Total Coliform Rule / Distribution System Stakeholder Technical Workshop and Request for Nominations, 78203-78204 [E6-22302]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 249 / Thursday, December 28, 2006 / Notices presentation at a public SAB teleconference will be limited to three minutes per speaker, with no more than a total of one-half hour for all speakers. To be placed on the public speaker list, interested parties should contact Dr. Angela Nugent, DFO, in writing (preferably via e-mail) 5 business days in advance of each teleconference. Written Statements: Written statements should be received in the SAB Staff Office 5 business days in advance of each teleconference above so that the information may be made available to the SAB for their consideration prior to each teleconference. Written statements should be supplied to the DFO in the following formats: One hard copy with original signature, and one electronic copy via e-mail (acceptable file format: Adobe Acrobat PDF, WordPerfect, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, or Rich Text files in IBM-PC/Windows 98/2000/XP format). Accessibility: For information on access or services for individuals with disabilities, please contact Dr. Angela Nugent at (202) 343–9981 or nugent.angela@epa.gov. To request accommodation of a disability, please contact Dr. Nugent preferably at least ten days prior to the teleconference, to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request. Dated: December 22, 2006. Anthony Maciorowski, Associate Director for Science, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office. [FR Doc. E6–22308 Filed 12–27–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–8263–6] Total Coliform Rule / Distribution System Stakeholder Technical Workshop and Request for Nominations Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Notice; public meeting. sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a technical workshop in Washington, DC, to discuss available information on the Total Coliform Rule (TCR) and available information regarding risks in distribution systems in support of revisions to the TCR. The TCR provides public health protection from microbial contamination in drinking water while indicating the adequacy of treatment and the integrity of drinking water VerDate Aug<31>2005 20:03 Dec 27, 2006 Jkt 211001 distribution systems. As part of the technical workshop, EPA is seeking information and analytic approaches for characterizing risks posed by the distribution system. Subsequently, if results from the workshop indicate that a formal consensus building process is appropriate for the revision effort, the Agency will consider establishing a Committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide advice and recommendations on how best to utilize available information for potential revisions to the TCR and to address public health risks from contamination of distribution systems. In addition, such a Committee could provide recommendations to determine if further information is needed to be collected to address health risks associated with distribution systems. To prepare in advance for the potential establishment of a Federal Advisory Committee, EPA is soliciting nominations for membership on the Committee in this notice. DATES: The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 30, 2007, through Thursday, February 1, 2007, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern time (ET). Attendees should register for the meeting by calling Jason Peller at (202) 965–6387 or by e-mail to jpeller@resolv.org no later than January 20, 2006. Submit nominations for a potential Federal Advisory Committee on or before January 29, 2007. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Capital Hilton, at 1001 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Nomination materials for the potential Federal Advisory Committee should be submitted to Jini Mohanty by email to tcr@epa.gov or by U.S. Mail to the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Office of Water, Mail Code 4607M, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact the Drinking Water Hotline at 1–800–426– 4791 or go to the Internet site https:// www.epa.gov/safewater/disinfection/tcr/ index.html. For technical inquiries, contact Tom Grubbs, Standards and Risk Management Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (MC 4607M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564–5262; fax number: (202) 564–3767; e-mail address: grubbs.thomas@epa.gov. For special accommodation questions, email Jini Mohanty, at mohanty.jini@epa.gov, or call (202) 564 5269. PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 78203 The Stage 2 Microbial and Disinfection Byproducts Federal Advisory Committee, as part of its recommendations concerning the LongTerm 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule, concluded in its Agreement in Principle (65 FR 83015, December 29, 2000) that EPA should evaluate available data and research on aspects of distribution systems that may create risks to public health as a part of the Six-Year Review of the TCR. They also concluded that EPA should work with stakeholders to initiate a process for addressing crossconnections and backflow prevention requirements, and for considering additional distribution system requirements related to significant health risks. The 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) (Section 1412(b) (9)) require the Administrator to review and revise, as appropriate, each national primary drinking water regulation no less often than every six years. As indicated in the Six-Year Review Notice of Intent (67 FR 19030, April 17, 2002), EPA believes that an opportunity for implementation burden reduction exists in revising the TCR; the Agency plans to assess the effectiveness of the current TCR in reducing public health risk and what technically supportable alternative/additional monitoring strategies are available to reduce implementation costs while maintaining or improving public health protection. In July 2003, EPA published, as part of its final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) Review (i.e., Six-Year Review), its decision to revise the TCR (68 FR 42907, July 18, 2003). In that action, the Agency also stated that it plans to consider potential new requirements for ensuring the integrity of distribution systems. To initiate the revision process, EPA has compiled available information on the potential public health impacts of a range of distribution system issues and has also compiled information on issues with the existing TCR requirements where opportunities may exist for reductions in the implementation burden, while maintaining or improving public health protection. EPA has also compiled information and conducted workshops on determining the potential exposures resulting from contamination of the finished water in the distribution system. In this notice, EPA is announcing that the Agency is convening a technical workshop to discuss available data on understanding risks in drinking water SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\28DEN1.SGM 28DEN1 sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES 78204 