[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 212 Engrossed in House (EH)]
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 212
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
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.
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 provided 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;
``(ii) establish guidance regarding
feasible analytical 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 practices, 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
provide 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
harmful 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--
(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.
Passed the House of Representatives February 24, 2015.
Attest:
Clerk.
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 212
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
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.