[Federal Register: December 29, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 249)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 77972-77974]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29de04-26]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 136
[Docket Number OW-2004-0041; FRL-7855-9]
Stakeholder Process for Detection and Quantitation Procedures;
Notice of Public Meeting and Request for Nominations to a Federal
Advisory Committee on Detection and Quantitation Procedures and Uses in
Clean Water Act (CWA) Programs
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: There will be a half-day public meeting on January 26, 2005,
to present the findings and recommendations in the Situation Assessment
Report on Detection and Quantitation Approaches and Uses in Clean Water
Act (CWA) Programs (Situation Assessment Report). In addition, USEPA
invites nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for
appointment to the Federal Advisory Committee on Detection and
Quantitation Approaches and Uses in
[[Page 77973]]
Clean Water Act (CWA) Programs. The purpose of this committee will be
to reach agreement and provide advice on: A common set of terms and
concepts; one or more specific approaches and/or procedures for
detection and quantitation for use in Clean Water Act programs; and
interpretation and uses of the numbers that result from the testing
procedures.
DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 26, 2005, from 1:30
p.m. until approximately 4:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. Nominations
for the committee will be accepted until 5 p.m. on February 9, 2005.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460,
Ariel Rios South Building, NETI Conference Room 6226. Nominations may
be submitted electronically, by mail, or through hand delivery/courier.
Follow the detailed instructions as provided in III. Composition and
Organization. To protect personal information from disclosure to the
public, do not submit nomination material to the docket of the Federal
Advisory Committee on Detection and Quantitation Approaches and Uses in
Clean Water Act (CWA) Programs or through any online commenting system.
Submit nomination materials to: Mary T. Smith, Director, Engineering
and Analysis Division, MC 4303T, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, T: 202-566-1000, F:
202-566-1053, e-mail Smith.Maryt@EPA.GOV.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marion Kelly, Engineering and Analysis
Division, MC4303T, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; Telephone number: (202)
566-1045; Fax number: (202) 566-1053; E-mail address:
Kelly.Marion@EPA.GOV.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
On September 15, 2004, EPA announced its intention to have a
neutral third party conduct a situation assessment to determine whether
a stakeholder process for detection and quantitation procedures should
proceed and, if so, how that process should be designed. 69 FR 55547.
The neutral third party has conducted the situation assessment with
affected stakeholders and has solicited their ideas for the design of
multi-party discussions on the policy and technical issues surrounding
the development of detection and quantitation procedures and uses of
those procedures in Clean Water Act (CWA) programs. The neutral third
party has presented its recommendations to the Agency in a document
entitled Situation Assessment Report on Detection and Quantitation
Approaches and Uses in Clean Water Act (CWA) Programs. The
recommendations contained in the report will be the primary topic of
discussion at the public meeting.
II. Request for Nominations
The Federal Advisory Committee on Detection and Quantitation
Approaches and Uses in Clean Water Act (CWA) Programs (hereinafter
referred to as the Detection and Quantitation Advisory Committee) is
being established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5
U.S.C. App. 2 (Public Law 92-463), and copies of the Committee Charter
will be filed with the appropriate committees of Congress and the
Library of Congress. The Detection and Quantitation Advisory Committee
will provide advice and recommendations to the Agency regarding the
detection and quantitation procedures used in Clean Water Act programs.
The Detection and Quantitation Advisory Committee will hold meetings,
analyze issues, conduct reviews, produce reports, make necessary
recommendations, and undertake other activities necessary to meet its
responsibilities. The objectives of the Committee are to provide advice
and recommendations to EPA in areas such as: a common set of terms and
concepts; one or more specific approaches and procedures for detection
and quantitation for use in Clean Water Act programs; and
interpretation and uses of the numbers that result from detection and
quantitation procedures.
III. Composition and Organization
The Committee will be composed of approximately 20 members. EPA
will have a balanced representation of members in terms of points of
view represented and the scope of the activities of the Committee. An
EPA employee will act as the Designated Federal Official (DFO) who will
be responsible for providing the necessary staffing, operations, and
support for the Committee. The agency is seeking qualified senior-level
professionals from diverse sectors throughout the United States to be
considered for membership on the Committee. The Agency is seeking
representation from among, but not limited to, the groups listed below.
