H.B. 352 is a short bill that would allow a public water supply that is not meeting water quality standards (any standard biological or chemical) to provide bottled water instead and placard the sinks and be legal. Again this is a violation of the Federal Clean Drinking Water Law. And it does not address for example handwashing when there is fecal coliform in the water, or for food preparation such as washing salad, ice making, dish washing etc. in a food service. This bill could end up causing the loss of primacy for the federal drinking water program if passed.
Because this change in law would affect the law and rules to which the state food rules refer for water supply purposes, it could be interpreted to mean that unsafe water could be used to prepare food, ice., wash dishes and then be served to the public. This is a bill that endangers public health at it's most basic level and should be opposed with vigor.
Jim Carlson wrote: The bill has been amended to allow for a variance that DEQ must issue when a public water supply violates nitrates standards in the water as long as the water supply posts non-potable signs and offers bottled water. The original version applied to all drinking water standards (maximum contaminate level). There are over a hundred standards including things like fecal coliform bacteria, gasoline and arsenic.
As amended the bill is still a major problem:
1. The Montana Drinking Water Law used to implement all requirements of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Montana DEQ has primacy to enforce both State and Federal law as a result. If HB 352 passes it, Montana could loose primacy designation by EPA and possibly loose Federal Funding. 2. The Federal Law still applies. The Feds would possible take over the whole public water program or step in and just enforce where state variances have been issued. In either case, the enforcement folks at EPA are, based on similar situations in other States, more likely to issue bigger fines and require tighter compliance guidelines than DEQ. As a result the bill could put these systems through regulatory hell. 3. Providing bottled water does not solve the problem of high nitrates in the ice, food preparation, etc in restaurants. The exemption also applies to residential water systems where baby formula is made. Nitrates are regulated because of blue baby syndrome. 4. Finally, in not fertilized crop areas nitrates are generally an indicator that about 20% of the water in the well has gone through someone's septic system. These waters usually contain contaminants such as prescription drugs like birth control drugs and drug metabolites some of which are endocrine disruptors.
Missoula County opposes House Bill 352 as amended - Revise laws relating to water quality standards and provide alternatives, before the House on third reading tomorrow. HB 352 would allow a public water supply that is not meeting nitrate water quality standards to provide bottled water instead for up to five years. HB 352 does not address the problem of high nitrates in making ice, washing dishes and preparing food in restaurants. The exemption also applies to residential water systems where baby formula is made. Nitrates are regulated because of blue baby syndrome.
HB 352 could also cause Montana to lose primacy designation by EPA and sacrifice federal funding. Federal law still applies which could cause the EPA to take over the whole public water program or step in and just enforce where state variances have been issued. In either case, the enforcement staff at EPA are more likely to issue bigger fines and require tighter compliance guidelines than enforcement staff from Montana DEQ. HB 352 could put these restaurants and other water supplies through significant regulatory challenges. Please oppose HB 352. Respectfully, Dale Bickell on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners
Sending the following to Senators Wanzenried, Larsen, and Hinkle:
Missoula County opposes House Bill 352 as amended - Revise laws relating to water quality standards and provide alternatives, before Senate Natural Resources tomorrow afternoon. HB 352 would allow a public water supply that is not meeting nitrate water quality standards to provide bottled water instead for up to five years. HB 352 does not address the problem of high nitrates in making ice, washing dishes and preparing food in restaurants. The exemption also applies to residential water systems where baby formula is made. Nitrates are regulated because of blue baby syndrome.
HB 352 could also cause Montana to lose primacy designation by EPA and sacrifice federal funding. Federal law still applies which could cause the EPA to take over the whole public water program or step in and just enforce where state variances have been issued. In either case, the enforcement staff at EPA are more likely to issue bigger fines and require tighter compliance guidelines than enforcement staff from Montana DEQ. HB 352 could put these restaurants and other water supplies through significant regulatory challenges. Please oppose HB 352. Respectfully, Dale Bickell on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners
Missoula County opposes House Bill 352 as amended - Revise laws relating to water quality standards and provide alternatives, before the Senate on 2nd reading this afternoon. HB 352 would allow a public water supply that is not meeting nitrate water quality standards to provide bottled water instead for up to five years. HB 352 does not address the problem of high nitrates in making ice, washing dishes and preparing food in restaurants. The exemption also applies to residential water systems where baby formula is made. Nitrates are regulated because of blue baby syndrome.
HB 352 could also cause Montana to lose primacy designation by EPA and sacrifice federal funding. Federal law still applies which could cause the EPA to take over the whole public water program or step in and just enforce where state variances have been issued. In either case, the enforcement staff at EPA are more likely to issue bigger fines and require tighter compliance guidelines than enforcement staff from Montana DEQ. HB 352 could put these restaurants and other water supplies through significant regulatory challenges. Please oppose HB 352. Respectfully, Dale Bickell on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners
Jim Carlson writes:
ReplyDeleteH.B. 352 is a short bill that would allow a public water supply that is not meeting water quality standards (any standard biological or chemical) to provide bottled water instead and placard the sinks and be legal. Again this is a violation of the Federal Clean Drinking Water Law. And it does not address for example handwashing when there is fecal coliform in the water, or for food preparation such as washing salad, ice making, dish washing etc. in a food service. This bill could end up causing the loss of primacy for the federal drinking water program if passed.
