(A)’’ after ‘‘(5)’’ and add the
following at the end thereof:
‘‘(B) For purposes of taking costs into consideration
pursuant to the first sentence of subparagraph (A) of this
paragraph, in the case of any national primary drinking
water regulation proposed and promulgated after enact-
ment of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of
1994 (other than a national primary drinking water regu-
lation covered by subparagraph (C) or (D)), the Adminis-
trator shall consider (in the case of nonthreshold contami-
nants) and may consider (in the case of threshold contami-
nants) both the incremental compliance costs likely to be
incurred and the incremental public health risk reduction
benefits afforded by alternative levels. The terms ‘costs’
and ‘benefits’, as used in this subparagraph—
‘‘(i) shall include additional and identifiable re-
ductions, if any, of regulated contaminants not cov-
ered by such proposed or promulgated regulation
that are expected to be achieved solely from the use
of the applicable technology or technologies that
form the basis for such regulation, and
‘‘(ii) shall include consideration of the effects of
such contaminants upon subgroups that comprise a
meaningful portion of the general population, such
as pregnant women and children, that are identifi-
able as being at greater health risk than the general
population based on adequate scientific information.
‘‘(C) Subparagraph (B) shall not take effect with re-
spect to the first promulgation after the date of enactment
of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1994, or
with respect to the initial revision after such date, of a
national primary drinking water regulation for the follow-
ing:
‘‘(i) Contaminants covered by the proposed na-
tional primary drinking water regulation for radio-
nuclides as set forth in 56 Federal Register 33050,
July 19, 1991.
‘‘(ii) Sulfate.
‘‘(iii) Contaminants covered by the proposed ne-
gotiated rules on (I) disinfectants and disinfection
by-products as set forth in 59 Federal Register
38668, July 29, 1994, and (II) enhanced surface
water treatment as set forth in 59 Federal Register
38832, July 29, 1994. Subparagraph (B) shall also
not take effect with respect to the promulgation of
a second stage regulation for contaminants covered
by the proposed negotiated rules referred to in
clause (iii).
Any subsequent revision of any such regulation shall be
subject to the provisions of subparagraph (D).
‘‘(D) In the case of any national primary drinking
water regulation for a contaminant regulated prior to en-
actment of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of
1994, or any subsequent revision of a national primary
drinking water regulation established in accordance with
subparagraph (C), subparagraph (B) shall apply to any
proposal to amend such national primary drinking water
regulation only if a review required pursuant to paragraph
(9) results in findings by the Administrator, published in
the Federal Register, that changes in technology, treat-
ment techniques, or other means permit greater protection
of the health of persons. If the Administrator promulgates
such regulation in accordance with subparagraph (B),
such regulation must provide for greater protection of the
health of persons. If the Administrator does not promul-
gate a regulation in accordance with subparagraph (B) be-
cause such greater protection of the health of persons is
not achievable, the Administrator may initiate a new rule-
making under subparagraph (A) or retain the existing na-
tional primary drinking water regulations.
‘‘(E) Any subsequent revision of a national primary
drinking water regulation for contaminants regulated in
accordance with subparagraph (C) or (D) (where such re-
vision is pursuant to the standard setting language of sub-
paragraph (B)) shall, at a minimum, provide greater pro-
tection of the health of persons than the regulation in ef-
fect on the date of enactment of the Safe Drinking Water
Act Amendments of 1994 for such contaminant or, in the
case of contaminants subject to subparagraph (C), than
the regulation promulgated under subparagraph (C). If
the Administrator does not promulgate such regulation in
accordance with subparagraph (B) because such greater
protection is not achievable, the Administrator may initi-
ate a new rulemaking pursuant to subparagraph (A) or
retain the existing national primary drinking water regula-
tions.
‘‘(F) In the absence of scientific evidence suggesting
new or more serious health effects than existing on the
date of enactment of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amend-
ments of 1994, for purposes of proposal and promulgation
after such date of a national primary drinking water regu-
lation for sulfate, the Administrator shall include—
‘‘(i) best technology or other means under sub-
section (b)(5), and
‘‘(ii) public notification and options for provi-
sion of alternative water to populations at risk as al-
ternative means for complying with such regulation.
Such proposal shall be made within 6 months after such
date of enactment and such rule shall be promulgated
within 2 years after such date of enactment.
‘‘(G)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), notwith-
standing any provision of any law enacted prior to the en-
actment of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of
1994, within 6 months of such date of enactment, the Ad-
ministrator shall promulgate a national primary drinking
water regulation for radon.
‘‘(ii) For the period of 5 years from the date of pro-
mulgation of the regulation under clause (i) or from the
end of the 6-month period referred to in such clause,
whichever comes first, such regulation shall provide that
public water systems may comply with an alternative max-
imum contaminant level of 1000 picocuries per liter. If
the Congress enacts legislation which reauthorizes the In-
door Radon Abatement Act in the 103d or 104th Con-
gress, such alternative maximum contaminant level shall
thereafter be deemed to be the applicable maximum con-
taminant level for purposes of such regulation.’’.
(3) 
In 
the 
first 
sentence 
of 
subsection
(b)(7)(A), strike the word ‘‘ascertain’’ and insert
‘‘measure’’.
(4) In subsection (b)(9) strike ‘‘3-year’’ and in-
sert ‘‘5-year’’. No change to section 1412(b)(9)
made by this Act shall be a basis for delaying the
promulgation of any rule proposed pursuant to sec-
tion 1412(b)(9) prior to the date of the enactment
of this Act.
(5) Add the following new subsection at the end
thereof:
‘‘(f) METHODOLOGIES; RISK ASSESSMENT.—(1) The
Administrator, in carrying out the provisions of this title,
is expected, consistent with the intent of Congress, to use
at all times sound, unbiased, and objective scientific prac-
tices and methodologies. The Administrator, in carrying
out the Administrator’s responsibilities under this title,
shall ensure that the presentation of information on sig-
nificant health risks is unbiased and informative.
‘‘(2) To the extent feasible, documents made available
to the general public which describe the degree of risk
from exposure shall, at a minimum, characterize the popu-
lation or populations, (including any identifiable sub-
populations, as referred to in section 1412(b)(5)(B)(ii), at
greater risk than the general population) addressed by any
agency risk estimates; state the expected risk for the spe-
cific population; and state the reasonable range or other
equivalent description of uncertainty in the assessment
process.’’.
SEC. 5. SMALL SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY.
Section 1412(b)(6) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(6)(A) For purposes of this section and section
1415, at the time the Administrator proposes and promul-
gates a national primary drinking water regulation estab-
lishing a maximum contaminant level for any contami-
nant, the Administrator shall propose and promulgate a
listing of the best technology or other means available for
achieving compliance with such regulation for large public
water systems, and a listing of the best technology or other
means, if any, available for achieving compliance with such
regulation for public water systems in each of the follow-
ing categories:
‘‘(i) Systems serving fewer than 10,000 persons
but not fewer than 3,300 persons.
‘‘(ii) Systems serving 3,300 persons or fewer.
In proposing and promulgating lists for systems described
in clauses (i) and (ii), the Administrator shall consider
cost variations associated with system size.
