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[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 8012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4493]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5693-3]

Establishment of the Microbial and Disinfectants/Disinfection 
Byproducts Advisory Committee

AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Establishment of FACA committee and meeting announcement.

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SUMMARY: As required by section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA) at 5 U.S.C. App. II section 9(a)(2), the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is giving notice that it is 
establishing the Microbial and Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts 
Advisory Committee. The purpose of this Committee is to assist the 
Agency in the development of regulations, guidance and policies to 
address microorganisms and disinfectants/disinfection byproducts in 
drinking water. EPA has determined that this is in the public interest 
and will assist the Agency in performing its duties as prescribed in 
the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
    Copies of the committee Charter will be filed with the appropriate 
committees of Congress and the Library of Congress.

NOTICE OF MEETING: The Committee's first meeting is scheduled for March 
13 and 14, 1997, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on each day, at the 
office of RESOLVE at 2828 Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest, Suite 402, 
Washington D.C. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss 1) 
organizational matters of the Committee and 2) possible components of 
an Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (IESWTR) and a Stage 1 
Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts (DBP) Rule, including discussion 
of related technical issues such as enhanced coagulation and turbidity 
control.
    The meeting will be open to the public. Members of the public may 
attend the meeting, make statements to the extent time permits and file 
written statements with the Committee for its consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Members of the public who would like more 
information or who would like to present an oral statement or submit a 
written statement are requested to contact Steve Potts, Office of 
Ground Water Drinking Water, U.S. EPA, Mail Code 4607, 401 M Street, 
SW, Washington, DC 20460. Mr. Potts may also be reached by telephone at 
(202) 260-5015 or contacted by e-mail at [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    EPA is responsible under the SDWA for the development of 
regulations to address microbial pathogens and DBPs in drinking water. 
The 1996 amendments to the Act require the Agency to promulgate two of 
these regulations, the IESWTR and Stage 1 DBP Rule, by November 1998. 
The amendments also establish deadlines for subsequent rules in this 
cluster. Regulatory concerns include possible risk trade-offs between 
microbial pathogens and chemical DBPs.
    As a result of formal regulatory negotiations in 1992 and 1993, EPA 
published regulatory proposals in the Federal Register in July 1994. In 
May 1996, the Agency initiated a series of public meetings for purposes 
of information exchange on issues related to the development of rules 
in the cluster. The creation of a Microbial and Disinfectants/
Disinfection Byproducts Advisory Committee is necessary and in the 
public interest as it will provide the structured environment for 
focused efforts to collect, share and analyze information and data and 
for consensus building discussions.
    Participants: The Committee will consist of a balanced membership 
of approximately twenty (20) members appointed by the Deputy 
Administrator. Membership will include but is not limited to 
representatives of EPA, States, drinking water suppliers and public 
interest groups.

    Dated: February 18, 1997.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 97-4493 Filed 2-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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