,,ii #aaf? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,s4 #abea ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,april #cj1 #bjai,mrs4 ,%ahe5 7= h]self & ,mr4 ,portman7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,environm5t & ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to improve & coord9ate int]ag5cy ,f$]al actions & provide assi/ance to ,/ates = respond+ to public heal? *all5ges pos$ by em]g+ contam9ants1 & = o!r purposes4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,safe ,dr9k+ ,wat] ,assi/ance ,act ( #bjai4 #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds t-- 7#a7 safe & clean dr9k+ wat] is ess5tial to ! heal?1 well-be+1 com=t1 & /&>d ( liv+ ( e p]son ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 7#b7 em]g+ contam9ants 9 dr9k+ wat] sy/ems are increas+ly be+ detect$ at l[ levels2 7#c7 prolong$ exposure to unregulat$ dr9k+ wat] contam9ants1 includ+ em]g+ contam9ants1 may pose human heal? risks1 p>ticul>ly to vuln]able populations2 7#d7 ! ,safe ,dr9k+ ,wat] ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;f et seq47 requires ! ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy-- 7,a7 to p]iodically make regulatory det]m9ations ) respect to unregulat$ contam9ants2 & 7,b7 n less frequ5tly ?an once e #e ye>s1 to id5tify & publi% a description ( unregulat$ contam9ants t may require regulation2 7#e7 9 a #bjaa report ( ! ,gov]nm5t ,acc\ntability ,(fice1 ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates f\nd1 ) respect to unregulat$ dr9k+ wat] contam9ants1 t-- 7,a7 ! ,adm9i/rator has made limit$ progress 9 prioritiz+ dr9k+ wat] contam9ants bas$ on greate/ public heal? conc]n2 7,b7 ! lack ( data relat+ to ! exposure ( ! public to pot5tially h>mful dr9k+ wat] contam9ants & ! relat$ heal? effects ( t exposure cont9ues to limit ! ability ( ! ,adm9i/rator to make regulatory det]m9ations2 & 7,c7 9 _m cases1 ga!r+ suffici5t data to address contam9ants await+ regulatory det]m9ations by ! ,adm9i/rator has tak5 ! ,adm9i/rator m ?an #aj ye>s1 & obta9+ data on o!r contam9ants t are curr5tly await+ regulatory det]m9ations may take decades2 7#f7 9 ! #bjaf ,dr9k+ ,wat] ,action ,plan ( ! ,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy1 ! ,adm9i/rator recomm5d$ t ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t & key wat] /akehold]s /r5g!n ! effectiv5ess ( dr9k+ wat] heal? advisories ?r\gh enhanc$ collaboration & increas$ focus on risk managem5t & risk communication approa*es2 7#g7 9 response to ! report ( ! ,committee on ,appropriations ( ! ,s5ate accompany+ ,s4 #affb ( ! #aae? ,congress 7,s4 ,rept4 #aae-aci71 ! ,(fice ( ,sci5ce & ,te*nology ,policy develop$ a coord9at$ cross-ag5cy plan = address+ critical rese>* gaps relat$ to detect+1 assess+ exposure to1 & id5tify+ ! adv]se heal? effects ( em]g+ contam9ants 9 dr9k+ wat]2 & 7#h7 x is vital t legislators1 regulatory (ficials1 public wat] sy/em own]s & op]ators1 sci5ti/s1 & environm5tal advocacy gr\ps cont9ue to "w to ensure t ! public wat] sy/ems ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates are among ! safe/ 9 ! _w4 #c4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,adm9i/rator ,! t]m ,adm9i/rator means ! ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy4 7#b7 ,contam9ant ,! t]m contam9ant means any physical1 *emical1 biological1 or radiological sub/ance or matt] 9 wat]4 7#c7 ,contam9ant ( em]g+ conc]n2 em]g+ contam9ant ,! t]ms contam9ant ( em]g+ conc]n & em]g+ contam9ant mean a contam9ant-- 7,a7 = :i* ! ,adm9i/rator has n promulgat$ a national prim>y dr9k+ wat] regulation2 & 7,b7 t may h an adv]se effect on ! heal? ( individuals4 7#d7 ,f$]al rese>* /rategy ,! t]m ,f$]al rese>* /rategy means ! cross-ag5cy plan describ$ 9 section #b7g74 7#e7 ,te*nical assi/ance & support ,! t]m te*nical assi/ance & support includes-- 7,a7 assi/ance )-- 7i7 id5tify+ appropriate analytical me?ods = ! detection ( contam9ants2 7ii7 und]/&+ ! /r5g?s & limitations ( ! analytical me?ods describ$ 9 clause 7i72 & 7iii7 tr\ble%oot+ ! analytical me?ods describ$ 9 clause 7i72 7,b7 provid+ advice on laboratory c]tification program elem5ts2 7,c7 int]pret+ sample analysis results2 7,d7 provid+ tra9+ ) respect to prop] analytical te*niques2 7,e7 id5tify+ appropriate te*nology = ! treatm5t ( contam9ants2 & 7,f7 analyz+ samples1 if-- 7i7 ! analysis _c be o!rwise obta9$ 9 a practicable mann] o!rwise2 & 7ii7 ! capability & capacity to p]=m ! analysis is available at a ,f$]al facility4 7#f7 ,work+ ,gr\p ,! t]m ,work+ ,gr\p means ! ,work+ ,gr\p e/abli%$ "u section #d7;b77#a74 #d4 ,rese>* & coord9ation plan = enhanc$ response on em]g+ contam9ants 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,adm9i/rator %all-- 7#a7 review ,f$]al ef=ts-- 7,a7 to id5tify1 monitor1 & assi/ 9 ! developm5t ( treatm5t me?ods = em]g+ contam9ants2 & 7,b7 to assi/ ,/ates 9 respond+ to ! human heal? risks pos$ by contam9ants ( em]g+ conc]n2 & 7#b7 9 collaboration ) own]s & op]ators ( public wat] sy/ems1 ,/ates1 & o!r int]e/$ /akehold]s1 e/abli% a /rategic plan = improv+ ! ,f$]al ef=ts ref]r$ to 9 p>agraph 7#a74 7b7 ,int]ag5cy ,work+ ,gr\p on em]g+ contam9ants 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,adm9i/rator & ! ,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices %all jo9tly e/abli% a ,work+ ,gr\p to coord9ate ! activities ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t to id5tify & analyze ! public heal? effects ( dr9k+ wat] contam9ants ( em]g+ conc]n4 7#b7 ,memb]%ip ,! ,work+ ,gr\p %all include repres5tatives ( ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,! ,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy1 appo9t$ by ! ,adm9i/rator4 7,b7 ,! foll[+ ag5cies1 appo9t$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices3 7i7 ,! ,national ,in/itutes ( ,heal?4 7ii7 ,! ,c5t]s = ,disease ,control & ,prev5tion4 7iii7 ,! ,ag5cy = ,toxic ,sub/ances & ,disease ,regi/ry4 7,c7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates ,geological ,survey1 appo9t$ by ! ,secret>y ( ! ,int]ior4 7,d7 ,any o!r ,f$]al ag5cy ! assi/ance ( :i* ! ,adm9i/rator det]m9es to be necess>y to c>ry out ?is subsection1 appo9t$ by ! head ( ! respective ag5cy4 7#c7 ,exi/+ ,work+ ,gr\p ,! ,adm9i/rator may exp& or modify ! duties ( an exi/+ work+ gr\p to p]=m ! duties ( ! ,work+ ,gr\p "u ?is subsection4 7c7 ,national ,em]g+ ,contam9ant ,rese>* ,initiative 7#a7 ,f$]al rese>* /rategy 7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,director ( ! ,(fice ( ,sci5ce & ,te*nology ,policy 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is subsection z ! ,director7 %all coord9ate ) ! heads ( ! ag5cies describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,c7 to e/abli% a rese>* initiative1 to be kn[n z ! ,national ,em]g+ ,contam9ant ,rese>* ,initiative1 t %all-- 7i7 use ! ,f$]al rese>* /rategy to improve ! id5tification1 analysis1 monitor+1 & treatm5t me?ods ( contam9ants ( em]g+ conc]n2 & 7ii7 develop any necess>y program1 policy1 or budget to support ! implem5tation ( ! ,f$]al rese>* /rategy1 includ+ me*anisms = jo9t ag5cy review ( rese>* proposals1 = int]ag5cy c(und+ ( rese>* activities1 & = in=mation %>+ across ag5cies4 7,b7 ,rese>* on em]g+ contam9ants ,9 c>ry+ out