FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 CONTACT: AGNES CECILE OCZON
August 2, 1996                                       202-224-7073

SENATE PASSES SAFE DRINKING WATER BILL
WITH DOMENICI "GOOD SCIENCE" LANGUAGE

Domenici Language Benefits Small New Mexico Water Systems

Domenici is an original co-sponsor to the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments Bill of 1995, which will make comprehensive improvements to this law. It will reform regulation of drinking water systems in the United States, and Domenici's language will be beneficial to New Mexico's small water systems.

Domenici voted for the bill, which passed 98 to 0. It will now be sent to the President.

"This bill works to try to assist small water systems, like many of those in New Mexico, that do not have either the economic or technical resources to comply with some provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act," Domenici said.

The Domenici initiative, which was retained in the bill during negotiations with the House, addresses concerns of small water systems that have found current law prohibitively expensive while failing to provide commensurate health and safety benefits. The language would ensure that the best available, peer-reviewed science is used in establishing standards under the Act. This concept is also commonly known as "good science."

"My good science initiative will help small systems by making compliance more affordable by using the best science to establish the Act's standards, while not compromising health and safety concerns," Domenici said. "Using the best available peer-reviewed science means that the most rational and reasonable standards will be used, instead of simply maintaining the most expensive standards."

Among other things, the bill would authorize states to reserve up to two percent of their state revolving loan grants to provide technical assistance to small water users.

Another provision affecting New Mexico included in the bill is a Domenici amendment authorizing federal agencies to award drinking and wastewater grants to disadvantaged border communities knows an "colonias."