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Source Water
Working Group
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
National Drinking Water Advisory Council
March 13 & 14, 1997
Washington, D.C.
Attendance: Warren Harper, U.S. Forest Service attended for Steve
Glasser. Dr. Bruce Dixon and Mr. William Lindsey were not able to attend.
Ms. Leslie Warner attended on the 14th only. Mr. Dalip Bammi attended
on the March 13th only.
Summary: The 25 members of the working group met with NDWAC member,
L.D. McMullen, on March 13 and 14, 1997 in Washington. At the table were
spokespersons for State agencies (drinking water, wellhead, agriculture
and forestry), other Federal Agencies (USDA, USGS), large and small water
systems, environmental and public health advocates, "up stream" interests
such as agriculture and chemical manufacturers as well as local, county
and tribal officials.
The working group was called to order with the purpose of assisting the
Council in providing recommendations to EPA on the development of National
Source Water Assessment Protection Guidance and it's successful implementation
by States. The members each presented their perspective on keys to successful
implementation and there was general agreement that: flexibility should
be combined with accountability; EPA should encourage and expand program
coordination and integration; and that public participation is critical.
In preparation for a discussion of State use of SRF set asides for assessments,
Jamie Bourne, OW/EPA gave a presentation on the status of SRF Intended
Use Plans. The working group identified several key incentives and disincentives
to State use of the set asides for assessments. The working group then
discussed eight issues that raised by EPA and formulated an additional
issue regarding the States processes for completing the delineations by
States. Issues discussed included: adequacy of contamination source inventories;
level of detail in public reporting; adequate susceptibility analyses;
boundary waters; specific public participation activities in program development;
emphasis in the guidance on the petition process; description of linkages
in the guidance; and limitation of DWSRF monies to public health related
activities. The group identified but did not discuss several second tier
issues which should be addressed by EPA. The meeting concluded with members
providing recommendations to the NDWAC representative on the key points
that should be conveyed to NDWAC as a whole.
Next Steps: Actions items from the meeting include EPA issuing
the draft guidance and providing it to workgroup members, providing additional
background materials on State Wellhead Protection Programs, updates on
State intended use plans and a summary on the Food Quality Protection
Act. The group also asked that appropriate members provide the AWWA/ASDWA
survey to the group as whole by June. The working group agreed that the
next workgroup meeting should be held on June 2 and 3, 1997.
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