Protecting Pregnant Women and Children From Hexavalent Chromium Act of 2011
Latest action (25 Jan 2011): Introduced
What this bill does
S. 79, the Protecting Pregnant Women and Children From Hexavalent Chromium Act of 2011, would amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Environmental Protection Agency to address hexavalent chromium, a form of chromium linked to cancer and other health effects. Specifically, the bill directs the EPA Administrator to issue a health advisory for hexavalent chromium in drinking water within 90 days of enactment, and to propose a national primary drinking water regulation within 180 days and finalize it within one year. Both the advisory and the regulation would have to be protective of vulnerable populations—particularly pregnant women, infants, and children—taking into account body weight, exposure patterns, and all routes of exposure, with the regulation's maximum contaminant level set as close as feasible to the health-based goal.
The bill would primarily affect the EPA, which would face new deadlines and substantive standards for regulating this contaminant, and water systems and municipalities, which could eventually be subject to a new enforceable drinking water standard rather than relying on the existing general chromium standard set in 1991. Members of the public, especially in areas with detected hexavalent chromium in tap water, are the intended beneficiaries.
The bill was introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer, with Senator Dianne Feinstein as a cosponsor, on January 25, 2011, and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. It did not receive a vote and did not advance further in the 112th Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Protecting Pregnant Women and Children From Hexavalent Chromium Act of 2011 - Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) publish a health advisory for hexavalent chromium that is fully protective of the health of vulnerable individuals (including pregnant women, infants, and children), taking into consideration body weight, exposure patterns, and all routes of exposure; and (2) establish a national primary drinking water regulation for hexavalent chromium that is protective of vulnerable individuals and the maximum contaminant level of which is as close to the maximum contaminant level goal for hexavalent chromium, and as protective of vulnerable individuals, as is feasible.
Common questions
- What does S. 79 do?
- S. 79, the Protecting Pregnant Women and Children From Hexavalent Chromium Act of 2011, would amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Environmental Protection Agency to address hexavalent chromium, a form of chromium linked to cancer and other health effects. Specifically, the bill directs the EPA Administrator to issue a health advisory for hexavalent chromium in drinking water within 90 days of enactment, and to propose a national primary drinking water regulation within 180 days and finalize it within one year. Both the advisory and the regulation would have to be protective of vulnerable populations—particularly pregnant women, infants, and children—taking into account body weight, exposure patterns, and all routes of exposure, with the regulation's maximum contaminant level set as close as feasible to the health-based goal. The bill would primarily affect the EPA, which would face new deadlines and substantive standards for regulating this contaminant, and water systems and municipalities, which could eventually be subject to a new enforceable drinking water standard rather than relying on the existing general chromium standard set in 1991. Members of the public, especially in areas with detected hexavalent chromium in tap water, are the intended beneficiaries. The bill was introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer, with Senator Dianne Feinstein as a cosponsor, on January 25, 2011, and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. It did not receive a vote and did not advance further in the 112th Congress.
- Has S. 79 become law?
- Not yet. As of 25 Jan 2011, S. 79 is introduced.
- Who sponsored S. 79?
- S. 79 was sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer [D-CA, 1993-2016] (Democrat-CA), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 79?
- Introduced (25 Jan 2011).
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