Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Four Case Studies of Water Utility Practices, 51806-51807 [2010-20838]

Download as PDF 51806 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 162 / Monday, August 23, 2010 / Notices BILLING CODE 6820–KF–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9192–2; Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD– 2010–0701] Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Four Case Studies of Water Utility Practices Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of public comment period. AGENCY: EPA is announcing a 45-day public comment period for the draft document titled, ‘‘Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Four Case Studies of Water Utility Practices’’ (EPA/ 600/R–10/077a). The document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment within EPA’s Office of Research and Development. This draft report presents a series of case studies describing the approaches currently being taken by four water utilities to assess their vulnerability to future climate change. The report is intended to illustrate the types of analyses, models, and climate change information being developed and used by selected utilities that are leaders in climate adaptation to understand and respond to climate risk. The public comment period and the external peer-review workshop, which will be scheduled at a later date and announced in the Federal Register, are separate processes that provide opportunities for all interested parties to comment on the document. EPA intends to forward the public comments that are submitted in accordance with this notice to the external peer-review panel prior to the meeting for their consideration. When finalizing the draft document, EPA intends to consider any public comments that EPA receives in accordance with this notice. EPA is releasing this draft document solely for the purpose of predissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. This document has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency policy or determination. The draft document and EPA’s peerreview charge are available via the Internet on the NCEA home page under the Recent Additions and the Data and Publications menus at https:// www.epa.gov/ncea. erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:31 Aug 20, 2010 Jkt 220001 The 45-day public comment period begins August 23, 2010, and ends October 7, 2010. Technical comments should be in writing and must be received by EPA by October 7, 2010. ADDRESSES: The draft ‘‘Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Four Case Studies of Water Utility Practices’’ is available primarily via the Internet on the National Center for Environmental Assessments home page under the Recent Additions and the Data and Publications menus at https:// www.epa.gov/ncea. A limited number of paper copies are available from the Information Management Team, NCEA; telephone: 703–347–8561; facsimile: 703–347–8691. If you are requesting a paper copy, please provide your name, your mailing address, and the document title, ‘‘Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Four Case Studies of Water Utility Practices.’’ The EPA’s National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP), P.O. Box 42419, Cincinnati, OH 45242; telephone: 1– 800–490–9198; facsimile: 301–604– 3408; e-mail: nscep@bps-lmit.com. Please provide your name, your mailing address, the title, and the EPA number of the requested publication. Comments may be submitted electronically via https:// www.regulations.gov, by mail, by facsimile, or by hand delivery/courier. Please follow the detailed instructions provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public comment period, contact the Office of Environmental Information Docket; telephone: 202–566–1752; facsimile: 202–566–1753; or e-mail: ORD.Docket@epa.gov. For technical information, contact Thomas Johnson, NCEA; telephone: 703–347–8618; facsimile: 703–347– 8694; or e-mail: Johnson.thomas@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DATES: [FR Doc. 2010–20778 Filed 8–20–10; 8:45 am] I. Information About the Project/ Document This report presents a series of case studies describing the approaches currently being taken by four water utilities in the United States to assess their vulnerability to climate change. The report is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of assessment approaches or utilities conducting vulnerability assessments. Rather, its purpose is to illustrate a range of issues and current approaches taken by selected utilities that are leaders in climate adaptation to understand and respond to climate risk. The approaches PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 taken by the different utilities to assess their vulnerability to climate change range from sophisticated environmental modeling and scenario analysis to qualitative methods based on reviews of available literature. The case studies illustrate different approaches that reflect specific local needs and conditions, existing vulnerabilities, local partnerships, and available information about climate change. Information from these case studies will be of use to water utilities and other members of the water resources community to inform the development of strategies for understanding and responding to climate change. The issue of climate change is complex and will require ongoing attention and study. II. How To Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at https:// www.regulations.gov Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD 2010– 0701, by one of the following methods: • https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • E-mail: ORD.Docket@epa.gov. • Fax: 202–566–1753. • Mail: Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket (Mail Code: 2822T), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202–566–1752. • Hand Delivery: The OEI Docket is located in the EPA Headquarters Docket Center, Room 3334 EPA West Building, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center’s Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is 202–566–1744. Such deliveries are only accepted during the docket’s normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. If you provide comments by mail or hand delivery, please submit three copies of the comments. For attachments, provide an index, number pages consecutively with the comments, and submit an unbound original and three copies. Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2010– 0701. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the specified comment period. Comments received after the closing date will be marked ‘‘late,’’ and may only be considered if time permits. It is EPA’s policy to include all comments it receives in the public docket without change and to E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM 23AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 162 / Monday, August 23, 2010 / Notices make the comments available online at https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless a comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through https:// www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The https://www.regulations.gov Web site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through https:// www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA’s public docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at https:// www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm. Docket: Documents in the docket are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other materials, such as copyrighted material, are publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in https:// www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the OEI Docket in the EPA Headquarters Docket Center. Dated: August 13, 2010. David Bussard, Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment. erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES [FR Doc. 2010–20838 Filed 8–20–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:31 Aug 20, 2010 Jkt 220001 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9192–1] Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of a Public Teleconference of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Ambient Air Methods and Monitoring Subcommittee (AAMMS) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office is announcing a public teleconference on September 15, 2010, of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Ambient Air Monitoring & Methods Subcommittee (AAMMS or Subcommittee) to provide advice on EPA’s white paper, Approach for the Development of a New Federal Reference Method for Lead (Pb) in Total Suspended Particulates (TSP). DATES: The teleconference will be held on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Eastern Time). ADDRESSES: The teleconference will be conducted by phone only. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public who wishes to submit a written or brief oral statement or wants further information concerning the teleconference may contact Mr. Aaron Yeow, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA Science Advisory Board (1400R), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; via telephone/voice mail (202) 564–2050; fax (202) 565–2098; or e-mail at yeow.aaron@epa.gov. General information concerning the CASAC and the CASAC documents can be found on the EPA Web site at https:// www.epa.gov/casac. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92–463 5 U.S.C., App. 2 (FACA), notice is hereby given that the CASAC AAMMS will hold a public meeting to provide advice on EPA’s white paper, Approach for the Development of a New Federal Reference Method for Lead (Pb) in Total Suspended Particulates (TSP). The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) was established under section 109(d)(2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) (42 U.S.C. 7409) as an independent scientific advisory committee. CASAC provides advice, information and recommendations on the scientific and technical aspects of SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 51807 air quality criteria and national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) under sections 108 and 109 of the Act. The CASAC AAMMS will comply with the provisions of FACA and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural policies. Section 109(d)(1) of the CAA requires that the Agency periodically review and revise, as appropriate, the air quality criteria and the NAAQS for the six ‘‘criteria’’ air pollutants, including lead. In November 2008, EPA published the final rule for the NAAQS for lead (73 FR 66934), revising the primary standard from 1.5 μg/m3 to 0.15 μg/m3, and setting the secondary standard equal to the primary standard. The indicator for the Lead NAAQS did not change and remains as lead in total suspended particles (Pb-TSP). The Federal Reference Method (FRM) for Pb-TSP (40 CFR part 50, Appendix G) was promulgated in 1979 and is based on Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS). There is a need for a new FRM due to advances in analytical measurement technologies, such as improved analytical sensitivity, more efficient extraction methods, and new analytical instrumentation. EPA has developed the white paper, Approach for the Development of a New Federal Reference Method (FRM) for Lead (Pb) in Total Suspended Particles (TSP), which outlines the approach for the development a new FRM for lead. The AAMMS has been asked to provide advice on several issues in the white paper including: Extraction methods, analytical methods, validation and testing, and inter-laboratory variability. Technical Contacts: Any technical questions concerning EPA’s white paper can be directed to Ms. Joann Rice, OAQPS, at rice.joann@epa.gov or (919) 541–3372. Availability of Meeting Materials: The Agency review document is posted on the EPA Technology Transfer Network Web site on the respective page for Ambient Monitoring Technology Information Center at https:// www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/casacinf.html. Prior to the teleconference, the agenda and other materials for the CASAC AAMMS teleconference will be accessible through the calendar link on the blue navigation bar at https:// www.epa.gov/casac/. Procedures for Providing Public Input: Public comment for consideration by EPA’s federal advisory committees and panels has a different purpose from public comment provided to EPA program offices. Therefore, the process for submitting comments to a federal advisory committee is different from the process used to submit comments to an EPA program office. E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM 23AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 162 (Monday, August 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51806-51807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20838]


