[Federal Register: April 22, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 77)] [Notices] [Page 19779-19780] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr22ap99-69] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [WH-FRL-6330-1] Peer Review Workshop and Public Stakeholder Meetings on the Draft Water Quality Criteria Methodology Revisions: Human Health AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of peer review workshop and public stakeholder meetings on revisions to the methodology for deriving ambient water quality criteria for the protection of human health. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a peer review workshop and subsequent public stakeholder meeting between May 17 and May 20, 1999 for the purpose of conducting an external expert peer review of the Draft Methodology Revisions and a subsequent information exchange with stakeholders on issues related to the changes or additions in the Revisions. DATES: The peer review workshop will start at 9:00 AM on May 17 and will adjourn on May 19 at 12:00 PM. The public stakeholder meeting will start at 9:00 AM and adjourn at 5:30 PM on May 20, the day following the conclusion of the peer review workshop. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denis Borum (4304), U.S. EPA, 401 M St. S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460 (Telephone: (202) 260-8996). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Both the peer review workshop and subsequent public stakeholder meeting will be held at the Hilton Springfield, 6550 Loisdale Road, Springfield, VA for the purpose of conducting an external expert peer review of the Draft Methodology Revisions and a subsequent information exchange with stakeholders on issues related to the changes or additions that, when finalized, will supersede the existing Guidelines and Methodology Used in the Preparation of Health Effect Assessment Chapters of the Consent Decree Water Criteria Documents (``1980 AWQC National Guidelines''), published by EPA in November 1980. The purpose of the peer review workshop is to have the methodology reviewed in its entirety, even though many components of it have been peer reviewed in separate efforts. This is intentionally being conducted in a public forum, so that interested persons will be able to watch and listen while the peer reviewers discuss the recommended methodology revisions and draft their peer review report. Observers at the workshop will have an opportunity during a 30-minute period set aside at the end of the first and second day to make brief statements of opinion. Observers will not be allowed to ask questions of the reviewers or engage in the discussion. Observers who wish to make any statements should provide an advance written request to Pat Wood, Versar, Inc. at (703) 750-3000. There will also be an opportunity to sign up at the Workshop (on the first day) to make comments at the end of the second day, as time allows. The public stakeholder meeting is to provide an opportunity for interested persons to discuss the issues and process for developing criteria and implementing the methodology. The stakeholder meeting will be the opportunity for substantive input and dialogue with the primary authors of the Draft Methodology Revisions. As with the peer review workshop, participants for the stakeholders meeting who wish to make comments or ask questions are strongly encouraged to provide an advance written request due to potential time limitations. Requests to speak at the stakeholder meeting should be made to Robert Noecker, ICF, Inc. at (703) [[Page 19780]] 218-2700 or by e-mail at: rnoecker@icfkaiser.com. EPA is inviting all interested members of the public to observe the workshop and participate in the stakeholder meeting. To the extent that is available, EPA is instituting an open door policy to allow any member of the public to attend either event for any length of time. Approximately 150 seats will be available for the public. Seats will be available on a first-come, first served basis. On-site registration for both will begin at 8:00 AM. For additional information about the meeting, please contact Denis Borum of EPA's Office of Science and Technology at (202) 260-8996 or by e-mail at borum.denis@epa.gov. Dated: April 14, 1999. Tudor T. Davies, Director, Office of Science and Technology. [FR Doc. 99-10097 Filed 4-21-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P