[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 5 (Friday, January 8, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 1499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-322]



  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 5 / Friday, January 8, 1999 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 1499]]



ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 141

[FRL-6217-3]


Suspension of Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Requirements for 
Small Public Water Systems

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is taking direct final action on the Unregulated 
Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR) for public water systems. The 
UCMR requires all public water systems to monitor for unregulated 
contaminants during one year every five years. The direct final rule 
concerns the suspension of monitoring by small and medium systems for 
monitoring scheduled to begin after December 31, 1998. EPA is issuing 
these revisions since the revised UCMR program, required by the 1996 
Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments, is projected to begin during this 
third round of monitoring. This will allow systems serving 10,000 or 
fewer persons to save the cost of monitoring under the existing 
regulation, which if performed as scheduled would overlap with 
monitoring under the revised UCMR program.
    In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of the Federal Register, 
EPA is approving the modification to the Unregulated Contaminant 
Monitoring Regulation suspending monitoring by systems serving 10,000 
or fewer persons as a direct final rule without prior proposal because 
EPA views this as a noncontroversial revision and anticipate no adverse 
comment. EPA has explained our reasons for this approval in the 
preamble to the direct final rule. If EPA receives no adverse comment, 
it will not take further action on this proposed rule. If EPA receives 
adverse comment, the Agency will withdraw the direct final rule and it 
will not take effect. EPA would then address all public comments in a 
subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not 
institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties 
interested in commenting must do so at this time.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing by February 8, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the Comment Clerk, docket number W-
98-29, Water Docket (MC 4101), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. Please submit an original and 
three copies of your comments and enclosures (including references).
    The full record for this rulemaking has been established under 
docket number W-98-29 and includes supporting documentation as well as 
printed, paper versions of electronic comments. The full record is 
available for inspection from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 
excluding legal holidays at the Water Docket, East Tower Basement, 
USEPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington DC. For access to docket materials, 
please call 202-260-3027 to schedule an appointment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Job, Standards and Risk 
Management Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (MC-
4607), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-7084 or Rachel Sakata, Standards and 
Risk Management Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water 
(MC-4607), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-2527. Information may also be obtained 
from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline. Callers within the United 
States may reach the Hotline at (800) 426-4791. The Hotline is open 
Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays, from 9:00 a.m. to 
5:30 p.m. EST.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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) or sections in the 
notice or supporting documents to which each comment refers. Commenters 
should use a separate paragraph for each issue discussed.
    Commenters who want EPA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
should enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. No facsimiles 
(faxes) will be accepted. Comments may also be submitted electronically 
to [email protected]. Electronic comments must be submitted as 
an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of 
encryption. Electronic comments must be identified by the docket number 
W-98-29. 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.
    This document concerns the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring 
Regulation. For further information, please see the information 
provided in the direct final action that is located in the ``Rules and 
Regulations'' section of this Federal Register publication.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 141

    Environmental protection, Indians--lands, Intergovernmental 
relations, Radiation protection, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Water supply.

    Dated: December 31, 1998.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-322 Filed 1-7-99; 8:45 am]
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