‘‘(B) For purposes of this section and section 1415,
at the time the Administrator proposes and promulgates
a national primary drinking water regulation establishing
a treatment technique for any contaminant, the Adminis-
trator shall propose and promulgate, for large public water
systems, and for systems in the size ranges referred to
in clause (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A), a listing of the
best technology or other means, if any, available for
achieving a level of protection for public health equivalent
to the level of protection provided by such treatment tech-
nique for systems in such size ranges.
‘‘(C) A listing under this paragraph of the best tech-
nology or other means under subparagraph (A) shall not
be construed to require or authorize that any specified
technology or other means be used for purpose of meeting
any national primary drinking water regulation.
‘‘(D) A listing under this paragraph of the best tech-
nology or other means shall provide as much reliable infor-
mation as practicable on performance, effectiveness, limi-
tations, costs, and other relevant factors in support of the
listing, including the applicability of such technology or
other means to surface and underground source waters,
or both. Consistent with such reliable information, each
State exercising primary enforcement responsibility for
such systems shall presume (pending the availability of
monitoring data, pending availability of information on a
system’s viability, including the availability of financial as-
sistance under this title, and pending other relevant fac-
tors) that use of such technology or other means should
enable the public water system concerned to meet the na-
tional primary drinking water regulation.
‘‘(E) The Administrator shall, on a continuing basis,
assess the engineering feasibility, performance, effective-
ness, costs, and limitations of best technologies and other
means of meeting national primary drinking water regula-
tions, and may, by rule, revise the list under subparagraph
(A) or (B) as appropriate.
‘‘(F) As used in this paragraph, the term ‘best tech-
nology’ for public water systems shall include, whenever
appropriate, innovative and alternative technologies.
‘‘(G) At any time after the promulgation of a national
primary drinking water regulation, the Administrator may
add to the lists under this paragraph, by guidance pub-
lished in the Federal Register, any new or innovative tech-
nology or other means. A State may treat such tech-
nologies in the same manner as those listed pursuant to
subparagraph (A) or (B).
‘‘(H) To the greatest extent possible, within 24
months after the enactment of the Safe Drinking Water
Act Amendments of 1994, the Administrator shall publish
each of the following for public water systems in the size
ranges referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph
(A)—
‘‘(i) For contaminants subject to a maximum
contaminant level promulgated prior to such publica-
tion, a list of best technologies available that achieve
compliance with such maximum contaminant level.
‘‘(ii) For contaminants subject to a treatment
technique promulgated prior to such publication, a
list of alternative technologies that achieve a level of
protection of public health equivalent to the level of
protection provided by such treatment technique.’’.
SEC. 6. AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 1413.
(a) EMERGENCY
PLANS.—Section 1413(a)(5) is
amended by inserting after ‘‘emergency circumstances’’
the following: ‘‘including earthquakes, floods, hurricanes,
and other natural disasters’’.
(b) PROTECTION OF DRINKING WATER DISTRIBU-
TION SYSTEMS.—Section 1413(a) is amended by adding
the following after paragraph (6), as added by section
7(a):
‘‘(7) has adopted (pursuant to guidance issued
by the Administrator not later than 3 years after the
date of the enactment of the Safe Drinking Water
Act Amendments of 1994) and implemented require-
ments for public water systems in the State to take
feasible measures to protect the distribution system
from contamination due to leakage from sewer
lines.’’.
(c) RECYCLING
OF FILTER BACKWASH.—Section
1413 is amended by adding at the end thereof the follow-
ing:
‘‘(c) RECYCLING OF FILTER BACKWASH.—The Ad-
ministrator shall promulgate a regulation to govern the
recycling of filter backwash water within the treatment
process of a public water system. The Administrator shall
promulgate such regulation not later than 3 years after
the date of the enactment of the Safe Drinking Water Act
Amendments of 1994 unless such recycling has been ad-
dressed by the Administrator’s ‘enhanced surface water
treatment rule’ prior to such date. Any regulation under
this subsection shall be deemed to be a national primary
drinking water regulation for purposes of this title.’’.
SEC. 7. CERTIFICATION OF LABORATORIES AND OPERA-
TORS.
(a) CERTIFICATION.—Section 1413(a) is amended by
striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph (4), by striking
the period at the end of paragraph (5) and inserting a
semicolon, and by adding the following at the end thereof:
‘‘(6) has adopted and is implementing, within 2
years after the promulgation of regulations pursuant
to section 1442(h), requirements for the certification
of—
‘‘(A) laboratories conducting tests pursu-
ant to this part, and
‘‘(B) 
operators 
of 
community 
and
nontransient noncommunity public water sys-
tems; and’’.
(b) STANDARDS.—Section 1442 is amended by add-
ing the following at the end thereof:
‘‘(h) MINIMUM STANDARDS.—(1) Not later than 30
months after the date of enactment of the Safe Drinking
Water Act Amendments of 1994 and after consultation
with States exercising primary enforcement responsibility
for public water systems, the Administrator shall promul-
gate regulations specifying minimum standards for certifi-
cation (and recertification) of the operators of public
water systems. Such regulations shall take into account
existing State programs, the complexity of the system and
other factors aimed at providing an effective program at
reasonable cost to States and public water systems, taking
into account the size of the system.
‘‘(2) Not later than 3 years after the date of enact-
ment of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of
1994 and after consultation with States exercising pri-
mary enforcement responsibility for public water systems,
the Administrator shall promulgate regulations specifying
minimum standards for certification (and recertification)
of laboratories conducting tests pursuant to this part.
Such regulations shall contain minimum criteria to ensure,
to the extent possible, nationwide uniformity in such test-
ing.
‘‘(3) For any State exercising primary enforcement
responsibility for public water systems which has an oper-
ator certification program in effect on the date of the en-
actment of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of
1994, the regulations under paragraph (1) shall allow the
State to enforce such program in lieu of the regulations
under paragraph (1) if the State submits the program to
the Administrator within 18 months after the promulga-
tion of such regulations unless the Administrator deter-
mines (within 9 months after the State submits the pro-
gram to the Administrator) that such program is incon-
sistent with such regulations. If disapproved it may be re-
submitted in accordance with section 1428(c).’’.
(c) STUDY OF TRANSIENT SYSTEMS.—The Adminis-
trator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall sur-
vey various categories of transient noncommunity public
water systems nationwide to evaluate any potential public
health threat posed by any lack of operator certification
or training for such systems, and within 4 years after the
date of the enactment of the Safe Drinking Water Act
Amendments of 1994, report to Congress with appropriate
recommendations.
SEC. 8. ENFORCEMENT OF DRINKING WATER REGULA-
TIONS.
(a) NOTICE.—Section 1414(a)(1)(A) is amended by
striking ‘‘he shall so notify the State and’’ and inserting
‘‘the Administrator shall so notify the State, provide the
State with an opportunity to confer with the Adminis-
trator, and notify’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—Section 
1414(g)(2) 
is
amended as follows:
(1) Amend the first sentence to read as follows:
‘‘In the case of a State exercising primary enforce-
ment responsibility for public water systems, an
order issued under this subsection to enforce section
1445 shall not take effect until after the Adminis-
trator has provided such State with an opportunity
to confer with the Administrator regarding the
order.’’.
(2) Strike ‘‘proposed’’ in the second sentence.
(c) CIVIL PENALTY.—Section 1414(g)(3) is amended
as follows:
(1) In subparagraph (B), strike ‘‘$5,000’’ and
insert ‘‘$75,000 (or $100,000 if the violation occurs
for more than 15 days or the public water system
serves more than 10,000 persons)’’.
