Drinking water: National primary drinking water regulations— Public notification requirements; meetings,

[Federal Register: May 24, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 99)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 27942-27943]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr24my99-24]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 141, 142 and 143

[FRL-6347-6]

Proposed Public Notification Regulations--Announcement of Public Meetings

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

SUMMARY: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a series of public meetings to solicit comments on proposed changes to the drinking water public notification regulations (64 FR 25963, May 13, 1999) and on the draft public notification handbook (EPA 816-R-99-004). The public notification regulations apply to owners and operators of public water systems which fail to comply with the drinking water standards and related regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA is developing the handbook to aid water systems in their efforts to prepare effective public notices.

DATES: EPA is scheduling meetings in four locations to obtain public comment on the proposed regulations and to work with interested parties to develop the final handbook:

May 26, 9 a.m., Madison, Wisconsin June 2, 5 p.m. and June 3, 10 a.m., Washington, D.C. June 8-9, 10 a.m., Allentown, Pennsylvania June 23-24, 10 a.m., Phoenix, Arizona

ADDRESSES: EPA is requesting that interested parties register with the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 prior to the scheduled meeting date. Those registering with the Hotline seven days in advance of the meeting date will be sent copies of the agenda and supporting materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1- 800-426-4791 for exact schedules and agendas for the public meetings. Copies of the proposed regulation and the draft Handbook may be obtained by calling the Hotline or by downloading the

[[Page 27943]]

documents from Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water's web site at http://www.epa.gov/safewater. For technical queries, you may contact Carl Reeverts, EPA rule manager, at (202) 260-7273, or via e-mail at reeverts.carl@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At each of the four meeting locations, EPA will conduct three meetings. Participants may attend all or some of the meetings at a particular location. The purpose of Meeting 1 will be to obtain public comment on the proposed public notification regulation. The meeting will include a short presentation on the requirements of the proposed rule, followed by an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed regulation. The purpose of Meeting 2 will be to discuss in a workgroup setting the draft public notification handbook. The meeting will include a group discussion of the use and applicability of the draft public notification handbook, as well as breakout sessions testing the handbook through development of sample notices. The purpose of Meeting 3 will be to obtain public comment on sample public notices developed using the draft public notice handbook. The meeting will focus on two mock notices for different violations. Members of the public are invited to attend Meeting 3 sessions as observers and/or to provide comment during a public comment period at the end of each session.

The public meetings will take place at the following locations:

1. Madison, Wisconsin, May 26--All meetings will be at the Best Western Inn at the Park; 22 S. Carroll Street; Madison, Wisconsin 53703. Meeting 1 will start at 9 a.m. Meeting 2 will start at approximately 10:30 a.m. Meeting 3 will start in the late afternoon (exact time still to be determined).

2. Washington, D.C., June 2-3--Meetings 1 and 2 will be on June 3 at the U.S. EPA, Waterside Mall; North Conference Center Room 1; 401 M Street, SW.; Washington, DC 20460. Meeting 1 will start at 10 a.m. Meeting 2 will start at approximately 11:30 a.m. and continue to about 4 p.m. Meeting 3 will be June 2 at The Cadmus Group, 1901 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 1016, Arlington, Virginia. The time of this meeting has not yet been determined.

3. Allentown, Pennsylvania, June 8-9--All meetings will be at the Days Inn and Conference Center, 1151 Bulldog Drive; Allentown, Pennsylvania. Meeting 1 will start at 10 a.m. on June 8 and end at approximately 12 p.m. Meeting 2 will start at approximately 1 p.m. and continue until 5 p.m. and then resume on June 9 starting at 9 a.m. until approximately 3 p.m. Meeting 3 will be on June 8 in the late afternoon or early evening (exact time still to be determined).

4. Phoenix, Arizona--All meetings will be at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality; 3033 North Central; Conference room 1709; Phoenix, Arizona. Meeting 1 will start at 10 a.m. on June 23 and end at approximately 12:00 p.m. Meeting 2 will start at approximately 1 p.m. and continue until 5 p.m. and then resume on June 24 starting at 9 a.m. until approximately 3 p.m. Meeting 3 will be on June 23 in the late afternoon or early evening (exact time still to be determined).

Dated: May 14, 1999. Cynthia C. Dougherty, Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.

[FR Doc. 99-12943Filed5-21-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P