The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has allocated $20 million towards the research of technologies and treatment methods that will help small water systems meet new regulations regarding the amount of arsenic allowed in water - now set as 10 parts per billion (ppb). Both point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry (POE) systems are being explored. Manufacturers of these systems stand to benefit from the EPA's move, as industry researchers predict the POU/POE market will see a drastic increase in demand for products over the next few years. After all, operators of small water systems have only until 2006 to get their arsenic levels under compliance.

One of the POU/POE technologies getting a lot of attention these days is reverse osmosis (RO). With about 32,000 small community water systems in the country, serving a total of 5.2 million people, manufacturers of reverse osmosis units stand to do very well depending on whether or not they get their products certified for arsenic removal. In order for this to happen, manufacturers of RO units must work in close cooperation with the EPA and water system operators. These manufacturers can take advantage of the current strengthening of regulations not only by proving that their units remove arsenic but that they work against other harmful agents as well.

In other news, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has introduced a bill in Congress to strengthen existing hazmat regulations. Considering the political climate after Sept. 11, the bill is expected to meet little resistance. Not surprisingly, the proposed adjustment to regulations includes a more concrete equation of national security matters with traditional hazmat concerns. In addition to the usual shippers and carriers such regulations cover, the expanded bill will apply to carriers who "reject" hazardous materials. These carriers will now be required to train employees so that they are better judges of what materials not to accept. The term "hazmat employee" will also be expanded to include anyone used by a hazmat employer to perform a hazmat function.

If the new bill is ratified, the DOT would be given permission to "gain access to, open and examine" a hazmat package. Their only prohibition would be from opening the innermost container of the hazmat material. This right is reserved exclusively for occasions where the investigator has a reasonable belief that a hazmat is in the package. In addition to these powers, the DOT would be able to issue restrictions, prohibitions, recalls or out-of-service orders without notice or opportunity of a hearing, as is the case currently. It is agreed that this would only be done for the purpose of avoiding a hazard. Furthermore, the fines and terms of imprisonment levied against hazmat offenders would be significantly stricter. The current penalty ceiling of $27,500 would be raised to $100,000 with a possible jail term of 20 years. Finally, the bill entails that the U.S. Postal Service would be given civil penalty authority as well. With this power, the Post Office would be able to severely punish individuals responsible for hazmat violations that occur through the mail service, a move that obviously demonstrates a concern over recent turn of events.

Sources: EPA to Invest $20 Million in Arsenic Research
EDIE, Nov. 23, 2001
http://www.edie.net/news/Archive/4941.cfm

New Hazmat Legislation
Transportation & Distribution, Nov. 28, 2001
http://www.tdmagazine.com/