&EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency < 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. ------- Amtrak Requirements < 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 ------- |