On August 3, 2005, the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research released a report entitled "Bad to the Bone: Analysis of the Federal Maximum Contaminant Levels for Plutonium - 239 and Other Alpha-Emitting Transuranic Radionuclides in Drinking Water". This report asserts that EPA should revise its Maximum Contaminant Level for alpha-emitting, long-lived transuranic radionuclides to a lower allowable drinking water concentration.

On December 7, 2000, EPA published final regulations for (non-radon) radionuclides in drinking water: combined radium-226/-228, (adjusted) gross alpha, beta particle and photon radioactivity, and uranium. This final rule confirmed revisions to the 1976 rule, which had been proposed in 1991. The rule became effective on December 8, 2003, and monitoring by those public water systems affected by the regulation is being phased in between December 2003 and December 2007.

EPA is reviewing the Institute's report, and we will consider the information provided in the report as we review the radionuclides rule as part of the Six Year Review of National Primary Drinking Water Standards. EPA expects to publish final decisions on whether or not to revise the radionuclides rule or any of the other National Primary Drinking Water Standards in 2008.