[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 12 (Thursday, January 18, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 4826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1521]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6933-9]


Implementation Guidance for Radionuclides

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice, request for comments on the draft radionuclides 
implementation guidance.

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SUMMARY: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
published the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for 
Radionuclides on December 7, 2000, in the Federal Register (65 FR 
76708). The EPA has also prepared the Draft Implementation Guidance for 
the Radionuclides Rule. This Notice is announcing the availability of 
this draft document and asking for comments from stakeholders and the 
public. These comments will be considered in developing the Final 
Implementation Guidance document. The EPA encourages the full 
participation of all stakeholders and the public throughout this 
process.
    The Draft Implementation Guidance for the Radionuclides Rule is a 
comprehensive reference to assist States in implementing the Rule. The 
draft guidance was developed based on the Final Rule, with input and 
review from EPA Headquarters and Regional staff, and comments from 
States and the public on a previous version of the document. Along with 
summaries of the Rule and implementation timelines, the document 
contains: A detailed explanation of the rule requirements; guidance for 
violation determinations, and significant non-compliance definitions; 
Safe Drinking Water Information (SDWIS) reporting requirements; 
guidance for State primacy revision applications, and special primacy 
requirements; and a series of ``stand-alone'' fact sheet guidance 
materials for States and Public Water Systems. The guidance document 
describes the new standards for uranium, as well as the revisions to 
the radionuclides monitoring framework.
    The Appendices to the document provide further information and 
tools to assist States and EPA Regional Offices with primacy revisions 
and Rule implementation, including: Violation tables to assist with 
compliance determination; a sample Extension Agreement between EPA and 
the States to document how implementation responsibilities will be 
shared if States do not submit a primacy applications by the deadline; 
a primacy revision crosswalk; a ``stand-alone'' State reporting 
guidance; rule training materials; and beta and photon emitter 
conversion tables.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 30, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this Notice to Ed Thomas, 
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (MC-4606), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. 
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for information to request a copy 
of the draft guidance and electronic addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information related to the 
Radionuclides Rule, contact: Ed Thomas, at (202) 260-0910 or e-mail to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the draft guidance may be obtained 
by contacting the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791, or at 
EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water's (OGWDW) Web Site: 
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/rads/implement.html, or by contacting Ed 
Thomas of OGWDW at (202) 260-0910 or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Environmental 
Protection Agency.
[FR Doc. 01-1521 Filed 1-17-01; 8:45 am]
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