100 STAT. 1626 V Health and medical care. President of U.S.
PUBLIC LAW 99-499—OCT. 17, 1986 and after publication of notice and opportunity for submission of comments in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code, the President shall by rule promulgate amendments to the hazard ranking system in effect on September 1, 1984. Such amendments shall assure, to the maximum extent feasible, that the hazard ranking system accurately assesses the relative degree of risk to human health and the environment posed by sites and facilities subject to review. The President shall establish an effective date for the amended hazard ranking system which is not later than 24 months after enactment of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986. Such amended hazard ranking system shall be applied to any site or facility to be newly listed on the National Priorities List after the effective date established by the President. Until such effective date of the regulations, the hazard ranking system in effect on September 1, 1984, shall continue in full force and effect. "(2) HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF WATER CONTAMINATION RISKS.—In
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Health and medical care.
President of U.S.
carrying out this subsection, the President shall ensure that the human health risks associated with the contamination or potential contamination (either directly or as a result of the runoff of any hazardous substance or pollutant or contaminant from sites or facilities) of surface water are appropriately assessed where such surface water is, or can be, used for recreation or potable water consumption. In making the assessment required pursuant to the preceding sentence, the President shall take into account the potential migration of any hazardous substance or pollutant or contaminant through such surface water to downstream sources of drinking water.
"(3) REEVALUATION NOT REQUIRED.—The President shall not be required to reevaluate, after the date of the enactment of the Tv Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, the hazard ranking of any facility which was evaluated in accordance with the criteria under this section before the effective date of the amendments to the hazard ranking system under this subsection and which was assigned a national priority under the National Contingency Plan. r "(4) NEW INFORMATION.—Nothing in paragraph (3) shall preclude the President from taking new information into account in undertaking response actions under this Act. "(d) PETITION FOR ASSESSMENT OF RELEASE.—Any person who is, or may be, affected by a release or threatened release of a hazardous substance or pollutant or contaminant, may petition the President to conduct a preliminary assessment of the hazards to public health and the environment which are associated with such release or threatened release. If the President has not previously conducted a preliminary assessment of such release, the President shall, within 12 months after the receipt of any such petition, complete such assessment or provide an explanation of why the assessment is not appropriate. If the preliminary assessment indicates that the release or threatened release concerned may pose a threat to human health or the environment, the President shall promptly evaluate such release or threatened release in accordance with the hazard ranking system referred to in paragraph (8)(A) of subsection (a) to determine the national priority of such release or threatened release. "(e) RELEASES FROM EARLIER SITES.—Whenever there has been, after January 1, 1985, a significant release of hazardous substances
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