[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 11, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 29560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14633]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5516-9]


Notice of Public Meetings on Drinking Water Issues

    Notice is hereby given that the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) is holding a series of public meetings for purposes of informal 
information exchange on various issues related to the development of 
rules that address microbial contaminants and disinfectants/
disinfection by-products in drinking water. Microbial contaminants and 
disinfectants/disinfection by-products were the subject of a negotiated 
rulemaking process which resulted in agreement to develop three rules--
an Information Collection Rule (ICR), a Disinfectants and Disinfection 
By-Products (D/DBP) Rule, and an Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule 
(ESWTR). The negotiated rulemaking committee met from September 1992 
through June 1993, with signature documents in the first half of 1994. 
Since then, EPA and drinking water utilities have worked principally on 
technical issues concerning the ICR, which was published in the Federal 
Register on May 14, 1996. At a one-day stakeholder meeting held by EPA 
on May 10, 1996, to review the status of the three rules generated by 
the negotiated rulemaking process attendees voiced interest in having a 
series of future information exchange meetings.
    EPA currently has scheduled a two-day information exchange meeting 
on June 13 and 14, 1996, with discussions focusing on linkages between 
the ICR, health effects research, the ESWTR and the D/DBP Rule. The 
meeting agenda also includes updates on developmental and reproductive 
health effects research related to disinfection by-products and 
discussion of ICR data objectives and issues. The meeting will be 
preceded by a one-day technical meeting held on June 12 to discuss ICR 
protozoa monitoring issues in preparation for a summary discussion on 
June 13th.
    EPA is inviting all interested members of the public to participate 
in these and subsequent information exchange meetings. Another two-day 
meeting is currently being planned for later in the year. Additional 
meetings are also planned.
    The June meetings will be held in Washington, D.C., at the office 
of the Center for Environmental Dispute Resolution (RESOLVE). A limited 
number of phone lines will also be available to enable attendance by 
teleconference. Because there are limitations on conference room 
seating and the number of phone lines, members of the public who are 
interested in attending on any of the three days are requested to 
contact Elizabeth Corr of EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking 
Water at (202) 260-8907 prior to the day of the meeting. Members of the 
public who wish to be notified of future meetings should also contact 
Elizabeth Corr.

    Dated: June 5, 1996.

Cynthia C. Dougherty,

Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.

[FR Doc. 96-14633 Filed 6-10-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P