[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 163 (Friday, August 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44684-44685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22360]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5880-2]


Interpretation of New Drinking Water Requirements Relating to 
Lead Free Plumbing Fittings and Fixtures

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Section 1417(a)(3) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), as 
amended makes it unlawful for any person to introduce into commerce 
after August 6, 1998 any pipe, or any pipe or plumbing fitting or 
fixture that is not lead free. In section 1417(e) as added by the 1996 
SDWA Amendments, Congress directed EPA to provide assistance for the 
development of voluntary standards and testing protocols for the 
leaching of lead from new plumbing fittings and fixtures relating to 
drinking water. This notice confirms EPA's position that performance 
standards for the leaching of lead from new plumbing fittings and 
fixtures have been established, as directed by the SDWA.
    The SDWA requires that, if a voluntary standard for the leaching of 
lead from new plumbing fittings and fixtures is not established by 
August 1997, then EPA must promulgate regulations setting a performance 
based standard for lead leaching from such components. The National 
Sanitation Foundation (NSF) established a voluntary standard, NSF 
Standard 61, section 9, governing the leaching of lead

[[Page 44685]]

from new plumbing fittings and fixtures in September 1994. EPA 
participated in the development of the NSF Standard because the Agency 
felt that, rather than promulgating a regulation, limiting the amount 
of lead leaching from brass and other alloys into drinking water would 
be best achieved through a voluntary standard, which is fully 
protective on a health basis and technologically achievable by industry 
in a reasonable period of time. In the Agency's view, NSF Standard 61, 
section 9 satisfies the requirement of section 1417(e), that a 
voluntary standard be established. Thus, the obligation to issue 
regulations is not triggered. See S. Rep. 104-169 ``104th Cong.), at 
95.'' Copies of NSF Standard 61, and the listings of products meeting 
this standard may be obtained from NSF International, 3475 Plymouth 
Road, PO Box 130140, Ann Arbor, MI 48113-0140. The telephone number is 
313-769-8010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Lassovszky, Office of Ground 
Water and Drinking Water (4607), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC. For further information, call the 
U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline between 8:30 am and 5 pm Eastern 
Time, Monday through Friday excluding Federal holidays, by telephoning 
toll-free 1-800-426-4791 nationwide.

    Dated: August 13, 1997.
Robert Perciasepe,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 97-22360 Filed 8-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P