03-9482. Notice of Tentative Approval and Solicitation of Request for a Public Hearing for Public Water System Supervision Program Revisions for the State of West Virginia

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 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Implementation that the State of West Virginia is revising its approved Public Water System Supervision Program. West Virginia has amended its administrative penalty authority and the definition of a public water system, and has adopted the Consumer Confidence Report Rule requiring annual drinking water quality reports to the public, an Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (IESWTR) to improve control of microbial pathogens in drinking water, including specifically the protozoan Cryptosporidium, and a Stage 1 Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR), setting new requirements to limit the formation of chemical disinfection byproducts in drinking water. 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. 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 May 19, 2003. This determination shall become effective on May 19, 2003 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. 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.
• West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Environmental Engineering Division, 815 Quarrier Street, Suite 418, Charleston, WV 25301.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Donna Weiss, Drinking Water Branch (3WP22) 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 May 19, 2003, 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: April 8, 2003.

Donald S. Welsh,

Regional Administrator, EPA Region III.