(2) In subparagraph (C), strike ‘‘$5,000’’ and
insert ‘‘$75,000 (or $100,000 if the violation occurs
for more than 15 days or the public water system
serves more than 10,000 persons)’’.
(d) ENFORCEABILITY OF STATE REQUIREMENTS.—
Section 1414 is amended by adding the following at the
end thereof:
‘‘(h) STATE REQUIREMENTS.—For a State exercising
primary enforcement responsibility for public water sys-
tems, any violation of a State requirement that imple-
ments a national primary drinking water regulation shall
be treated as a violation of a national primary drinking
water regulation in effect under section 1412, except to
the extent that the State requirement includes elements
that are more stringent, or broader in scope, than ele-
ments of the national primary drinking water regulation.’’.
SEC. 9. QUARTERLY NONCOMPLIANCE REPORTING.
(a) NONCOMPLIANCE REPORTING.—Section 1413 is
amended by inserting the following new subsection after
subsection (c):
‘‘(d) QUARTERLY NONCOMPLIANCE REPORTING.—
(1) Each State exercising primary enforcement respon-
sibility for public water systems shall submit quarterly re-
ports to the Administrator on a schedule and in a format
prescribed by the Administrator, consisting of each of the
following items:
‘‘(A) Violations, during the previous quarter, by
public water systems in the State of State regula-
tions adopted to implement the requirements of na-
tional primary drinking water regulations.
‘‘(B) Enforcement actions taken, during the
previous quarter, by the State against public water
systems with respect to State regulations adopted to
implement the requirements of national primary
drinking water regulations.
‘‘(C) Notification of any variance or exemption
granted during the previous quarter. The notice
shall include a statement of reasons for the granting
of the variance or exemption, including documenta-
tion of the need for the variance or exemption and
the finding that the granting of the variance or ex-
emption will not result in an unreasonable risk to
health. The State may use a single notification
statement to report 2 or more similar variances or
exemptions.
‘‘(2) The reports under paragraph (1)(A) shall in-
clude information specifying the contamination level in the
case of any exceedance of any maximum contaminant level
included in a national primary drinking water regulation.
‘‘(3) The Administrator shall make all information
reported to the Administrator under this subsection avail-
able to the public in such manner as will ensure maximum
accessibility and comprehension by the public.’’.
(b) COMPLIANCE WITH SUBSECTION (h).—Section
1413(a)(3) is amended by inserting ‘‘, including reports
under subsection (d),’’ after ‘‘reports’’.
SEC. 10. SMALL SYSTEM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) BAAT VARIANCE.—Section 1415 is amended by
adding the following at the end thereof:
‘‘(e) SMALL SYSTEM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) BAAT VARIANCES.—In the case of public
water systems serving 3,300 persons or fewer, a
variance under this section shall be granted by a
State which has primary enforcement responsibility
for public water systems allowing the use of Best
Available Affordable Technology in lieu of best tech-
nology or other means where—
‘‘(A) no best technology or other means is
listed under subparagraph (A)(ii) or subpara-
graph (B) of section 1412(b)(6) for a given
contaminant for public water systems serving
3,300 persons or fewer;
‘‘(B) the Administrator has identified
BAAT for that contaminant pursuant to para-
graph (3); and
‘‘(C) the State finds that the conditions in
paragraph (4) are met.
‘‘(2) DEFINITION OF BAAT.—The term ‘Best
Available Affordable Technology’ or ‘BAAT’ means
the most effective technology or other means for the
control of a drinking water contaminant or contami-
nants that is available and affordable to systems
serving fewer than 3,300 persons.
‘‘(3) IDENTIFICATION OF BAAT.—(A) As part
of each national primary drinking water regulation
proposed and promulgated after the enactment of
the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1994,
the Administrator shall identify BAAT in any case
where no ‘best technology or other means’ is listed
under subparagraph (A)(ii) or subparagraph (B) of
section 1412(b)(6) for that contaminant for systems
serving fewer than 3,300 persons. No such identified
BAAT shall require a technology from specific man-
ufacturer or brand. BAAT need not be adequate to
achieve the applicable maximum contaminant level
or treatment technique, but shall bring the public
water system as close to achievement of such maxi-
mum contaminant level as practical or as close to
the level of health protection provided by such treat-
ment technique as practical, as the case may be. Any
technology or other means identified as BAAT must
be determined by the Administrator to be protective
of public health. Simultaneously with identification
of BAAT, the Administrator shall list any assump-
tions underlying the public health determination re-
ferred to in the preceding sentence, where such as-
sumptions concern the public water system to which
the technology may be applied, or its source waters.
The Administrator shall provide the assumptions
used in determining affordability, taking into consid-
eration the number of persons served by such sys-
tems. Such listing shall provide as much reliable in-
formation as practicable on performance, effective-
ness, limitations, costs, and other relevant factors in
support of such listing, including the applicability of
BAAT to surface and underground waters or both.
‘‘(B) To the greatest extent possible, within 24
months after the date of the enactment of the Safe
Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1994, the Ad-
ministrator shall identify BAAT for all national pri-
mary drinking water regulations proposed or pro-
mulgated prior to such date of enactment where no
best technology or other means is listed under sub-
paragraph (A)(ii) or subparagraph (B) of section
1412(b)(6) for that contaminant for systems serving
fewer than 3,300 persons, and where compliance by
such small systems is not practical. In identifying
BAAT for such national primary drinking water reg-
ulations, the Administrator shall give priority to
evaluation 
of 
atrazine, 
asbestos, 
selenium,
pentachlorophenol, antimony, and nickel.
‘‘(4) CONDITIONS
FOR
BAAT
VARIANCE.—To
grant a variance under this subsection, the State
must determine that—
‘‘(A) the public water system cannot install
‘best technology or other means’ because of the
system’s small size;
‘‘(B) the public water system could not
comply with the maximum contaminant level
through use of alternate water supplies or
through management changes or restructuring,
as described in section 1419 (relating to public
water system viability);
‘‘(C) the public water system has the ca-
pacity to operate and maintain BAAT; and
‘‘(D) the circumstances of the public water
system are consistent with the public health as-
sumptions identified by the Administrator
under paragraph (3).
‘‘(5) SCHEDULES.—Any variance granted by a
State under this subsection shall establish a schedule
for the installation and operation of BAAT within a
period not to exceed 2 years after the issuance of the
variance, except that the State may grant an exten-
sion of 1 additional year upon application by the
system. The application shall include a showing of
financial or technical need. Variances under this
subsection shall be for a term not to exceed 5 years
(including the period allowed for installation and op-
eration of BAAT), but may be renewed for such ad-
ditional 5-year periods by the State upon a finding
that the criteria in paragraph (4) continued to be
met.
‘‘(6) MICROBIOLOGICAL
CONTAMINANTS.—No
variance may be issued under this subsection for
microbiological contaminants.
‘‘(7) REVIEW.—Any review by the Adminis-
trator under paragraphs (4) and (5) shall be pursu-
ant to subsection (a)(1)(G)(i).’’.
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING CHANGES.—(1)
Section 1415 is amended by striking ‘‘best technology,
treatment techniques, or other means’’ and ‘‘best available
technology, treatment techniques or other means’’ each
place such terms appear and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘best
technology or other means’’.
