,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #iad ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #bd1 #bjag,mrs4 ,shaheen 7for herself and ,mr4 ,portman7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to improve and coordinate interagency ,federal actions and provide assistance to ,states for responding to public health challenges posed by emerging contaminants1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,assistance ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 safe and clean drinking water is essential to the health1 well-being1 comfort1 and standard of living of every person of the ,united ,states2 7#b7 emerging contaminants in drinking water systems are increasingly being detected at low levels2 7#c7 prolonged exposure to unregulated drinking water contaminants1 including emerging contaminants1 may pose human health risks1 particularly to vulnerable populations2 7#d7 the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;f et seq471 requires the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency-- 7,a7 to periodically make regulatory determinations with respect to unregulated contaminants2 and 7,b7 not less frequently than once every #e years1 to identify and publish a description of unregulated contaminants that may require regulation2 7#e7 in a #bjaa report of the ,government ,accountability ,office1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states found1 with respect to unregulated drinking water contaminants1 that-- 7,a7 the ,administrator has made limited progress in prioritizing drinking water contaminants based on greatest public health concern2 7,b7 the lack of data relating to the exposure of the public to potentially harmful drinking water contaminants and the related health effects of that exposure continues to limit the ability of the ,administrator to make regulatory determinations2 and 7,c7 in many cases1 gathering sufficient data to address contaminants awaiting regulatory determinations by the ,administrator has taken the ,administrator more than #aj years1 and obtaining data on other contaminants that are currently awaiting regulatory determinations may take decades2 7#f7 in the #bjaf ,drinking ,water ,action ,plan of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 the ,administrator recommended that the ,government and key water stakeholders strengthen the effectiveness of drinking water health advisories through enhanced collaboration and increased focus on risk management and risk communication approaches2 and 7#g7 it is vital that legislators1 regulatory officials1 public water system owners and operators1 scientists1 and environmental advocacy groups continue to work to ensure that the public water systems of the ,united ,states are among the safest in the world4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7#b7 ,contaminant ,the term contaminant means any physical1 chemical1 biological1 or radiological substance or matter in water4 7#c7 ,contaminant of emerging concern2 emerging contaminant ,the terms contaminant of emerging concern and emerging contaminant mean a contaminant-- 7,a7 for which the ,administrator has not promulgated a national primary drinking water regulation2 and 7,b7 that may have an adverse effect on the health of individuals4 7#d7 ,federal research strategy ,the term ,federal research strategy means the interagency ,federal research strategy developed under section #d7;c77#a77;,a77i74 7#e7 ,working ,group ,the term ,working ,group means the ,working ,group established under section #d7;b77#a74 #d4 ,research and coordination plan for enhanced response on emerging contaminants 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall-- 7#a7 review ,federal efforts-- 7,a7 to identify1 monitor1 and assist in the development of treatment methods for emerging contaminants2 and 7,b7 to assist ,states in responding to the human health challenges posed by contaminants of emerging concern2 and 7#b7 in collaboration with owners and operators of public water systems1 ,states1 and other interested stakeholders1 establish a strategic plan for improving the ,federal efforts referred to in paragraph 7#a74 7b7 ,interagency working group on emerging contaminants 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 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 concern4 7#b7 ,membership ,the ,working ,group shall include representatives of the following3 7,a7 ,the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 appointed by the ,administrator4 7,b7 ,the following agencies1 appointed by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services3 7i7 ,the ,national ,institutes of ,health4 7ii7 ,the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention4 7iii7 ,the ,agency for ,toxic ,substances and ,disease ,registry4 7,c7 ,the ,united ,states ,geological ,survey1 appointed by the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7,d7 ,any other ,federal agency the assistance of which the ,administrator determines to be necessary to carry out this subsection1 appointed by the head of the respective agency4 7#c7 ,existing working group ,the ,administrator may expand or modify the duties of an existing working group to perform the duties of the ,working ,group under this subsection4 7c7 ,national ,emerging ,contaminant ,research ,initiative 7#a7 ,federal research strategy 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy 7referred to in this subsection as the ,director7 shall coordinate with the heads of the agencies described in subparagraph 7,c7 to establish a ,national ,emerging ,contaminant ,research ,initiative that shall develop-- 7i7 an interagency ,federal research strategy that specifies and prioritizes the short-term and long-term research necessary to improve the identification1 analysis1 monitoring1 and treatment methods of contaminants of emerging concern2 and 7ii7 any necessary program1 policy1 or budget to support the implementation of the ,federal research strategy1 including mechanisms for joint agency review of research proposals1 for interagency cofunding of research activities1 and for information sharing across agencies4 7,b7 ,research on emerging contaminants ,in carrying out subparagraph 7,a71 the ,director shall-- 7i7 take into consideration consensus conclusions from peer-reviewed1 pertinent research on emerging contaminants2 and 7ii7 in consultation with the ,administrator1 identify priority emerging contaminants for