[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 89 (Wednesday, July 8, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S7683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND 
             INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999

                                 ______
                                 

              KERREY (AND HAGEL) AMENDMENTS NOS. 3067-3068

  Mr. KERREY (for himself and Mr. Hagel) submitted two amendments 
intended to be proposed by them to the bill (S. 2168) making 
appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and 
Urban Development, and for sundry independent agencies, commissions, 
corporations, and offices for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
1999, and for other purposes; as follows:

                           Amendment No. 3067

       On page 93, between lines 18 and 19, insert the following:

     SEC. 423. TEMPORARY PROHIBITION ON IMPLEMENTATION OR 
                   ENFORCEMENT OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM TREATMENT 
                   REQUIREMENTS FOR COPPER ACTION LEVEL.

       (a) In General.--None of the funds made available by this 
     or any other Act for any fiscal year may be used by the 
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to 
     implement or enforce the national primary drinking water 
     regulations for lead and copper in drinking water promulgated 
     under the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.), 
     to the extent that the regulations pertain to the public 
     water system treatment requirements related to the copper 
     action level, until--
       (1) the Administrator and the Director of the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention jointly conduct a study to 
     establish a reliable dose-response relationship for the 
     adverse human health effects that may result from exposure to 
     copper in drinking water, that--
       (A) includes an analysis of the health effects that may be 
     experienced by groups within the general population 
     (including infants) that are potentially at greater risk of 
     adverse health effects as the result of the exposure;
       (B) is conducted in consultation with interested States;
       (C) is based on the best available science and supporting 
     studies that are subject to peer review and conducted in 
     accordance with sound and objective scientific practices; and
       (D) is completed not later than 30 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act; and
       (2) based on the results of the study and, once peer 
     reviewed and published, the 2 studies of copper in drinking 
     water conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention in the State of Nebraska and the State of 
     Delaware, the Administrator establishes an action level for 
     the presence of copper in drinking water that protects the 
     public health against reasonably expected adverse effects due 
     to exposure to copper in drinking water.
       (b) Current Requirements.--Nothing in this section 
     precludes a State from implementing or enforcing the national 
     primary drinking water regulations for lead and copper in 
     drinking water promulgated under the Safe Drinking Water Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.) that are in effect on the date of 
     enactment of this Act, to the extent that the regulations 
     pertain to the public water system treatment requirements 
     related to the copper action level.
                                  ____


                           Amendment No. 3068

       On page 93, between lines 18 and 19, insert the following:

     SEC. 423. TEMPORARY PROHIBITION ON IMPLEMENTATION OR 
                   ENFORCEMENT OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM TREATMENT 
                   REQUIREMENTS FOR COPPER ACTION LEVEL.

       (a) In General.--None of the funds made available by this 
     or any other Act for any fiscal year may be used by the 
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to 
     implement or enforce the national primary drinking water 
     regulations for lead and copper in drinking water promulgated 
     under the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.), 
     to the extent that the regulations pertain to the public 
     water system treatment requirements related to the copper 
     action level, until--
       (1) the Administrator and the Director of the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention jointly conduct a study to 
     establish a reliable dose-response relationship for the 
     adverse human health effects that may result from exposure to 
     copper in drinking water, that--
       (A) includes an analysis of the health effects that may be 
     experienced by groups within the general population 
     (including infants) that are potentially at greater risk of 
     adverse health effects as the result of the exposure;
       (B) is conducted in consultation with interested States;
       (C) is based on the best available science and supporting 
     studies that are subject to peer review and conducted in 
     accordance with sound and objective scientific practices; and
       (D) is completed not later than 30 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act; and
       (2) based on the results of the study and, once peer 
     reviewed and published, the 2 studies of copper in drinking 
     water conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention in the State of Nebraska and the State of 
     Delaware, the Administrator establishes an action level for 
     the presence of copper in drinking water that protects the 
     public health against reasonably expected adverse effects due 
     to exposure to copper in drinking water.
       (b) Current Requirements.--Nothing in this section 
     precludes a State from implementing or enforcing the national 
     primary drinking water regulations for lead and copper in 
     drinking water promulgated under the Safe Drinking Water Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.) that are in effect on the date of 
     enactment of this Act, to the extent that the regulations 
     pertain to the public water system treatment requirements 
     related to the copper action level.

                          ____________________