(2) Section 1415(a)(1)(A) is amended by striking the
third sentence and by striking ‘‘Before a schedule pre-
scribed by a State pursuant to this subparagraph may
take effect’’ and all that follows down to the beginning
of the last sentence.
(3) Section 1415(a)(1)(C) is amended as follows:
(A) Amend the first sentence to read as follows:
‘‘Before a variance is issued and a schedule is pre-
scribed pursuant to this subsection or subsection (e)
by a State, the State shall provide notice and an op-
portunity for a public hearing on the proposed vari-
ance and schedule.’’.
(B) Insert ‘‘under this section’’ before the pe-
riod at the end of the third sentence’’.
(4) Section 1415(a)(1)(D) is amended as follows:
(A) Strike ‘‘under subparagraph (A)’’ and in-
sert ‘‘under this section’’.
(B) Strike ‘‘that subparagraph’’ in each place it
appears and insert in each such place ‘‘this section’’.
(C) Strike the last sentence.
(5) Section 1415(a)(1)(F) is amended by striking ‘‘3-
year’’ and inserting ‘‘5-year’’ and by amending the first
sentence to read as follows: ‘‘Not later than 5 years after
the enactment of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amend-
ments of 1994, the Administrator shall complete a review
of the variances granted under this section (and the sched-
ules prescribed in connection with such variances).’’.
(6) Section 1415(a)(1)(G)(i) is amended by striking
‘‘subparagraph (A) or (B)’’ and inserting ‘‘this section’’.
(7) Section 1415(b) is amended by striking ‘‘para-
graph (1)(B) or (2) of subsection (a)’’ and inserting ‘‘this
section’’.
(8) Section 1415(c) is amended by striking ‘‘sub-
section (a)’’ and inserting ‘‘this section’’.
(9) Section 1415(d) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(d) øREPEALED.¿’’.
SEC. 11. EXEMPTIONS.
(a) SYSTEMS SERVING FEWER THAN 3,300 PER-
SONS.—Section 1416 is amended by adding the following
at the end thereof:
‘‘(h) SMALL SYSTEMS.—(1) For public water systems
serving fewer than 3,300 persons, the maximum exemp-
tion period shall be 4 years if the State is exercising pri-
mary enforcement responsibility for public water systems
and determines that—
‘‘(A) the public water system cannot meet the
maximum contaminant level or install Best Available
Affordable Technology (‘BAAT’) due in either case
to compelling economic circumstances (taking into
consideration the availability of financial assistance
under section 1443(c), relating to State Revolving
Funds) or other compelling circumstances;
‘‘(B) the public water system could not comply
with the maximum contaminant level through the
use of alternate water supplies;
‘‘(C) the granting of the exemption will provide
a drinking water supply that protects public health
given the duration of exemption; and
‘‘(D) the State has met the requirements of
paragraph (2).
‘‘(2)(A) Before issuing an exemption under this sec-
tion or an extension thereof for a small public water sys-
tem described in paragraph (1), the State shall—
‘‘(i) examine the public water system’s tech-
nical, financial, and managerial capability (taking
into consideration any available financial assistance)
to operate in, and maintain compliance with, this
title, and
‘‘(ii) determine if management or restructuring
changes (or both) can reasonably be made that will
result in compliance with this title or, if compliance
cannot be achieved, improve the quality of the drink-
ing water.
‘‘(B) Management changes referred to in subpara-
graph (A) may include rate increases, accounting changes,
the hiring of consultants, the appointment of a technician
with expertise in operating such systems, contractual ar-
rangements for a more efficient and capable system for
joint operation, or other reasonable strategies to improve
viability.
‘‘(C) Restructuring changes referred to in subpara-
graph (A) may include ownership change, physical consoli-
dation with another system, or other measures to other-
wise improve customer base and gain economies of scale.
‘‘(D) If the State determines that management or re-
structuring changes referred to in subparagraph (A) can
reasonably be made, it shall require such changes and a
schedule therefore as a condition of the exemption. If the
State determines to the contrary, the State may still grant
the exemption. The decision of the State under this sub-
paragraph shall not be subject to review by the Adminis-
trator, except as provided in subsection (d).
‘‘(3) Paragraphs (1) and (3) of subsection (a) shall
not apply to an exemption issued under this subsection.
Subparagraph (B) of subsection (b)(2) shall not apply to
an exemption issued under this subsection, but any exemp-
tion granted to such a system may be renewed for addi-
tional 4-year periods upon application of the public water
system and after a determination that the criteria of para-
graphs (1) and (2) of this subsection continue to be met.
‘‘(4) No exemption may be issued under this section
for microbiological contaminants.’’.
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) Section 1416(b)(1) is amended by striking ‘‘prescribed
by a State pursuant to this subsection’’ and inserting
‘‘prescribed by a State pursuant to this subsection or sub-
section (h)’’.
(2) Section 1416(c) is amended by striking ‘‘under
subsection (a)’’ and inserting ‘‘under this section’’ and by
striking ‘‘including’’ in the second sentence and inserting
‘‘including, in the case of an exemption under subsection
(a),’’.
(3) Section 1416(d)(1) is amended by striking ‘‘3-
year’’ and inserting ‘‘4-year’’ and by amending the first
sentence to read as follows: ‘‘Not later than 4 years after
the date of enactment of the Safe Drinking Water Act
Amendments of 1994, the Administrator shall complete a
comprehensive review of the exemptions granted (and
schedules prescribed pursuant thereto) by the States dur-
ing the 4-year period beginning on such date.’’.
(4) Section 1416(b)(2)(C) is repealed.
(c) SYSTEMS SERVING MORE THAN 3,300 PER-
SONS.—Section 1416(b)(2)(A)(ii) is amended by striking
‘‘12 months’’ and inserting ‘‘4 years’’ and section
1416(b)(2)(B) is amended by striking ‘‘3 years after the
date of the issuance of the exemption’’ and inserting ‘‘4
years after the expiration of the initial exemption’’.
SEC. 12. PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM VIABILITY.
Part B is amended by adding the following at the
end thereof:
‘‘SEC. 1419. PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM VIABILITY.
‘‘(a) EPA GUIDELINES.—Within 18 months after the
enactment of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments
of 1994, the Administrator shall issue guidelines for pur-
poses of subsection (b) for State programs to bring public
water systems into compliance with this title and to main-
tain such compliance. The guidelines shall be developed
in consultation with the States.
‘‘(b) STATE PROGRAMS TO ASSURE VIABILITY.—
Within 2 years after issuance of guidelines under sub-
section (a), each State exercising primary enforcement re-
sponsibility for public water systems shall develop and im-
plement a comprehensive program to assure the viability
of community and noncommunity nontransient public
water systems within that State which are subject to the
provisions of subsection (e). The program shall be treated
as approved by the Administrator unless disapproved by
the Administrator within 6 months after the date of its
submittal. If disapproved it may be resubmitted in accord-
ance with section 1428(c).
‘‘(c) FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE
FOR
SMALL
SYS-
TEMS.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), no fi-
nancial assistance may be provided from funds made avail-
able under section 1443(c) to any public water system in
operation on the date of enactment of the Safe Drinking
Water Act Amendments of 1994 that—
‘‘(A) serves fewer than 10,000 persons, and
‘‘(B) has a history of violations of monitoring
requirements or violations of national primary drink-
ing water regulations,
unless the State determines whether the public water sys-
tem has, or will have, the technical, managerial, and finan-
cial capability to operate in compliance, and maintain com-
pliance, with this title. Such determination shall be based
on such information as the public water system may pro-
vide to the State and such other information as may be
available to the State. In making such determination the
State shall take into consideration the financial assistance
which may be available to the public water system.
