SDWA Program Update

1. SDWA Program Update ACIL Environmental Sciences Section March 27, 2019 Daniel Hautman (hautman.dan@epa.gov) Deputy Director Technical Support Center (TSC) OW, OGWDW, SRMD

2. EPA’s PFAS Action Plan (Feb. 2019 ) • Provides EPA’s first multi-media, multi-program, national research, management and risk communication plan to address a challenge like PFAS. • Responds to the extensive public input the agency has received over the past year during the PFAS National Leadership Summit, multiple community engagements, and through the public docket. • Drinking Water Commitments • The EPA is committed to following the MCL rulemaking process as established by SDWA. • As a next step, EPA will propose a regulatory determination for PFOA and PFOS by the end of this year. • The Agency is also gathering and evaluating information to determine if regulation is appropriate for other chemicals in the PFAS family. • The EPA will propose nationwide drinking water monitoring for PFAS under the next UCMR monitoring cycle.

3. Drinking Water Activities within TSC • Method development/validation/review/approval (including coordination of the DW Alternate Testing Procedure program and Expedited Method Approval), • Coordination of the national DW Lab Cert Program with direct engagement and oversight of regional and state lab cert programs, • UCMR development (planning for UCMR 5) and direct federal implementation program (currently UCMR 4), and • DW treatment plant technical assistance through the DW Area Wide Optimization Program working directly with regions, states and PWSs.

4. Drinking Water Method Development • LC/MS/MS method for select “short chain” PFAS compounds including GenX, ADONA, perfluorinated polyethers and select AFFF compounds • Expected to be published this summer. • Includes 25 PFAS • GC/MS method for low molecular weight water soluble CCL compounds, ethyl carbamate, urethane and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. • Potential method revisions • EPA 548 (endothal) • CRITICAL NOTE: TSC is looking to collaborate with laboratories to further improve these methods and to participate on method validation

5. EPA Radiochemical Method Updates • TSC continuing to update EPA radiochemistry methods and assess new capabilities for radiochemical analysis. • Working with Standard Methods and ASTM radiochemistry committees • Updated EPA Method 900.0 (evaporative gross alpha and gross beta) – Feb 2018 • More in-depth calibration details and quality control to improve consistency in generating analytical data. • Corrects discrepancies between the requirements in the older approved Method 900 and criteria specified in the regulations (e.g., alpha calibrant). • Formally approved in October 12, 2018, Expedited Methods Approval FRN • Work continues with revisions planned to 903.0, 903.1 and 904.0

6. Expedited Method Approval • Continue to annually release Expedited Method Approval FRNs • October 2018 approved 100 additional DW methods including: • The revised EPA Method 900 • Chemistry, radiochemistry and microbiology methods in 23rd Ed. of Standard Methods • Two Hach methods for turbidity – reviewed through ATP • Anticipate next Expedited Methods Approval FRN later this year

7. UCMR Activities • UCMR 4 (2017-2021) • Monitoring Period 2018-2020 • Laboratory Approval Program – no longer active • NCOD first set of monitoring data released in late 2018. • UCMR 5 (2022-2026) • Pre-proposal stakeholder meeting – July 2019 • Proposal expected summer 2020 – start of Lab Approval Program • Final Rule late 2021 • Monitoring Period - Jan 2023 - Dec 2025

8. Assistance / Collaboration • New EPA Method validation – multilab validation, LCMRL formulation. • Benefits: • Early experience with methods that may be used in future UCMR cycle • Acknowledged within the cover of the EPA method as a contributing validation laboratory – rich fodder for marketing. • CONTACT: Steve Wendelken (wendelken.steve@epa.gov), TSC Chemistry Laboratory Manager and copy me • UCMR 5 early engagement/assistance with MRL derivation - EPA often needs laboratory assistance generating LCMRL data sets to formulate proposed rule MRLs. Particularly for methods developed years ago with older instrument technology. • Benefits: • Gain early skills preparing for future UCMR lab approval program • Acknowledgment in front cover of future UCMR cycle lab approval manual • CONTACT: Brenda Bowden (nee Parris – bowden.Brenda@epa.gov), UCMR Rule Manager and copy me

9. America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (“AWIA”), • Section 2021 - Monitoring for unregulated contaminants • Creates new UCMR requirements, subject to the availability of appropriations and contingent on sufficient laboratory capacity. • Requires that all drinking water systems serving between 3,300 and 10,000 persons monitor for unregulated contaminants (in addition to those serving >10,000). • Original SDWA provisions called for monitoring at all systems serving >10,000 and only a representative set of systems serving < 10,000. • Authorizes (but does not appropriate) funds for each fiscal year in which monitoring is required to be carried out. Funds used for small-system sample analysis costs. • AWIA provisions apply to UCMR 5 and cycles thereafter. Who knows about AWIA?

10. AWIA BOTTOM LINE relative to UCMR future: • More than 7 times the number of small PWSs than in prior UCMR cycles, will need to be monitored with EPA utilizing contract labs. ~5800 small PWS vs 800 small PWS • EPA establishes multiple award laboratory contracts for this support with a guaranteed minimum. • Labs need to be approved in all methods to cover complete analyte list. • EPA will need at least 6, possibly 10 contract labs for UCMR5. • Interested? • Register your lab immediately after we propose UCMR5 (anticipated summer to late 2020), • Submit complete applications as soon as you can, • Get into the first PT study offered by EPA, • Earn status early as an “EPA approved” UCMR5 lab. • NOTE: AWIA authorizes (but does not appropriate) funds Future Opportunities