[Federal Register: May 13, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 92)]
[Notices]               
[Page 25880]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13my99-49]


ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6334-9]

 
Public Notification Handbook--Draft for Comment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is making available 
for review and comment a draft Public Notification Handbook (EPA 816-R-
99-004). The Handbook will assist public water systems in implementing 
the revised public notification regulations, which are being proposed 
today in the Federal Register. The proposed regulations and Handbook 
will implement the revised public notification provisions enacted under 
the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) amendments. The public 
notification regulations apply to owners and operators of public water 
systems which fail to comply with the drinking water standards and 
related regulations under the SDWA.

DATES: Written comments on the draft Public Notification Handbook are 
requested by July 31, 1999. EPA is also soliciting comment on the 
Handbook at the two public meetings on the proposed regulations and 
other public meetings to be scheduled during summer, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments on the draft Public 
Notification Handbook to Carl B. Reeverts, Manager, Public Notification 
Handbook, Drinking Water Implementation and Assistance Division, Office 
of Ground Water and Drinking Water (4606), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20460. You may also submit comments to Carl Reeverts via 
E-mail at reeverts.carl@epa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-
800-426-4791. Copies of the proposed regulation and the draft Handbook 
may be obtained by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-
426-4791 or by downloading the documents from Office of Ground Water 
and Drinking Water's web site at http://www.epa.gov/safewater.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Public Notification Handbook is intended 
to make public water system owners' and operators' jobs easier and 
public notices more effective. The Handbook provides templates for 
notices appropriate for different violation situations and other aids 
to help water systems develop an effective public notification program. 
EPA and the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) 
developed the draft Handbook under a Steering Committee comprised of 
representatives from the American Water Works Association, Association 
of Metropolitan Water Agencies, National Association of Water 
Companies, National Rural Water Association, and League of Women 
Voters. Two public meetings were held in June and September, 1998 to 
review and test the effectiveness of early drafts of the handbook. The 
draft Handbook is the result of that collaboration.
    EPA welcomes comment on all aspects of the Handbook. In addition to 
soliciting written comments, EPA encourages stakeholder input on the 
draft Handbook at the two public meetings already scheduled to take 
comment on the proposed regulation, May 26, 1999 in Madison, Wisconsin 
and June 3, 1999 in Washington, DC. EPA is also planning two 
stakeholder meetings in summer, 1999 to discuss steps to improve the 
effectiveness of the Handbook before it is released in final form. 
Comment period on the proposed rule closes 60 days after publication in 
the Federal Register. Comments on the Handbook will be accepted through 
July 31, 1999. The final rule and Handbook are expected to be published 
in December 1999. For information on the status of the Handbook or the 
schedule of meetings, please contact the EPA Safe Drinking Water 
Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

    Dated: April 27, 1999.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 99-11163 Filed 5-6-99; 9:42 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P