‘‘(2)(A) If the State determines under paragraph (1)
that a public water system lacks the capability referred
to in paragraph (1), the State shall require adoption by
the system of management or restructuring changes or
both before providing funding to the system under section
1443(c), except as provided in subparagraph (B). Manage-
ment changes may include rate increases, accounting
changes, the hiring of consultants, the appointment of a
technician with expertise in operating such systems, con-
tractual arrangements for a more efficient and capable
system for joint operation, or other reasonable strategies
to improve viability. Restructuring changes may include
ownership change, physical consolidation with another sys-
tem, or other measures to otherwise improve customer
base and gain economies of scale.
‘‘(B) If the State determines under paragraph (1)
that a system lacks the capability referred to in paragraph
(1), funds provided under section 1443(c) (relating to
State Revolving Funds) shall be available only to support
such physical consolidation.
‘‘(d) NEW SYSTEMS.—No financial assistance of any
kind may be provided under this title to any public water
system that is established, and begins operations, in any
State after the enactment of the Safe Drinking Water Act
Amendments of 1994, unless the Administrator deter-
mines that the State has an effective operating permit pro-
gram or other means to ensure, before commencing oper-
ation, that the system has the management and technical
capacity and financial capability, taking into account its
customer base and other relevant factors, to comply and
maintain compliance with the applicable requirements of
this title. No change in the ownership of a public water
system shall result in the application of the prohibition
contained in this subsection to such system.
‘‘(e) STATE VIABILITY ASSESSMENTS.—(1) Before
the end of the first full fiscal year after the enactment
of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1994,
each State shall establish a program for assessing, over
a 5-year period, the long-term technical, managerial, and
financial capability of community and nontransient
noncommunity public water systems serving fewer than
10,000 persons that are in violation of this title or may
be in jeopardy of not maintaining compliance with this
title. The State shall establish a schedule for determining
which systems to include in the assessment program.
‘‘(2) The assessment program referred to in para-
graph (1) shall include any public water system that has
been in significant noncompliance (as defined in guidelines
issued prior to the enactment of the Safe Drinking Water
Act Amendments of 1994 or any revisions thereof and in
national primary drinking water regulations promulgated
after such date of enactment) or violated any maximum
contaminant level or treatment technique, any variance,
or any exemption under this title during the 2 years prior
to the date on which the State makes a determination (in
accordance with the schedule under in paragraph (1)) re-
garding whether to include such system in the assessment
program.
‘‘(3) For all public water systems referred to in para-
graph (1) (other than those referred to in paragraph (2)),
the State shall establish, in consultation with the Adminis-
trator, a system of priorities, as part of the program for
conducting assessments, where there has been other non-
compliance during such 2-year period which the State con-
siders serious. The State shall publish such priorities and
file them with the Administrator. The State, in its discre-
tion and considering its resources, may, but is not required
to, conduct assessments of public water systems which are
in compliance during such period.
‘‘(f) WAIVER.—The Administrator may waive any re-
quirements of this section in the case of a State viability
program adopted before the enactment of this section if
the Administrator finds that such State viability program
is fully achieving the objectives of this section.
‘‘(g) AVAILABILITY
OF SRF FUNDS.—Unless the
State has—
‘‘(1) prior to the end of the first full fiscal year
after the enactment of the Safe Drinking Water Act
Amendments of 1994, established a program meet-
ing the requirements of subsection (e), and
‘‘(2) beginning with the third fiscal year after
the Administrator issues guidelines under subsection
(a), developed and implemented an approved pro-
gram under subsection (b),
only 50 percent of the funds that would otherwise be allo-
cated to that State under section 1443(c) (relating to
State Revolving Funds) may be made available to the
State.
‘‘(h) EPA REVIEW.—The decisions of the State
under this section regarding any particular public water
system are not subject to review by the Administrator.’’.
SEC. 13. SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT AND PETITION PRO-
GRAM.
(a) GUIDELINES AND PROGRAMS.—Section 1428 is
amended by adding ‘‘AND
SOURCE
WATER’’ after
‘‘WELLHEAD’’ in the section heading and by adding at
the end thereof the following:
‘‘(l) SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT.—
‘‘(1) GUIDANCE.—Within 12 months after en-
actment of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amend-
ments of 1994, after notice and comment, the Ad-
ministrator shall publish guidance for States exercis-
ing primary enforcement responsibility for public
water systems to carry out directly or through dele-
gation (for the protection and benefit of public water
systems and for the support of monitoring flexibility)
a source water assessment program within the
State’s boundaries.
‘‘(2) 
PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS.—A 
source
water assessment program under this subsection
shall—
‘‘(A) delineate the boundaries of the as-
sessment areas in such State from which one or
more public water systems in the State receive
supplies of drinking water, using all reasonably
available hydrogeologic information on the
sources of the supply of drinking water in the
State and the water flow, recharge, and dis-
charge and any other reliable information as
the State deems necessary to adequately deter-
mine such areas; and
‘‘(B) identify for contaminants regulated
under this title for which monitoring is required
under this title (or any unregulated contami-
nants which the State, for the purposes of this
subsection, has determined to present an urgent
threat to public health), to the extent practical,
the origins within each delineated area of such
contaminants to determine the susceptibility of
the public water systems in the delineated area
to such contaminants.
‘‘(3) APPROVAL, IMPLEMENTATION, AND MON-
ITORING RELIEF.—A State source water assessment
program under this subsection shall be submitted to
the Administrator within 18 months after the Ad-
ministrator’s guidance is issued under this sub-
section and shall be deemed approved 9 months
after the date of such submittal unless the Adminis-
trator disapproves the program as provided in sub-
section (c). States shall begin implementation of the
program immediately after its approval. The Admin-
istrator’s approval of a State program under this
subsection shall include a timetable, established in
consultation with the State, allowing not more than
2 years for completion after approval of the pro-
gram. Public water systems seeking monitoring relief
in addition to the interim relief provided under sec-
tion 1418(a) shall be eligible for monitoring relief,
consistent with section 1418(b), upon completion of
the assessment in the delineated source water as-
sessment area or areas concerned.
‘‘(4) TIMETABLE.—The timetable referred to in
paragraph (3) shall take into consideration the avail-
ability to the State of funds under section 1443(c)
(relating to State Revolving Funds) for assessments
and other relevant factors. The Administrator may
extend any timetable included in a State program
approved under paragraph (3) to extend the period
for completion by an additional 18 months. The
timetable shall be deemed to be part of the guidance
published under paragraph (1) and shall be subject
to section 1450(j). Compliance with subsection (g)
shall not affect any State permanent monitoring
flexibility program approved under section 1418(b).
To avoid duplication and to encourage efficiency, the
program shall, to the extent practicable, be coordi-
nated with other existing programs and mechanisms,
including the wellhead protection program, vulner-
ability assessments, sanitary surveys, and monitor-
ing programs.
‘‘(5) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.—The Admin-
istrator shall, as soon as practicable, conduct a dem-
onstration project, in consultation with other Fed-
eral agencies, to demonstrate the most effective and
protective means of assessing and protecting source
waters serving large metropolitan areas and located
on Federal lands.
