The Honorable Carol M. Browner
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460

Dear Administrator Browner:

We are writing to clarify congressional intention with regard to a provision in the recently enacted Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments, P.L. 104-182.

Section 201(a)(5) of Title II of P.L. 104-182 calls upon the EPA Administrator to conduct a project to demonstrate the most effective and protective means of assessing and protecting source waters serving large metropolitan areas and located on Federal lands.

As the primary authors of this provision, it is our views that the ideal candidate for a demonstration project under this provision is the Bull Run Watershed in Oregon, which is located almost fully within the Mount Hood National Forest and serves the rapidly-expanding Portland metropolitan area. A demonstration project in the Bull Run Watershed will assist Oregon in developing future strategies to ensure that the watershed is managed in a way that permanently protects and enhances water quality and quantity for future generations.

The same provision was included in H.R. 3392, the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1994, which passed the House by voice vote in the 103rd Congress. The Committee report language (see enclosed language from Rpt. 103-745) accompanying that bill expressed the Committee's view that the Bull Run Watershed would be the most appropriate candidate for this demonstration project.

We would appreciate being kept informed regarding EPA's progress in implementing this provision.

 Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to working with you to implement this and other provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments.

Sincerely,

JOHN D. DINGELL, RANKING MEMBER
HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

HENRY A. WAXMAN, RANKING MEMBER
HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT SUBCOMMITTEE

ELIZABETH FURSE,MEMBER
HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

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