Announcement of Public Meeting on the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) Rule Retrospective Review and Request for Public Comment on Potential Approaches to Electronic Delivery of the CCR, 55833-55834 [2012-22344]

Download as PDF srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 176 / Tuesday, September 11, 2012 / Notices amended on August 31, 2011 (76 FR 54326–54341). The new equivalent method for PM2.5 is an automated monitoring method utilizing a measurement principle based on sample collection by filtration and analysis by beta-ray attenuation. The newly designated equivalent method is identified as follows: EQPM–0812–203, ‘‘OPSIS SM200Dust Monitor’’ configured for PM2.5 with the US EPA PM10 inlet specified in 40 CFR part 50 Appendix L, followed by a BGI Inc. Very Sharp Cut Cyclone (VSCCTM) particle size separator, operated for a 24-hour continuous sample period at a total actual flow rate of 16.67 L/min. using 47mm PTFE membrane filters, a TS200 temperature stabilizer and software version 1.04.16 or later, in accordance with the OPSIS SM200 Dust Monitor Operation and Instruction Guide.’’ The application for equivalent method determination for the PM2.5 method was received by the Office of Research and Development on June 21, 2011. This monitor is commercially available from the applicant OPSIS Inc., 150 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1950, Chicago, IL 60601. Test monitors representative of this method have been tested in accordance with the applicable test procedures specified in 40 CFR part 53, as amended on August 31, 2011. After reviewing the results of those tests and other information submitted in the application, EPA has determined, in accordance with Part 53, that this method should be designated as an equivalent method. The information in the application will be kept on file, either at EPA’s National Exposure Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711 or in an approved archive storage facility, and will be available for inspection (with advance notice) to the extent consistent with 40 CFR part 2 (EPA’s regulations implementing the Freedom of Information Act). As a designated equivalent method, this method is acceptable for use by states and other air monitoring agencies under the requirements of 40 CFR part 58, Ambient Air Quality Surveillance. For such purposes, the method must be used in strict accordance with the operation or instruction manual associated with the method and subject to any specifications and limitations (e.g., configuration or operational settings) specified in the applicable designated method description (see the identification of the method above). Use of the method also should be in general accordance with the guidance and recommendations of applicable VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:10 Sep 10, 2012 Jkt 226001 sections of the ‘‘Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement Systems, Volume I,’’ EPA/ 600/R–94/038a and ‘‘Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement Systems, Volume II, Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Program’’ EPA–454/B–08–003, December, 2008. Provisions concerning modification of such methods by users are specified under Section 2.8 (Modifications of Methods by Users) of Appendix C to 40 CFR part 58. Consistent or repeated noncompliance should be reported to: Director, Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division (MD–E205–01), National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711. Designation of this new equivalent method is intended to assist the States in establishing and operating their air quality surveillance systems under 40 CFR part 58. Questions concerning the commercial availability or technical aspects of the method should be directed to the applicant. Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, Director, National Exposure Research Laboratory. [FR Doc. 2012–22343 Filed 9–10–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OW–2012–0035; FRL–9726–8] Announcement of Public Meeting on the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) Rule Retrospective Review and Request for Public Comment on Potential Approaches to Electronic Delivery of the CCR Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of a public meeting and request for public comments. AGENCY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be holding a public meeting on October 1, 2012, to listen to stakeholder comments on potential approaches for providing Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) via electronic delivery. EPA plans to discuss its analysis of electronic delivery and present potential approaches and considerations for stakeholders to evaluate when pursuing electronic delivery of CCRs. EPA invites the public to participate in this listening session. EPA has posted the draft CCR Electronic Delivery Approaches document for public comment on its SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55833 Web site at https://water.epa.gov/ lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ccr/. The instructions for registration for the meeting are located in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. The listening session will be held on October 1, 2012, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. The 30-day public comment period starts September 11, 2012 and will end on October 11, 2012. DATES: The meeting will be held at the EPA’s Potomac Yards North (Bldg. 2), 2733 S. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202, and will be open to the public. How to Access Information: Meeting materials, including the draft CCR Electronic Delivery Approaches document, will be emailed to registrants or they can be accessed through EPA Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW–2012–0035 and EPA’s Web site at https://water.epa. gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ccr/; background information (including the CCR and Public Notification Rules) is available in this docket. Comments received on the ‘‘Preliminary Plan for Periodic Retrospective Reviews of Existing Regulations’’ are available for viewing in EPA’s Docket No. EPA–HQ– OA–2011–0154. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically through www.regulations. gov or in hard copy at the Water Docket, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The 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, and the telephone number for the Water Docket is (202) 566–2426. