[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 6, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42221-42222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20666]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 141 and 142

[FRL-5870-9]
RIN 2040 AA 94


Withdrawal of the Proposed National Primary Drinking Water 
Regulation for Radon-222

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of withdrawal of proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the Environmental Protection Agency's 
(EPA) withdrawal of drinking water regulations proposed for radon-222 
(56 FR 33050, July 18, 1991). EPA is withdrawing the proposed Maximum 
Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG), Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), 
monitoring, reporting, and public notification requirements for radon-
222 as required by section 1412(b)(13)(A) of Safe Drinking Water Act 
(SDWA), as amended. No other provision of the July 18, 1991 proposal is 
affected by today's action.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sylvia Malm, (202) 260-0417. For 
information on radon in drinking water and other EPA activities under 
the Safe Drinking Water Act, please contact the Safe Drinking Water 
Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. For information on radon in indoor air, 
please contact the National Safety Council's National Radon Hotline at 
1-800-SOS-RADON.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 18, 1991 (56 FR 33050), EPA proposed 
a maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG), a maximum contaminant level 
(MCL), monitoring, reporting, and public notification requirements for 
radon and a number of other radionuclides in public water supplies 
(systems serving over 25 individuals or with greater than 15 
connections). EPA proposed to regulate radon at 300 pCi/L.
    On August 6, 1996, Congress passed amendments to the SDWA. Section 
1412(b)(13)(A) of the SDWA, as amended, directs EPA to withdraw the 
proposed national primary drinking water regulation for radon. With 
this Federal Register document, EPA withdraws the proposed MCLG, MCL, 
monitoring, reporting, and public notification requirements for radon-
222. No other provision of the July 18, 1991 proposal is affected by 
this action.
    Congress has directed EPA to propose an MCLG and National Primary 
Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for

[[Page 42222]]

radon-222 by August, 1999 and promulgate a final regulation by August, 
2000 [section 1412 (b)(13)(D-E)]. EPA has committed to take final 
action on the other radionuclides included in the July 18, 1991 
proposal by December, 2000. On a related matter, EPA published on March 
5, 1997 (62 FR 10168) a final rule on the analytical methods for gross 
alpha, gross beta, tritium, uranium, radium-226, radium-228, gamma 
emitters, and radioactive cesium, iodine and strontium.

    Dated: July 30, 1997.
Carol Browner,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-20666 Filed 8-5-97; 8:45 am]
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