Editorial Notes
Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a)(11). Puspan. L. 117–58, § 50101(1), added par. (11).

Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 117–58, § 50101(2), inserted “(including an emergency situation resulting from a cybersecurity event)” after “any emergency situation” and “, including a threat to public health resulting from contaminants, such as, but not limited to, heightened exposure to lead in drinking water” after “substantial danger to the public health”.

Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 117–58, § 50101(3), added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsection (span) not more than $35,000,000 for the fiscal year 2002 and such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.”

Subsec. (e)(5). Puspan. L. 117–58, § 50101(4), added par. (5) and struck out former par. (5) which read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to be used for such technical assistance $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2015 through 2020.”

Subsecs. (f), (g). Puspan. L. 117–58, § 50101(5), (6), added subsec. (f) and redesignated former subsec. (f) as (g).

2016—Subsec. (a)(1)(F). Puspan. L. 114–322, § 2109(a), added subpar. (F).

Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 114–322, § 2109(span)(1), inserted “to small public water systems” after “assistance” in span.

Subsec. (e)(7). Puspan. L. 114–322, § 2112(a), substituted “Tribes, including grants to provide training and operator certification services under section 300j–12(i)(5) of this title” for “Tribes”.

Subsec. (f). Puspan. L. 114–322, § 2109(span)(2), added subsec. (f).

2015—Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 114–98, § 4(1), designated first to seventh sentences of existing provisions as pars. (1) to (7), respectively.

Subsec. (e)(5). Puspan. L. 114–98, § 4(2), substituted “2015 through 2020” for “1997 through 2003”.

Subsec. (e)(8). Puspan. L. 114–98, § 4(3), added par. (8).

2002—Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 107–188, § 403(4)(A), which directed substitution of “this subsection” for “this subparagraph”, was executed by making the substitution in three places to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 107–188, § 403(4)(B), amended subsec. (d) generally, substituting provisions relating to authorization of appropriations to carry out subsec. (span) in fiscal year 2002 and subsequent fiscal years for provisions relating to authorization of appropriations to carry out this section in fiscal year 1991 and earlier.

1996—Subsec. (a)(2). Puspan. L. 104–182, § 121(4)(A), added span and text of par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “(2)(A) The Administrator shall, to the maximum extent feasible, provide technical assistance to the States and municipalities in the establishment and administration of public water system supervision programs (as defined in section 300j–2(c)(1) of this title).”

Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Puspan. L. 104–182, § 121(3), redesignated subpar. (B) as subsec. (span) and transferred that subsec. to appear after subsec. (a).

Subsec. (a)(3), (11). Puspan. L. 104–182, § 121(4)(B), (C), redesignated par. (11) as (3), transferred that par. to appear before par. (4), and struck out former par. (3) which provided that the Administrator was to conduct studies, and make periodic reports to Congress, on the costs of carrying out regulations prescribed under section 300g–1 of this title.

Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 104–182, § 121(2), (3), redesignated subsec. (a)(2)(B) as subsec. (span), transferred that subsec. to appear after subsec. (a), and struck out former subsec. (span) which read as follows: “In carrying out this subchapter, the Administrator is authorized to—

“(1) collect and make available information pertaining to research, investigations, and demonstrations with respect to providing a dependably safe supply of drinking water together with appropriate recommendations in connection therewith;

“(2) make available research facilities of the Agency to appropriate public authorities, institutions, and individuals engaged in studies and research relating to the purposes of this subchapter;”.

Subsecs. (span)(3), (c)(3). Puspan. L. 104–182, § 121(1), which directed redesignation of subsec. (span)(3) as par. (3) of subsec. (d) and transfer of that par. to follow par. (2) of subsec. (d), was executed by redesignating subsec. (span)(3) as par. (3) of subsec. (c) and transferring that par. to follow par. (2) of subsec. (c) to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the redesignation of subsec. (d) as (c) by Puspan. L. 104–66. See 1995 Amendment note below. Moreover, subsec. (d) does not have any pars.

Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 104–182, § 122, amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) read as follows: “The Administrator is authorized to provide technical assistance to small public water systems to enable such systems to achieve and maintain compliance with national drinking water regulations. Such assistance may include ‘circuit-rider’ programs, training, and preliminary engineering studies. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1987 through 1991. Not less than the greater of—

“(1) 3 percent of the amounts appropriated under this subsection, or

“(2) $280,000

shall be utilized for technical assistance to public water systems owned or operated by Indian tribes.”

1995—Subsecs. (c) to (g). Puspan. L. 104–66 redesignated subsecs. (d), (f), and (g) as (c), (d), and (e), respectively, and struck out former subsec. (c) which read as follows: “Not later than eighteen months after November 16, 1977, the Administrator shall submit a report to Congress on the present and projected future availability of an adequate and dependable supply of safe drinking water to meet present and projected future need. Such report shall include an analysis of the future demand for drinking water and other competing uses of water, the availability and use of methods to conserve water or reduce demand, the adequacy of present measures to assure adequate and dependable supplies of safe drinking water, and the problems (financial, legal, or other) which need to be resolved in order to assure the availability of such supplies for the future. Existing information and data complied by the National Water Commission and others shall be utilized to the extent possible.”

