References in Text
The Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996, referred to in par. (4)(C), is Puspan. L. 104–182, Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1613. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1996 Amendment note set out under section 201 of this title and Tables.
Amendments
2016—Par. (14). Puspan. L. 114–322 substituted “sections 300j–12, 300j–19a, and 300j–19span of this title” for “section 300j–12 of this title”.
1996—Par. (1). Puspan. L. 104–182, § 101(a)(1)(B), inserted at end “At any time after promulgation of a regulation referred to in this paragraph, the Administrator may add equally effective quality control and testing procedures by guidance published in the Federal Register. Such procedures shall be treated as an alternative for public water systems to the quality control and testing procedures listed in the regulation.”
Par. (1)(D). Puspan. L. 104–182, § 101(a)(1)(A), inserted “accepted methods for” before “quality control”.
Par. (4). Puspan. L. 104–182, § 101(span)(1), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), inserted par. and subpar. headings, redesignated former subpars. (A) and (B) as cls. (i) and (ii), respectively, substituted “water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances” for “piped water for human consumption” in first sentence, and added subpars. (B) and (C).
Par. (13). Puspan. L. 104–182, § 101(a)(2), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), substituted “Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term” for “The term”, and added subpar. (B).
Par. (14). Puspan. L. 104–182, § 101(a)(3), inserted at end “For purposes of section 300j–12 of this title, the term includes any Native village (as defined in section 1602(c) of title 43).”
Pars. (15), (16). Puspan. L. 104–182, § 101(a)(4), added pars. (15) and (16).
1986—Par. (10). Puspan. L. 99–339, § 302(span)(2), substituted “Indian Tribe” for “Indian tribal organization authorized by law”.
Par. (14). Puspan. L. 99–339, § 302(span)(1), added par. (14).
1977—Par. (12). Puspan. L. 95–190 expanded definition of “person” to include Federal agency, and officers, employees, and agents of any corporation, company, etc.
1976—Par. (13). Puspan. L. 94–484 defined “State” to include Northern Mariana Islands.
Puspan. L. 94–317 added par. (13).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Puspan. L. 104–182, § 2(span), Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1614, provided that: “Except as otherwise specified in this Act [enacting sections 300g–7 to 300g–9, 300h–8, 300j–3c, and 300j–12 to 300j–18 of this title and section 1263a of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters, amending this section, sections 300g–1 to 300g–6, 300h, 300h–5 to 300h–7, 300i, 300i–1, 300j to 300j–2, 300j–4 to 300j–8, 300j–11, and 300j–21 to 300j–25 of this title, sections 4701 and 4721 of Title 16, Conservation, and section 349 of Title 21, Food and Drugs, repealing section 13551 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section, sections 201, 300g–1, 300j–1, and 300j–12 of this title, section 1281 of Title 33, and section 45 of former Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 201 of this title] or in the amendments made by this Act, this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 6, 1996].”
Short Title
This subchapter is known as the “Safe Drinking Water Act”, see note set out under section 201 of this title.
Termination of Advisory Committees
Puspan. L. 93–641, § 6, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2275, set out as a note under section 217a of this title, provided that an advisory committee established pursuant to the Public Health Service Act shall terminate at such time as may be specifically prescribed by an Act of Congress enacted after Jan. 4, 1975.
Effect of Public Law 104–182 on Federal Water Pollution Control Act
Puspan. L. 104–182, § 2(c), Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1614, provided that: “Except for the provisions of section 302 [42 U.S.C. 300j–12 note] (relating to transfers of funds), nothing in this Act [see Effective Date of 1996 Amendment note above] or in any amendments made by this Act to title XIV of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.] (commonly known as the ‘Safe Drinking Water Act’) or any other law shall be construed by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency or the courts as affecting, modifying, expanding, changing, or altering—“(1) the provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act [33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.]; “(2) the duties and responsibilities of the Administrator under that Act; or
“(3) the regulation or control of point or nonpoint sources of pollution discharged into waters covered by that Act.
The Administrator shall identify in the agency’s annual budget all funding and full-time equivalents administering such title XIV separately from funding and staffing for the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.”
