[Federal Register: August 24, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 163)]
[Notices]
[Page 52009-52010]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24au04-49]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7804-9]
Notice of Tentative Approval and Solicitation of Request for a
Public Hearing for Public Water System Supervision Program Revision for
the Commonwealth of Virginia
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of tentative approval and Solicitation of Requests for a
Public Hearing.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provision of
section 1413 of the Safe Drinking Water Act as amended, and the rules
governing National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Implementation
that the Commonwealth of Virginia is revising its approved Public Water
System Supervision Program. Specifically, the Virginia Department of
Health (VDH) has adopted the Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions to
streamline and reduce reporting burden, a Public Notification Rule for
public water systems to notify their customers when they violate EPA or
Commonwealth drinking water standards, a Radionuclides Rule to
establish a new maximum contaminant level for uranium and revise
monitoring requirements, and a Filter Backwash Recycling Rule to
institute changes to the return of recycle flows to a plant's treatment
process that may otherwise compromise microbial control.
EPA has determined that these revisions are no less stringent than
the corresponding Federal regulations aside from one omission in the
Commonwealth's Public Notification Rule of a procedural requirement
found in 40 CFR Part 141. 40 CFR 141.201(c)(2) provides that when a
public water system has a violation in a portion of the distribution
system that is physically or hydraulically isolated from other parts of
the distribution system, the State may allow the system to limit
distribution of the public notice to only persons served by that
portion of the system which is out of compliance. When Virginia
approves this type of limited distribution, it must give its permission
in writing. However, VDH did not include the ``in writing'' requirement
in its rules. VDH has agreed to correct this omission and add this
requirement in an upcoming revision of its regulations. During the
interim, it has agreed that all of its Field Offices will put such
approvals in writing. Given this commitment, EPA is taking action to
tentatively approve these program revisions. All interested parties are
invited to submit written comments on this determination and may
request a public hearing.
DATES: Comments or a request for a public hearing must be submitted by
September 23, 2004. This determination shall become effective on
September 23, 2004 if no timely and appropriate request for a hearing
is received and the Regional Administrator does not elect on his own to
hold a hearing, and if no comments are received which cause EPA to
modify its tentative approval.
ADDRESSES: Comments or a request for a public hearing must be submitted
to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III, 1650 Arch
Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029. Comments may also be submitted
electronically to Hoover.Michelle@epa.gov. All documents relating to
this determination are available for inspection between the hours of 8
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the following offices:
Drinking Water Branch, Water Protection Division, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Region III, 1650 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029.
Office of Drinking Water, Virginia Department of Health,
Madison Building, 6th Floor, 109 Governor Street, Room 632, Richmond,
VA 23219.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Hoover, Drinking Water Branch
at the Philadelphia address given above; telephone (215) 814-5258 or
fax (215) 814-2318.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: All interested parties are invited to submit
written comments on this determination and may request a public
hearing. All comments will be considered, and, if necessary, EPA will
issue a response. Frivolous or insubstantial requests for a hearing may
be denied by the Regional Administrator. However, if a substantial
request for a public hearing is made by September 23, 2004, a public
hearing
[[Page 52010]]
will be held. A request for public hearing shall include the following:
(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the individual,
organization, or other entity requesting a hearing; (2) a brief
statement of the requesting person's interest in the Regional
Administrator's determination and of information that the requesting
person intends to submit at such a hearing; and (3) the signature of
the individual making the request; or, if the request is made on behalf
of an organization or other entity, the signature of a responsible
official of the organization or other entity.
Dated: August 13, 2004.
Donald S. Welsh,
Regional Administrator, EPA, Region III.
[FR Doc. 04-19341 Filed 8-23-04; 8:45 am]
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