Arsenic standards fly past Senate

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2, 2001 — The U.S. Senate voted 97-1 on Wednesday to have the Environmental Protection Agency put new arsenic standards into effect immediately.

The new standard was set at 10 ppb in the House version, but no specific figure was named in the Senate version.

The legislation is part of a $113.4 billion measure financing housing, veterans and environmental programs for 2002.

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) said that he would introduce follow-up legislation requiring federal funds back the new standards for water systems that need to be upgraded.

It could cost the water industry $200 million annually to meet a 10 ppb standard.