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 249 / Thursday, December 28, 2006 / Notices distribution systems, as well as to discuss data to characterize potential TCR implementation problems. As part of this workshop, EPA is seeking information and analytic approaches for characterizing risks posed by the distribution system. Major topics of discussion in the workshop may include public health perspectives on distribution systems, distribution system physical integrity and water quality issues such as cross connections, backflow, intrusion, and biofilm, and TCR implementation and compliance analysis. Depending on the outcome of the workshop, EPA will consider convening a Federal Advisory Committee to provide advice and recommendations on how best to utilize available information for potential revisions to the TCR and to address public health risk from contamination of distribution systems. Membership on Potential Federal Advisory Committee: If EPA were to establish a Federal Advisory Committee, the Agency would consider for membership stakeholders with viewpoints on issues related to distribution systems and the TCR and the potential impact that could result from an Agency action on those issues including, but not be limited to, representatives of Federal, State and local public health and regulatory agencies, Native American tribes, large and small drinking water suppliers, consumer, environmental and public health organizations, and local elected officials. EPA encourages those organizations and individuals interested in participating in the potential Federal Advisory Committee to attend the workshop. EPA anticipates that, if a Federal Advisory Committee is established, the terms of the members would likely be two years. EPA anticipates that meetings would be held at least quarterly, with additional conference calls in between the meetings. Nomination of a Member: Any interested person or organization may nominate individuals for membership. Nominees should be identified by name, occupation, position, address and telephone number. To be considered, all nominations must include a current resume providing the nominee’s background, experience, and qualifications. If a Federal Advisory Committee were to be established, copies of the Committee Charter would be filed with the appropriate congressional committees and the Library of Congress and the establishment of a Committee would be announced in a separate VerDate Aug<31>2005 20:03 Dec 27, 2006 Jkt 211001 Federal Register Notice (FRN). The Agency expects to address proposed revisions to the TCR and any additional distribution system requirements in a separate FRN. Special Accommodations Any person needing special accommodations at the technical workshop, including wheelchair access, should contact Jini Mohanty at the number or email address listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. Requests for special accommodations should be made at least ten days in advance of the meeting. Dated: December 21, 2006. Cynthia C. Dougherty, Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water. [FR Doc. E6–22302 Filed 12–27–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–8262–4] Proposed NPDES General Permit for Discharges From the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category to Coastal Waters in Texas (TXG330000) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of Proposed NPDES General Permit Reissuance. AGENCY: SUMMARY: EPA Region 6 today proposes to issue a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit regulating discharges from oil and gas wells in the Coastal Subcategory in Texas and regulating produced water discharges from wells in the Stripper and Offshore Subcategories which discharge into coastal waters of Texas. As proposed, the permit prohibits the discharge of drilling fluid, drill cuttings, produced sand and well treatment, completion and workover fluids. Produced water discharges are prohibited, except from wells in the Stripper Subcategory located east of the 98th meridian whose produced water comes from the Carrizo/Wilcox, Reklaw or Bartosh formations in Texas. Discharge of dewatering effluent is proposed to be prohibited, except from reserve pits which have not received drilling fluids and/or drill cuttings since January 15, 1997. The discharge of deck drainage, formation test fluids, sanitary waste, domestic waste and miscellaneous discharges is proposed to be authorized. We are proposing to reissue the existing NPDES General PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Permit for Discharges from the Oil and Gas Extraction Category to Coastal Waters of Texas with only one change, the addition of annual monitoring for dissolved solids from Stripper Subcategory produced water. DATES: Comments must be received by February 26, 2007. ADDRESS: Comments should be sent to: Ms. Diane Smith, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202–2733. Comments may also be submitted via email to the following address: smith.diane@epa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Diane Smith, Region 6, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (6WQ–CA), 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202–2733. Telephone: (214) 665–2145. A copy of the proposed permit, the fact sheet more fully explaining the proposal, and a copy of the Agency’s Supplemental Environmental Assessment prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act may be obtained from Ms. Smith. The Agency’s current administrative record on the proposal is available for examination at the Region’s Dallas offices during normal working hours after providing Ms. Smith 24 hours advance notice. Additionally, a copy of the proposed permit, fact sheet, and this Federal Register Notice may be obtained on the Internet at: https:// www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6wq/6wq.htm. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulated entities. EPA intends to use the proposed reissued permit to regulate oil and gas extraction facilities located in the coastal waters of Texas, e.g., oil and gas extraction platforms, but other types of facilities may also be subject to the permit. As proposed, the permit would also authorize some produced water discharges from Stripper Subcategory wells to coastal waters. To determine whether your facility, company, business, organization, etc., may be affected by today’s action, you should carefully examine the applicability criteria in Part I, Section A.1 of the draft permit. Questions on the permit’s application to specific facilities may also be directed to Ms. Smith at the telephone number or address listed above. The permit contains limitations conforming to EPA’s Oil and Gas extraction, Coastal and Stripper Subcategory Effluent Limitations Guidelines at 40 CFR part 435 as well as requirements assuring that regulated discharges will comply with Texas State Water Quality Standards. Specific E:\FR\FM\28DEN1.SGM 28DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 249 (Thursday, December 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78203-78204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22302]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8263-6]


