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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Water Management and Conservation Research » Research » Research Project #442442

Research Project: Memorandum of Understanding on Sustainability of Federal Collaboration on Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water (FY22)

Location: Water Management and Conservation Research

Project Number: 2020-13000-005-009-M
Project Type: Memorandum of Understanding

Start Date: Jul 1, 2022
End Date: Jun 30, 2027

Objective:
This four-Party Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes a formal mechanism among the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA/OW), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA/ARS), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS/FDA), and the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI/USGS), (collectively the ‘Parties’), to improve and sustain federal coordination and collaboration on issues related to pharmaceuticals in drinking water. This agreement is a renewal of a 2012 MOU with the same purpose and Parties.

Approach:
Collaborative efforts of the Parties will be coordinated by a Steering Committee, consisting of one or two representatives from each Party. The Steering Committee will be jointly responsible for the establishment of an interagency workgroup and for activities such as scheduling and organizing workgroup meetings and/or other events, responding to GAO, and coordinating efforts designed to ensure that the mission of this agreement is advanced. The workgroup will consist of representatives from the Parties and other federal agencies with responsibilities to address issues related to the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in drinking water and sources of drinking water.