subp>agraph 7,a71 ! ,director %all-- 7i7 take into consid]ation cons5sus conclusions f pe]-review$1 p]t95t rese>* on em]g+ contam9ants2 & 7ii7 9 consultation ) ! ,adm9i/rator1 id5tify priority em]g+ contam9ants = rese>* emphasis4 7,c7 ,f$]al p>ticipation ,! ag5cies ref]r$ to 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 include-- 7i7 ! ,national ,sci5ce ,f\ndation2 7ii7 ! ,national ,in/itutes ( ,heal?2 7iii7 ! ,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy2 7iv7 ! ,national ,in/itute ( ,/&>ds & ,te*nology2 7v7 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,geological ,survey2 & 7vi7 any o!r ,f$]al ag5cy t contributes to rese>* 9 wat] quality1 environm5tal exposures1 & public heal?1 z det]m9$ by ! ,director4 7,d7 ,p>ticipation f additional entities ,9 c>ry+ out subp>agraph 7,a71 ! ,director %all consult ) nongov]nm5tal organizations1 ,/ate & local gov]nm5ts1 & sci5ce & rese>* in/itutions det]m9$ by ! ,director to h sci5tific or mat]ial int]e/ 9 ! ,national ,em]g+ ,contam9ant ,rese>* ,initiative4 7#b7 ,implem5tation ( rese>* recomm5dations 7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date on :i* ! ,director & heads ( ! ag5cies describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,c7 e/abli% ! ,national ,em]g+ ,contam9ant ,rese>* ,initiative "u p>agraph 7#a77;,a71 ! head ( ea* ag5cy describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,c7 %all-- 7i7 issue a solicitation = rese>* proposals consi/5t ) ! ,f$]al rese>* /rategy2 & 7ii7 make grants to applicants t submit rese>* proposals select$ by ! ,national ,em]g+ ,contam9ant ,rese>* ,initiative 9 accordance ) subp>agraph 7,b74 7,b7 ,selection ( rese>* proposals ,! ,national ,em]g+ ,contam9ant ,rese>* ,initiative %all select rese>* proposals to receive grants "u ?is p>agraph on ! basis ( m]it1 us+ crit]ia id5tifi$ by ! ,director1 includ+ ! likelihood t ! propos$ rese>* w result 9 significant progress t[>d a*iev+ ! objectives id5tifi$ 9 ! ,f$]al rese>* /rategy4 7,c7 ,eligible entities ,any entity or gr\p ( two or m entities may submit to ! head ( ea* ag5cy describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,c7 a rese>* proposal 9 response to ! solicitation = rese>* proposals describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a77i71 includ+-- 7i7 ,/ate & local ag5cies2 7ii7 public in/itutions1 includ+ public in/itutions ( high] education2 7iii7 private corporations2 & 7iv7 nonpr(it organizations4 7d7 ,f$]al te*nical assi/ance & support = ,/ates 7#a7 ,/udy 7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,adm9i/rator %all conduct a /udy on actions ! ,adm9i/rator c take to increase te*nical assi/ance & support = ,/ates ) respect to em]g+ contam9ants 9 dr9k+ wat] samples4 7,b7 ,cont5ts ( /udy ,9 c>ry+ out ! /udy describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 ! ,adm9i/rator %all id5tify-- 7i7 me?ods & effective treatm5t options to increase te*nical assi/ance & support ) respect to em]g+ contam9ants to ,/ates1 includ+ id5tify+ opportunities = ,/ates to improve communication ) v>i\s audi5ces ab\t ! risks associat$ ) em]g+ contam9ants2 7ii7 means to facilitate access to qualifi$ contract te/+ laboratory facilities t conduct analyses = em]g+ contam9ants2 & 7iii7 actions to be c>ri$ out at exi/+ ,f$]al laboratory facilities1 includ+ ! rese>* facilities ( ! ,adm9i/rator1 to provide te*nical assi/ance & support = ,/ates t require te/+ facilities = em]g+ contam9ants4 7,c7 ,availability ( analytical res\rces ,9 c>ry+ out ! /udy describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 ! ,adm9i/rator %all consid]-- 7i7 ! availability (-- 7,i7 ,f$]al & non-,f$]al laboratory capacity2 & 7,,ii7 validat$ me?ods to detect & analyze contam9ants2 & 7ii7 o!r factors det]m9$ to be appropriate by ! ,adm9i/rator4 7#b7 ,report ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,adm9i/rator %all submit to ,congress a report describ+ ! results ( ! /udy describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,program to provide ,f$]al assi/ance to ,/ates 7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #c ye>s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 bas$ on ! f9d+s 9 ! report describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#b71 ! ,adm9i/rator %all develop a program to provide te*nical assi/ance & support to eligible ,/ates = ! te/+ & analysis ( em]g+ contam9ants4 7,b7 ,application 7i7 ,9 g5]al ,to be eligible = te*nical assi/ance & support "u ?is p>agraph1 a ,/ate %all submit to ! ,adm9i/rator an application at su* "t1 9 su* mann]1 & conta9+ su* in=mation z ! ,adm9i/rator may require4 7ii7 ,crit]ia ,! ,adm9i/rator %all evaluate an application = te*nical assi/ance & support "u ?is p>agraph on ! basis ( m]it us+ crit]ia id5tifi$ by ! ,adm9i/rator1 includ+-- 7,i7 ! laboratory facilities available to ! ,/ate2 7,,ii7 ! availability & applicability ( exi/+ analytical me?odologies2 7,,iii7 ! pot5cy & sev]ity ( ! em]g+ contam9ant1 if kn[n2 & 7,,iv7 ! preval5ce & magnitude ( ! em]g+ contam9ant4 7iii7 ,prioritization ,9 select+ ,/ates to receive te*nical assi/ance & support "u ?is p>agraph1 ! ,adm9i/rator-- 7,i7 %all give priority to ,/ates ) affect$ areas prim>ily 9 f9ancially di/ress$ communities2 7,,ii7 may-- 7aa7 waive ! application process 9 an em]g5cy situation2 & 7bb7 require an abbreviat$ application process = ! cont9uation ( "w specifi$ 9 a previ\sly approv$ application t cont9ues to meet ! crit]ia describ$ 9 clause 7ii72 & 7,,iii7 %all consid] ! relative exp]tise & availability (-- 7aa7 ,f$]al & non-,f$]al laboratory capacity available to ! ,/ate2 7bb7 analytical res\rces available to ! ,/ate2 & 7cc7 o!r types ( te*nical assi/ance available to ! ,/ate4 7,c7 ,database ( available res\rces ,! ,adm9i/rator %all e/abli% & ma9ta9 a database ( res\rces available ?r\gh ! program develop$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 to assi/ ,/ates ) te/+ = em]g+ contam9ants t-- 7i7 is-- 7,i7 available to ,/ates & /akehold] gr\ps det]m9$ by ! ,adm9i/rator to h sci5tific or mat]ial int]e/ 9 em]g+ contam9ants1 includ+-- 7aa7 dr9k+ wat] & wa/ewat] utilities2 7bb7 laboratories2 7cc7 ,f$]al & ,/ate em]g5cy respond]s2 7dd7 ,/ate primacy ag5cies2 7ee7 public heal? ag5cies2 & 7ff7 wat] associations2 7,,ii7 se>*able2 & 7,,iii7 accessible ?r\gh ! website ( ! ,adm9i/rator2 & 7ii7 includes a description (-- 7,i7 qualifi$ contract te/+ laboratory facilities t conduct analyses = em]g+ contam9ants2 & 7,,ii7 ! res\rces available 9 ,f$]al laboratory facilities to te/ = em]g+ contam9ants4 7,d7 ,wat] ,contam9ant ,in=mation ,tool ,! ,adm9i/rator %all integrate ! database e/abli%$ "u subp>agraph 7,c7 into ! ,wat] ,contam9ant ,in=mation ,tool ( ! ,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy4 7#d7 ,fund+ ,( ! am\nts available to ! ,adm9i/rator1 ! ,adm9i/rator may use n m ?an #ae1jjj1jjj 9 a fiscal ye> to c>ry out ?is subsection4 7e7 ,report ,n less frequ5tly ?an once e #b ye>s until #bjbi1 ! ,adm9i/rator %all submit to ,congress a report t describes ! progress made 9 c>ry+ out ?is ,act4 7f7 ,effect ,no?+ 9 ?is section modifies any obligation ( a ,/ate1 local gov]nm5t1 or ,indian ,tribe ) respect to treatm5t me?ods =1 or te/+ or monitor+ (1 dr9k+ wat]4