[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32595-32596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16006]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-8927-5]
National Drinking Water Advisory Council Request for Climate
Ready Water Utilities Working Group Nominations
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is
announcing the formation of the Climate Ready Water Utilities Working
Group (CRWUWG) of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council, and
soliciting all interested persons or organizations to nominate
qualified individuals to serve on the working group. For a general
description of the working group charge, the criteria for selecting
working group members, and the specific directions for submitting
working group member nominations, please see the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section.
DATES: Submit nominations via U.S. mail on or before August 7, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Address all nominations to Lauren Wisniewski, National
Drinking Water Advisory Council Climate Ready Water Utilities Working
Group, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Ground Water and
Drinking Water, Water Security Division (Mail Code 4608T), 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E-mail your questions to Lauren
Wisniewski, [email protected], or call 202-564-2918.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The Agency's National Water Program Strategy: Response
to Climate Change (2008) identified the need to provide drinking water
and
[[Page 32596]]
wastewater utilities with easy-to-use resources to assess the risk
associated with climate change and to identify potential adaptation
strategies. EPA proposes to establish a Climate Ready Water Utilities
program that will enable water and wastewater utilities to develop and
implement long-range plans that account for climate change impacts. The
program recognizes that any comprehensive approach to climate change
must include both adaptation and mitigation. It should also engage a
broad range of water sector stakeholders. The National Drinking Water
Advisory Council (NDWAC), established under the Safe Drinking Water
Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.), provides practical and
independent advice, consultation and recommendations to the Agency on
the activities, functions and policies related to the implementation of
the Safe Drinking Water Act. On May 28, 2009, NDWAC voted on and
approved the formation of the Climate Ready Water Utilities Working
Group. After this working group completes its charge, it will make
recommendations to the full NDWAC. The full NDWAC will, in turn, make
appropriate recommendations to the EPA.
Working Group Charge: The charge for the Climate Ready Water
Utilities Work Group (CRWUWG) is to evaluate the concept of ``Climate
Ready Water Utilities'' and provide recommendations to the full NDWAC
on the development of an effective program for drinking water and
wastewater utilities, including recommendations to: (1) Define and
develop a baseline understanding of how to use available information to
develop climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, including
ways to integrate this information into existing complementary programs
such as the Effective Utility Management and Climate Ready Estuaries
Program; (2) Identify climate change-related tools, training, and
products that address short-term and long-term needs of water and
wastewater utility managers, decision makers, and engineers, including
ways to integrate these tools and training into existing programs; and
(3) Incorporate mechanisms to provide recognition or incentives that
facilitate broad adoption of climate change adaptation and mitigation
strategies by the water sector into existing EPA Office of Water
recognition and awards programs or new recognition programs.
Selection Criteria: The EPA is looking to create a diverse CRWUWG.
Potential CRWUWG nominations could include individuals from stakeholder
organizations such as wastewater and drinking water utilities, State
and local officials, public health officials, environmental
organizations, academia, and climate experts. The Agency is looking for
a range of utility representation in terms of the size of the
population served, geographic location, as well as investor- and
publicly-owned and operated facilities. This is not an exhaustive list;
it is only intended to provide a framework to consider potential
nominees.
Potential nominees should possess the following qualifications:
Occupy a senior position within their organization; have broad
experience outside their current position; demonstrate experience
dealing with public policy issues; have extensive experience with and
understanding of water utilities; and be knowledgeable on climate
change. CRWUWG members should: Be recognized experts in their fields;
be as impartial and objective as possible; collectively represent an
array of backgrounds and perspectives within the water sector and
related disciplines; and be available to fully participate in the
working group.
The schedule remains flexible; however, it is estimated that the
first CRWUWG meeting will be convened in the fall of 2009, and
subsequent meetings will be conducted over a relatively short time
frame, approximately one year. Over the course of this period, CRWUWG
members will be asked to attend up to five meetings, participate in
conference calls and video-conferencing as necessary, participate in
the discussion of key issues at all meetings, and review and finalize
the products and outputs of the working group.
Nomination of a Member: Any interested person or organization may
nominate qualified individuals for membership to the working group. All
nominees should be identified by their name, occupation, position,
address, and telephone number. To be considered, all nominations must
include a current resume providing the nominee's background, experience
and qualifications, in addition to a statement (not to exceed two (2)
paragraphs) about their particular expertise and interest in potential
climate change impacts on water utilities. Please note that the Agency
will not formally acknowledge or respond to nominations. Additional
sources may be utilized in the solicitation of nominees.
Dated: June 26, 2009.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. E9-16006 Filed 7-7-09; 8:45 am]
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