LT2 Rule

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Welcome to the Long Term 2 Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2 Rule) page. On this site you will find links to the rule, fact sheets as well as general information about the history of the rulemaking.

LT2 Rule

The purpose of the rule is to reduce disease incidence associated with Cryptosporidium and other disease-causing microorganisms in drinking water.

The LT2 rule was published in the Federal Register on January 5, 2006.

Federal Register (FR) Notices

• February 6, 2006
  • Correction to January 5, 2006 LT2 FR Notice
• January 30, 2006
  • Correction to January 5, 2006 LT2 FR Notice
• January 5, 2006 Federal Register Notice
  • LT2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule; Final Rule

Fact Sheet

• Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | PDF Version (4 pp, 44K)
  This fact sheet provides information on the basic requirements, the public health and environmental benefits, and estimated costs associated with the rule.
  EPA 815-F-05-002, December 2005

Rule Making History

• LT2 Rule Proposal
• Federal Register Notice: August 11, 2003 - Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule; Proposed Rule
• Stakeholder Meetings
• Federal Register Notice: September 22, 2003 - Stakeholder Meetings Concerning the Long-Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule Proposals; Notice of Public Meetings
  
• Agreement in Principle
  The basic framework for the rule was developed by the Stage 2 Microbial/Disinfection Byproduct federal advisory committee which was comprised of state and local government, environmental, public health and water industry stakeholders.
• 2000 Agreement in Principle
• Committee members
• Meeting summaries

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Public Meetings

The 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) require EPA to review its existing drinking water regulations every six years. SDWA specifies that any revision to a national primary drinking water regulation must maintain or provide for greater protection of the health of persons.

• November 15, 2012
• Federal Register Notice: Monitoring Data Analysis, Occurrence Forecasts, Binning, and the Microbial Toolbox-Notice of Public Meeting (Washington, DC)
• April 24, 2012
• Federal Register Notice: Uncovered Finished Water Reservoirs - Notice of Public Meeting (Washington, DC)
• April 24, 2012 Public Meeting Agenda (PDF) (4 pp, 450K)
• December 7, 2011
• Federal Register Notice: Initiate Regulatory Review - Cryptosporidium Analytical Method Improvements and Update on Source Water Monitoring  - Notice of Public Meeting
  (Washington, DC)
• December 7, 2011 Public Meeting Agenda (PDF) (2 pp, 162K)
•  December 7, 2011 Public Meeting Presentations
• Overview of LT2 Rule Requirements– Presenter Michael Finn (PDF) (28 pp, 368K)
• LT2 Round 1 Cryptosporidium Occurrence – Presenter Dr. Michael Messner (PDF) (16 pp, 90K)
• Species and Genotypes of Cryptosporidium – Presenter Dr. Ron Fayer, USDA (PDF) (43 pp, 4MB)
• The importance of unusual Cryptosporidium species and genotypes in human cryptosporidiosis– Presenter Dr. Rachel Chalmers (PDF) (33 pp, 1MB)
• The Molecular Detection Toolbox: Applications and Implications on Current and Future National Monitoring Efforts – Presenter Dr. Eric Villegas (PDF) (22 pp, 3MB)
• LT2 Round 1 Cryptosporidium Matrix Spike Recovery – Presenter Dr. Michael Messner (PDF) (13 pp, 225K)
• Method 1623 Improvements – Presenter Carrie Miller (PDF) (30 pp, 1MB )
• December 7, 2011 Public Meeting Summary (PDF)(12 pp, 262K)

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LT2 Round 1 Source Water Monitoring Data


• Cryptosporidium raw data from monitoring under the LT2 Rule (CSV)  (13MB)
  This file contains Cryptosporidium data collected under the Round 1 source water monitoring as required by the LT2ESWTR. The data are used by utilities to determine whether additional treatment for Cryptosporidium is needed. Data dictionary included.
  


• E. coli raw data from monitoring under the LT2 Rule (CSV)  (17MB)
  This file contains E. coli and turbidity data collected under the Round 1 source water monitoring as required by the LT2ESWTR. The E. coli data are used by small utilities as a screen for Cryptosporidium to determine whether additional treatment and/or monitoring for Cryptosporidium is needed. Data dictionary included.
  

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LT2 Rule Supporting Documents

The following documents were developed to support the final rule-making: 
• Occurrence Document
  
  • Occurrence and Exposure Assessment for the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (PDF)
    (206 pp, 2MB), EPA 815-R-06-002, December 2005
    • Occurrence and Exposure Assessment for the LT2 Rule Appendices (PDF) (6 4pp, 5MB)
      
      
• Cost and Technologies
  • Technologies and Costs Document for the Final Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and Final Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (PDF)(309 pp, 1MB)EPA 815-R-05-013, December 2005
    
    
• Economic Analysis
  • Economic Analysis for the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (PDF) (319 pp, 2MB)EPA 815-R-06-001, December 2005
    • Economic Analysis for the LT2 Rule Appendix 1 (PDF) (396 pp, 11MB)
    • Economic Analysis for the LT2 Rule Appendix 2 (PDF) (345 pp, 11MB)
• For additional supporting information related to this rule-making,
  visit docket number EPA-HQ-OW-2002-0039 at Regulations.gov
  

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Additional Information

• Quick Reference Guides to LT2 Rule
  These documents provide a simple and straight forward description of the rule, critical deadlines and requirements for drinking water systems and states, and information on monitoring requirements.
• For a list of trainings, webcasts, and other training opportunities visit the MDBP Training site
• Need more information about the LT2 Rule?
  See the Q&A section on Basic Information page here

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