[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 218 (Wednesday, November 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 60710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29736]



[[Page 60710]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5920-1]


Announcement of Stakeholders Meeting Regarding the Use of 
Screening Procedures for Drinking Water Compliance Monitoring

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of stakeholders meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency will be holding a public 
meeting on Thursday, December 4, 1997. The purpose of this meeting is 
to present information regarding EPA's plans for the approval of 
screening procedures for the compliance monitoring of drinking water 
contaminants, to solicit public input on the potential uses of 
screening procedures, and to seek the preferences of the public 
regarding approaches for continued public involvement. This meeting is 
a continuation of public meetings that started in 1995 to obtain input 
on the Agency's Drinking Water Program. These meetings were initiated 
as part of the Drinking Water Program Redirection efforts to help 
refocus EPA's drinking water priorities and to support strong, flexible 
partnerships among EPA, states, local governments, and the public. At 
the upcoming meeting, EPA is seeking input from the regulated community 
(public water systems), method developers/vendors, analytical 
laboratories, research and regulatory personnel, environmental and 
public interest groups, and other stakeholders. Input is requested 
regarding the current and potential applications of screening 
procedures for drinking water compliance monitoring, their anticipated 
availability and costs, the development of a framework for the approval 
and use of screening procedures and of a screening procedure validation 
protocol, and other considerations that may shape future EPA action 
regarding contaminant analysis. EPA encourages the full participation 
of the public throughout this process.

DATES: The stakeholders meeting on Screening Procedures will be held on 
December 4, 1997 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at RESOLVE, 1255 23rd Street, NW. 
(Suite 275), Washington, DC 20037. For additional information, please 
contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline, at phone: (800) 426-4791 or 
FAX: (703) 285-1101. Members of the public wishing to attend the 
meeting may register by telephone through the Safe Drinking Water 
Hotline by November 21, 1997. Those registered for the meeting by 
November 21, 1997 will receive background materials prior to the 
meeting. Members of the public who cannot attend the meeting in person 
may participate via conference call and should also register with the 
Safe Drinking Water Hotline by November 21, 1997. Members of the public 
who cannot participate via conference call or in person may submit 
comments in writing by December 19, 1997 to: William Labiosa, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW. (4607), Washington, 
DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on meeting 
logistics, please contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-
4791. For other information on activities related to the approval of 
screening procedures, please contact William Labiosa at U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Phone: 202-260-4835, Fax: 202-260-
3762.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    On August 6, 1996, the Congress passed amendments to the Safe 
Drinking Water Act (SDWA), which establishes a new charter for the 
nation's public water systems, states, and EPA in protecting the safety 
of drinking water. The amended SDWA requires EPA to review ``new 
analytical methods to screen for regulated contaminants.'' After this 
review, EPA ``may approve such methods as are more accurate or cost-
effective than established reference methods for use in compliance 
monitoring'' [SDWA, Section 1445(i)]. EPA is also exploring the use of 
screening procedures for use in the monitoring of unregulated 
contaminants with monitoring requirements. These methods are expected 
to provide flexibility to PWSs in compliance monitoring and are 
expected to be ``better and/or cheaper and/or faster'' than existing 
analytical methods.

B. Request for Stakeholder Involvement

    EPA has announced this public meeting to obtain stakeholder input 
to the development of a framework for the identification, approval, 
use, and validation of screening procedures for the monitoring of 
drinking water contaminants. Approval and method validation processes 
based on the Streamlining protocol that was proposed on March 28, 1997 
[62 FR 14975] will be discussed. EPA is also seeking input regarding 
the types of monitoring and contaminants for which screening procedures 
may be most amenable.
    The public is invited to provide comments on the issues listed 
above and other issues related to screening procedures during the 
December 4, 1997, meeting or in writing by December 19, 1997.

    Dated: November 5, 1997.
Elizabeth Fellows,
Acting Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 97-29736 Filed 11-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P