=======================================================================
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9192-2; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0701]


Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Four Case Studies of 
Water Utility Practices

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public comment period.

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

SUMMARY: EPA is announcing a 45-day public comment period for the draft 
document titled, ``Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Four Case 
Studies of Water Utility Practices'' (EPA/600/R-10/077a). The document 
was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment within 
EPA's Office of Research and Development.
    This draft report presents a series of case studies describing the 
approaches currently being taken by four water utilities to assess 
their vulnerability to future climate change. The report is intended to 
illustrate the types of analyses, models, and climate change 
information being developed and used by selected utilities that are 
leaders in climate adaptation to understand and respond to climate 
risk.
    The public comment period and the external peer-review workshop, 
which will be scheduled at a later date and announced in the Federal 
Register, are separate processes that provide opportunities for all 
interested parties to comment on the document. EPA intends to forward 
the public comments that are submitted in accordance with this notice 
to the external peer-review panel prior to the meeting for their 
consideration. When finalizing the draft document, EPA intends to 
consider any public comments that EPA receives in accordance with this 
notice.
    EPA is releasing this draft document solely for the purpose of pre-
dissemination peer review under applicable information quality 
guidelines. This document has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It 
does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency 
policy or determination.
    The draft document and EPA's peer-review charge are available via 
the Internet on the NCEA home page under the Recent Additions and the 
Data and Publications menus at https://www.epa.gov/ncea.

