H.R. 10947: Monitor Microplastics Now Act

This bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to add nanoplastics and microplastics to the sixth list of unregulated contaminants the EPA publishes under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

What that means

The EPA already publishes a list of contaminants that are found in drinking water but are not yet subject to federal drinking-water limits. This bill would make sure that nanoplastics and microplastics are included on that list, so they are formally monitored as part of the EPA’s drinking water oversight process.

Key requirements

• The EPA must include nanoplastics and microplastics in the sixth unregulated contaminants list.
• These substances must be included even if they are not currently covered by a national primary drinking water regulation.
• They would not count toward the existing limit of 30 unregulated contaminants on that list.
• If the EPA already issued the sixth list before this bill became law, the agency would have to reissue the final rule to add these substances.

Definitions used in the bill

• Nanoplastic: a plastic fragment or particle smaller than 1,000 nanometers in diameter.
• Microplastic: a plastic fragment or particle smaller than 5 millimeters in diameter.

Practical effect

The bill would not, by itself, create a new drinking-water standard or set a legal limit for these particles. Instead, it would require the EPA to specifically monitor and list them as unregulated contaminants, which could be a step toward future regulation or further study.

Relevant Companies

None found