‘‘(m) PETITION PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) SUBMISSION
OF
PETITIONS.—Within 18
months after publication by the Administrator of
guidance under subsection (l), each State exercising
primary enforcement responsibility shall adopt and
submit to the Administrator a source water petition
program. A petition under such program may re-
quest that the State assist in addressing the origins
of contaminants regulated under this title (or un-
regulated contaminants for which the State has de-
termined, for purposes of this section, that there is
an urgent threat to public health) and that are not
adequately addressed by the wellhead protection pro-
gram or other programs. The origins of such con-
taminants may include, to the extent practicable, the
specific activities that affect the drinking water sup-
ply of a community. Such program shall also include
provisions for voluntary partnerships, including
those in which public water systems and local gov-
ernments participate and submit petitions. The pro-
gram shall provide for public notice of petitions.
‘‘(2) CONTENTS OF PETITIONS.—Petitions sub-
mitted to the State under this subsection may seek
assistance in directing, or redirecting, consistent
with applicable program authorities administrative,
technical, or financial resources to address the ori-
gins of drinking water contaminants regulated under
this title (or unregulated contaminants for which the
State has determined, for purposes of this section,
that there is an urgent threat to public health) and
that are not adequately addressed by the wellhead
protection program or other programs. Any such pe-
tition shall, at a minimum—
‘‘(A) include delineation of the source
water area covered by the petition, based on the
source water assessment delineation areas set
forth in subsection (l)(2)(A);
‘‘(B) based on reasonably available data,
identify the nature of the problem that is the
basis for the petition;
‘‘(C) to the extent practicable, identify the
origins of such drinking water contaminants;
and
‘‘(D) identify any missing data necessary
to adequately characterize the problem that is
the basis of the petition.
Identification of a contaminant or contaminants in
a petition shall be contaminant specific. Contami-
nants may be combined in a single petition. The
State may elect to waive the requirement for the pe-
titioner to meet subparagraph (D).
‘‘(3) RESPONSE TO PETITIONS.—Each State re-
ceiving a petition under this subsection shall respond
to the petition in an expeditious manner unless the
State determines, in its discretion, that the petition
is frivolous. The State response may include, as ap-
propriate, utilization and coordination of programs,
technical assistance, financial assistance, education,
training, contingency plans and demonstration
projects for the delineated areas to protect the
drinking water supply of systems within those areas
from such contaminants. Nothing in this paragraph
is intended or shall be interpreted to create or con-
vey any new authority in any State, political subdivi-
sion of a State, or public water system for any con-
trol measure or limit in any way any authority of a
State, political subdivision of a State, or water sys-
tem.
‘‘(4) APPROVAL OF PETITION PROGRAM.—The
Administrator’s approval of a State source water pe-
tition program under this subsection is not required
unless the State uses grant funds under section
1443(c) (relating to State Revolving Funds) to
adopt and implement the program. The State may
use grants allotted to the State under section
1443(c) for such purposes only with the approval of
the Administrator. If adopted with the use of funds
made available under section 1443(c) by a State ex-
ercising primary enforcement responsibility for pub-
lic water systems, the State shall comply with the
delineation requirements set forth in subsection
(l)(2)(A) and the program shall contain, as appro-
priate, one or more of the elements referred to in
section 1428(a)(4).’’.
(b) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.—Subsection (b) of sec-
tion 1428 is amended by adding the following at the end
thereof: ‘‘No funds shall be available to the State under
section 1443(c) (relating to State Revolving Funds) for
the purpose of carrying out a State source water petition
program unless the State procedures referred to in this
section also apply to any State source water petition pro-
gram adopted under subsection (m).’’.
(c) APPROVAL AND DISAPPROVAL OF STATE PRO-
GRAMS.—Section 1428 is amended as follows:
(1) Amend the first sentence of subsection
(c)(1) to read as follows: ‘‘If, in the judgment of the
Administrator, a State program or portion thereof
under subsection (a) is not adequate to protect pub-
lic water systems as required by subsection (a) or a
State program under subsection (l) or (m) or section
1418(b) does not meet the applicable requirements
of subsection (l), (m) or section 1418(b), the Admin-
istrator shall disapprove such program or portion
thereof.’’.
(2) Add after the second sentence of subsection
(c)(1) the following: ‘‘A State program developed
pursuant to subsection (l) or (m) or section 1418(b)
shall be deemed to meet the applicable requirements
of subsection (l), (m) or section 1418(b) unless the
Administrator determines within 9 months of the re-
ceipt of the program that such program (or portion
thereof) does not meet such requirements.’’.
(3) In the third sentence of subsection (c)(1)
and in subsection (c)(2) strike ‘‘is inadequate’’ and
insert ‘‘is disapproved’’.
(4) Add the following at the end of subsection
(c)(1): ‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of this
subsection, the provisions of this subsection shall
apply to source water petition programs under sub-
section (m) only if the State uses grants under sec-
tion 1443(c) (relating to State Revolving Funds) for
such program.’’.
(5) In subsection (b), add the following before
the period at the end of the first sentence: ‘‘and
source water assessment programs under subsection
(l)’’.
(6) In subsection (g)—
(A) insert after ‘‘under this section’’ the
following: ‘‘, State source water assessment pro-
grams under subsection (l) and State petition
programs under subsection (m) for which the
State uses grants under section 1443(c) (relat-
ing to State Revolving Funds)’’; and
(B) strike ‘‘Such’’ in the last sentence and
inserting ‘‘In the case of wellhead protection
programs, such’’.
SEC. 14. MONITORING OF REGULATED CONTAMINANTS.
Part B is amended by adding the following after sec-
tion 1417:
‘‘SEC. 1418. MONITORING OF CONTAMINANTS.
‘‘(a) INTERIM MONITORING RELIEF AUTHORITY.—
(1) A State exercising primary enforcement responsibility
for public water systems may modify the monitoring re-
quirements for—
‘‘(A) regulated chemical pesticide contaminants,
‘‘(B) polychlorinated byphenyls,
‘‘(C) dioxin, and
‘‘(D) unregulated contaminants for which mon-
itoring is required under phase II as set forth on
January 30, 1991, in volume 56 of the Federal Reg-
ister, page 3526 and phase V as set forth on July
17, 1992, in volume 57 of the Federal Register,
page 31776
for an interim period to provide that any public water sys-
tem serving 3,300 persons or fewer shall not be required
to conduct additional quarterly monitoring during an in-
terim relief period for such contaminants if—
‘‘(i) monitoring, conducted at the beginning of
the period for the contaminant concerned and cer-
tified to the State by the public water system, fails
to detect the presence of the contaminant in the
ground or surface water supplying the public water
system, and
‘‘(ii) the State, (considering the hydrogeology of
the area and other relevant factors), determines in
writing that the contaminant is unlikely to be de-
tected by further monitoring during such period.
‘‘(2) The interim relief period referred to in para-
graph (1) shall terminate when permanent monitoring re-
lief is adopted and approved for such State, or at the end
of 36 months after the enactment of the Safe Drinking
Water Act Amendments of 1994, whichever comes first.
In order to serve as a basis for interim relief, the monitor-
ing conducted at the beginning of the period must occur
at the time determined by the State to be the time of the
public water system’s greatest vulnerability to the con-
taminant concerned in the relevant ground or surface
water, taking into account in the case of pesticides the
time of application of the pesticide for the source water
area and the travel time for the pesticide to reach such
waters and taking into account, in the case of other con-
taminants, seasonality of precipitation and contaminant
travel time.
