AWWA JAW37641

The Information Collection Rule (ICR), proposed February 10, 1994, is the most ambitious nationwide effort to collect data over a fixed period of time ever attempted. The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is in the process of developing the final rule, which has been delayed because of technical and administrative issues. Promulgation of the rule is now anticipated in June 1995, with monitoring scheduled to begin in October 1995. It has been estimated that implementation of the rule will cost the water industry $130 million. An overview of the draft ICR was published in the October 1993 issue of the JOURNAL. The proposed ICR was consistent with the requirements summarized in that column, but several changes were made and discussed in a followup article in the June 1994 issue. As the final rule is prepared, the agency is developing additional changes and refinements to address weaknesses in the proposed rule and to ease implementation. The current thinking on several key issues is discussed here, and suggestions for preparing for the ICR are offered to utilities. Includes 10 references, tables.