Total Coliform Rule / Distribution System Stakeholder Technical 
Workshop and Request for Nominations

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice; public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a 
technical workshop in Washington, DC, to discuss available information 
on the Total Coliform Rule (TCR) and available information regarding 
risks in distribution systems in support of revisions to the TCR. The 
TCR provides public health protection from microbial contamination in 
drinking water while indicating the adequacy of treatment and the 
integrity of drinking water distribution systems. As part of the 
technical workshop, EPA is seeking information and analytic approaches 
for characterizing risks posed by the distribution system. 
Subsequently, if results from the workshop indicate that a formal 
consensus building process is appropriate for the revision effort, the 
Agency will consider establishing a Committee under the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act to provide advice and recommendations on how 
best to utilize available information for potential revisions to the 
TCR and to address public health risks from contamination of 
distribution systems. In addition, such a Committee could provide 
recommendations to determine if further information is needed to be 
collected to address health risks associated with distribution systems.
    To prepare in advance for the potential establishment of a Federal 
Advisory Committee, EPA is soliciting nominations for membership on the 
Committee in this notice.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 30, 2007, 
through Thursday, February 1, 2007, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 
Eastern time (ET). Attendees should register for the meeting by calling 
Jason Peller at (202) 965-6387 or by e-mail to jpeller@resolv.org no 
later than January 20, 2006.
    Submit nominations for a potential Federal Advisory Committee on or 
before January 29, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Capital Hilton, at 1001 16th 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Nomination materials for the potential 
Federal Advisory Committee should be submitted to Jini Mohanty by email 
to tcr@epa.gov or by U.S. Mail to the Office of Ground Water and 
Drinking Water, Office of Water, Mail Code 4607M, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact the 
Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or go to the Internet site 
https://www.epa.gov/safewater/disinfection/tcr/. For technical 
inquiries, contact Tom Grubbs, Standards and Risk Management Division, 
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (MC 4607M), Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: (202) 564-5262; fax number: (202) 564-3767; e-mail 
address: grubbs.thomas@epa.gov. For special accommodation questions, 
email Jini Mohanty, at mohanty.jini@epa.gov, or call (202) 564 5269.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Stage 2 Microbial and Disinfection 
Byproducts Federal Advisory Committee, as part of its recommendations 
concerning the Long-Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and 
the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule, concluded in its Agreement in 
Principle (65 FR 83015, December 29, 2000) that EPA should evaluate 
available data and research on aspects of distribution systems that may 
create risks to public health as a part of the Six-Year Review of the 
TCR. They also concluded that EPA should work with stakeholders to 
initiate a process for addressing cross-connections and backflow 
prevention requirements, and for considering additional distribution 
system requirements related to significant health risks.
    The 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) (Section 
1412(b) (9)) require the Administrator to review and revise, as 
appropriate, each national primary drinking water regulation no less 
often than every six years. As indicated in the Six-Year Review Notice 
of Intent (67 FR 19030, April 17, 2002), EPA believes that an 
opportunity for implementation burden reduction exists in revising the 
TCR; the Agency plans to assess the effectiveness of the current TCR in 
reducing public health risk and what technically supportable 
alternative/additional monitoring strategies are available to reduce 
implementation costs while maintaining or improving public health 
protection.
    In July 2003, EPA published, as part of its final National Primary 
Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) Review (i.e., Six-Year Review), its 
decision to revise the TCR (68 FR 42907, July 18, 2003). In that 
action, the Agency also stated that it plans to consider potential new 
requirements for ensuring the integrity of distribution systems.
    To initiate the revision process, EPA has compiled available 
information on the potential public health impacts of a range of 
distribution system issues and has also compiled information on issues 
with the existing TCR requirements where opportunities may exist for 
reductions in the implementation burden, while maintaining or improving 
public health protection. EPA has also compiled information and 
conducted workshops on determining the potential exposures resulting 
from contamination of the finished water in the distribution system.
    In this notice, EPA is announcing that the Agency is convening a 
technical workshop to discuss available data on understanding risks in 
drinking water

