National Drinking Water Advisory Council's Water Security Working Group Meeting Announcement, 17447 [05-6941]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 17447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6941]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7896-5]


National Drinking Water Advisory Council's Water Security Working 
Group Meeting Announcement

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the fifth 
public meeting of the Water Security Working Group (WSWG) of the 
National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC), which was established 
under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The purpose of this meeting is to 
provide an opportunity for the WSWG members to continue deliberations 
on the following topics: (1) Features of active and effective security 
programs for drinking water and wastewater utilities (water sector); 
(2) incentives to encourage broad adoption of active and effective 
security programs in the water sector; and (3) measures of the 
performance of water security programs. The focus of the meeting will 
be on review of the WSWG's draft report and recommendations. The 
meeting will be open to the public and an opportunity for public 
comment will be provided. The WSWG findings and recommendations will be 
provided to the NDWAC for their consideration. The WSWG anticipates 
providing findings and recommendations to the NDWAC in spring 2005. 
This is the final planned meeting of the WSWG.

DATES: The WSWG meeting is April 18-20, 2005, in Crystal City, VA, in 
the Washington, DC area. On April 18, 2005, the meeting is scheduled 
from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., eastern time (e.t.). On April 19, 2005, 
the meeting is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t. On April 20, 2005, 
the meeting is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., e.t.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Hilton Crystal City, 2399 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202. Meetings will be held in 
the Decatur Room on April 18 and April 19 and in Chesapeake Hall on 
April 20.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested participants from the 
public should contact Marc Santora, Designated Federal Officer, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Ground Water and Drinking 
Water, Water Security Division (Mail Code 4601-M), 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. Please contact Marc Santora at 
santora.marc@epa.gov or call 202-564-1597 to receive additional 
details.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The WSWG's mission is to: (1) Identify, compile, and characterize 
best security practices and policies for drinking water and wastewater 
utilities and provide an approach for considering and adopting these 
practices and policies at a utility level; (2) consider mechanisms to 
provide recognition and incentives that facilitate a broad and 
receptive response among the water sector to implement these best 
security practices and policies and make recommendations as 
appropriate; (3) consider mechanisms to measure the extent of 
implementation of these best security practices and policies, identify 
the impediments to their implementation, and make recommendations as 
appropriate. The Group is comprised of sixteen members from water and 
wastewater utilities, public health, academia, state regulators, and 
environmental and community interests. It is supported by technical 
experts from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of 
Homeland Security, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 
the Department of Defense.

Closed and Open Parts of the Meeting

    The WSWG is a working group of the NDWAC; it is not a Federal 
advisory committee and therefore not subject to the same public 
disclosure laws that govern Federal advisory committees. The Group can 
enter into closed session as necessary to provide an opportunity to 
discuss security-sensitive information relating to specific water 
sector vulnerabilities and security tactics. Currently, the WSWG does 
not anticipate closing any parts of the April meeting to the public. 
However, the Group reserves the right to enter into closed session, if 
necessary, late in the afternoon of April 18, 2005, immediately before 
lunch on April 19, 2005, and late in the day on April 20, 2005. If 
closed sessions are needed, opportunities for public comment will be 
provided before the closed sessions begin.
    If there is a closed meeting session, only WSWG members, Federal 
resource personnel, facilitation support contractors, and outside 
experts identified by the facilitation support contractors will attend 
the closed meeting. A general summary of the topics discussed during 
closed meetings and the individuals present will be included with the 
summary of the open portions of the WSWG meeting.

Public Comment

    An opportunity for public comment will be provided during the open 
part of the WSWG meeting. Oral statements will be limited to five 
minutes, and it is preferred that only one person present the statement 
on behalf of a group or organization. Written comments may be provided 
at the meeting or may be sent, by mail, to Marc Santora, Designated 
Federal Officer for the WSWG, at the e-mail address listed in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.

Special Accommodations

    Any person needing special accommodations at this meeting, 
including wheelchair access, should contact Marc Santora, Designated 
Federal Officer, at the number or e-mail address listed in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. Requests for 
special accommodations should be made at least five business days in 
advance of the WSWG meeting.

    Dated: April 4, 2005.
Nanci E. Gelb,
Acting Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 05-6941 Filed 4-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P