Right-to-Know Working Group Conference Call March 22, 1999
Executive Summary
The Right-to-Know Working Group of the National Drinking Water Advisory
Council (NDWAC) met by conference call on March 22, 1999, from 1:00 -
3:00 p.m. The call was held in room 1209, East Tower, U.S. EPA, 401 M.
Street., SW, Washington, DC.
I. BACKGROUND:
The NDWAC Right-to-Know Working Group held its first meeting September
24 and 25, 1998, followed by a conference call on November 4. The group's
recommendations on actions EPA should take to help implement the public
information and public involvement provisions of the Safe Drinking Water
Act were presented to the full NDWAC at its November 1998 meeting {link
to NDWAC meeting report here} The working group recommended:
- Principles to support the development of all public outreach products
on drinking water
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- Principles to support the development of public materials providing
further information on the Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs)
- Specific materials which would be most useful to helping multiples
audiences expect and understand drinking water information which will
be made available to the public over the next year.
II. ISSUES DISCUSSED ON THE CALL:
Materials drafted to support Consumer Confidence Reports, as
recommended to EPA by NDWAC in November 1998.
The working group reviewed two documents which EPA prepared in response
to recommendations from NDWAC and others. Materials included:
- an overview of the opportunities for the public to get involved in
the drinking water program at the local, state, and national levels
- quick reference pointers to available and forthcoming drinking water
data.
Working group members used the following questions to review and comment
on the materials:
- is the information presented clearly?
- are the products useful?
- would you use them in your own work, and how?
- are there still gaps remaining in the information?
- how do they stack up against the principles this group recommended
for all products?
ACTION:
The working group recommended
edits and additions to the draft materials.
III. Next Steps
EPA will summarize comments made on this call at the meeting of the Right-to-Know
working group on March 25 and 26. Working Group members can make additional
comments at the meeting.
IV. Public Comment
There were no public comments made during this call.
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