[[Page 78204]]

distribution systems, as well as to discuss data to characterize 
potential TCR implementation problems. As part of this workshop, EPA is 
seeking information and analytic approaches for characterizing risks 
posed by the distribution system. Major topics of discussion in the 
workshop may include public health perspectives on distribution 
systems, distribution system physical integrity and water quality 
issues such as cross connections, backflow, intrusion, and biofilm, and 
TCR implementation and compliance analysis.
    Depending on the outcome of the workshop, EPA will consider 
convening a Federal Advisory Committee to provide advice and 
recommendations on how best to utilize available information for 
potential revisions to the TCR and to address public health risk from 
contamination of distribution systems.
    Membership on Potential Federal Advisory Committee: If EPA were to 
establish a Federal Advisory Committee, the Agency would consider for 
membership stakeholders with viewpoints on issues related to 
distribution systems and the TCR and the potential impact that could 
result from an Agency action on those issues including, but not be 
limited to, representatives of Federal, State and local public health 
and regulatory agencies, Native American tribes, large and small 
drinking water suppliers, consumer, environmental and public health 
organizations, and local elected officials. EPA encourages those 
organizations and individuals interested in participating in the 
potential Federal Advisory Committee to attend the workshop.
    EPA anticipates that, if a Federal Advisory Committee is 
established, the terms of the members would likely be two years. EPA 
anticipates that meetings would be held at least quarterly, with 
additional conference calls in between the meetings.
    Nomination of a Member: Any interested person or organization may 
nominate individuals for membership. Nominees should be identified by 
name, occupation, position, address and telephone number. To be 
considered, all nominations must include a current resume providing the 
nominee's background, experience, and qualifications.
    If a Federal Advisory Committee were to be established, copies of 
the Committee Charter would be filed with the appropriate congressional 
committees and the Library of Congress and the establishment of a 
Committee would be announced in a separate Federal Register Notice 
(FRN). The Agency expects to address proposed revisions to the TCR and 
any additional distribution system requirements in a separate FRN.

Special Accommodations

    Any person needing special accommodations at the technical 
workshop, including wheelchair access, should contact Jini Mohanty at 
the number or email address listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section of this notice. Requests for special accommodations 
should be made at least ten days in advance of the meeting.

    Dated: December 21, 2006.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. E6-22302 Filed 12-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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