&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
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For Your Information:
Amtrak Rail Cars are
Interstate Carrier
Conveyances (ICCs) of
Drinking Water
Amtrak rail cars are covered under the Safe Drinking Water Act because
they provide drinking water to the passengers that they convey in
interstate commerce. The Safe Drinking Water Act specifically mentions
ICCs, and retains federal oversight for ICCs for the national primary
drinking water regulations. States do not regulate ICCs.
Information for Primacy Agencies
Are Amtrak rail yards
and other watering
locations considered
public water systems?
Are state primacy
agencies responsible
for conducting
inspections, sanitary
surveys, or otherwise
regulating Interstate
Carrier Conveyances?
No.
Amtrak watering locations are customers of existing public water systems.
Amtrak uses these watering points at rail yards and stations to board water
onto the rail cars. The rail cars, as ICCs, are in a special category of public
water system.
No.
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, ICCs are directly regulated by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Because Amtrak is headquartered
in Washington, D.C., EPA's Mid-Atlantic regional office in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania oversees Amtrak-owned and -operated rail cars that provide
water to passengers and crews. Aircraft, also ICCs, are overseen by the
EPA regional office where their headquarters are located.
Information for Public Water Systems
If Amtrak is a customer,
what do I need to do?
How do I contact Amtrak
in case of a water
emergency or other event
that could affect watering
locations?
A public water system that has an Amtrak watering location within its
distribution system should treat Amtrak as a customer by providing
Consumer Confidence Reports and other customer notifications. Amtrak
should be included in other customer and distribution-oriented efforts, such
as cross-connection control and flushing programs.
Amtrak's 24/7 National Operations Center emergency number:
800-424-0217, then enter number 4 or 5
In addition, you are encouraged to establish local points of contact at the
Amtrak facility in your distribution system.
Overview of EPA Agreement with Amt
On April 26, 2012, EPA and Amtrak signed an agreement, an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC),
for sampling the drinking water on rail cars owned or operated by Amtrak.
Purpose
General
Description
Rail Cars
Covered by
the AOC
Oversight
To ensure that safe and reliable drinking water is provided to Amtrak rail car passengers
and crew, an AOC was established under the national primary drinking water
regulations for public water systems. Through the AOC, Amtrak's water system
operations and maintenance plan was modified and enhanced to better protect against
disease-causing microbiological contaminants.
The plan includes routine disinfection and flushing of the rail car water systems,
periodic sampling of the onboard drinking water, and training requirements for key
personnel, as well as self-inspections of each rail car water system and immediate
notification of passengers and crew when violations or specific situations occur.
The AOC applies only to rail cars owned or operated by Amtrak with onboard water
systems that provide water for human consumption through pipes and regularly serve
an average of at least 25 individuals daily, at least 60 days out of the year, and that
board only finished water for human consumption. Human consumption includes water
for drinking, hand washing and bathing, food preparation, and oral hygiene.
EPA's Mid-Atlantic office in Philadelphia oversees the AOC. However, the AOC applies
to Amtrak rail cars that operate across the United States.
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Amtrak Requirements
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Coliform Sampling
All Amtrak rail cars are sampled for total coliform bacteria according to the frequency and procedures
described in the sampling plan in the Administrative Order on Consent (AOC). The routine sampling
frequency is based on the type of rail car and frequency of routine disinfection and flushing.
Each routine, repeat, or follow-up sample that is positive for total coliform is tested for the presence of £
co//. If any sample is positive for £ coli, public notification and corrective disinfection and flushing are
required.
Amtrak also conducts follow-up and corrective measures if routine coliform samples indicate total coliform
is present but £ coli is not present.
Public Notification
Most of Amtrak's sampling will take place shortly after a rail car enters a maintenance yard, and
therefore does not have passengers or crew. Amtrak does not have to post public notification if the rail
car is drained and flushed, and confirmed total coliform-negative, prior to returning to service.
Some rail cars will be sampled while in service. Notification of passengers and crew onboard the rail car
is required when:
>• Any sample results are total coliform-positive or £. co//-positive.
>• EPA or Amtrak determines public notification is necessary to protect public health.
>• Amtrak receives a Tier 1 (24-hour) Public Notice from a public water system, and has rail
cars which have that water on board.
>• Notice to passengers is also provided if the water is unavailable for drinking, but may be
used for sanitary purposes.
For £co//-positive events, or when EPA or Amtrak determines public notification is necessary, notice
must be issued within 24 hours.
Self-Inspection
Each rail car public water system must be inspected by Amtrak, according to the procedures in their
Operations & Maintenance plans. At a minimum, the self-inspection procedures will include inspecting
the storage tank, distribution system, supplemental treatment, fixtures, valves, and backflow prevention
devices. Any deficiencies detected must be addressed according to the plan.
Reporting and Recordkeeping
Amtrak submits compliance information to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including
sampling results; all events requiring public notification and corrective disinfection and flushing;
notification of failure to comply with monitoring or disinfection and flushing requirements; and evidence of
self-inspection, along with a report of unresolved deficiencies. Reporting is submitted to EPA's Mid-
Atlantic office in Philadelphia.
Records of coliform sampling, disinfection and flushing, self-inspections, and public notices are also kept
by Amtrak. Sampling plans and Operation & Maintenance plans are maintained by Amtrak, with periodic
updates supplied to EPA.
Contact Information
Amtrak 24/7 emergency number: 800-424-0217
In the event of an emergency at a water system that may affect the safety of water that Amtrak boards
from that water system, please contact Amtrak as soon as possible.
EPA National Response Center 24/7 emergency number: 800-424-8802
For non-emergencies related to drinking water on Amtrak trains, please contact EPA at
R3 railcar water@.epa.qov or by mail.
Public Water System Supervision Program (3WP22)
EPA Region III
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
EPA Region
EPA 903F13001
http://www.epa.gov/drink
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