[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 77 (Thursday, April 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19779-19780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10097]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[WH-FRL-6330-1]


Peer Review Workshop and Public Stakeholder Meetings on the Draft 
Water Quality Criteria Methodology Revisions: Human Health

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of peer review workshop and public stakeholder meetings 
on revisions to the methodology for deriving ambient water quality 
criteria for the protection of human health.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a peer 
review workshop and subsequent public stakeholder meeting between May 
17 and May 20, 1999 for the purpose of conducting an external expert 
peer review of the Draft Methodology Revisions and a subsequent 
information exchange with stakeholders on issues related to the changes 
or additions in the Revisions.

DATES: The peer review workshop will start at 9:00 AM on May 17 and 
will adjourn on May 19 at 12:00 PM. The public stakeholder meeting will 
start at 9:00 AM and adjourn at 5:30 PM on May 20, the day following 
the conclusion of the peer review workshop.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denis Borum (4304), U.S. EPA, 401 M 
St. S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460 (Telephone: (202) 260-8996).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Both the peer review workshop and subsequent 
public stakeholder meeting will be held at the Hilton Springfield, 6550 
Loisdale Road, Springfield, VA for the purpose of conducting an 
external expert peer review of the Draft Methodology Revisions and a 
subsequent information exchange with stakeholders on issues related to 
the changes or additions that, when finalized, will supersede the 
existing Guidelines and Methodology Used in the Preparation of Health 
Effect Assessment Chapters of the Consent Decree Water Criteria 
Documents (``1980 AWQC National Guidelines''), published by EPA in 
November 1980. The purpose of the peer review workshop is to have the 
methodology reviewed in its entirety, even though many components of it 
have been peer reviewed in separate efforts. This is intentionally 
being conducted in a public forum, so that interested persons will be 
able to watch and listen while the peer reviewers discuss the 
recommended methodology revisions and draft their peer review report. 
Observers at the workshop will have an opportunity during a 30-minute 
period set aside at the end of the first and second day to make brief 
statements of opinion. Observers will not be allowed to ask questions 
of the reviewers or engage in the discussion. Observers who wish to 
make any statements should provide an advance written request to Pat 
Wood, Versar, Inc. at (703) 750-3000. There will also be an opportunity 
to sign up at the Workshop (on the first day) to make comments at the 
end of the second day, as time allows.
    The public stakeholder meeting is to provide an opportunity for 
interested persons to discuss the issues and process for developing 
criteria and implementing the methodology. The stakeholder meeting will 
be the opportunity for substantive input and dialogue with the primary 
authors of the Draft Methodology Revisions. As with the peer review 
workshop, participants for the stakeholders meeting who wish to make 
comments or ask questions are strongly encouraged to provide an advance 
written request due to potential time limitations. Requests to speak at 
the stakeholder meeting should be made to Robert Noecker, ICF, Inc. at 
(703)

[[Page 19780]]

218-2700 or by e-mail at: [email protected].
    EPA is inviting all interested members of the public to observe the 
workshop and participate in the stakeholder meeting. To the extent that 
is available, EPA is instituting an open door policy to allow any 
member of the public to attend either event for any length of time. 
Approximately 150 seats will be available for the public. Seats will be 
available on a first-come, first served basis. On-site registration for 
both will begin at 8:00 AM.
    For additional information about the meeting, please contact Denis 
Borum of EPA's Office of Science and Technology at (202) 260-8996 or by 
e-mail at [email protected].

    Dated: April 14, 1999.
Tudor T. Davies,
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 99-10097 Filed 4-21-99; 8:45 am]
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