[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 171 (Thursday, September 3, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47115-47116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22205]



  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 171 / Thursday, September 3, 1998 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 47115]]



ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 141 and 143

[WH-FRL-6132-1]
RIN 2040-AC77


National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Analytical Methods 
for Regulated Drinking Water Contaminants

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: Today, EPA is proposing to approve the use of updated versions 
of previously approved American Society for Testing and Materials 
(ASTM), Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater 
(Standard Methods or SM) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
analytical methods for compliance determinations of chemical and 
microbiological contaminants in drinking water. At the same time, the 
Agency is withdrawing approval of the previous versions of the 14 EPA 
methods. Previous versions of the SM and ASTM methods will continue to 
be approved. In addition the Agency is making minor technical 
corrections or amendments in the inorganic, organic and total 
trihalomethane sampling and analytical requirements section in the Code 
of Federal Regulation. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, 
the Agency is promulgating this rule as a direct final rule because the 
Agency does not expect adverse comments and wants to allow immediate 
use of the methods for compliance monitoring. The Agency believes that 
it is in the public interest to make these methods available quickly by 
approving them via direct final rulemaking since the revised versions 
contain noncontroversial changes or optional improvements. EPA invites 
comment on the substance of the direct final rule (addressing the 
updated versions of previously approved ASTM, SM, and EPA analytical 
methods) in the ``final rules'' section of today's Federal Register.
    When EPA issues a direct final rule making it also issues a 
companion proposed rule. The effective date on the final rule is set 
sufficiently in the future to allow for the receipt of and response to 
public comments before the direct final rule goes into effect. If EPA 
receives relevant adverse comments, then EPA will publish a timely 
withdrawal informing the public that the final rule will not take 
effect. EPA has chosen to use the direct final approach for these 
regulatory actions because the Agency does not expect to receive 
relevant adverse public comments. Additionally, the procedure allows 
for the most expeditious implementation possible consistent with the 
Administrative Procedure Act (APA). If EPA decides to withdraw any or 
all of the actions, EPA will proceed with a revised rule based on the 
companion proposed rule.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing by November 2, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted either by mail or 
electronically. Comments may be sent by mail to the W-97-04 Drinking 
Water Analytical Methods Final Comment Clerk, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Water Docket, MC 4101, 401 M Street, SW Washington, 
D.C. 20460. Please submit any references cited in your comments. EPA 
would appreciate an original and 3 copies of your comments and 
enclosures (including references).

    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 cite, where possible, the paragraph(s) in 
the proposed regulation (e.g., 141.23(k)) to which each comment refers. 
Commenters should use a separate paragraph for each method or issue 
discussed. Commenters who would like acknowledgment of receipt of their 
comments should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. For 
information on submitting comments electronically see Supplementary 
Information.
    The record for this rulemaking has been established under docket 
number W-97-04. Copies of the public comments received, references 
cited in this notice and other supporting documents are available for 
review at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Water Docket, East 
Tower Basement, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20460. For access to 
the docket materials, call 202-260-3027 on Monday through Friday, 
excluding Federal holidays, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Eastern 
Time for an appointment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jitendra Saxena, Ph.D., Office of 
Ground Water and Drinking Water (MC-4607), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20460, telephone 
(202) 260-9579; or one of the EPA Regional Office contacts listed 
below. General information may also be obtained from the EPA Drinking 
Water Hotline. Callers within the United States may reach the Safe 
Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791. The Safe Drinking Water Hotline 
is open Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays, from 9:00 
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
    For technical information regarding microbiology methods, contact 
Paul S. Berger, Ph.D., Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (MC-
4607), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. 20460, 
telephone, (202) 260-3039. For technical information regarding 
chemistry methods, contact Richard Reding, Ph.D., Office of Ground 
Water and Drinking Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268, telephone (513) 569-7961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: See the information provided in the direct 
final action which is located in the rules section of this Federal 
Register.

Electronic Comment Submission

    Electronic comments should be addressed to the Internet address: 
[email protected]. Electronic comments must be submitted as an 
ASCII file and avoid use of special characters and any form of 
encryption. Electronic comments must be identified by the docket number 
W-97-04. Comments and data will also be accepted on disks in 
WordPerfect in 5.1 format or ASCII file format. Electronic comments on 
this document may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries. 
Electronic comments will be transferred into a paper version for the 
official record. EPA will attempt to clarify electronic comments if 
there is an apparent error in transmission. Comments provided 
electronically will be considered timely if they are submitted 
electronically by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern time) on November 2, 1998.

Information on Internet Access

    This Federal Register document is available on the Internet for 
public review and downloading at the following location: http://
www.epa.gov/fedrgstr.

List of Subjects

40 CFR Part 141

    Environmental protection, Analytical methods, Chemicals, 
Incorporation by reference, Indians--lands, Intergovernmental 
relations, Radiation protection, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Water supply.

40 CFR Part 143

    Environmental protection, Analytical methods, Chemicals, 
Incorporation by

[[Page 47116]]

reference, Indians--lands, Water supply.

    Dated: July 23, 1998.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-22205 Filed 9-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U