EPA Seeks Input from Small Water Systems on Microbial and Disinfection Byproducts Rulemaking Revisions
On Friday, August 9, EPA released an invitation for small public water systems to participate as Small Entity Representatives (SERs) providing advice and recommendations to a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel. Building on past extensive EPA engagement with stakeholders, this SBAR Panel will focus on the agency’s development of potential revisions to one or more of the current Microbial and Disinfection Byproducts (MDBP) National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs), including Stage 1 and Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rules (D/DBPRs); Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR); Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (IESWTR); and Long-Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT1ESWTR).
These NPWDRs are a series of interrelated regulations that protect drinking water from microbes, disinfectants, and/or disinfection byproducts (DBPs). The rule revisions are intended to improve existing regulations based on new information on health effects, treatment technologies, analytical methods, occurrence and exposure, and implementation as determined in EPA’s third Six Year Review.
EPA has determined that revisions to the SWTRs would further reduce exposure to microbial pathogens including Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia, Legionella, and viruses in drinking water, which have been linked to diseases including gastrointestinal illness (such as diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps) and Legionnaire’s Disease. EPA is also considering revisions to the D/DBPRs that intend to further limit exposure to DBPs, which can form in water when disinfectants used to control microbial pathogens react with natural and human-caused materials found in source water and have been linked to adverse health outcomes.
The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires agencies to establish an SBAR Panel for rules that may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The SBAR Panel will include federal representatives from the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and EPA. The Panel members ask a selected group of SERs to provide advice and recommendations on behalf of their company, government, or organization to inform the Panel members about potential impacts of the proposed rule on small entities.
EPA seeks self-nominations directly from the small entities that may be subject to the rule requirements. Other representatives, such as trade associations that exclusively or at least primarily represent potentially regulated small entities, may also serve as SERs. Self-nominations may be submitted through the link below and must be received by August 23, 2024.
This portion of EPA’s website has more information about the MDBP rule revisions.