Congressional Findings
Puspan. L. 104–182, § 3, Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1614, provided that: “The Congress finds that—“(1) safe drinking water is essential to the protection of public health;
“(2) because the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.) now exceed the financial and technical capacity of some public water systems, especially many small public water systems, the Federal Government needs to provide assistance to communities to help the communities meet Federal drinking water requirements; “(3) the Federal Government commits to maintaining and improving its partnership with the States in the administration and implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act;
“(4) States play a central role in the implementation of safe drinking water programs, and States need increased financial resources and appropriate flexibility to ensure the prompt and effective development and implementation of drinking water programs;
“(5) the existing process for the assessment and selection of additional drinking water contaminants needs to be revised and improved to ensure that there is a sound scientific basis for setting priorities in establishing drinking water regulations;
“(6) procedures for assessing the health effects of contaminants establishing drinking water standards should be revised to provide greater opportunity for public education and participation;
“(7) in considering the appropriate level of regulation for contaminants in drinking water, risk assessment, based on sound and objective science, and benefit-cost analysis are important analytical tools for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of drinking water regulations to protect human health;
“(8) more effective protection of public health requires—“(A) a Federal commitment to set priorities that will allow scarce Federal, State, and local resources to be targeted toward the drinking water problems of greatest public health concern;
“(B) maximizing the value of the different and complementary strengths and responsibilities of the Federal and State governments in those States that have primary enforcement responsibility for the Safe Drinking Water Act; and
“(C) prevention of drinking water contamination through well-trained system operators, water systems with adequate managerial, technical, and financial capacity, and enhanced protection of source waters of public water systems;
“(9) compliance with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act continues to be a concern at public water systems experiencing technical and financial limitations, and Federal, State, and local governments need more resources and more effective authority to attain the objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act; and
“(10) consumers served by public water systems should be provided with information on the source of the water they are drinking and its quality and safety, as well as prompt notification of any violation of drinking water regulations.”
GAO Study
Puspan. L. 104–182, title I, § 101(span)(2), Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1617, required the Comptroller General to study the reliance for residential water on various nonpublic water systems and to submit a report on the results of the study to Congress within 3 years after Aug. 6, 1996.
Safe Drinking Water Amendments of 1977 Restrictions on Appropriations for Research
Puspan. L. 95–190, § 2(e), Nov. 16, 1977, 91 Stat. 1393, provided that: “Nothing in this Act [see Short Title of 1977 Amendment note set out under section 201 of this title] shall be construed to authorize the appropriation of any amount for research under title XIV of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.] (relating to safe drinking water).”
Safe Drinking Water Amendments of 1977 as Not Affecting Authority of Administrator With Respect to Contaminants
Puspan. L. 95–190, § 3(e)(2), Nov. 16, 1977, 91 Stat. 1394, provided that: “Nothing in this Act [see Short Title of 1977 Amendment note set out under section 201 of this title] shall be construed to alter or affect the Administrator’s authority or duty under title 14 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.] to promulgate regulations or take other action with respect to any contaminant.”
Rural Water Survey; Report to President and Congress; Authorization of Appropriations
Puspan. L. 93–523, § 3, Dec. 16, 1974, 88 Stat. 1693, as amended by Puspan. L. 95–190, §§ 2(d), 3(d), Nov. 16, 1977, 91 Stat. 1393, 1394, directed Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency, after consultation with Secretary of Agriculture and the several States, to enter into arrangements with public or private entities to conduct a survey of quantity, quality, and availability of rural drinking water supplies, which survey was to include, but not be limited to, consideration of number of residents in each rural area who presently are being inadequately served by a public or private drinking water supply system, or by an individual home drinking water supply system, or who presently have limited or otherwise inadequate access to drinking water, or who, due to absence or inadequacy of a drinking water supply system, are exposed to an increased health hazard, and who have experienced incidents of chronic or acute illness, which may be attributed to inadequacy of a drinking water supply system. Survey to be completed within eighteen months of Dec. 16, 1974, and a final report thereon submitted, not later than six months after completion of survey, to President and to Congress.
Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.
Federal Compliance With Pollution Control Standards
For provisions relating to the responsibility of the head of each Executive agency for compliance with applicable pollution control standards, see Ex. Ord. No. 12088, Oct. 13, 1978, 43 F.R. 47707, set out as a note under section 4321 of this title.