DATES: The 45-day public comment period begins August 23, 2010, and 
ends October 7, 2010. Technical comments should be in writing and must 
be received by EPA by October 7, 2010.

ADDRESSES: The draft ``Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Four 
Case Studies of Water Utility Practices'' is available primarily via 
the Internet on the National Center for Environmental Assessments home 
page under the Recent Additions and the Data and Publications menus at 
https://www.epa.gov/ncea. A limited number of paper copies are available 
from the Information Management Team, NCEA; telephone: 703-347-8561; 
facsimile: 703-347-8691. If you are requesting a paper copy, please 
provide your name, your mailing address, and the document title, 
``Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Four Case Studies of Water 
Utility Practices.'' The EPA's National Service Center for 
Environmental Publications (NSCEP), P.O. Box 42419, Cincinnati, OH 
45242; telephone: 1-800-490-9198; facsimile: 301-604-3408; e-mail: 
lmit.com">nscep@bps-lmit.com. Please provide your name, your mailing address, the 
title, and the EPA number of the requested publication.
    Comments may be submitted electronically via https://www.regulations.gov, by mail, by facsimile, or by hand delivery/
courier. Please follow the detailed instructions provided in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public comment 
period, contact the Office of Environmental Information Docket; 
telephone: 202-566-1752; facsimile: 202-566-1753; or e-mail: 
ORD.Docket@epa.gov.
    For technical information, contact Thomas Johnson, NCEA; telephone: 
703-347-8618; facsimile: 703-347-8694; or e-mail: 
Johnson.thomas@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Information About the Project/Document

    This report presents a series of case studies describing the 
approaches currently being taken by four water utilities in the United 
States to assess their vulnerability to climate change. The report is 
not intended to be a comprehensive listing of assessment approaches or 
utilities conducting vulnerability assessments. Rather, its purpose is 
to illustrate a range of issues and current approaches taken by 
selected utilities that are leaders in climate adaptation to understand 
and respond to climate risk. The approaches taken by the different 
utilities to assess their vulnerability to climate change range from 
sophisticated environmental modeling and scenario analysis to 
qualitative methods based on reviews of available literature. The case 
studies illustrate different approaches that reflect specific local 
needs and conditions, existing vulnerabilities, local partnerships, and 
available information about climate change. Information from these case 
studies will be of use to water utilities and other members of the 
water resources community to inform the development of strategies for 
understanding and responding to climate change. The issue of climate 
change is complex and will require ongoing attention and study.

II. How To Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at https://www.regulations.gov

    Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD 2010-
0701, by one of the following methods:
     https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: ORD.Docket@epa.gov.
     Fax: 202-566-1753.
     Mail: Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket 
(Mail Code: 2822T), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202-
566-1752.
     Hand Delivery: The OEI Docket is located in the EPA 
Headquarters Docket Center, Room 3334 EPA West Building, 1301 
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center's Public 
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public 
Reading Room is 202-566-1744. Such deliveries are only accepted during 
the docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should 
be made for deliveries of boxed information.
    If you provide comments by mail or hand delivery, please submit 
three copies of the comments. For attachments, provide an index, number 
pages consecutively with the comments, and submit an unbound original 
and three copies.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2010-0701. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the 
specified comment period. Comments received after the closing date will 
be marked ``late,'' and may only be considered if time permits. It is 
EPA's policy to include all comments it receives in the public docket 
without change and to

[[Page 51807]]

make the comments available online at https://www.regulations.gov, 
including any personal information provided, unless a comment includes 
information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or 
other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not 
submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected 
through https://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The https://www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system, which 
means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you 
provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment 
directly to EPA without going through https://www.regulations.gov, your 
e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of 
the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on 
the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that 
you include your name and other contact information in the body of your 
comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your 
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for 
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic 
files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of 
encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket visit the EPA Docket Center 
homepage at https://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
    Docket: Documents in the docket are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other materials, 
such as copyrighted material, are publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
in https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the OEI Docket in the 
EPA Headquarters Docket Center.

    Dated: August 13, 2010.
David Bussard,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2010-20838 Filed 8-20-10; 8:45 am]
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