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March 2006UCMR Updates are information sheets issued by the Technical Support Center of OGWDW. They are issued as needed to disseminate information to utilities and laboratories participating in the Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule monitoring and data reporting. Issue 9 UCMR Update Issue Number 9 Issued by the Technical Support Center (TSC) of the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW). Future Updates will be distributed as needed to maintain the flow of Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR) information. This Issue . . . In Like a Lion and Out Like a LambTable of contents
Editor’s NotesHow would you describe the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR)? When I describe UCMR to my family they get a glazed look in their eyes, and they sort of tilt their heads to the side. I am not sure if the tilt is due to the fact that they are confused, or if they are trying to listen to the television in the background. I will admit I have the “boring career” compared to my brother and sister. UCMR cannot compete with the army or NASCAR. Have you ever tried to describe UCMR2 to colleagues, friends or family? Do they get the same glazed look as my family? If so, simply let them know that UCMR1 went out like a lamb, and UCMR2 is starting with the strength of a fierce lion. Please graze this issue if you would like to learn more. The main goals are to:
UCMR1 Leaves Like a LambThanks for making UCMR1 successful! An amazing 99.7% of public water systems (PWSs) required to monitor for UCMR1 reported data. That amazing number can be seen over hills of grassy pastures. The UCMR1 database contains over 30,000 analytical results for each contaminant in List 1 and over 400,000 results total. You can find UCMR1 occurrence data online. Why is this important? The UCMR program benefits the environment and public health by providing EPA and other interested parties with scientific data on the occurrence of these contaminants in drinking water. The data provides a basis for assessing the population potentially being exposed and the levels of that exposure. This is the primary source of drinking water occurrence and exposure data the Agency uses to determine whether to regulate these contaminants in the interest of protecting public health. I hope you feel proud knowing that you are participating in such an important process. UCMR2 Enters Like a LionDo not forget about UCMR2! Currently, EPA is reviewing all public comments and expects to publish the final regulation later this year. Thank you for taking the time to provide comments. We appreciate all of your feedback, and hope to make positive changes to the regulation based on those recommendations. Currently, many pre-implementation activities have leaped into action, and the roar of activity will continue to grow in the coming months. Stay on the lookout for the next UCMR Update for details about future activities. State Partnership AgreementsEPA THANKS all States who are partnering with us to assist with UCMR2 implementation. We appreciate all your time and support, and look forward to working with you in the months and years ahead. States that still want to partner need to call their EPA Regional contact as soon as possible. State Monitoring PlansPartnering States. Please remember to review and return your state monitoring plan (SMP) to EPA by April 7, 2006. Public Water Systems (PWSs)Welcome to UCMR2! You are receiving this Update because EPA considers you subject to UCMR2 monitoring. We determined your status according to the proposed rule’s established applicability date (June 30, 2005) using information in the Federal Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS-FED). Either EPA’s implementation support contractor or your state will confirm this information. PWSs in Non-Partnering States – EPA’s implementation support contractor will call you to verify your applicability status and confirm your contact information. Ground Water Representative Monitoring PlansEPA recommends that PWSs begin working on their ground water representative monitoring plans (GWRMP) as soon as possible. GWRMPs allow PWSs to monitor at representative entry point(s), rather than monitoring at every entry point to the distribution system (EPTDS). We encourage PWSs to first review GWRMP criteria in the proposed rule. If you have questions, please write the UCMR Sampling Coordinator.
Please Keep In Mind. You must wait until the final rule is published to submit your GWRMP. However, you must submit your plan to EPA within 120 days of the publication of the final rule. Therefore, you only have a 120 day window to submit your plan. Roar Good-Bye to Sponsor LettersOut with the sponsor letters and In with simplicity! Many of you “roared” last time you filled out a sponsor letter to access SDWARS (the Safe Drinking Water Accession & Reporting System) in CDX (the Central Data Exchange). EPA heard your “roars” and hopes to turn your roar into the gentle “bah” of a sheep. We are making it easier for you to meet your requirements for UCMR2 by banishing the sponsor letter, and introducing a three step registration process.
Laboratories: EPA plans to use the same steps for laboratory SDWARS2 registration. However, you must complete the laboratory approval program and become approved before you receive access to SDWARS2. Only laboratories that are EPA approved are allowed to analyze samples for UCMR2. Join the Laboratory Approval Program TroopJoin the troop of lions in the quest to analyze samples for UCMR2. All laboratories that wish to participate in UCMR2 should start the process now. Once the final rule is published, laboratories only have 90 days to register for lab approval, and only 210 days to submit their applications. This seems like a long time, but do not let it deceive you. A shortened version of the approval program is outlined below to help demystify the process. Please refer to http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ucmr/ucmr2/labs.html for all the details.
Keep in Mind. You have more opportunities to pass the PT if you start the laboratory approval process early. If you fail the PT you are automatically enrolled in the next PT for that method. However, if you wait until the last PT, you will only have one chance to pass. Public Water Systems Contact Your LaboratoryPublic water systems (PWSs) should contact the laboratories they typically use to make sure they are aware of the UCMR2 laboratory approval program. Only EPA approved laboratories are permitted to analyze samples for UCMR2, and submit data to SDWARS. Remember These Dates
Reporting Deadlines Identified in UCMR2 Proposal
Want to Know More?Contacting EPA
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