2020-04652. Public Water System Supervision Program Revision for the State of Alabama

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of intended approval.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that the State of Alabama is revising its approved Public Water System Supervision Program. Alabama has adopted drinking water regulations for the Revised Total Coliform Rule. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that Alabama's regulations are no less stringent than the federal rule and the revision otherwise meets applicable Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. Therefore, EPA intends to approve this revision to the State of Alabama's Public Water System Supervision Program.

DATES:

Any interested person may request a public hearing. A request for a public hearing must be submitted by April 6, 2020, to the Regional Administrator at the EPA Region 4 street address shown below. The Regional Administrator may deny frivolous or insubstantial requests for a hearing. However, if a substantial request for a public hearing is made by April 6, 2020, a public hearing will be held. If no timely and appropriate request for a hearing is received and the Regional Administrator does not elect to hold a hearing on her own motion, this determination shall become final and effective on April 6, 2020. Any request for a public hearing shall include the following information: The name, address, and telephone number of the individual, organization, or other entity requesting a hearing; a brief statement of the requesting person's interest in the Regional Administrator's determination and a brief statement of the information that the requesting person intends to submit at such hearing; and 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.

ADDRESSES:

Documents relating to this determination are available for inspection between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding legal holidays) at the following locations: The Drinking Water Branch, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, 1400 Coliseum Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama 36110; and the Drinking Water Section, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dale Froneberger, EPA Region 4, Drinking Water Section, by mail at the Atlanta street address given above, by telephone at [phone], or by email at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The State of Alabama has submitted a request that EPA approve a revision to the State's Safe Drinking Water Act Public Water System Supervision Program to include the authority to implement and enforce the Revised Total Coliform Rule. For the request to be approved, EPA must find the state regulations codified at ADEM Admin. Code r. 335-7 to be no less stringent than the federal rule codified at 40 CFR part 141. EPA reviewed Alabama's application using the federal statutory provisions (Section 1413 of the Safe Drinking Water Act), federal regulations (at 40 CFR parts 141 and 142), state regulations, state policies and procedures for implementing the rule, regulatory crosswalk, and EPA regulatory guidance to determine whether the request for revision is approvable. EPA determined that the Alabama regulations are no less stringent than the corresponding federal rule and the revision otherwise meets applicable Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. Therefore, EPA intends to approve this revision. If EPA does not receive a timely and appropriate request for a hearing and the Regional Administrator does not elect to hold a hearing on her own motion, this approval shall become final and effective on April 6, 2020.

Authority: Section 1413 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended (1996), and 40 CFR part 142.

Dated: February 20, 2020.

Mary S. Walker,

Regional Administrator, Region 4.