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 ------- |