SDWA Still Stalled

摘要

The current pace of regulatory activity in Washington, D.C., is a close match for the speed of the traffic on the beltway circling the city. Not much ground has been gained since the Disinfectants/Disinfection By-products Rule was proposed in 1994. The lack of movement stems partly from stalled progress with reauthorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), partly from resource limitations at the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and recent government shutdowns, and partly from detours caused by presidential politics. In this issue's opening theme article, Pontius outlines the current developments related to existing and anticipated rules. Passage of S. 1316 by the Senate has made observers hopeful that the current Congress will pass a reauthorization bill, but there is disagreement in the House of Representatives over what the reauthorized SDWA should look like.