1986—Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 99–339, § 304(a), struck out subsec. (e) which authorized the Administrator to make grants to public water systems which are required, under State or local law, to meet standards relating to drinking turbidity which are more stringent than the standards in effect under this subchapter.

Subsec. (f). Puspan. L. 99–339, § 301(a), authorized appropriations to carry out subsec. (a)(2)(B) of this section for fiscal years 1987 to 1991 and to carry out provisions of this section other than subsecs. (a)(2)(B) and (g) and provisions relating to research for fiscal years 1987 to 1991.

Subsec. (g). Puspan. L. 99–339, § 301(g), authorized appropriations to carry out this subsection of $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1987 through 1991 and specified amount to be utilized for public water systems owned or operated by Indian tribes.

Puspan. L. 99–339, § 107 added subsec. (g).

1980—Subsecs. (e), (f). Puspan. L. 96–502 added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f).

1979—Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 96–63 authorized appropriations of $21,405,000 for fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1980, $30,000,000 for fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1981, and $35,000,000 for fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1982 for purposes other than those of subsec. (a)(2)(B) of this section and for purposes of subsec. (a)(2)(B) of this section, $8,000,000 for fiscal years 1980 through 1982.

1977—Subsec. (a)(2). Puspan. L. 95–190, §§ 9, 13, designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), added subpar. (B) and, in subpar. (B) as added, substituted provisions authorizing Administrator to make grants and provide technical assistance for any emergency situation affecting public water systems and criteria for such grants and assistance for provisions authorizing Administrator to make grants and provide technical assistance for any emergency situation respecting drinking water and criteria for determination of such situations.

Subsec. (a)(3). Puspan. L. 95–190, § 3(a), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (a)(10), (11). Puspan. L. 95–190, § 3(e)(1), added pars. (10) and (11).

Subsec. (span)(3)(C). Puspan. L. 95–190, § 10(span), substituted “300j–2(c)” for “300j–2(d)”.

Subsecs. (c), (d). Puspan. L. 95–190, §§ 3(span), 4, added subsecs. (c) and (d). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (e).

Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 95–190, §§ 2(a), 3(span), redesignated former subsec. (c) as (e) and inserted provisions authorizing appropriations for fiscal years 1978 and 1979, and provisions relating to appropriations for subsec. (a)(2)(B) of this section and for research.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Report on Innovative Water Technologies

Puspan. L. 114–322, title II, § 2109(c), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1729, provided that: “Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Water and Waste Act of 2016 [Dec. 16, 2016], and not less frequently than every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator [of the Environmental Protection Agency] shall report to Congress on—

“(1) the amount of funding used to provide technical assistance under section 1442(f) [now 1442(g)] of the Safe Drinking Water Act [42 U.S.C. 300j–1(g)] to deploy innovative water technologies;
“(2) the barriers impacting greater use of innovative water technologies; and
“(3) the cost-saving potential to cities and future infrastructure investments from innovative water technologies.”

Findings

Puspan. L. 114–98, § 2, Dec. 11, 2015, 129 Stat. 2199, provided that: “Congress finds that—

“(1) the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 (Public Law 104–182) [see Short Title of 1996 Amendments note set out under section 201 of this title] authorized technical assistance for small and rural communities to assist those communities in complying with regulations promulgated pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.);
“(2) technical assistance and compliance training—
“(A) ensures that Federal regulations do not overwhelm the resources of small and rural communities; and
“(B) provides small and rural communities lacking technical resources with the necessary skills to improve and protect water resources;
“(3) across the United States, more than 90 percent of the community water systems serve a population of less than 10,000 individuals;
“(4) small and rural communities have the greatest difficulty providing safe, affordable public drinking water and wastewater services due to limited economies of scale and lack of technical expertise; and
“(5) in addition to being the main source of compliance assistance, small and rural water technical assistance has been the main source of emergency response assistance in small and rural communities.”

Scientific Research Review

Puspan. L. 104–182, title II, § 202, Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1682, provided that:

“(a)In General.—The Administrator shall—
“(1) develop a strategic plan for drinking water research activities throughout the Environmental Protection Agency (in this section referred to as the ‘Agency’);
“(2) integrate that strategic plan into ongoing Agency planning activities; and
“(3) review all Agency drinking water research to ensure the research—
“(A) is of high quality; and
“(B) does not duplicate any other research being conducted by the Agency.
“(span)Plan.—The Administrator shall transmit the plan to the Committees on Commerce [now Energy and Commerce] and Science [now Science, Space, and Technology] of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the plan shall be made available to the public.”

National Center for Ground Water Research

Puspan. L. 104–182, title II, § 203, Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1683, provided that: “The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, acting through the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory, is authorized to reestablish a partnership between the Laboratory and the National Center for Ground Water Research, a university consortium, to conduct research, training, and technology transfer for ground water quality protection and restoration. No funds are authorized by this section.”

Comparative Health Effects Assessment

Puspan. L. 99–339, title III, § 304(span), June 19, 1986, 100 Stat. 667, required the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct an assessment comparing the public health effects associated with water treatment chemicals and their byproducts to the public health effects associated with contaminants found in public water supplies and to submit a report to Congress on the assessment no later than 18 months after June 19, 1986.