[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 31, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 14553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7184]
[[Page 14553]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-8788-1]
Notice of an Underground Injection Control Program Meeting To
Discuss Innovative Ideas for Aquifer Storage and Recovery
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of a meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Underground
Injection Control Program will be hosting a meeting to discuss
innovative ideas for Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) operations that
would prevent endangerment of underground sources of drinking water.
While ASR may be a valuable tool to support public drinking water
supplies, EPA or States with primary enforcement responsibility
regulate underground injection activities to protect underground
sources of drinking water pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA
is assembling an interdisciplinary group of experts to generate ideas
regarding the use of ASR technology in a manner that will prevent
endangerment of drinking water resources. EPA requests those interested
in attending to register at http://www.horsleywitten.com/EPA-ASR.
DATES: The ASR Expert Meeting will be held on May 5-6, 2009. The
meeting will be two (2) half days (May 5, 1 p.m.-5 p.m., May 6, 8 a.m.-
1 p.m.). Registration must be received by April 30, 2009.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the 12th floor Huron Conference
room at the EPA Region 5 Office, 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL
60604.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jyl Lapachin, Drinking Water
Protection Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (4606M),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-0327; fax number
(202) 564-3756; e-mail address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) is the
term used to describe the practice of underground injection of non-
hazardous water with the intent for later recovery as a water
management tool. While ASR has the potential to be a valuable tool for
ensuring that drinking water supplies are available in times when other
sources of drinking water may be unavailable, the underground injection
and storage of water has sometimes resulted in adverse ground water
quality.
EPA or States with primary enforcement responsibility implement
underground injection control programs under the Safe Drinking Water
Act to prevent endangerment of underground sources of drinking water.
EPA recognizes that ASR can be a viable tool to meet water demands.
Therefore, EPA is holding an expert-level meeting with an
interdisciplinary group of technical and policy experts from a variety
of sectors such as Federal, State, private industry, environmental
organizations, academia and public water systems. The meeting objective
is to generate innovative ideas and individual input from participants
on the storage of water in aquifers (i.e., underground storage areas)
for later retrieval in a manner that is protective of underground
sources of drinking water. EPA is seeking individual input from the
meeting attendees. EPA is not seeking advice, group recommendations or
consensus on any matters discussed during the meeting.
The ASR Expert Meeting will begin with short plenary presentations
designed to provide the participants with a common knowledge base and
terminology to encourage effective and productive discussions. The
plenary topics will be broad and address multiple challenges related to
ASR including: (1) Current ASR practices; (2) scientific and technical
considerations for ASR; and (3) policy considerations for ASR.
Interactive discussion sessions will follow the plenary presentation
and provide a forum for attendees to communicate and develop creative
ideas for protective ASR practices.
Space is limited and EPA expects to be able to accommodate 30
participants. EPA will attempt to accommodate additional registrants as
observers. To encourage productive and creative discussion, EPA seeks
individuals with significant ASR experience to register for the
meeting. Significant ASR experience includes: (1) Whether the
individuals have a demonstrated ability to advance ASR knowledge and
practices through their work, including, but not limited to, prior
presentations at professional conferences or publishing research in
peer-reviewed media; (2) whether the individuals have at least five
years of experience performing ASR-related work in operations, site
characterization, program implementation, research, or system design;
and (3) whether the individuals have significant professional
experience in managing, supervising, and leading ASR-related projects.
EPA's goal is to create discussion groups consisting of a diverse mix
of participants with regard to expertise in ASR-related policy,
science, and current practices, with the intention of stimulating ideas
for creative and novel approaches to ASR management and operations
while protecting underground sources of drinking water.
Interested individuals should register for the meeting using the
form available at http://www.horsleywitten.com/EPA-ASR.
Special Accomodations: Any person needing special accommodations at
this meeting, including wheelchair access, should contact Jyl Lapachin
at the phone 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 public meeting.
Dated: March 26, 2009.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. E9-7184 Filed 3-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P