EPA, Environmental Groups Agree on Dates For Rules Regulating Microbes, Byproducts.

The article reports on an agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Natural Resources Defense Council, including two environmental groups, on November 17, 2005. The deal requires the agency to finalize rules regulating microbial contaminants and disinfection byproducts by 2006. Under a consent decree, the agency will sign by December 15, 2005 a rule to control potentially dangerous byproducts formed during the disinfection process.