E6-10854. Notice of Tentative Approval and Solicitation of Request for a Public Hearing for Public Water System Supervision Program Revision for the State of Maryland

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 Maryland is revising its approved Public Water System Supervision Program. Maryland has adopted the Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule to improve control of microbial pathogens in drinking water, including specifically the protozoan Cryptosporidium.

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 August 10, 2006. This determination shall become effective on August 10, 2006 if no timely and appropriate request for a hearing is received and the Regional Administrator does not elect on his own to hold a hearing, 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 [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.
• Maryland Department of the Environment, 1800 Washington Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jason Gambatese, Drinking Water Branch 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 August 10, 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: June 12, 2006.

Donald S. Welsh,

Regional Administrator, EPA, Region III.