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adrienne Harris, Drinking Water Protection Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (MC4606M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460 at (202) 250–8793 or harris. adrienne@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Meeting Registration Individuals planning on participating in the public meeting must register for the meeting at https://www. horsleywitten.com/ccrretroreview. Registration for this meeting will end on September 26, 2012, or earlier if the meeting room capacity is reached. If there is additional space, on-site registration will be allowed on a firstcome, first-served basis. E:\FR\FM\11SEN1.SGM 11SEN1 55834 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 176 / Tuesday, September 11, 2012 / Notices Meeting Information The session will begin with a brief presentation by the EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water. Copies of EPA’s presentation will be available at the meeting and posted on EPA’s Web site following the meeting at https://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/ sdwa/ccr/. An oral comment session will follow the presentation. Oral comments will be limited to three (3) minutes each, and it is preferred that only one person present the statement on behalf of a group or organization to accommodate as many participants as possible. Registered attendees requesting to make an oral presentation will be placed on the commenting schedule. Time slots are limited and will be filled on a first-come, firstserved basis. EPA may ask clarifying questions during the oral presentations, but will not respond to the presentations. A facilitated participant discussion of the potential CCR Electronic Delivery Approaches will follow the oral comment session. You may present oral comments during the meeting and/or submit written comments and supporting information directly to EPA up until the close of the public comment period on October 11, 2012, to provide an opportunity for participants to respond to what they heard at the meeting. Written statements and supporting information submitted during the comment period will be considered in the same manner as any oral comments and supporting information presented at the public meeting. Written comments may be submitted to ccrretrospectivereview@ epa.gov. If participants are finished before 4:00 p.m., the meeting may come to a close before the scheduled 4:00 p.m. end time. All attendees must go through a metal detector, sign in with the security desk and show governmentissued photo identification to enter the building. Special Accommodations srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES For information on access or accommodations for individuals with disabilities, please contact Adrienne Harris at (202) 250–8793 or by email at harris.adrienne@epa.gov. Please allow at least five business days prior to the meeting to give EPA time to process your request. water quality report that a community water system is required by Federal regulations (63 FR 44512, August 19, 1998) to provide to its customers by July 1 each year. Community Water Systems (CWSs) serving more than 10,000 persons are required to mail or otherwise directly deliver these reports. States may allow CWSs serving fewer than 10,000 persons to provide these reports by other means. The report lists the regulated contaminants found in the drinking water, as well as health effects information related to violations of the drinking water standards. CCRs often allow for informed choices and increases dialogue between water systems and their customers. More information on CCRs can be accessed on EPA’s Web site at https://water.epa.gov/ lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ccr/index.cfm. In August 2011, EPA finalized its ‘‘Plan for Periodic Retrospective Reviews of Existing Regulations.’’ Since 1998, when the CCR rule was finalized, the communication of information and the speed with which information can be shared have greatly expanded, along with a corresponding increase in the diversity of communication tools. EPA included the CCR Rule in its retrospective review plan to explore ways to promote greater transparency and public participation in protecting the nation’s drinking water. Through the Agency’s CCR retrospective review, EPA is evaluating opportunities to improve the effectiveness of communicating drinking water information to the public, while lowering the burden of CCR requirements for water systems and states. One example suggested by water systems is to allow electronic delivery through email, thereby reducing mailing charges. As EPA evaluates electronic delivery approaches, the Agency will consider impacts on consumer burden, environmental justice and state implementation. By improving communication, customers are better prepared to make informed decisions and the readership of CCRs also may increase. Dated: September 4, 2012. Nancy K. Stoner, Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Water. [FR Doc. 2012–22344 Filed 9–10–12; 8:45 am] Background BILLING CODE 6560–50–P Consumer Confidence Reports are a key part of the public right-to-know as established in the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA, section 1414(c)). The Consumer Confidence Report, or CCR, is an annual VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:10 Sep 10, 2012 Jkt 226001 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2012–0636; FRL–9725–7] Notice of Opportunity To Comment on a Methodology for Allocating Greenhouse Gas Emissions to a Combined Heat and Power Configuration Under the Renewable Fuels Program, and the Application of this Methodology to a Proposed Plant by Dakota Spirit AgEnergy in Spiritwood, ND Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: EPA is evaluating a petition by Dakota Spirit AgEnergy for approval of a fuel pathway for its corn ethanol plant under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) program. The corn ethanol plant would import process steam from a combined heat and power (CHP) system located at an offsite facility. EPA is inviting comment on the application of a certain methodology for allocating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the steam and on the feasibility and appropriateness of using this allocation methodology for other similar CHP configurations under the RFS program. DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 11, 2012. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OAR–2012–0636, by one of the following methods: • www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • Email: a-and-r-docket@epa.gov, Attention Air and Radiation Docket ID EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–0542. • Mail: Air and Radiation Docket, Docket No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2012–0636, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 6406J, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460. • Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460, Attention Air and Radiation Docket, ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2011– 0542. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket’s normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2012– 0636. EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at www.regulations.gov, including any SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\11SEN1.SGM 11SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55833-55834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22344]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2012-0035; FRL-9726-8]


