[Federal Register: January 10, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 6)]
[Notices]
[Page 1707-1708]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10ja05-32]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7859-1]
National Drinking Water Advisory Council's Water Security Working
Group Meeting Announcement
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the fourth
public meeting of the Water Security Working Group (WSWG) of the
National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC), which was established
under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The purpose of this meeting is to
provide an opportunity for the WSWG members to continue deliberations
on the features of active and effective security programs for drinking
water and wastewater utilities (water sector), to continue
deliberations on incentives to encourage broad adoption of active and
effective security programs in the water sector, and to continue
deliberations on measures of the performance of water security
programs. The focus of the meeting will be on review of draft
recommendations on incentives and development of performance measures.
The WSWG findings and recommendations will be provided to the NDWAC for
their consideration. The WSWG anticipates providing findings and
recommendations to the NDWAC in spring 2005. One additional meeting of
the WSWG is planned and will be announced in the near future.
DATES: The WSWG meeting is January 25-27, 2004, in Phoenix, Arizona. On
January 25, 2005, the meeting is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.,
mountain time (m.t.). On January 26, 2005, the meeting is scheduled
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., m.t. On January 27, 2005, the meeting is
scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., m.t.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the City of Phoenix Water
Services Department Training Room, 9th Floor, 200 West Washington
Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Parking is available at the City's
facilities at 305 West Washington Street. Water Services' reception
will be able to validate your parking; please remember to bring your
ticket with you. Once in the building, proceed to the 9th floor and
check-in at the reception desk--you will then be directed to the
meeting room, which is just beyond reception.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested participants from the
public should contact Marc Santora, Designated Federal Officer, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Ground Water and Drinking
Water, Water Security Division (Mail Code 4601-M), 1200 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. Please contact Marc Santora at
santora.marc@epa.gov or call 202-564-1597 to receive additional
details.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The WSWG mission is to: (1) Identify, compile, and characterize
best security practices and policies for drinking water and wastewater
utilities and provide an approach for considering and adopting these
practices and policies at a utility level; (2) consider mechanisms to
provide recognition and incentives that facilitate a broad and
receptive response among the water sector to implement these best
security practices and policies and make recommendations as
appropriate; (3) consider mechanisms to measure the extent of
implementation of these best security practices and policies, identify
the impediments to their implementation, and make recommendations as
appropriate. The WSWG is comprised of sixteen members from water and
wastewater utilities, public health, academia, state regulators, and
environmental and community interests. Technical experts from the
Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Homeland Security,
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of
Defense are also actively supporting the WSWG.
Closed and Open Parts of the Meeting
The WSWG is a working group of the NDWAC; it is not a Federal
advisory committee and therefore not subject to the same public
disclosure laws that govern Federal advisory committees. The Group can
enter into closed session as necessary to provide an opportunity to
discuss security-sensitive information relating to specific water
sector vulnerabilities and security tactics. Currently, the WSWG does
not anticipate closing any parts of the January meeting to the public.
However, the Group reserves the right to enter into closed session, if
necessary, late in the afternoon of January 25, 2005, immediately
before lunch on January 26, 2005, and late in the day on January 27,
2005. If closed sessions are needed, opportunities for public comment
will be provided before the closed sessions begin.
If there is a closed meeting session, only WSWG members, Federal
resource personnel, facilitation support contractors and outside
experts identified by the facilitation support contractors will attend
the closed meetings. A general summary of the topics discussed during
closed meetings and the individuals present will be included with the
summary of the open portions of the WSWG meeting.
Public Comment
An opportunity for public comment will be provided during the open
part of the WSWG meeting. Oral statements will be limited to five
minutes, and it is preferred that only one person present the statement
on behalf of a group or organization. Written comments may be provided
at the meeting or may be sent, by mail, to Marc Santora, Designated
Federal Officer for the WSWG, at the mail or e-mail address listed in
the FOR
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FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.
Special Accommodations
Any person needing special accommodations at this meeting,
including wheelchair access, should contact Marc Santora, Designated
Federal Officer, at the number or e-mail address listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. Requests for
special accommodations should be made at least five business days in
advance of the WSWG meeting.
Dated: January 4, 2005.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 05-425 Filed 1-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P