[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 29, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26857-26858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13435]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 141 and 142

[WH-FRL-5511-6]


Drinking Water; National Primary Drinking Water Regulations; 
Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Requirements

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Announcement of extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: In this notice, EPA is announcing an extension of the public 
comment period for the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations 
(NPDWR) for the Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Regulations (ESWTR) 
(59 FR 38832, July 29, 1994). The NPDWR consists of a set of regulatory 
options related to treatment techniques for microbiological pathogens. 
The NPDWR also includes proposed monitoring, reporting, and public 
notification requirements for these compounds. The comment period is 
being extended from May 30, 1996 until August 30, 1996.

DATES: Comments should be postmarked or delivered by hand on or before 
August 30, 1996. Comments received after this date may not be 
considered.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the ESWTR Docket Clerk, Water 
Docket (MC-4101); U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; 401 M Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20460, or hand deliver to the Water Docket, Room 
2616, Waterside Mall, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC.
    The proposed rule with supporting documents and all comments 
received are available for review at the Water Docket at the address 
above. For access to Docket materials, call (202) 260-3027 between 9 am 
and 3:30 pm for an appointment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
General information may be obtained from the Safe Drinking Water 
Hotline, telephone (800) 426-4791; Stig Regli, Office of Ground Water 
and Drinking Water (4603), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460, telephone (202) 260-7379; or Paul 
Berger, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (4603), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20460, telephone (202) 260-3039.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 29, 1994 EPA proposed two drinking 
water regulations: the Disinfectant/Disinfection Byproducts (D/DBP) and

[[Page 26858]]

Enhanced Surface Water Treatment (ESWTR) rules. These proposals were 
the product of a negotiated rulemaking. The negotiators included State 
and local health and regulatory agency staff and elected officials, 
consumer groups, environmental groups, and representatives of public 
water systems.
    The group agreed to propose a disinfectant/disinfection byproduct 
rule to extend coverage to all community and non-transient, non-
community water systems that use disinfectants, reduce the current 
total trihalomethane (TTHM) maximum contaminant level (MCL), regulate 
additional disinfection byproducts, set limits for the use of 
disinfectants, and reduce the level of compounds that may react with 
disinfectants to form byproducts. The group further agreed that 
revisions to the current Surface Water Treatment Rule might be required 
at the same time to ensure that microbial risk is not increased as 
byproduct rules go into effect, and to provide explicit control of 
Cryptosporidium. As a result, the Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule 
was proposed with a number of options for microbial control, including 
the option to simply retain the requirements of the current Surface 
Water Treatment Rule. Data being collected through a separate 
Information Collection Rule (May 14, 1996, 61 FR 24354) and a research 
program will be used to identify the appropriate option.
    The comment period for submission of formal written comments in 
response to the D/DBPR rule closed on December 29, 1994. The comment 
period for formal written comments in response to the ESWTR rule was 
listed in the proposed rule as closing on May 30, 1996. The reason a 
longer time was allowed for comments on the ESWTR was to allow time for 
the public to consider data being collected under the Information 
Collection Rule and the research program prior to that date. Due to 
delays in the initiation of data collection, the May 30, 1996 date no 
longer allows commenters time to consider the results of any of those 
data.
    The Agency believes it would be useful to allow the public 
additional time in which to review the final Information Collection 
Rule and provide comments on its implications for the ESWTR. The Agency 
would also like to obtain comments on the ESWTR which are independent 
of the collection of subsequent data so that analysis of those comments 
may begin on a timely basis. An extension until August 30, 1996 in 
essence gives commenters 90 days to file those comments. Once at least 
eight months of data collected under the Information Collection Rule 
have been collected and analyzed, the Agency will issue a Notice of 
Availability providing its analysis of the data and its recommendation 
for the appropriate regulatory option for the ESWTR. At that time, the 
Agency will reopen the public comment period for the ESWTR so that 
commenters can consider the data and EPA's analysis.
    Please submit any references cited in your comments. EPA would 
appreciate an original and three copies of your comments and enclosures 
(including references). Commenters who want EPA to acknowledge receipt 
of their comments should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. No 
facsimiles (faxes) will be accepted because EPA cannot ensure that they 
will be submitted to the Water Docket. To ensure that EPA can read, 
understand and therefore properly respond to comments, the Agency would 
prefer that commenters type or print comments in ink, and cite, where 
possible, the paragraph(s) in the proposed regulation (eg., 141.76(b)) 
to which each comment refers. Commenters should use a separate 
paragraph for each method or issue discussed.

    Dated: May 21, 1996.
Robert Perciasepe,
Assistant Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-13435 Filed 5-28-96; 8:45 am]
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