[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 92 (Thursday, May 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 25880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11163]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6334-9]
Public Notification Handbook--Draft for Comment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is making available
for review and comment a draft Public Notification Handbook (EPA 816-R-
99-004). The Handbook will assist public water systems in implementing
the revised public notification regulations, which are being proposed
today in the Federal Register. The proposed regulations and Handbook
will implement the revised public notification provisions enacted under
the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) amendments. 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 SDWA.
DATES: Written comments on the draft Public Notification Handbook are
requested by July 31, 1999. EPA is also soliciting comment on the
Handbook at the two public meetings on the proposed regulations and
other public meetings to be scheduled during summer, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments on the draft Public
Notification Handbook to Carl B. Reeverts, Manager, Public Notification
Handbook, Drinking Water Implementation and Assistance Division, Office
of Ground Water and Drinking Water (4606), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20460. You may also submit comments to Carl Reeverts via
E-mail at reeverts.carl@epa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-
800-426-4791. Copies of the proposed regulation and the draft Handbook
may be obtained by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-
426-4791 or by downloading the documents from Office of Ground Water
and Drinking Water's web site at http://www.epa.gov/safewater.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Public Notification Handbook is intended
to make public water system owners' and operators' jobs easier and
public notices more effective. The Handbook provides templates for
notices appropriate for different violation situations and other aids
to help water systems develop an effective public notification program.
EPA and the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA)
developed the draft Handbook under a Steering Committee comprised of
representatives from the American Water Works Association, Association
of Metropolitan Water Agencies, National Association of Water
Companies, National Rural Water Association, and League of Women
Voters. Two public meetings were held in June and September, 1998 to
review and test the effectiveness of early drafts of the handbook. The
draft Handbook is the result of that collaboration.
EPA welcomes comment on all aspects of the Handbook. In addition to
soliciting written comments, EPA encourages stakeholder input on the
draft Handbook at the two public meetings already scheduled to take
comment on the proposed regulation, May 26, 1999 in Madison, Wisconsin
and June 3, 1999 in Washington, DC. EPA is also planning two
stakeholder meetings in summer, 1999 to discuss steps to improve the
effectiveness of the Handbook before it is released in final form.
Comment period on the proposed rule closes 60 days after publication in
the Federal Register. Comments on the Handbook will be accepted through
July 31, 1999. The final rule and Handbook are expected to be published
in December 1999. For information on the status of the Handbook or the
schedule of meetings, please contact the EPA Safe Drinking Water
Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
Dated: April 27, 1999.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 99-11163 Filed 5-6-99; 9:42 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
