Sponsored by:
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblyman TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblywoman L. GRACE SPENCER
District 29 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires maximum contaminant level to be established for 1,2,3-trichloropropane in drinking water.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act requiring a maximum contaminant level to be established for 1,2,3-trichloropropane and supplementing P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Drinking Water Quality Institute established pursuant to section 10 of P.L.1983, c.443 (C.58:12A-20) shall, within 90 days after the date of enactment of this act, recommend to the Department of Environmental Protection a maximum contaminant level for 1,2,3-trichloropropane in drinking water, which shall be no more than 0.03 parts per billion.
b. The Department of Environmental Protection shall adopt, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), a maximum contaminant level for 1,2,3-trichloropropane based upon the recommendation made by the Drinking Water Quality Institute pursuant to subsection a. of this section. The department shall adopt the maximum contaminant level for 1,2,3-trichloropropane within 180 days after receiving the recommendation thereon from the institute.
c. Until the department adopts a maximum contaminant level for 1,2,3-trichloropropane pursuant to subsection b. of this section, the maximum contaminant level shall be 0.03 parts per billion.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Drinking Water Quality Institute (DWQI) to recommend, within 90 days, to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) a maximum contaminant level (mcl) of 0.03 parts per billion (ppb) or lower for 1,2,3-trichloropropane (1,2,3-TCP), and directs the DEP to adopt the mcl for 1,2,3-TCP based upon the recommendation made by the DWQI within 180 days after receiving the recommendation. The bill requires the mcl for 1,2,3-TCP to be 0.03 ppb until the DEP adopts the mcl recommended by the DWQI.
The chemical, 1,2,3-TCP, is a man-made and persistent substance used for paint removal and other purposes. It has been classified a “likely” carcinogen by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. According to the DEP, it is a potent genotoxic carcinogen which occurs in drinking water at levels resulting in significant cancer risk based on test results from New Jersey public and non-public water supplies. The contaminant has recently been found in Moorestown’s water supply, causing town officials to shut down two of its primary wells. Therefore, it is imperative that water purveyors and suppliers take immediate steps to reduce the level of 1,2,3-TCP in drinking water.