---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300g–2"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300g–2"
heading: "State primary enforcement responsibility"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300g-2"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter XII — Safety of Public Water Systems"
  - "Part B — Public Water Systems"
---

# §300g–2. State primary enforcement responsibility

- (a) **In general—** For purposes of this subchapter, a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) has primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems during any period for which the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) determines (pursuant to [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) prescribed under [subsection (b)](#b)) that such [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f)—
  - (1) has adopted drinking water [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) that are no less stringent than the national primary drinking water [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) promulgated by the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) under subsections (a) and (b) of [section 300g–1 of this title](/usc/42/300g–1.md) not later than 2 years after the date on which the [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) are promulgated by the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1), except that the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) may provide for an extension of not more than 2 years if, after submission and review of appropriate, adequate documentation from the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) determines that the extension is necessary and justified;
  - (2) has adopted and is implementing adequate procedures for the enforcement of such [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d), including conducting such monitoring and making such inspections as the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) may require by regulation;
  - (3) will keep such records and make such reports with respect to its activities under paragraphs [(1)](#a-1) and [(2)](#a-2) as the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) may require by regulation;
  - (4) if it permits variances or exemptions, or both, from the requirements of its drinking water [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) which meet the requirements of [paragraph (1)](#a-1), permits such variances and exemptions under conditions and in a manner which is not less stringent than the conditions under, and the manner in which variances and exemptions may be granted under sections [300g–4](/usc/42/300g–4.md) and [300g–5](/usc/42/300g–5.md) of this title;
  - (5) has adopted and can implement an adequate plan for the provision of safe drinking water under emergency circumstances including earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and other natural [disasters](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2), as appropriate;
  - (6) has adopted and is implementing procedures for requiring public water systems to assess options for consolidation or transfer of ownership or other actions in accordance with the [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) issued by the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) under [section 300g–3(h)(6) of this title](/usc/42/300g–3.md?p=h-6); and
  - (7) has adopted authority for administrative penalties (unless the constitution of the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) prohibits the adoption of the authority) in a maximum amount—
    - (A) in the case of a system serving a population of more than 10,000, that is not less than $1,000 per day per [violation](/usc/42/2000e–16a.md?p=c); and
    - (B) in the case of any other system, that is adequate to ensure compliance (as determined by the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f));

    except that a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) may establish a maximum limitation on the total amount of administrative penalties that may be imposed on a public water system per [violation](/usc/42/2000e–16a.md?p=c).

- (b) **Regulations—**
  - (1) The [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) shall, by regulation (proposed within 180 days of December 16, 1974), prescribe the manner in which a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) may apply to the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) for a determination that the requirements of [subsection (a)](#a) are satisfied with respect to the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), the manner in which the determination is made, the period for which the determination will be effective, and the manner in which the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) may determine that such requirements are no longer met. Such [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) shall require that before a determination of the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) that such requirements are met or are no longer met with respect to a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) may become effective, the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) shall notify such [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) of the determination and the reasons therefor and shall provide an opportunity for public hearing on the determination. Such [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) shall be promulgated (with such modifications as the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) deems appropriate) within 90 days of the publication of the proposed [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) in the Federal Register. The [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) shall promptly notify in writing the chief executive officer of each [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) of the promulgation of [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) under this paragraph. Such notice shall contain a copy of the [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) and shall specify a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f)’s authority under this subchapter when it is determined to have primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems.
  - (2) When an application is submitted in accordance with the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1)’s [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) shall within 90 days of the date on which such application is submitted (A) make the determination applied for, or (B) deny the application and notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for his denial.
- (c) **Interim primary enforcement authority—** A [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) that has primary enforcement authority under this section with respect to each existing national primary drinking water regulation shall be considered to have primary enforcement authority with respect to each new or revised national primary drinking water regulation during the period beginning on the effective date of a regulation adopted and submitted by the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) with respect to the new or revised national primary drinking water regulation in accordance with [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1) and ending at such time as the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) makes a determination under subsection (b)(2)(B) with respect to the regulation.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XIV, § 1413, as added Pub. L. 93–523, § 2(a), Dec. 16, 1974, 88 Stat. 1665; amended Pub. L. 99–339, title I, § 101(c)(2), June 19, 1986, 100 Stat. 646; Pub. L. 104–182, title I, §§ 112, 113(b), Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1633, 1635; Pub. L. 115–270, title II, § 2010(b), Oct. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 3848.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a)(6), (7). Pub. L. 115–270, § 2010(b)(1), added par. (6) and redesignated former par. (6) as (7).

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 115–270, § 2010(b)(2), struck out “of paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4)” after “the requirements”.

1996—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–182, § 112(a)(1), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “has adopted drinking water regulations which are no less stringent than the national primary drinking water regulations in effect under sections 300g–1(a) and 300g–1(b) of this title;”.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 104–182, § 112(b), inserted “including earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters, as appropriate” after “emergency circumstances”.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 104–182, § 113(b), added par. (6).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–182, § 112(a)(2), added subsec. (c).

1986—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 99–339 substituted “are no less stringent than the national primary drinking water regulations in effect under sections 300g–1(a) and 300g–1(b) of this title” for subpars. (A) and (B) which related to stringency of State drinking water regulations between period of promulgation and effective date of national interim drinking water regulations and during the period after such effective date.