Drinking Water Bill Sails Through Congress

Abstract

It's been a long 17-month haul, but two weeks ago the 99th Congress passed its first major environmental legislation—a bill that strengthens the Safe Drinking Water Act. The conference bill literally sailed through Congress, passing the House May 13 by a vote of 382 to 21 and the Senate May 21 by a vote of 94 to 0. The bill, which authorizes vast increases in spending for drinking water programs through 1991, was sent to the President for his approval. A Presidential veto is possible but not considered likely. The Environmental Protection Agency in the past has expressed concern about some key provisions of the bill, mainly the new groundwater protection program. But an EPA spokesman says the agency is reviewing the conference bill before it makes its final recommendation to the President. Groundwater protection is the major new thrust of revisions to the drinking water act. Another key provision is a requirement that EPA ...