research emphasis4 7,c7 ,federal participation ,the agencies described in this subparagraph include-- 7i7 the ,national ,science ,foundation2 7ii7 the ,national ,institutes of ,health2 7iii7 the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 7iv7 the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology2 7v7 the ,united ,states ,geological ,survey2 and 7vi7 any other ,federal agency that contributes to research in water quality1 environmental exposures1 and public health1 as determined by the ,director4 7,d7 ,nongovernmental participation ,in carrying out subparagraph 7,a71 the ,director shall consult with nongovernmental organizations and science and research institutions determined by the ,director to have scientific or material interest in the ,national ,emerging ,contaminant ,research ,initiative4 7#b7 ,implementation of research recommendations 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date on which the ,director completes the ,federal research strategy1 the head of each agency described in paragraph 7#a77;,c7 shall-- 7i7 issue a solicitation for research proposals consistent with the ,federal research strategy2 and 7ii7 make grants to applicants that submit research proposals selected by the ,national ,emerging ,contaminant ,research ,initiative in accordance with subparagraph 7,b74 7,b7 ,selection of research proposals ,the ,national ,emerging ,contaminant ,research ,initiative shall select research proposals to receive grants under this paragraph on the basis of merit1 using criteria identified by the ,director1 including the likelihood that the proposed research will result in significant progress toward achieving the objectives identified in the ,federal research strategy4 7,c7 ,eligible entities ,any entity or group of two or more entities may submit to the head of each agency described in paragraph 7#a77;,c7 a research proposal in response to the solicitation for research proposals described in subparagraph 7,a71 including-- 7i7 ,state and local agencies2 7ii7 public institutions1 including public institutions of higher education2 7iii7 private corporations2 and 7iv7 nonprofit organizations4 7d7 ,federal assistance and support for ,states 7#a7 ,study 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall conduct a study on actions the ,administrator can take to increase assistance and support for ,states that require testing facilities for emerging contaminants in drinking water samples4 7,b7 ,contents of study ,in carrying out the study described in subparagraph 7,a71 the ,administrator shall identify-- 7i7 methods to increase technical assistance on emerging contaminants to ,states1 including identifying opportunities for ,states to improve communication with various audiences about the risks associated with emerging contaminants2 7ii7 means to facilitate access to qualified contract testing laboratory facilities that conduct analyses for emerging contaminants2 and 7iii7 actions to be carried out at existing ,federal laboratory facilities1 including the research facilities of the ,administrator1 to provide analytical support for ,states that require testing facilities for emerging contaminants4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall submit to ,congress a report describing the results of the study described in paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,program to provide ,federal assistance to ,states 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 based on the findings in the report described in paragraph 7#b71 the ,administrator shall develop a program to provide assistance to eligible ,states for the testing and analysis of emerging contaminants4 7,b7 ,application 7i7 ,in general ,to be eligible for assistance under this paragraph1 a ,state shall submit to the ,administrator an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,administrator may require4 7ii7 ,criteria ,the ,administrator shall evaluate an application for assistance under this paragraph on the basis of merit using criteria identified by the ,administrator1 including-- 7,i7 the laboratory facilities available to the ,state2 7,,ii7 the availability and applicability of existing analytical methodologies2 7,,iii7 the potency and severity of the emerging contaminant1 if known2 and 7,,iv7 the prevalence and magnitude of the emerging contaminant4 7iii7 ,prioritization ,in selecting ,states to receive assistance under this paragraph1 the ,administrator-- 7,i7 shall give priority to ,states with affected areas primarily in financially distressed communities2 and 7,,ii7 may-- 7aa7 waive the application process in an emergency situation2 and 7bb7 require an abbreviated application process for the continuation of past monitoring support4 7,c7 ,database of available resources ,the ,administrator shall establish and maintain a database of resources available through the program developed under subparagraph 7,a7 to assist ,states with testing for emerging contaminants that-- 7i7 is-- 7,i7 available to ,states and stakeholder groups determined by the ,administrator to have scientific or material interest in emerging contaminants1 including-- 7aa7 drinking water and wastewater utilities2 7bb7 laboratories2 7cc7 ,federal and ,state emergency responders2 7dd7 ,state primacy agencies2 7ee7 public health agencies2 and 7ff7 water associations2 7,,ii7 searchable2 and 7,,iii7 accessible through the website of the ,administrator2 and 7ii7 includes a description of-- 7,i7 qualified contract testing laboratory facilities that conduct analyses for emerging contaminants2 and 7,,ii7 the resources available in ,federal laboratory facilities to test for emerging contaminants4 7,d7 ,water ,contaminant ,information ,tool ,the ,administrator shall integrate the database established under subparagraph 7,c7 into the ,water ,contaminant ,information ,tool of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7#d7 ,funding ,the ,administrator may request funding as necessary to carry out this subsection1 but in no case shall funding to carry out this subsection exceed #ae1jjj1jjj in any fiscal year4 7e7 ,report ,not less frequently than biannually1 the ,administrator shall submit to ,congress a report that describes the progress made in carrying out this ,act4 7f7 ,effect ,nothing in this section modifies any obligation of a ,state1 local government1 or ,indian tribe with respect to treatment methods for1 or testing or monitoring of1 drinking water4