[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 128 (Monday, July 3, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41031-41032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16754]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 141 and 142

[FRL-6728-2]


Announcement of Stakeholders Meeting on Arsenic in Drinking Water 
Proposed Rule

AGENCY: . Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of stakeholders meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be holding a 
one-day Stakeholders meeting on August 9, 2000 in Reno, Nevada. The 
purpose of this meeting is to present information and to answer 
questions on the proposed rule. EPA is encouraging people to attend 
from State and Tribal drinking water programs, the regulated community 
(water systems), public health organizations, academia, environmental 
and public interest groups, engineering firms, and other interested 
stakeholders.

DATES: The stakeholder meeting on arsenic in drinking water will be 
held on Wednesday, August 9, 2000 from 8 a.m. to 12 pm and 1 p.m. to 5 
p.m. PDT.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Reno Hilton [(800) 648-
5080], which is located at 2500 E. Second Street, Reno, NV 89595.
    To register for the meeting, please contact the Safe Drinking Water 
Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 between 9 am and 5:30 p.m. EST. Those 
registered for the meeting by Friday, July 28, 2000 will receive an 
agenda, logistics sheet, and a copy of the Federal Register notice 
prior to the meeting. There will be a limited number of conference 
lines available. These lines will be allocated on a first-reserved, 
first served basis. Members of the public who cannot attend the meeting 
in person should register with the Safe Drinking Water Hotline by July 
28 to receive copies of the overheads in advance. Please provide your 
name, organization, title, mailing address, telephone number, facsimile 
number, e-mail address and telephone number for EPA to connect the 
caller via conference call [if applicable] for the ``Arsenic Meeting.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on meeting 
logistics, please contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-
4791. For information on the activities related to the proposed arsenic 
rule, contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791, or 
visit the EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water arsenic webpage 
at http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW/ars/arsenic.html, which contains electronic 
copies of two fact sheets, the proposed rule, and the discussion papers 
and executive meeting summaries from previous stakeholders meetings. 
Registrants must make their own room reservations for the Reno Hilton 
by July 7, 2000 by calling (800) 648-5080 and mention ``EPA Arsenic in 
Drinking Water Meeting'' to guarantee the room rate of $55 plus tax.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    Arsenic (As) is a naturally occurring element found in the human 
body and is present in food, water, and air. Arsenic in drinking water 
occurs in ground water and surface water and is associated with certain 
natural geologic conditions, as well as with contamination from human 
activities. Arsenic ingestion is linked to skin cancer and arsenic 
inhalation to lung cancer. In addition, arsenic ingestion seems to be 
associated with vascular effects, gastrointestinal irritation, and 
cancers of the kidney, bladder, liver, lung, and other organs. Water 
primarily contains inorganic arsenic species 
(As\V+\ and As\III+\).
    On August 6, 1996, Congress amended the SDWA, adding section 
1412(b)(12)(A) which requires, in part, that EPA propose a NPDWR for 
arsenic by January 1, 2000 and issue a final regulation by January 1, 
2001. The current maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 50 g/L 
remains in effect until the effective date of the revised rule.
    The National Primary Drinking Water regulation for arsenic proposes 
a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) of zero, an MCL of 5 
g/L, and lists best available technologies and small system 
compliance technologies. In addition, the proposed rule,

[[Page 41032]]

published June 22, 2000 (65 FR 38888) requests comments on MCLs of 3 
g/L, 10 g/L, and 20 g/L. EPA is proposing to 
withdraw two analytical methods, keeping the rest of the approved test 
methods for arsenic intact. The regulation will be effective for 
community water systems (CWSs) serving over 10,000 people three years 
after the final rule is issued, and effective five years after 
promulgation for CWSs serving under 10,000 people. In addition, EPA is 
proposing that non-transient, non-community water systems (NTNCWS) 
monitor and report arsenic that exceeds the new MCL, but not requiring 
compliance for NTNCWS with the MCL.
    Furthermore, the proposal clarifies compliance for State-determined 
monitoring after exceedances for inorganic, volatile organic, and 
synthetic organic contaminants. Finally, EPA is proposing that States 
will specify the time period and sampling frequency for new public 
water systems and systems using a new source of water to demonstrate 
compliance for inorganic, volatile organic, and synthetic organic MCLs.
    In conducting research and developing the proposed rule for arsenic 
in drinking water, EPA has consulted with the National Academy of 
Sciences, other Federal agencies, and other interested public and 
private parties.
    The stakeholders meeting will cover a broad range of issues 
including: (1) Regulatory process, including risk management decisions; 
(2) arsenic risk assessment (exposure, health assessment, national 
occurrence); (3) key technical assessments (treatment technologies, 
treatment residuals, cost, analytical methods); (4) small system 
concerns; and (5) future stakeholder involvement.
    EPA has announced this public meeting to discuss the proposed rule 
prior to the close of the public comment period. The meeting is not the 
forum for giving the Agency public comment on the rule. The public 
comment period ends on September 20, 2000, and you may send written 
comments to the W-99-16 Arsenic Comments Clerk, Water Docket (MC-4101), 
U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460. Comments may 
be hand delivered to the Water Docket, located at U.S. EPA EB-57, 401 M 
St. SW, Washington, DC between 9 am. and 3:30 pm., Monday through 
Friday. Comments may be submitted electronically to [email protected]. Please submit an original and three copies of 
your comments and enclosures (including references) to the Water Docket 
at the address given above. For further information about submitting 
comments, please contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-
4791.

    Dated: June 26, 2000.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Environmental 
Protection Agency.
[FR Doc. 00-16754 Filed 6-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U