pollutants; drinking water standards
The bill emphasizes the importance of public health safety, specifically targeting pollutants that have been identified as harmful. As a result, new standards will be developed for substances such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, chromium-6, and other perfluoroalkyl substances. This move is seen as crucial in safeguarding drinking water quality and ensuring that state laws remain updated with current health standards.
House Bill 2517 addresses the environmental standards for pollutants in drinking water by amending sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes. Specifically, it focuses on the establishment of numeric drinking water aquifer quality standards for various contaminants, which will be determined based on health protection. The director of the environmental department is granted the authority to initiate rule-making processes to adopt these standards, with an emphasis on using credible scientific evidence.
Notably, there has been contention regarding the petition process for adopting numeric standards, where any individual can request the director to consider standards for specific pollutants. Critics argue that this could lead to inconsistencies or delays in implementing necessary safety measures if the request is disputed or if opposition is raised during rule-making proceedings. Furthermore, there is concern about balancing the efficiency of adopting standards while ensuring adequate public health protection.