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  • Accidental releases from non-covered processes

    Should the owner or operator include accidental releases from processes containing listed substances below the threshold quantity in the five-year accident history required under the hazard assessment provisions of 40 CFR Part 68, Subpart B, and in the incident investigation requirements under 40 CFR Part 68, Subparts C and D…

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  • Do I have to report accidents that resulted in medical treatment?

    I had a release where several people were treated at the hospital and released; they attributed their symptoms to exposure. We do not believe that their symptoms were in fact the result of exposure to the released substance. Do we have to report these as offsite impacts? Yes, you should…

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  • Do settlement communications, such as past “agreements in principle,” impact the implementation of the final Consent Decrees?

    The parties are bound by the terms of the various final, publicly available consent decrees. These consent decrees were made available for public comment before they were finalized and entered by the Court. Past settlement communications and documents created in the course of settlement discussions have been incorporated (or not)…

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  • What is the Confidentiality Order?

    The Confidentiality Order (Order) is a court order entered by the Federal District Court for the District of Montana (Court) on August 8, 2002, and amended by the Court on December 31, 2003, that applies to Superfund settlement negotiations in the Clark Fork River Basin, including the following sites: Silver…

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  • How does EPA ensure that the potentially responsible parties complete their work?

    All cleanup activities performed by the PRPs are subject to enforcement instruments (i.e., consent decrees or administrative orders) that provide for EPA approval of all deliverables and oversight of all work performed by the PRPs.

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  • How does the Safe Drinking Water Act limit lead in pipes, plumbing fittings, fixtures, faucets, solder and flux?

    Answer: Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) establishes the definition for “lead free” as a weighted average of 0.25% lead calculated across the wetted surfaces of a pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, and fixture and 0.2% lead for solder and flux. The Act also provides a methodology…

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  • Is exposure to lead contaminated drinking water from absorption through skin a health threat?

    Answer: Human skin does not absorb lead in water. For more information visit our website: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water . Question (23002-32377) Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to lead .

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  • Are non-transient, non-community water systems (NTNCWSs) required to monitor for lead and copper?

    Answer: All community water systems (CWSs) and NTNCWSs must collect lead and copper tap samples. The frequency of the monitoring and number of samples to be collected and analyzed is based primarily on the number of people served and tap water monitoring results. For an outline of monitoring requirements (e.g…

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  • Is there anything else I can do beyond flushing my tap or buying bottled water?

    Answer: Yes, find “Important Steps You Can Take to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water” if you are concerned about lead in their drinking water. The list is not intended to be exhaustive or to imply that all actions equally reduce lead from drinking water. EPA recommends you also contact your…

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  • My neighbors got their water tested and found lead. Is my water safe?

    Answer: Lead usually gets into drinking water through contact with plumbing materials such as lead pipes or lead solder, or faucets, valves, and fixtures made of brass (brass contains some lead). Since each home has different plumbing pipes and materials, test results are likely to be different for each home…

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  • Can one still sell lead solder under the Lead Ban?

    Answer: Section 1417(a)(3) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) prohibits the sale of solder and flux that is not lead-free unless the solder or flux bears a prominent label stating that it is illegal to use the solder or flux in the installation or repair of any plumbing providing…

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  • Why do water systems add phosphate to drinking water? What are the health effects of drinking water containing phosphates? 

    Answer: Public water systems (PWSs) commonly add phosphates to drinking water to prevent the release of metals in drinking water. Orthophosphate is most commonly used for lead and copper control. Polyphosphates sequester iron and manganese to prevent discolored water but are not effective to control lead and copper. Blended phosphates…

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  • What is the definition of "offsite property damage?"

    I am working on the five-year accident history portion of the hazard assessment under the RMP. Section 68.42(a) tells me to include "all accidental releases from covered processes that resulted in deaths, injuries, or significant property damage on site, or known offsite deaths, injuries, evacuations, sheltering in place, property damage…

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  • When does the accident history's five-year period begin?

    The hazard assessment requirements under 40 CFR Part 68, Subpart B include provision of a five-year accident history, as specified at §68.42. When does the five-year period to be reported in the accident history begin? The five-year accident history must include information on all accidental releases from covered processes meeting…

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  • What is the definition of injury?

    Under the hazard assessment requirements of 40 CFR Part 68, Subpart B, an owner or operator must document a five-year accident history including all accidental releases from covered processes that resulted in deaths, injuries, or significant property damage on site, or known offsite deaths, injuries, evacuations, sheltering in place, property…

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