‘‘(b) PERMANENT MONITORING RELIEF AUTHOR-
ITY.—(1) Each State exercising primary enforcement re-
sponsibility for public water systems under this title and
having an approved wellhead protection program and a
source water assessment program may adopt, in accord-
ance with guidance published by the Administrator, and
submit to the Administrator as provided in section
1428(c), tailored alternative monitoring requirements for
public water systems in such State (as an alternative to
the monitoring requirements specified in the Administra-
tor’s standardized monitoring framework for chemical con-
taminants and the applicable national primary drinking
water regulations) where the State concludes that (based
on data available at the time of adoption concerning sus-
ceptibility, use, occurrence, wellhead protection, or from
the State’s drinking water source water assessment pro-
gram) such alternative monitoring would provide assur-
ance that it complies with the Administrator’s guidelines.
The State program must be adequate to assure compliance
with, and enforcement of, applicable national primary
drinking water regulations. Alternative monitoring shall
not apply to regulated microbiological contaminants, dis-
infectants and disinfection by-products, or corrosion by-
products. The preceding sentence is not intended to limit
other authority of the Administrator under other provi-
sions of this title to grant monitoring flexibility.
‘‘(2)(A) The Administrator shall issue, after notice
and comment and at the same time as guidelines are is-
sued for source water assessment under section 1428(l),
guidelines for States to follow in proposing alternative re-
quirements to the standardized monitoring framework for
chemical contaminants. The Administrator shall publish
such framework in the Federal Register. The guidelines
shall assure that the public health will be protected from
drinking water contamination. The guidelines shall require
that a State alternative monitoring program apply on a
contaminant-by-contaminant basis and that, to be eligible
for such alternative monitoring program, a public water
system must show the State that the contaminant is not
present in the drinking water supply or, if present, it is
reliably and consistently below the maximum contaminant
level.
‘‘(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the phrase
‘reliably and consistently below the maximum contaminant
level’ means that, although contaminants have been de-
tected in a water supply, the State has sufficient knowl-
edge of the contamination source and extent of contamina-
tion to predict that the maximum contaminant level will
not be exceeded. In determining that a contaminant is reli-
ably and consistently below the maximum contaminant
level, States shall consider the quality and completeness
of data, the length of time covered and the volatility or
stability of monitoring results during that time, and the
proximity of such results to the maximum contaminant
level. Wide variations in the analytical results, or analyt-
ical results close to the maximum contaminant level, shall
not be considered to be reliably and consistently below the
maximum contaminant level.
‘‘(3) The guidelines issued by the Administrator
under paragraph (2) shall require that if, after the mon-
itoring program is in effect and operating, a contaminant
covered by the alternative monitoring program is detected
at levels at or above the maximum contaminant level or
is no longer reliably or consistently below the maximum
contaminant level, the public water system must either—
‘‘(A) 
demonstrate 
that 
the 
contamination
source has been removed or that other action has
been taken to eliminate the contamination problem,
or
‘‘(B) test for the detected contaminant pursu-
ant to the applicable national primary drinking
water regulation.
‘‘(c) TREATMENT AS NPDWR.—All monitoring relief
granted by a State to a public water system for a regu-
lated contaminant under subsection (a) or (b) shall be
treated as part of the national primary drinking water reg-
ulation for that contaminant.
‘‘(d) OTHER MONITORING RELIEF.—Nothing in this
section shall be construed to affect the authority of the
States under the standard monitoring framework for
chemical contaminants and under applicable national pri-
mary drinking water regulations to alter monitoring re-
quirements through waivers in effect at the time of the
enactment of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments
of 1994. States are encouraged to use such authority.’’.
SEC. 15. FEDERAL FACILITIES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part C is amended by adding at
the end thereof the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 1429. FEDERAL FACILITIES.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Each department, agency, and
instrumentality of the executive, legislative, and judicial
branches of the Federal Government—
‘‘(1) owning or operating any facility in a well-
head protection area,
‘‘(2) engaged in any activity at such facility re-
sulting, or which may result, in the contamination of
water supplies in any such area, or
‘‘(3) owning or operating any public water sys-
tem
shall be subject to, and comply with, all Federal, State,
interstate, and local requirements, both substantive and
procedural (including any requirement for permits or re-
porting or any provisions for injunctive relief and such
sanctions as may be imposed by a court to enforce such
relief), respecting the protection of such wellhead areas
and respecting such public water systems in the same
manner and to the same extent as any person is subject
to such requirements, including the payment of reasonable
service charges. The Federal, State, interstate, and local
substantive and procedural requirements referred to in
this subsection include, but are not limited to, all adminis-
trative orders and all civil and administrative penalties
and fines, regardless of whether such penalties or fines
are punitive or coercive in nature or are imposed for iso-
lated, intermittent, or continuing violations. The United
States hereby expressly waives any immunity otherwise
applicable to the United States with respect to any such
substantive or procedural requirement (including, but not
limited to, any injunctive relief, administrative order or
civil or administrative penalty or fine referred to in the
preceding sentence, or reasonable service charge). The rea-
sonable service charges referred to in this subsection in-
clude, but are not limited to, fees or charges assessed in
connection with the processing and issuance of permits,
renewal of permits, amendments to permits, review of
plans, studies, and other documents, and inspection and
monitoring of facilities, as well as any other nondiscrim-
inatory charges that are assessed in connection with a
Federal, State, interstate, or local regulatory program re-
specting the protection of wellhead areas or public water
systems. Neither the United States, nor any agent, em-
ployee, or officer thereof, shall be immune or exempt from
any process or sanction of any State or Federal Court with
respect to the enforcement of any such injunctive relief.
No agent, employee, or officer of the United States shall
be personally liable for any civil penalty under any Fed-
eral, State, interstate, or local law concerning the protec-
tion of wellhead areas or public water systems with respect
to any act or omission within the scope of the official du-
ties of the agent, employee, or officer. An agent, employee,
or officer of the United States shall be subject to any
criminal sanction (including, but not limited to, any fine
or imprisonment) under any Federal or State requirement
adopted pursuant to this title, but no department, agency,
or instrumentality of the executive, legislative, or judicial
branch of the Federal Government shall be subject to any
such sanction. The President may exempt any facility of
any department, agency, or instrumentality in the execu-
tive branch from compliance with such a requirement if
he determines it to be in the paramount interest of the
United States to do so. No such exemption shall be grant-
ed due to lack of appropriation unless the President shall
have specifically requested such appropriation as a part
of the budgetary process and the Congress shall have
failed to make available such requested appropriation. Any
exemption shall be for a period not in excess of 1 year,
but additional exemptions may be granted for periods not
to exceed 1 year upon the President’s making a new deter-
mination. The President shall report each January to the
Congress all exemptions from the requirements of this sec-
tion granted during the preceding calendar year, together
with his reason for granting each such exemption.
‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS.—
(1) The Administrator may commence an administrative
enforcement action against any department, agency, or in-
strumentality of the executive, legislative, or judicial
branch of the Federal Government subject to the provi-
sions of subsection (a) pursuant to the enforcement au-
thorities contained in this title. The Administrator shall
initiate an administrative enforcement action against such
a department, agency, or instrumentality in the same
manner and under the same circumstances as an action
would be initiated against another person. Any voluntary
resolution or settlement of such an action shall be set forth
in a consent order.
