[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 251 (Thursday, December 31, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 72200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34421]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 141 and 143

[WH-FRL-6212-4]
RIN 2040-AC77


Withdrawal of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: 
Analytical Methods for Regulated Drinking Water Contaminants; Direct 
Final Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Withdrawal of direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: Because EPA received adverse comments, we are withdrawing the 
direct final rule entitled ``National Primary Drinking Water 
Regulations: Analytical Methods for Regulated Drinking Water 
Contaminants''. We published the direct final rule on September 3, 1998 
(63 FR 47097-47114). We stated in the direct final rule that if we 
received adverse comment by November 2, 1998, we would publish a timely 
notice of withdrawal in the Federal Register. We subsequently received 
adverse comments on the direct final rule. We will address those 
comments in a subsequent final action based on the parallel proposal 
also published on September 3, 1998 (63 FR 47115). We will not 
institute a second comment period on this action.

DATES: As of December 31, 1998, EPA withdraws the direct final rule 
published at 63 FR 47097-47114 on September 3, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jitendra Saxena, Ph.D., Standards and 
Risk Management Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water 
(MC-4607), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW, 
Washington, D.C. 20460, (202) 260-9579.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA published the analytical methods direct 
final and companion proposed rule on September 3, 1998. The rule 
proposed the use of 93 analytical methods for measurement of chemical 
and microbiological contaminants in drinking water; of these 43 are 
updated versions of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), 
Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater (Standard 
Methods or SM) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methods, and 
50 are ASTM and SM methods with minor editorial or nomenclature 
changes. EPA proposed to withdraw earlier versions of the EPA methods 
but earlier versions of ASTM and SM would continue to be approved. The 
rule also provided for corrections of method citations and minor 
correction or clarification changes to current regulations. Additional 
methods for monitoring secondary drinking water contaminants were 
recommended.
    The companion proposed rule (63 FR 47115) section of the September 
3, 1998, package invited comment on the substance of the direct final 
rule and stated that if adverse comments were received by November 2, 
1998, the rule would not become effective and a notice would be 
published in the Federal Register to withdraw the direct final rule 
before the January 4, 1999, effective date. The EPA subsequently 
received adverse comments on the final rule.

List of Subjects

40 CFR Part 141

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

40 CFR Part 143

    Environmental protection, Analytical methods, Chemicals, 
Incorporation by reference, Indians--lands, Water supply.

    Dated: December 22, 1998.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-34421 Filed 12-30-98; 8:45 am]
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