UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                                                                               WSG51B
                                                                 Date Signed: May 7, 1990
MEMORANDUM

SUBJECT:    Clarification of Public Notification Requirements for
              Unregulated Contaminants

FROM:       Robert J. Blanco, Director (signed by Robert Blanco)
              State Programs Division  (WH-550E)

TO:           Oscar Cabra, Jr., P.E., Chief
              Water Supply Branch (6W-S)
              Region VI
       In an April 11 memo you asked for clarification on a December 1, 1989 guidance memo
from Mike Cook on public notification for unregulated contaminants.  You questioned a statement
we made that "any system that detects an unregulated contaminant must be required by regulation
to provide individual notice to persons served by the system," and pointed out that systems are
required only to notify persons of the availability of the results of such sampling.

       I apologize for any confusion that the earlier memo caused.  Our statement was not
intended to be a quote of the regulation and we did not realize that the omission of the words
"availability of the results  of the sampling" would cause a misunderstanding. The thrust of the
December 1 guidance was that it would be acceptable for systems which did not detect any
unregulated contaminants to satisfy the public notification requirements with a Statewide press
release, but not for systems which did detect one or more of the unregulated contaminants.
Systems with detects would be required to provide notice strictly in accordance with §141.35(d),
which requires that systems "notify persons served by the system of the availability of the results of
sampling conducted under §141.40 by including a notice in the first set of water bills issued by the
system after the receipt of the results or written notice within three months."

       I hope this clarifies our earlier guidance. Please give me call if you have any further
concerns.
cc:  Regional Drinking Water Branch Chiefs

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