‘‘(2) No administrative order issued to such a depart-
ment, agency, or instrumentality shall become final until
such department, agency, or instrumentality has had the
opportunity to confer with the Administrator.
‘‘(c) LIMITATION ON STATE USE OF FUNDS COL-
LECTED FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.—Unless a State
law in effect on the date of the enactment of the Safe
Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1994 or a State con-
stitution requires the funds to be used in a different man-
ner, all funds collected by a State from the Federal Gov-
ernment from penalties and fines imposed for violation of
any substantive or procedural requirement referred to in
subsection (a) shall be used by the State only for projects
designed to improve or protect the environment or to de-
fray the costs of environmental protection or enforce-
ment.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 1447(a) is
amended as follows:
(1) By striking out ‘‘(1) having jurisdiction over
any federally owned or maintained public water sys-
tem or (2)’’.
(2) By striking out ‘‘respecting the provision of
safe drinking water and’’.
(3) Section 1447(c) is amended by striking out
‘‘the Safe Drinking Water Amendments of 1977’’
and inserting ‘‘this title’’ and by striking ‘‘this Act’’
and inserting ‘‘this title’’.
SEC. 16. EMERGENCY POWERS.
Section 1431(b) is amended by striking out ‘‘$5,000’’
and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘$15,000’’.
SEC. 17. TAMPERING.
Section 1432 is amended as follows:
(1) In subsection (d), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the
end of paragraph (1) and by striking paragraph (2)
and inserting the following:
‘‘(2) to knowingly and deliberately interfere
with the operation of a public water system with the
intent to cause economic harm to the system or
cause the system to violate this title; or
‘‘(3) to knowingly and deliberately render inac-
curate a monitoring device with the intent to falsify
monitoring results.’’.
(2) By adding at the end the following:
‘‘(e) FAILURE TO REPORT.—Any owner or operator
of a public water system who knowingly and deliberately
fails to report for more than 90 days to the State with
primary enforcement responsibility for public water sys-
tems, or to the public as required by this title, or to the
Administrator, a violation of a maximum contaminant
level or treatment technique shall be subject to a fine of
not more than $10,000, imprisonment for not more than
2 years, or both, except that failure to comply with the
exact form and contents of a notice shall not be considered
a failure to report which is subject to enforcement under
this subsection.
‘‘(f) FALSE STATEMENTS.—State requirements ap-
plicable to public water systems in States with primary
enforcement responsibility for public water systems under
this title, or requirements of the Administrator under this
title, respecting statements, representations, writings, or
documents shall be construed to be subject to the provi-
sions of section 1001 of title 18 of the United States Code
and for such purposes such requirements shall be treated
as a matter within the jurisdiction of a department or
agency of the United States and solely for that purpose
such State shall be treated as a Federal department or
agency.’’.
SEC. 18. FUNDS FOR SAFE DRINKING WATER.
(a) STATE REVOLVING FUNDS.—Section 1443 is
amended by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d)
and by adding the following new subsection after sub-
section (b):
‘‘(c) STATE REVOLVING FUNDS.—
‘‘(1) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—
‘‘(A) GRANTS TO STATES TO ESTABLISH
REVOLVING
FUNDS.—The Administrator shall
enter into agreements with States to make cap-
italization grants, including letters of credit, to
the States under this subsection solely to fur-
ther the health protection objectives of this
title, promote the efficient use of fund re-
sources, and for such other purposes as speci-
fied in this title. The grants shall be deposited
in drinking water treatment revolving funds es-
tablished by the State, except as otherwise pro-
vided in this subsection and in other provisions
of this title. No portion of any specific percent-
age amount of such grants referred to in para-
graph (5), (8), or (9) or authorized by other
provisions of this title to be used for other pur-
poses specified in this title shall be deposited in
any State revolving fund. All such grants shall
be allotted to the States in the same manner as
funds are allotted to States under subsection
(a)(4), except as provided in paragraph (8) and
except that the State allotment for a State not
exercising primary enforcement responsibility
for public water systems shall not be deposited
in any such fund but shall be allotted by the
Administrator as follows: 30 percent of such al-
lotment shall be available to the Administrator
as needed to exercise primary enforcement re-
sponsibility under this title in such State and
the remainder shall be reallotted to States exer-
cising primary enforcement responsibility for
public water systems for deposit in such funds.
Whenever the Administrator makes a final de-
termination pursuant to section 1413(b) that
the requirements of section 1413(a) are no
longer being met by a State, additional grants
for such State under this title shall be imme-
diately terminated by the Administrator.
‘‘(B) USE OF FUNDS.—Except as other-
wise authorized by this title, amounts deposited
in such revolving funds, including loan repay-
ments and interest earned on such amounts,
shall be used only for providing loans or other
financial assistance of any kind or nature that
the State deems appropriate to public water
systems. Such financial assistance may be used
by a public water system only for expenditures
(not including monitoring, operation, and main-
tenance expenditures) of a type or category
which 
the 
Administrator 
has 
determined,
through guidance, will facilitate compliance with
national primary drinking water regulations ap-
plicable to such system under section 1412 or
otherwise significantly further the health pro-
tection objectives of this title. Such financial as-
sistance may be used for acquisition from will-
ing sellers, at fair market value, of real prop-
erty or interests therein which are integral to
such systems. 15 percent of the amount cred-
ited to any revolving fund established under
this section in any fiscal year shall be available
solely for providing loan assistance to public
water systems which regularly serve fewer than
10,000 persons.
‘‘(C) FUND
MANAGEMENT.—Each State
revolving fund under this subsection shall be es-
tablished, maintained, and credited with repay-
ments and interest. The fund corpus shall be
available in perpetuity for providing financial
assistance under this section. To the extent
amounts in each such fund are not required for
current obligation or expenditure, such amounts
shall be invested in interest bearing obligations
of the State or of the United States.
‘‘(D) GRANTS FROM REVOLVING FUNDS.—
A State may not provide assistance in the form
of grants from a State revolving fund estab-
lished under this subsection in an aggregate
amount which exceeds the sum of the interest
collected on deposits in such State revolving
fund plus amounts deposited in such fund by
the State pursuant to paragraph (3). Such
grants may only be made to public water sys-
tems owned by a governmental or inter-govern-
mental agency, a non-profit organization, an In-
dian tribe, or any combination thereof which
the State finds to be experiencing financial
hardship.
‘‘(E) INVESTOR-OWNED
PUBLIC
WATER
SYSTEMS.—In the case of any public water sys-
tem not owned by a governmental or inter-gov-
ernmental agency, a non-profit organization, an
Indian tribe, or any combination thereof, the
State may provide assistance from a State re-
volving fund under this subsection according to
priorities established by the State based on the
greatest public health needs and financial need.
The State may provide loan assistance to any
such system from such a State revolving fund
only after making a determination that the sys-
tem has the ability to repay the loan according
to its terms and conditions. States are author-
ized to require such systems to identify a dedi-
cated source for repayment of the loans and to
impose such other requirements as may be nec-
essary to assure loan repayment.
‘‘(2) SPECIFIC
REQUIREMENT.—No loan or
other financial assistance may be provided to a pub-
lic water system from a revolving fund established
under this subsection to be used for any expenditure
that could be avoided or significantly reduced by ap-
propriate consolidation of that public water system
with any other public water system, except that in