Because this change in law would affect the law and rules to which the state food rules refer for water supply purposes, it could be interpreted to mean that unsafe water could be used to prepare food, ice., wash dishes and then be served to the public. This is a bill that endangers public health at it's most basic level and should be opposed with vigor.
Thanks!
Jim Carlson wrote:
ReplyDeleteThe bill has been amended to allow for a variance that DEQ must issue when a public water supply violates nitrates standards in the water as long as the water supply posts non-potable signs and offers bottled water. The original version applied to all drinking water standards (maximum contaminate level). There are over a hundred standards including things like fecal coliform bacteria, gasoline and arsenic.
As amended the bill is still a major problem:
1. The Montana Drinking Water Law used to implement all requirements of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Montana DEQ has primacy to enforce both State and Federal law as a result. If HB 352 passes it, Montana could loose primacy designation by EPA and possibly loose Federal Funding.
2. The Federal Law still applies. The Feds would possible take over the whole public water program or step in and just enforce where state variances have been issued. In either case, the enforcement folks at EPA are, based on similar situations in other States, more likely to issue bigger fines and require tighter compliance guidelines than DEQ. As a result the bill could put these systems through regulatory hell.
3. Providing bottled water does not solve the problem of high nitrates in the ice, food preparation, etc in restaurants. The exemption also applies to residential water systems where baby formula is made. Nitrates are regulated because of blue baby syndrome.
4. Finally, in not fertilized crop areas nitrates are generally an indicator that about 20% of the water in the well has gone through someone's septic system. These waters usually contain contaminants such as prescription drugs like birth control drugs and drug metabolites some of which are endocrine disruptors.
Sent the following message to Missoula Reps:
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes House Bill 352 as amended - Revise laws relating to water quality standards and provide alternatives, before the House on third reading tomorrow. HB 352 would allow a public water supply that is not meeting nitrate water quality standards to provide bottled water instead for up to five years. HB 352 does not address the problem of high nitrates in making ice, washing dishes and preparing food in restaurants. The exemption also applies to residential water systems where baby formula is made. Nitrates are regulated because of blue baby syndrome.
HB 352 could also cause Montana to lose primacy designation by EPA and sacrifice federal funding. Federal law still applies which could cause the EPA to take over the whole public water program or step in and just enforce where state variances have been issued. In either case, the enforcement staff at EPA are more likely to issue bigger fines and require tighter compliance guidelines than enforcement staff from Montana DEQ. HB 352 could put these restaurants and other water supplies through significant regulatory challenges. Please oppose HB 352.
Respectfully,
Dale Bickell on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners
Sending the following to Senators Wanzenried, Larsen, and Hinkle:
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes House Bill 352 as amended - Revise laws relating to water quality standards and provide alternatives, before Senate Natural Resources tomorrow afternoon. HB 352 would allow a public water supply that is not meeting nitrate water quality standards to provide bottled water instead for up to five years. HB 352 does not address the problem of high nitrates in making ice, washing dishes and preparing food in restaurants. The exemption also applies to residential water systems where baby formula is made. Nitrates are regulated because of blue baby syndrome.
HB 352 could also cause Montana to lose primacy designation by EPA and sacrifice federal funding. Federal law still applies which could cause the EPA to take over the whole public water program or step in and just enforce where state variances have been issued. In either case, the enforcement staff at EPA are more likely to issue bigger fines and require tighter compliance guidelines than enforcement staff from Montana DEQ. HB 352 could put these restaurants and other water supplies through significant regulatory challenges. Please oppose HB 352.
Respectfully,
Dale Bickell on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners
Sent the following to Missoula Senators:
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes House Bill 352 as amended - Revise laws relating to water quality standards and provide alternatives, before the Senate on 2nd reading this afternoon. HB 352 would allow a public water supply that is not meeting nitrate water quality standards to provide bottled water instead for up to five years. HB 352 does not address the problem of high nitrates in making ice, washing dishes and preparing food in restaurants. The exemption also applies to residential water systems where baby formula is made. Nitrates are regulated because of blue baby syndrome.
HB 352 could also cause Montana to lose primacy designation by EPA and sacrifice federal funding. Federal law still applies which could cause the EPA to take over the whole public water program or step in and just enforce where state variances have been issued. In either case, the enforcement staff at EPA are more likely to issue bigger fines and require tighter compliance guidelines than enforcement staff from Montana DEQ. HB 352 could put these restaurants and other water supplies through significant regulatory challenges. Please oppose HB 352.
Respectfully,
Dale Bickell on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners