Sec. 28001. COVID–19 Wastewater Surveillance Research Program

291 words·~1 min read·/bill/116/hr/2/eh/section-28001

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Congress finds the following: Wastewater surveillance of COVID–19 is a rapidly evolving area of research that holds great promise as an early, cost-effective, unbiased community-level indicator of the presence of COVID–19. Use of wastewater surveillance to assess increasing trends in the occurrence of COVID–19, especially in early detection, has been successfully demonstrated, however, additional research may help shed light on other areas where this tool can be helpful in providing useful information to public health and elected officials responding to the COVID–19 pandemic.

The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall establish a program to award research grants to eligible entities to investigate the use of wastewater surveillance of the genetic signal of SARS CoV–2 as an indicator of the distribution of COVID–19 in communities. Entities eligible to receive a grant under this section include wastewater utilities (including those that receive funding through a State water pollution control revolving fund established pursuant to title VI of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act), institutions of higher education, and public-private consortia focused on water research and technology.

In carrying out subsection (b), the Administrator, in consultation with wastewater officials and public health officials, shall— develop recommendations for— sample plan design, sample collection, and sample preservation; and consistent data collection practices and documentation that would allow data comparability; support greater coordination in research to help better understand and address knowledge gaps; support effective communication with the public, public health officials, elected officials, wastewater professionals, and the media, on the results of any wastewater surveillance for tracking trends relating to COVID–19; and carry out such other activities as the Administrator determines appropriate.

There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 2021 and 2022 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.