ELR Citation: ELR 20441
No(s). 80-1048 (D.C. Cir. May 2, 1985)

The court holds that the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) monitoring program for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) meets the Safe Drinking Water Act's mandate to protect the public health. EPA requires only quarterly monitoring, and determines compliance with the maximum contaminant level (MCL) using a running annual average of the quarterly samples. This program admittedly allows peak concentrations of TTHMs to exceed the MCL. However, EPA has determined that TTHMs present risks from long-term exposure only. This, coupled with the high variability of TTHM concentrations, renders EPA's decision, that its program protects the public health, reasonable.

Counsel for Petitioner
Fred E. Schlegel, George W. Pendygraft
Baker & Daniels
810 Fletcher Trust Bldg., Indianapolis IN 46204
(317) 636-4535

Counsel for Petitioner-Intervenor
Marian K. Agnew
1740 Dumbarton St., McLean VA 22101
(703) 241-0993

Counsel for Respondent (EPA)
Lawrence R. Liebesman
Land and Natural Resources Division
U.S. Department of Justice, P.O. Box 23986, Washington DC 20026-3986
(202) 633-2281

Kenneth Gray
Office of General Counsel
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M St. SW, Washington DC 20460
(202) 382-7706

Before Bork and Friedman,^* JJ.