Please indicate in your submittal the sector with which the nominee is
most closely associated and the organization, group or perspective the
nominee would represent: State government; environmental professionals;
regulated industry; environmental laboratories; Publicly Owned
Treatment Works; and the environmental community. Establishing a
balance and diversity of technical and policy experience, knowledge,
and judgement, will be important considerations in the selection of
members. EPA also plans to use technical experts who will be available
to help the Committee understand technical concepts and provide
technical assistance to the Committee. Such experts will not be members
of the Committee and will not participate in the Committee's
deliberations.
All Committee meetings will be called, announced, and held in
accordance with FACA requirements, including public notice of meetings
in the Federal Register, open meetings, and an opportunity for
interested persons to file comments before or after meetings, or to
make statements during the public meetings to the extent time permits.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations of
qualified candidates to be considered for appointments to the Federal
Advisory Committee on Detection and Quantitation Approaches and Uses in
Clean Water Act (CWA) Programs. Representatives from State governments,
industry, wastewater treatment plants, environmental laboratories and
the environmental community are especially encouraged to apply. EPA may
use additional avenues and resources to solicit nominees. In
particular, the Agency will consider the recommendations contained in
the document, Situation Assessment Report on Detection and Quantitation
Approaches and Uses in Clean Water Act (CWA) Programs, which is
available on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/methods/det/
.
The deadline for EPA to receive nominations is February 9, 2005.
Appointments will be made by the Deputy Administrator of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. Appointments are expected to be
announced in March 2005. Nominations for membership must include a
resume describing the professional and educational qualifications of
the nominee and the group or interest the person would represent.
Contact details should include full name and title, business mailing
address, telephone, fax, and e-mail address. A supporting letter of
endorsement is also recommended.
[[Page 77974]]
IV. Does the Public Meeting Apply to Me?
The meeting on January 26, 2005, is open to the general public, and
may be of interest to persons who are or may be required to perform
analytical test measurements for reporting and compliance under the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) under the CWA,
including regulated industry, environmental groups, State governments,
publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and environmental laboratories.
Since various individuals or groups may be interested, the Agency has
not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be
affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding this
meeting, please consult the individual identified under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
V. How Can I Get Copies of This Document and Other Related
Information?
You may access this Federal Register document electronically
through the Internet under the ``Federal Register'' listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
You may obtain an electronic copy of the
Situation Assessment Report on Detection and Quantitation Approaches
and Uses in Clean Water Act (CWA) Programs on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/methods/det/.
This document will be available
as soon as possible, but no later than January 4, 2005. The docket
number is OW-2004-0041. If you require a printed copy of the report,
contact the individual identified under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
VI. How May I Participate in This Meeting?
Members of the general public are encouraged to attend this meeting
in person. Anyone wishing to participate via teleconference should
contact the individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at
least 5 business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate
arrangements can be made. Members of the general public are invited to
pose questions on the Situation Assessment Report. Each individual or
group wishing to make prepared comments should submit their request to
the individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT before the
date of the meeting in order to be included in the meeting agenda. The
request should identify the name of the individual making the
presentation, the organization (if any) the individual will represent,
and any requirements for audiovisual equipment (e.g., overhead
projector, 35mm projector, chalkboard). Each speaker should bring 30
copies of his or her comments and presentation slides for distribution
at the meeting. Other interested persons who did not pre-register may
also present prepared comments at the meeting if time permits. Seating
at the meeting will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals
requiring special accommodations at this meeting, including wheelchair
access and assistance for the hearing impaired, should contact the
individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least 5
business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can
be made.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 136
Environmental protection, Analytical methods, Wastewater, NPDES,
FACA.
Dated: December 22, 2004.
Geoffrey H. Grubbs,
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 04-28497 Filed 12-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P