To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide for the assessment and management of the risk of algal toxins in drinking water, and for other purposes.
PL 114-45 (H.R.212), enacted 08/07/2015

129 STAT. 473 
PUBLIC LAW 114–45—AUG. 7, 2015 
Public Law 114–45 
114th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide for the assessment and manage-
ment of the risk of algal toxins in drinking water, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Drinking Water Protection Act’’. 
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Part E of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
U.S.C. 300j et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 1459. ALGAL TOXIN RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT. 
‘‘(a) STRATEGIC PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) DEVELOPMENT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall develop 
and submit to Congress a strategic plan for assessing and 
managing risks associated with algal toxins in drinking water 
provided by public water systems. The strategic plan shall 
include steps and timelines to— 
‘‘(A) evaluate the risk to human health from drinking 
water provided by public water systems contaminated with 
algal toxins; 
‘‘(B) establish, publish, and update a comprehensive 
list of algal toxins which the Administrator determines 
may have an adverse effect on human health when present 
in drinking water provided by public water systems, taking 
into account likely exposure levels; 
‘‘(C) summarize— 
‘‘(i) the known adverse human health effects of 
algal toxins included on the list published under 
subparagraph (B) when present in drinking water pro-
vided by public water systems; and 
‘‘(ii) 
factors 
that 
cause 
toxin-producing 
cyanobacteria and algae to proliferate and express 
toxins; 
‘‘(D) with respect to algal toxins included on the list 
published under subparagraph (B), determine whether to— 
‘‘(i) publish health advisories pursuant to section 
1412(b)(1)(F) for such algal toxins in drinking water 
provided by public water systems; 
Deadline. 
Health and 
health care. 
42 USC 300j–19. 
Drinking Water 
Protection Act. 
42 USC 201 note. 
Aug. 7, 2015 
[H.R. 212] 
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129 STAT. 474 
PUBLIC LAW 114–45—AUG. 7, 2015 
‘‘(ii) establish guidance regarding feasible analyt-
ical methods to quantify the presence of algal toxins; 
and 
‘‘(iii) establish guidance regarding the frequency 
of monitoring necessary to determine if such algal 
toxins are present in drinking water provided by public 
water systems; 
‘‘(E) recommend feasible treatment options, including 
procedures, equipment, and source water protection prac-
tices, to mitigate any adverse public health effects of algal 
toxins included on the list published under subparagraph 
(B); and 
‘‘(F) enter into cooperative agreements with, and pro-
vide technical assistance to, affected States and public 
water systems, as identified by the Administrator, for the 
purpose of managing risks associated with algal toxins 
included on the list published under subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(2) UPDATES.—The Administrator shall, as appropriate, 
update and submit to Congress the strategic plan developed 
under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(b) INFORMATION COORDINATION.—In carrying out this section 
the Administrator shall— 
‘‘(1) identify gaps in the Agency’s understanding of algal 
toxins, including— 
‘‘(A) the human health effects of algal toxins included 
on the list published under subsection (a)(1)(B); and 
‘‘(B) methods and means of testing and monitoring 
for the presence of harmful algal toxins in source water 
of, or drinking water provided by, public water systems; 
‘‘(2) as appropriate, consult with— 
‘‘(A) other Federal agencies that— 
‘‘(i) examine or analyze cyanobacteria or algal 
toxins; or 
‘‘(ii) address public health concerns related to 
harmful algal blooms; 
‘‘(B) States; 
‘‘(C) operators of public water systems; 
‘‘(D) multinational agencies; 
‘‘(E) foreign governments; 
‘‘(F) research and academic institutions; and 
‘‘(G) companies that provide relevant drinking water 
treatment options; and 
‘‘(3) assemble and publish information from each Federal 
agency that has— 
‘‘(A) examined or analyzed cyanobacteria or algal 
toxins; or 
‘‘(B) addressed public health concerns related to harm-
ful algal blooms. 
‘‘(c) USE OF SCIENCE.—The Administrator shall carry out this 
section in accordance with the requirements described in section 
1412(b)(3)(A), as applicable. 
‘‘(d) FEASIBLE.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘feasible’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 1412(b)(4)(D).’’. 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall prepare and submit to Congress a report that 
includes— 
Health and 
health care. 
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129 STAT. 475 
PUBLIC LAW 114–45—AUG. 7, 2015 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 212: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 114–26 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015): 
Feb. 24, considered and passed House. 
Aug. 5, considered and passed Senate. 
(1) an inventory of funds— 
(A) expended by the United States, for each of fiscal 
years 2010 through 2014, to examine or analyze toxin- 
producing cyanobacteria and algae or address public health 
concerns related to harmful algal blooms; and 
(B) that includes the specific purpose for which the 
funds were made available, the law under which the funds 
were authorized, and the Federal agency that received 
or spent the funds; and 
(2) recommended steps to reduce any duplication, and 
improve interagency coordination, of such expenditures. 
Approved August 7, 2015. 
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