[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 135 (Friday, July 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 36279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17319]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-S257-7]


Peer Review Meeting on Eastern Columbia Plateau Sole Source 
Aquifer Determination

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces a peer review meeting sponsored by the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Science Policy Council 
(SPC). This meeting is a peer review of scientific information 
underlying the sole source aquifer determination for the Eastern 
Columbia Plateau that will be made by the Regional Administrator of 
EPA's Region 10.

DATES: The meeting will held on July 26-27, 1995. Members of the public 
may attend as observers.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Tacoma Hotel in 
Tacoma, Washington. Eastern Research Group, Inc., an EPA contractor, is 
providing logistical support for the meeting. To attend the meeting as 
an observer, contact Laurie Nutter, Eastern Research Group, Inc., 110 
Hartwell Avenue, Lexington, Massachusetts, 02173-3198, Tel: 617/674-
7320, Fax: 617/674-2906 by July 17, 1995. Space is limited.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical inquiries, contact 
Martha Sabol, U.S. EPA, Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 
98101, Telephone (206) 553-1593. For other information about the peer 
review, contact Pam Pentz, U.S. EPA (8501), 401 M Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: (202) 260-6600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 26, 1994, EPA proposed that the 
Eastern Columbia Plateau Aquifer System be designated as a sole source 
aquifer. EPA proposed the action in response to a January 1993 petition 
from the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute of Moscow, Idaho. 
The petition requests EPA to make a determination under Section 1424(e) 
of the Safe Drinking Water Act that the aquifer system is the sole or 
principal source of drinking water for the area and which, if 
contaminated, would create a significant hazard to public health.
    The original comment period was to close on October 14, 1994, but 
in response to public requests EPA extended the comment period twice: 
first until January 17, 1995, and then until February 17, 1995. Four 
public hearings were held throughout the proposed area (September 18, 
September 19, November 15, and November 16).
    EPA received extensive comments, including many that cited 
technical grounds for taking issue with the vertical and lateral 
boundaries of the proposed area. On April 13, 1995, the Regional 
Administrator for Region 10, announced that EPA would undertake a peer 
review of technical information underlying the sole source aquifer 
designation in the Eastern Columbia Plateau aquifer system. EPA is 
asking the peer reviewers, who are experts in hydrogeology to evaluate 
EPA's technical analysis of certain issues relating to the Eastern 
Columbia Plateau aquifer system. Specifically, EPA is asking the peer 
reviewers to provide expert comment on the boundaries of the aquifer 
system, the vertical flow between the basalt units, and the 
applicability of the documents that EPA used in the development of its 
technical analysis. Following this meeting, EPA will use information 
and analyses developed by the peer reviewers, along with other 
considerations, to make a determination as to the sole source aquifer 
designation for the Eastern Columbia Plateau.

    Dated: June 30, 1995.
Joseph K. Alexander,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 95-17319 Filed 7-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P