Document ID: EPA_FRDOC_0001-25541
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Request for Nominations: The National Drinking Water Advisory Council
Posted Date: 2020-06-12T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 114 (Friday, June 12, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35930-35931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12727]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-10010-54-OW]

The National Drinking Water Advisory Council: Request for 
Nominations

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting 
nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be 
considered to fill vacancies on the National Drinking Water Advisory 
Council (NDWAC or Council). The 15-member Council was established by 
the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to provide independent advice, 
consultation, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on matters 
relating to the activities, functions, policies, and regulations 
required by the SDWA. This announcement solicits nominations to fill 
five vacancies with three-year appointments from December 2020 through 
December 2023. The EPA may also consider nominations received through 
this solicitation in 2021 and in the event of unplanned vacancies on 
the Council. To enable the EPA to maintain the representation required 
by statute, the Agency is seeking nominees who are from appropriate 
state and local agencies concerned with water hygiene and public water 
supply; representatives of private organizations or groups 
demonstrating an active interest in the field of water hygiene and 
public water supply, including nominees associated with small, rural 
public water systems; and from the general public.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted no later than July 13, 2020.

ADDRESSES: We encourage you to submit nominations electronically, with 
the subject line ``NDWAC Membership 2020,'' to corr.elizabeth@epa.gov, 
as there may be a delay in processing U.S. mail and no hand deliveries 
are currently accepted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have 
concerns about submitting your nomination electronically, you may 
contact Elizabeth Corr, the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the 
NDWAC, by email at corr.elizabeth@epa.gov, with the subject line 
``NDWAC Membership 2020,'' or by phone at (202) 564-3798, to discuss a 
possible alternative delivery method.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Email your questions to Elizabeth Corr 
at corr.elizabeth@epa.gov; or call (202) 564-3798. You may also mail 
Elizabeth Corr, at the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, MC: 
4601M, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20460, but be advised that there may be a delay in 
processing U.S. mail and no hand deliveries will be accepted due to the 
COVID-19 pandemic.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    National Drinking Water Advisory Council: The Council was created 
by Congress on December 16, 1974, as part of the Safe Drinking Water 
Act of 1974, Public Law 93-523, 42 U.S.C. 300j-5, and is operated in 
accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2. The Council consists of 15 members, including 
the chairperson, all of whom are appointed by the EPA Administrator. 
Five members are from appropriate state and local agencies concerned 
with water hygiene and public water supply; five members represent 
private organizations or groups demonstrating an active interest in the 
field of water hygiene and public water supply--of which two such

[[Page 35931]]

members shall be associated with small, rural public water systems; and 
five members are from the general public. The current list of members 
is available on the EPA's NDWAC website at https://www.epa.gov/ndwac 
under ``NDWAC roster.''
    The Council typically will meet in person once each year and may 
hold a second meeting, either in person or by video/teleconference, 
during the year. Members also may be asked to participate in ad hoc 
workgroups to develop policy recommendations, advice letters, and 
reports to address specific program issues.
    Member Nominations: Any interested person and/or organization may 
nominate qualified individuals for membership. Interested candidates 
may self-nominate. The EPA values and welcomes diversity.
    In an effort to obtain nominations of diverse candidates, the EPA 
encourages nominations of women and men of all racial and ethnic 
groups.
    All nominations will be fully considered, but applicants need to be 
aware of the specific representation required by the SDWA: State and 
local agencies concerned with water hygiene and public water supply 
(two vacancies in 2020); private organizations or groups demonstrating 
an active interest in the field of water hygiene and public water 
supply (three vacancies in 2020--of which one will be associated with 
small, rural public water systems); and the general public (one vacancy 
in 2021). The EPA may also consider nominations received through this 
solicitation in the event of unplanned vacancies on the Council. Other 
criteria used to evaluate nominees will include:
     Demonstrated experience with drinking water issues at the 
national, state, or local level;
     Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication 
and consensus-building skills;
     Willingness to commit time to the Council and demonstrated 
ability to work constructively on committees;
     Absence of financial conflicts of interest;
     Absence of appearance of a lack of impartiality; and
     Background and experience that would help members 
contribute to the diversity of perspectives on the Council, e.g., 
geographic, economic, social, cultural, educational backgrounds, 
professional affiliations, and other considerations.
    Nominations must include a resume, which provides the nominee's 
background, experience, and educational qualifications, as well as a 
brief statement (one page or less) describing the nominee's interest in 
serving on the Council and addressing the other criteria previously 
described. Nominees are encouraged to provide any additional 
information that they think would be useful for consideration, such as: 
Availability to participate as a member of the Council; and how the 
nominee's background, skills, and experience would contribute to the 
diversity of the Council. Nominees should be identified by name, 
occupation, position, current business address, email address, and 
telephone number. The DFO will use the email address provided for the 
nominee to acknowledge receipt of nominations.
    Persons selected for membership will receive compensation for 
travel and a nominal, daily compensation (if appropriate) while 
attending meetings. All selected candidates will be designated as 
Special Government Employees (SGEs) and will be required to submit the 
``Confidential Financial Disclosure Form for Environmental Protection 
Agency Special Government Employees'' (EPA Form 3110-48). This 
confidential form provides information to the EPA's ethics officials, 
to determine whether there is a conflict between the SGE's public 
duties and their private interests, including an appearance of a loss 
of impartiality as defined by federal laws and regulations. The form 
may be viewed and downloaded through the ``Ethics requirements'' link 
on the EPA's website at https://www.epa.gov/ndwac.
    Other sources, in addition to this Federal Register announcement, 
may also be utilized in the solicitation of nominees. To help the EPA 
in evaluating the effectiveness of its outreach efforts, please tell us 
how you learned of this opportunity.

Jennifer L. McLain,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 2020-12727 Filed 6-11-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P