Benefit-cost analysis of the stage 1D/DBP rule

In 1992-93, the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Advisory Committ ee Act (FACA)to develops consensus convened a negotiated rulemaking process under the Federal approach to simultaneously addressing potential health r isks posed by disinfection by-products (DBPs) and waterborne pathogens. The fact that inadvertent risk-risk tradeoffs might be made between protection from DBPs and protection from microbial pathogens complicates the process. It is further complicated by uncertainties that affect the assessment of b oth risks. The regulatory-negotiations committee devised a staged approach to regulation that a second FACA committee finalized in 1996-97. This artic le summarizes the DBPs side of the benefit-cost analysis that was developed during these processes and later refined by USEPA to more fully address un certainties regarding the rule's benefits.