1662 of the 115th Congress (S. Rept. 115–139), the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy developed a 
coordinated cross-agency plan for addressing critical 
research gaps related to detecting, assessing expo-
sure to, and identifying the adverse health effects of 
emerging contaminants in drinking water; and 
(8) it is vital that legislators, regulatory offi-
cials, public water system owners and operators, sci-
entists, and environmental advocacy groups continue 
to work to ensure that the public water systems of 
the United States are among the safest in the world. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
(2) CONTAMINANT.—The term ‘‘contaminant’’ 
means any physical, chemical, biological, or radio-
logical substance or matter in water. 
(3) CONTAMINANT
OF
EMERGING
CONCERN; 
EMERGING
CONTAMINANT.—The terms ‘‘contami-
nant of emerging concern’’ and ‘‘emerging contami-
nant’’ mean a contaminant— 
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(A) for which the Administrator has not 
promulgated a national primary drinking water 
regulation; and 
(B) that may have an adverse effect on the 
health of individuals. 
(4) FEDERAL RESEARCH STRATEGY.—The term 
‘‘Federal research strategy’’ means the cross-agency 
plan described in section 2(7). 
(5) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT.— 
The term ‘‘technical assistance and support’’ in-
cludes— 
(A) assistance with— 
(i) identifying appropriate analytical 
methods for the detection of contaminants; 
(ii) understanding the strengths and 
limitations of the analytical methods de-
scribed in clause (i); and 
(iii) troubleshooting the analytical 
methods described in clause (i); 
(B) providing advice on laboratory certifi-
cation program elements; 
(C) interpreting sample analysis results; 
(D) providing training with respect to 
proper analytical techniques; 
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(E) identifying appropriate technology for 
the treatment of contaminants; and 
(F) analyzing samples, if— 
(i) the analysis cannot be otherwise 
obtained in a practicable manner other-
wise; and 
(ii) the capability and capacity to per-
form the analysis is available at a Federal 
facility. 
(6) WORKING
GROUP.—The term ‘‘Working 
Group’’ means the Working Group established under 
section 4(b)(1). 
SEC. 4. RESEARCH AND COORDINATION PLAN FOR EN-
HANCED RESPONSE ON EMERGING CONTAMI-
NANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall— 
(1) review Federal efforts— 
(A) to identify, monitor, and assist in the 
development of treatment methods for emerging 
contaminants; and 
(B) to assist States in responding to the 
human health risks posed by contaminants of 
emerging concern; and 
(2) in collaboration with owners and operators 
of public water systems, States, and other interested 
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stakeholders, establish a strategic plan for improving 
the Federal efforts referred to in paragraph (1). 
(b) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON EMERGING 
CONTAMINANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
and the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall jointly establish a Working Group to coordinate 
the activities of the Federal Government to identify 
and analyze the public health effects of drinking 
water contaminants of emerging concern. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Working Group shall 
include representatives of the following: 
(A) The Environmental Protection Agency, 
appointed by the Administrator. 
(B) The following agencies, appointed by 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services: 
(i) The National Institutes of Health. 
(ii) The Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention. 
(iii) The Agency for Toxic Substances 
and Disease Registry. 
(C) The United States Geological Survey, 
appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. 
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(D) Any other Federal agency the assist-
ance of which the Administrator determines to 
be necessary to carry out this subsection, ap-
pointed by the head of the respective agency. 
(3) EXISTING WORKING GROUP.—The Adminis-
trator may expand or modify the duties of an exist-
ing working group to perform the duties of the 
Working Group under this subsection. 
(c) NATIONAL EMERGING CONTAMINANT RESEARCH 
INITIATIVE.— 
(1) FEDERAL RESEARCH STRATEGY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Di-
rector of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy (referred to in this subsection as the 
‘‘Director’’) shall coordinate with the heads of 
the agencies described in subparagraph (C) to 
establish a research initiative, to be known as 
the ‘‘National Emerging Contaminant Research 
Initiative’’, that shall— 
(i) use the Federal research strategy 
to improve the identification, analysis, 
monitoring, and treatment methods of con-
taminants of emerging concern; and 
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(ii) develop any necessary program, 
policy, or budget to support the implemen-
tation of the Federal research strategy, in-
cluding mechanisms for joint agency review 
of research proposals, for interagency co-
funding of research activities, and for in-
formation sharing across agencies. 
(B) RESEARCH
ON
EMERGING
CONTAMI-
NANTS.—In carrying out subparagraph (A), the 
Director shall— 
(i) take into consideration consensus 
conclusions from peer-reviewed, pertinent 
research on emerging contaminants; and 
(ii) in consultation with the Adminis-
trator, identify priority emerging contami-
nants for research emphasis. 
(C) FEDERAL PARTICIPATION.—The agen-
cies referred to in subparagraph (A) include— 
(i) the National Science Foundation; 
(ii) the National Institutes of Health; 
(iii) the Environmental Protection 
Agency; 
(iv) the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology; 
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(v) the United States Geological Sur-
vey; and 
(vi) any other Federal agency that 
contributes to research in water quality, 
environmental 
exposures, 
and 
public 
health, as determined by the Director. 
(D) PARTICIPATION
FROM
ADDITIONAL 
ENTITIES.—In carrying out subparagraph (A), 
the Director shall consult with nongovernmental 
organizations, State and local governments, and 
science and research institutions determined by 
the Director to have scientific or material inter-
est in the National Emerging Contaminant Re-
search Initiative. 
