National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper: Short-Term Regulatory Revisions and Clarifications

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

SUMMARY:

EPA is finalizing seven targeted regulatory changes to the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) for lead and copper. This final rule strengthens the implementation of the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) in the following areas: monitoring, treatment processes, public education, customer awareness, and lead service line replacement. These changes provide more effective protection of public health by reducing exposure to lead in drinking water.

DATES:

This final rule is effective on December 10, 2007.

The compliance date for all of this final rule's provisions is 180 days after promulgation except if by that date, the primacy State has not adopted this rule, in which case compliance with this final rule is required the earlier of either the State's adoption of the rule, or two years after December 10, 2007. For purposes of judicial review, this rule is promulgated as of October 10, 2007 as provided in 40 CFR 23.7.

ADDRESSES:

EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2005-0034. All documents in the docket are listed on the www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically through www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Water Docket, EPA Docket Center, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Water Docket is (202) 566-2426.