[Federal Register: September 4, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 171)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 46251]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04se01-18]                         


[[Page 46251]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 141

[FRL-7048-9]

 
Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation for Public Water 
Systems; Amendment to the List 2 Rule and Partial Delay of Reporting of 
Monitoring Results

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), as amended in 1996, 
requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish criteria 
for a program to monitor unregulated contaminants and to publish a list 
of contaminants to be monitored. In fulfillment of this requirement, 
EPA published Revisions to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring 
Regulation (UCMR) for public water systems on September 17, 1999 (64 FR 
50556), March 2, 2000 (65 FR 11372) and January 11, 2001 (66 FR 2273), 
which included lists of contaminants for which monitoring was required 
or would be required in the future. EPA is proposing to correct an 
omission in the January 11, 2001, List 2 UCMR concerning laboratory 
certification. This correction will automatically approve laboratories 
of public water systems, that are certified to conduct compliance 
monitoring using Method 515.3, to also use Method 515.4 for UCMR 
analyses. Additionally, EPA is delaying requirements for the electronic 
reporting of unregulated contaminant monitoring results until its 
electronic reporting system is ready to accept data. The January 11, 
2001, List 2 UCMR requires certain public water systems to start 
reporting the results of their unregulated contaminant monitoring to 
EPA electronically by July 1, 2001. This proposed rule notifies such 
public water systems that the electronic reporting system that EPA is 
developing to accept monitoring data is not ready, and that EPA is 
removing the reporting requirement until it is available. This action 
does not delay or suspend the implementation of any of the requirements 
of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulations for sample 
collection and analysis on the previously established schedule.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing by October 4, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments 
and enclosures (including references) to docket number W-00-01-III, 
Comment Clerk, Water Docket (MC4101), USEPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC 20460. Hand deliveries should be delivered to EPA's 
Water Docket at 401 M. St., SW., Room EB57, Washington, DC. Commenters 
who want EPA to acknowledge receipt of their comments should enclose a 
self-addressed, stamped envelope. No facsimiles (faxes) will be 
accepted. Comments may also be submitted electronically to ow-
docket@epamail.epa.gov. Electronic comments must be submitted as a Word 
Perfect (WP), WP5.1, WP6.1 or WP8 file or as an ASCII file avoiding the 
use of special characters and forms of encryption. Electronic comments 
must be identified by the docket number W-00-01-III. Comments and data 
will also be accepted on disks in WP 5.1, 6.1, 8 or ASCII file format. 
Electronic comments on this proposed rule may be filed online at many 
Federal Depository Libraries.
    The record for this proposed rulemaking has been established under 
docket number W-00-01-III and includes supporting documentation as well 
as printed, paper versions of electronic comments. The record is 
available for inspection from 9 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
excluding legal holidays at the Water Docket, EB 57, USEPA 
Headquarters, 401 M., Washington, DC. For access to docket materials, 
please call 202/260-3027 to schedule an appointment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Job (202-260-7084) or Jeffrey 
Bryan (202-260-4934), Drinking Water Protection Division, Office of 
Ground Water and Drinking Water (MC-4607), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460. 
General information about UCMR may be obtained from the EPA Safe 
Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. The Hotline operates Monday 
through Friday, excluding Federal holidays, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 
ET.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the 
January 11, 2001, UCMR for Public Water Systems. In the ``Rules and 
Regulations'' section of today's Federal Register, EPA is approving 
revisions to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation for 
Public Water Systems as a direct final rule without prior proposal 
because EPA views these as noncontroversial revisions and anticipates 
no adverse comment. EPA has explained our reasons for this approval in 
the preamble to the direct final rule. If EPA receives no adverse 
comment, it will not take further action on this proposed rule. If EPA 
receives adverse comment, the Agency will withdraw the direct final 
rule and it will not take effect. EPA would then address all public 
comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA 
will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties 
interested in commenting must do so at this time. For further 
information, please see the information provided in the direct final 
rule titled ``Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation for Public 
Water Systems; Amendment to the List 2 Rule and Partial Delay of 
Reporting of Monitoring Results'' that is located in the ``Rules and 
Regulations'' section of this Federal Register publication. For the 
various statutes and executive orders that require findings for 
rulemaking, EPA incorporates the findings from the direct final rule 
into this companion proposal for the purpose of providing public notice 
and opportunity for comment.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 141

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Indian lands, 
Intergovernmental relations, Radiation protection, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Water supply.

    Dated: August 28, 2001.
Christine Todd Whitman,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-22115 Filed 8-29-01; 2:33 pm]
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