[Federal Register: July 16, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 136)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 41988-41989]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16jy03-38]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 136
[FRL-7527-8]
RIN 2040-AD53
Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of
Pollutants; Procedures for Detection and Quantitation; Reopening of
Comment Period
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule and Notice of Document Availability; reopening of
comment period.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is reopening the
comment period for the proposed rule and the notice of document
availability (NODA) regarding EPA's assessment of detection and
quantitation procedures. The proposed rule and the NODA were published
in the Federal Register on March 12, 2003 (68 FR 11770 and 68 FR 11791,
respectively), and the comment periods for both were scheduled to end
on July 10, 2003. The Agency is reopening the comment periods for 30
days, and they will now end on August 15, 2003.
DATES: Comments must be postmarked, delivered by hand, or
electronically mailed on or before August 15, 2003. Comments provided
electronically will be considered timely if they are submitted by 11:59
p.m. Eastern Time on August 15, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail to Water Docket, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (4101T), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC, 20460, or electronically through EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/
, Attention
[[Page 41989]]
Docket No. OW-2003-0002. See Unit C of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of the March 12, 2003, Federal Register notice for the proposed
rule (68 FR 11771-11772) and Unit I.B of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of the March 12, 2003, Federal Register notice for the NODA (68
FR 11791-11792) for additional ways to submit comments and more
detailed instructions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Telliard; Engineering and
Analysis Division (4303T); Office of Science and Technology; Office of
Water; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Ariel Rios Building; 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.; Washington, DC 20460, or call (202) 566-1061
or E-mail at telliard.william@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background
EPA's method detection limit (MDL) and minimum level of
quantitation (ML) are used to define analytical method (test)
sensitivity under the Clean Water Act (CWA). In February 2003, EPA's
Office of Water completed an assessment of detection and quantitation
concepts and their application under CWA programs. On March 12, 2003,
EPA published a document (68 FR 11791) making available for public
comment an assessment document entitled ``Technical Support Document
for the Assessment of Detection and Quantitation Concepts'' (EPA 821-R-
03-005, February 2003). On the same date, EPA also published proposed
revisions to the current EPA procedure for determining test sensitivity
under EPA's CWA programs (available at 40 CFR part 136, appendix B) (68
FR 11770). The proposed revisions include clarifications and
improvements based on the assessment of the MDL, ML, and other
approaches for defining test sensitivity; peer review of the
assessment; and stakeholder comments on the existing MDL procedure.
The 120-day public comment periods established for the proposed
rule and NODA were scheduled to end July 10, 2003. EPA received a
request to extend the public comment for the proposed rule period
beyond that due date.
In order to give the public enough time to review and comment on
the proposed rule, EPA is reopening the comment period for an
additional 30 days to August 15, 2003, for each of those documents.
B. Reopening of Comment Period
This document reopens the public comment periods established in the
Federal Register issued on March 12, 2003 (68 FR 11770 and 68 FR
11791). In those documents, EPA requested public comments on the
Agency's proposed rule and on the assessment document entitled
``Technical Support Document for the Assessment of Detection and
Quantitation Concepts'' (EPA 821-R-03-005, February, 2003). EPA is
hereby reopening the comment periods to August 15, 2003.
To submit comments, or access the official public docket, please
follow the detailed instructions as provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION sections of the March 12, 2003 Federal Register actions for
the proposed rule (68 FR 11771-11772) and the NODA (68 FR 11791-11792).
If you have questions, consult the person listed under the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this action.
Dated: July 9, 2003.
G. Tracy Mehan, III,
Assistant Administrator for Water.
[FR Doc. 03-17875 Filed 7-15-03; 8:45 am]
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