June 3, 2019

The U.S. EPA has published a guide for community water systems and state drinking water primacy agencies highlighting amendments to the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) from the American’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA), which was signed into law in October 2018. Specifically, AWIA requires that community water systems receive prompt notification of any release of a hazardous substance that potentially affects their source water and have access to hazardous chemical inventory date. The guide provides overviews of each of the sections of the amended law and includes a flow chart depicting the notification process following a spill.

April 11, 2019

A new fact sheet from the U.S. EPA highlights amendments to the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) from the America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA), which was signed into law in October 2018. Specifically, AWIA requires State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs) and Tribal Emergency Response Commissions (TERCs) to notify state drinking water primacy agencies of any reportable releases of contaminants; subsequently, drinking water primacy agencies are required to promptly forward the information to any community water system whose source water is affected. AWIA also requires SERCs, TERCs, and Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) to provide community water systems with chemical inventory data (i.e., Tier II information) for facilities within their source water protection area upon request. LEPCs are responsible for developing emergency response plans for their communities, and AWIA requires community water systems to coordinate with these groups to the extent possible to increase their preparedness for adverse events.