Which organization established regulations for new chemical contaminant testing?

• A. National Science Foundation
• B. National Science Foundation and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• C. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• D. All state primacy departments, National Science Foundation, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Answer: (C)

The key idea is recognizing which agency has the authority to set and regulate how new chemical contaminants are tested for drinking water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency governs federal drinking water standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act, deciding what contaminants must be tested, how often, and what testing methods are acceptable. This is why the EPA is the best choice.

National Science Foundation is a research funding body, not a regulatory agency for drinking water testing. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health focuses on workplace safety rather than environmental drinking water regulations. States with primacy can enforce EPA rules, but they do not establish the federal regulations themselves. Thus, the EPA is the organization that establishes these testing regulations.