
				Pat Quinn, Governor

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Environmental Progress - Fall 2001

Radionuclide Deadline Is Dec. 8, 2003

Combined radium levels stay at 5 pC/l

Revisions to the 1976 radionuclide regulations were finalized by U.S. EPA on Dec. 7, 2000, retaining the existing MCLs of five picoCuries per liter for combined radium, and 15 picoCuries per liter for gross alpha particle activity.

Supplies in noncompliance with the MCLs are expected to achieve compliance as soon as possible. The IEPA is providing an opportunity for supplies to demonstrate a "good faith effort" for achieving compliance by submitting a signed radionuclide compliance commitment (RCC) that basically identifies activities needed to achieve compliance and offers a tentative schedule with interim milestones for completing these activities.

Whether or not a supply submits a RCC, compliance by Dec. 8, 2003, is required to avoid possible sanctions for failing to meet the regulations.

More supplies are expected to exceed the standards

The new rule changes the sample collection location from the distribution to the entry point. As a result, even some supplies currently in compliance are likely to exceed the standards when the new rules go into effect.

To familiarize community water supply operators with the requirements, a series of four meetings were held around the state during October.