Announcement of Public Meeting on the Consumer Confidence Report 
(CCR) Rule Retrospective Review and Request for Public Comment on 
Potential Approaches to Electronic Delivery of the CCR

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting and request for public comments.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be holding 
a public meeting on October 1, 2012, to listen to stakeholder comments 
on potential approaches for providing Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) 
via electronic delivery. EPA plans to discuss its analysis of 
electronic delivery and present potential approaches and considerations 
for stakeholders to evaluate when pursuing electronic delivery of CCRs. 
EPA invites the public to participate in this listening session. EPA 
has posted the draft CCR Electronic Delivery Approaches document for 
public comment on its Web site at https://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ccr/. The instructions for registration for the meeting 
are located in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

DATES: The listening session will be held on October 1, 2012, from 1:00 
p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. The 30-day public comment 
period starts September 11, 2012 and will end on October 11, 2012.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the EPA's Potomac Yards North 
(Bldg. 2), 2733 S. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202, and will be open 
to the public.
    How to Access Information: Meeting materials, including the draft 
CCR Electronic Delivery Approaches document, will be emailed to 
registrants or they can be accessed through EPA Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OW-2012-0035 and EPA's Web site at https://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ccr/; background information (including the CCR and 
Public Notification Rules) is available in this docket. Comments 
received on the ``Preliminary Plan for Periodic Retrospective Reviews 
of Existing Regulations'' are available for viewing in EPA's Docket No. 
EPA-HQ-OA-2011-0154. Publicly available docket materials are available 
either electronically through www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at 
the Water Docket, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. 
NW., Washington, DC. The 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, and the 
telephone number for the Water Docket is (202) 566-2426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adrienne Harris, Drinking Water 
Protection Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water 
(MC4606M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460 at (202) 250-8793 or harris.adrienne@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Meeting Registration

    Individuals planning on participating in the public meeting must 
register for the meeting at https://www.horsleywitten.com/ccrretroreview. Registration for this meeting will end on September 26, 
2012, or earlier if the meeting room capacity is reached. If there is 
additional space, on-site registration will be allowed on a first-come, 
first-served basis.

[[Page 55834]]

Meeting Information

    The session will begin with a brief presentation by the EPA Office 
of Ground Water and Drinking Water. Copies of EPA's presentation will 
be available at the meeting and posted on EPA's Web site following the 
meeting at https://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ccr/. An oral 
comment session will follow the presentation. Oral comments will be 
limited to three (3) minutes each, and it is preferred that only one 
person present the statement on behalf of a group or organization to 
accommodate as many participants as possible. Registered attendees 
requesting to make an oral presentation will be placed on the 
commenting schedule. Time slots are limited and will be filled on a 
first-come, first-served basis. EPA may ask clarifying questions during 
the oral presentations, but will not respond to the presentations. A 
facilitated participant discussion of the potential CCR Electronic 
Delivery Approaches will follow the oral comment session. You may 
present oral comments during the meeting and/or submit written comments 
and supporting information directly to EPA up until the close of the 
public comment period on October 11, 2012, to provide an opportunity 
for participants to respond to what they heard at the meeting. Written 
statements and supporting information submitted during the comment 
period will be considered in the same manner as any oral comments and 
supporting information presented at the public meeting. Written 
comments may be submitted to ccrretrospectivereview@epa.gov. If 
participants are finished before 4:00 p.m., the meeting may come to a 
close before the scheduled 4:00 p.m. end time. All attendees must go 
through a metal detector, sign in with the security desk and show 
government-issued photo identification to enter the building.

Special Accommodations

    For information on access or accommodations for individuals with 
disabilities, please contact Adrienne Harris at (202) 250-8793 or by 
email at harris.adrienne@epa.gov. Please allow at least five business 
days prior to the meeting to give EPA time to process your request.

Background

    Consumer Confidence Reports are a key part of the public right-to-
know as established in the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water 
Act (SDWA, section 1414(c)). The Consumer Confidence Report, or CCR, is 
an annual water quality report that a community water system is 
required by Federal regulations (63 FR 44512, August 19, 1998) to 
provide to its customers by July 1 each year. Community Water Systems 
(CWSs) serving more than 10,000 persons are required to mail or 
otherwise directly deliver these reports. States may allow CWSs serving 
fewer than 10,000 persons to provide these reports by other means. The 
report lists the regulated contaminants found in the drinking water, as 
well as health effects information related to violations of the 
drinking water standards. CCRs often allow for informed choices and 
increases dialogue between water systems and their customers. More 
information on CCRs can be accessed on EPA's Web site at https://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ccr/index.cfm.
    In August 2011, EPA finalized its ``Plan for Periodic Retrospective 
Reviews of Existing Regulations.'' Since 1998, when the CCR rule was 
finalized, the communication of information and the speed with which 
information can be shared have greatly expanded, along with a 
corresponding increase in the diversity of communication tools. EPA 
included the CCR Rule in its retrospective review plan to explore ways 
to promote greater transparency and public participation in protecting 
the nation's drinking water. Through the Agency's CCR retrospective 
review, EPA is evaluating opportunities to improve the effectiveness of 
communicating drinking water information to the public, while lowering 
the burden of CCR requirements for water systems and states. One 
example suggested by water systems is to allow electronic delivery 
through email, thereby reducing mailing charges. As EPA evaluates 
electronic delivery approaches, the Agency will consider impacts on 
consumer burden, environmental justice and state implementation. By 
improving communication, customers are better prepared to make informed 
decisions and the readership of CCRs also may increase.

    Dated: September 4, 2012.
Nancy K. Stoner,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2012-22344 Filed 9-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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