EPA: WHAT ARE THE PRELIM. REVISE/NOT REVISE

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COPIED FROM PDF FILE DOWNLOAD FROM EPA LINK:

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/review.html

5. What are the preliminary revise/not revise decisions?

Based on its review, EPA believes it is appropriate to revise the Total

Coliform Rule.

EPA believes none of the 68 chemical NPDWRs (National Primary Drinking Water

Regulations) should be revised at this time for one of

the following reasons:

(A) Pending health risk assessments - EPA identified 36 NPDWRs for which the

Agency is

in the process of performing health risk assessments. These assessments are

not expected to be complete in time for EPA to make its final revise/not

revise decisions in August 2002 time frame. The Agency does not believe it is

appropriate to consider revisions to these NPDWRs while the health risk

assessments are in process. When the assessment for an NPDWR is completed,

EPA will review the updated risk assessment during the next review cycle.

( Remains appropriate after data/information review - EPA identified 17

NPDWRs for

which the outcome of the review indicates that the current regulatory

requirement

remains appropriate. Any new information available to the Agency supports

retaining

the current regulatory requirements.

© Negligible gain in public health protection and/or cost savings - EPA

identified 12

NPDWRs that have new health, technological, or other information that

indicates a

potential revision to a maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) and/or maximum

contaminant level (MCL); however, the Agency believes any potential revision

would

result in a minimal gain in the level of public health protection and/or

provide negligible

opportunity for significant cost-savings. EPA, therefore, does not believe

revisions are

warranted at this time.

(D) Data gaps - EPA identified 3 NPDWRs that have data gaps or research needs

which must

be addressed before EPA can make definitive regulatory decisions. When the

data gaps

have been resolved, EPA plans to consider the results in the next review

cycle.

The Agency’s commitment to completing ongoing or planned assessments and

filling

data gaps reflects its commitment to sound science and its desire to make

regulatory information based upon the best available information and data.

Table 1 provides a more detailed list of the 69 NPDWRs and the placement of

each NPDWR with respect to the revise/not revision decision.

6. Will EPA consider reviewing any NPDWRs before the next review cycle?

If the result of any health risk assessment currently in process or the

resolution of data gaps/research needs indicate that significant or

compelling new information is available that will change the basis for an NPDW

R, the Agency may decide to accelerate the review schedule.

5

Table 1: Preliminary Revise/Not Revise Decisions for the 68 Chemical NPDWRs

and TCR

Not

Appropriate

for Revision

at this Time

Risk assessment in process:

chemical currently

undergoing an EPA health

risk assessment;

includes the three initiated as

a result of this review 1

(36 NPDWRs)

Acrylamide (TT)2 (2004 / 2005)

Alachlor (2002 / 2003)

Antimony (2002 / 2003)

Asbestos (2004 / 2005)

Atrazine (2002)

Benzo[a]pyrene (2002 / 2003)

Cadmium (2002 / 2003)

Carbofuran (2002 / 2003)

Carbon tetrachloride (2002 / 2003)

Copper (TT) 2 (2002 / 2003)

Cyanide (2004 / 2005)1

2,4-D (2003 / 2004)

1,2-Dichlorobenzene (2002 / 2003)

1,4-Dichlorobenzene (2002 / 2003)

1,2-Dichloroethane (2002 / 2003)

1,1-Dichloroethylene (2002 / 2003)

Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (2003 / 2004)1

Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (2002 / 2003)

Diquat (2002)

Endothall (2003 / 2004)

Ethylbenzene (2002 / 2003)

Ethylene dibromide (2002 / 2003)

Glyphosate (2002 / 2003)

ne (2003 / 2004)

Methoxychlor (2002 / 2003)

Pentachlorophenol (2002 / 2003)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (2002 / 2003)

Simazine (2003 / 2004)

Styrene (2002 / 2003)

2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin) (2002 / 2003)

Tetrachloroethylene (2002 / 2003)

Thallium (2004 / 2005)1

Toluene (2002 / 2003)

1,1,1-Trichloroethane (2003 / 2004)

Trichloroethylene (2002 / 2003)

Xylenes (2002 / 2003)

NPDWR remains appropriate

after data/information review

(17 NPDWRs)

Barium

Dalapon

cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene

trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene

Dinoseb

Endrin

Epichlorohydrin (TT)2

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene

Lead (TT)2

Mercury

Monochlorobenzene

Nitrate

Nitrite

Selenium

2,4,5-TP (Silvex)

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene

Vinyl chloride

New

information,

but no revision

recommended

because:

Negligible

gain in health

protection

(12 NPDWRs)

Benzene

Beryllium

Chlordane

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane

1,2-Dichloropropane

Heptachlor

Heptachlor epoxide

Hexachlorobenzene

Oxamyl

Picloram

Toxaphene

1,1,2-Trichloroethane

Information

gaps

(3 NPDWRs)

Chromium

Dichloromethane 3 Fluoride 4

Candidates

for Revision

Based on other

regulatory revisions

(1 NPDWR)

Total Coliform Rule (TCR)

1 New information was identified for cyanide, di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate, and

thallium as a result of the six-year health effects

review. The Agency has initiated new risk assessments for these three

contaminants.

2 TT designates treatment-technique rules (i.e., those NPDWRs for which a

treatment technique has been set in place of an MCL).

3 Preliminary analysis indicates that there may be an opportunity for

improvement in public health protection if the PQL/MCL

were lowered. Additional data are needed to support such a change.

4 EPA plans to ask NAS to update the risk assessment for fluoride.

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