(2) IMPLEMENTATION
OF
RESEARCH
REC-
OMMENDATIONS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date on which the Director and heads 
of the agencies described in paragraph (1)(C) 
establish the National Emerging Contaminant 
Research Initiative under paragraph (1)(A), the 
head of each agency described in paragraph 
(1)(C) shall— 
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(i) issue a solicitation for research 
proposals consistent with the Federal re-
search strategy; and 
(ii) make grants to applicants that 
submit research proposals selected by the 
National Emerging Contaminant Research 
Initiative in accordance with subparagraph 
(B). 
(B) 
SELECTION
OF
RESEARCH
PRO-
POSALS.—The National Emerging Contaminant 
Research Initiative shall select research pro-
posals to receive grants under this paragraph 
on the basis of merit, using criteria identified 
by the Director, including the likelihood that 
the proposed research will result in significant 
progress toward achieving the objectives identi-
fied in the Federal research strategy. 
(C) ELIGIBLE
ENTITIES.—Any entity or 
group of two or more entities may submit to the 
head of each agency described in paragraph 
(1)(C) a research proposal in response to the 
solicitation for research proposals described in 
subparagraph (A)(i), including— 
(i) State and local agencies; 
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(ii) public institutions, including pub-
lic institutions of higher education; 
(iii) private corporations; and 
(iv) nonprofit organizations. 
(d) FEDERAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
AND SUP-
PORT FOR STATES.— 
(1) STUDY.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator shall conduct a study on ac-
tions the Administrator can take to increase 
technical assistance and support for States with 
respect to emerging contaminants in drinking 
water samples. 
(B) CONTENTS
OF
STUDY.—In carrying 
out the study described in subparagraph (A), 
the Administrator shall identify— 
(i) methods and effective treatment 
options to increase technical assistance and 
support with respect to emerging contami-
nants to States, including identifying op-
portunities for States to improve commu-
nication with various audiences about the 
risks associated with emerging contami-
nants; 
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(ii) means to facilitate access to quali-
fied contract testing laboratory facilities 
that conduct analyses for emerging con-
taminants; and 
(iii) actions to be carried out at exist-
ing Federal laboratory facilities, including 
the research facilities of the Administrator, 
to provide technical assistance and support 
for States that require testing facilities for 
emerging contaminants. 
(C) AVAILABILITY
OF
ANALYTICAL
RE-
SOURCES.—In carrying out the study described 
in subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall 
consider— 
(i) the availability of— 
(I) Federal and non-Federal lab-
oratory capacity; and 
(II) validated methods to detect 
and analyze contaminants; and 
(ii) other factors determined to be ap-
propriate by the Administrator. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall submit to Congress a report describing the re-
sults of the study described in paragraph (1). 
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(3) PROGRAM
TO
PROVIDE
FEDERAL
ASSIST-
ANCE TO STATES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, based 
on the findings in the report described in para-
graph (2), the Administrator shall develop a 
program to provide technical assistance and 
support to eligible States for the testing and 
analysis of emerging contaminants. 
(B) APPLICATION.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible for 
technical assistance and support under this 
paragraph, a State shall submit to the Ad-
ministrator an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such infor-
mation as the Administrator may require. 
(ii) 
CRITERIA.—The 
Administrator 
shall evaluate an application for technical 
assistance and support under this para-
graph on the basis of merit using criteria 
identified by the Administrator, includ-
ing— 
(I) the laboratory facilities avail-
able to the State; 
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(II) the availability and applica-
bility of existing analytical methodolo-
gies; 
(III) the potency and severity of 
the emerging contaminant, if known; 
and 
(IV) the prevalence and mag-
nitude of the emerging contaminant. 
(iii) PRIORITIZATION.—In selecting 
States to receive technical assistance and 
support under this paragraph, the Admin-
istrator— 
(I) shall give priority to States 
with affected areas primarily in finan-
cially distressed communities; 
(II) may— 
(aa) waive the application 
process in an emergency situa-
tion; and 
(bb) require an abbreviated 
application process for the con-
tinuation of work specified in a 
previously approved application 
that continues to meet the cri-
teria described in clause (ii); and 
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(III) shall consider the relative 
expertise and availability of— 
(aa) Federal and non-Fed-
eral laboratory capacity available 
to the State; 
(bb) 
analytical 
resources 
available to the State; and 
(cc) other types of technical 
assistance available to the State. 
(C) 
DATABASE
OF
AVAILABLE
RE-
SOURCES.—The Administrator shall establish 
and maintain a database of resources available 
through the program developed under subpara-
graph (A) to assist States with testing for 
emerging contaminants that— 
(i) is— 
(I) available to States and stake-
holder groups determined by the Ad-
ministrator to have scientific or mate-
rial interest in emerging contami-
nants, including— 
(aa) drinking water and 
wastewater utilities; 
(bb) laboratories; 
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(cc) Federal and State emer-
gency responders; 
(dd) State primacy agencies; 
(ee) public health agencies; 
and 
(ff) water associations; 
(II) searchable; and 
(III) accessible through the web-
site of the Administrator; and 
(ii) includes a description of— 
(I) qualified contract testing lab-
oratory facilities that conduct analyses 
for emerging contaminants; and 
(II) the resources available in 
Federal laboratory facilities to test for 
emerging contaminants. 
(D) WATER CONTAMINANT INFORMATION 
TOOL.—The Administrator shall integrate the 
database established under subparagraph (C) 
into the Water Contaminant Information Tool 
of the Environmental Protection Agency. 
(4) FUNDING.—Of the amounts available to the 
Administrator, the Administrator may use not more 
than $15,000,000 in a fiscal year to carry out this 
subsection. 
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(e) REPORT.—Not less frequently than once every 2 
years until 2029, the Administrator shall submit to Con-
gress a report that describes the progress made in car-
rying out this Act. 
(f) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section modifies any 
obligation of a State, local government, or Indian Tribe 
with respect to treatment methods for, or testing or moni-
toring of, drinking water. 
Æ 
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