On September 18, EPA published a Federal Register notice on the Agency's intention to restrict the use of chlorine gas in water treatment, sewage treatment, and residential pool applications.  This action builds on the Agency's February 22, 1999 Reregistration Eligibility Decision that restricted all other uses of chlorine gas to trained and certified applicators.

This proposal would change the labelling requirements for chlorine gas and the training requirements for the use of chlorine gas.  Specifically, certified applicator training would be required and although every worker will not need to receive certified applicator training, one certified applicator will need to be present for all operations involving chlorine gas.

EPA includes a section on the added burden on states and water systems.  The Agency suggests that some states may be able to rely on their existing training programs, such as water treatment certification, to certify applicators, but also recognizes that some states may not be able to do this.

A copy of the proposal with a short summary will be forwarded to ASDWA members later this week.  The proposal can also be found on the Internet at the Federal Register web site .  Comments are due to EPA by November 15.

Information provided by the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators.

10/10/2000