E6-19868. Notice of Tentative Approval and Solicitation of Request for a Public Hearing for Public Water System Supervision Program Revision for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of tentative approval and Solicitation of Requests for a Public Hearing.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provision of section 1413 of the Safe Drinking Water Act as amended, and the rules governing National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Implementation that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has revised its approved Public Water System Supervision Program. Pennsylvania has adopted a Radionuclides Rule to establish a new maximum contaminant level (MCL) for uranium and revise monitoring requirements. EPA has determined that these revisions are no less stringent than the corresponding Federal regulations. Therefore, EPA has decided to tentatively approve these program revisions. It is noted that Pennsylvania's regulations in 25 Pa. Code 109 do not specifically provide for the use of bottled water as a means for a water system to qualify for a variance or exemption for radionuclides; thus, the Commonwealth interprets this to mean that the practice is disallowed. All interested parties are invited to submit written comments on this determination and may request a public hearing.

DATES:

Comments or a request for a public hearing must be submitted by December 26, 2006. This determination shall become effective on December 26, 2006, if no timely and appropriate request for a hearing is received and the Regional Administrator does not elect to hold a hearing on his own motion, and if no comments are received which cause EPA to modify its tentative approval.

ADDRESSES:

Comments or a request for a public hearing must be submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029. Comments may also be submitted electronically to Dr. Jennie Saxe at [e-mail]. All documents relating to this determination are available for inspection between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the following offices:

• Drinking Water Branch, Water Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029.
• Division of Planning and Permits, Bureau of Water Standards and Facility Regulation, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Rachel Carson State Office Building, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8774.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Jennie Saxe, Drinking Water Branch (3WP21) at the Philadelphia address given above; telephone [phone] or fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

All interested parties are invited to submit written comments on this determination and may request a public hearing. All comments will be considered, and, if necessary, EPA will issue a response. Frivolous or insubstantial requests for a hearing may be denied by the Regional Administrator. However, if a substantial request for a public hearing is made by December 26, 2006, a public hearing will be held. A request for public hearing shall include the following: (1) The name, address, and telephone number of the individual, organization, or other entity requesting a hearing; (2) a brief statement of the requesting person's interest in the Regional Administrator's determination and of information that the requesting person intends to submit at such a hearing; and (3) the signature of the individual making the request; or, if the request is made on behalf of an organization or other entity, the signature of a responsible official of the organization or other entity.

Dated: November 15, 2006.

Donald S. Welsh,

Regional Administrator, Region III.