A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act, and for other purposes.
PL 96-502 (H.R.8117), enacted 12/05/1980

PUBLIC LAW 96-502—DEC. 5, 1980 
94 STAT. 2737 
Public Law 96-502 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION L Section 1416(b)(2) of the Public Health Service Act is 
amended by striking out "1981" in subparagraph (A)(i) thereof and 
substituting "1984" and by striking out "1983" in subparagraph (B)(i) 
thereof and substituting "1986". 
SEC. 2. (a) Part C of title XIV of the Public Health Service Act is 
amended by adding the following at the end thereof: 
"OPTIONAL DEMONSTRATION BY STATES RELATING TO OIL OR NATURAL 
GAS 
Dec. 5, 1980 
[H.R. 8117] 
Safe Drinking 
Water Act, 
amendment. 
42 u s e 300g-5. 
42 u s e 300h-4. 
42 u s e 300h-l. 
"SEC. 1425. (a) For purposes of the Administrator's approval or 
disapproval under section 1422 of that portion of any State under-
ground injection control program which relates to— 
"(1) the underground injection of brine or other fluids which 
are brought to the surface in connection with oil or natural gas 
production, or 
"(2) any underground injection for the secondary or tertiary 
recovery of oil or natural gas, 
in lieu of the showing required under subparagraph (A) of section 
1422(b)(1) the State may demonstrate that such portion of the State 
program meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (D) of 
section 1421(b)(1) and represents an effective program (including 42 use S
O
O
h
. 
adequate recordkeeping and reporting) to prevent underground injec-
tion which endangers drinking water sources. 
"(b) If the Administrator revises or amends any requirement of a 
regulation under section 1421 relating to any aspect of the under-
ground injection referred to in subsection (a), in the case of that 
portion of a State underground injection control program for which 
the demonstration referred to in subsection (a) has been made, in lieu 
of the showing required under section 1422(b)(1)(B) the State may 
demonstrate that, with respect to that aspect of such underground 
injection, the State program meets the requirements of subpara-
graphs (A) through (D) of section 1421(b)(1) and represents an effec-
tive program (including adequate recordkeeping and reporting) to 
prevent underground injection which endangers drinking water 
sources. 
"(c)(1) Section 1422(b)(3) shall not apply to that portion of any State 
underground injection control program approved by the Administra-
tor pursuant to a demonstration under subsection (a) of this section 
(and under subsection (b) of this section where applicable). 
"(2) If pursuant to such a demonstration, the Administrator Enforcement 
approves such portion of the State program, the State shall have 
primary enforcement responsibility with respect to that portion until 
such time as the Administrator determines, by rule, that such 
42 u s e 300h-l. 
42 u s e 300h. 
94 STAT. 2738 
PUBLIC LAW 96-502—DEC. 5, 1980 
demonstration is no longer valid. Following such a determination, the 
Administrator may exercise the authority of subsection (c) of section 
42 use 300h-i. 
1422 in the same manner as provided in such subsection with respect 
to a determination described in such subsection. 
Rules. 
"(3) Before promulgating any rule under paragraph (2), the Admin-
istrator shall provide opportunity for public hearing respecting such 
rule.". 
42 use 300h-2. 
(b) Section 1423(aXl) of such Act is amended by inserting after 
"(within the meaning of section 14220t)X3)" the following: "or section 
1425(c)". 
42 use 300J-2. 
(c) Section 1443(cX2) of title XTV of the Public Health Service Act is 
amended by inserting the following at the end thereof: "Such term 
includes, where applicable, a program which meets the requirements 
of section 1425.". 
42 use 300h. 
SEC. 3. Section 1421(dXl) of the Public Health Service Act is 
amended by adding the following at the end thereof: "Such term does 
not include the underground injection of natural gas for purposes of 
storage.". 
42 use 300g-4. 
SEC. 4. (a) Section 1415 of the Public Health Service Act is amended 
by inserting the following section heading at the beginning of such 
42 use 300g-5. 
(b) Section 1416(aX2) of the Public Health Service Act is amended 
by inserting immediately after "requirement," the following: "or, for 
a system that was not in operation by that date, only if no reasonable 
alternative source of drinking water is available to such new 
svstem " 
42use300h. 
(c) Section 1421(bXlXA) of the Public Health Service Act is 
amended by striking out "effective three years after the date of the 
enactment of this title," and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 
"effective on the date on which the applicable underground injection 
control program takes effect,". 
42 use 300J-2. 
(d) Section 1443(bX2) of the Public Health Service Act is amended 
by striking out the second and third sentences therein and inserting 
in lieu thereof the following: "No grant may be made to any State 
under paragraph (1) unless the State has assumed primary enforce-
ment responsibility within two years after the date the Administra-
tor promulgates regulations for State underground injection control 
programs under section 1421.". 
42 use 300J-1. 
SEC. 5. Section 1442 of title XIV of the Public Health Service Act is 
amended by inserting the following new subsection after subsection 
(d) and by redesignating subsection (e) as (f): 
PUBLIC LAW 96-502—DEC. 5, 1980 
94 STAT. 2739 
"(e) The Administrator is authorized to make grants to a public Grants. 
water system which is required, under State or local law, to meet 
standards relating to drinking water turbidity which are more 
stringent than the standards in effect pursuant to this title. Such 
grants shall be used by the public water system for the development 
and demonstration (including construction and installation) of any 
water filtration system which will demonstrate a new or improved 
method of meeting such more stringent standards,". 
Approved December 5, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-1348 (Comm. on Interstate and Foreign Commerce). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 126 (1980): 
Sept. 22, 23, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate.