AWWA JAW61266

The regulatory development process used by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) can be divided into three categories - "priority" regulations, the six-year review of existing regulations, and the development of new regulations. This article summarizes recent USEPA actions in each of these areas and examines the triggers that ultimately determine regulatory development. Regulatory triggers that are based on the occurrence data from the first six-year review and on the first round of regulatory determinations from the Contaminant Candidate List provide insight into when a national drinking water regulation might or might not be considered to be warranted. By consolidating information from different sources, this article furthers the understanding and analysis of drinking water policy. It also points up the need for additional research and information in several areas including historical data used in the regulatory development process, performance of analytical methods at low concentrations, comparisons of the uncertainty and risk management factors used in past regulations as well as a comparison of past cost-benefit analyses. Includes 27 references, tables.