[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 22551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-11423]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6975-7]


National Drinking Water Advisory Council, Arsenic Cost Working 
Group, Request for Nominations

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; request for nominations to the Arsenic Cost Working 
Group of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing 
the formation of an Arsenic Cost Working Group of the National Drinking 
Water Advisory Council and soliciting nominations to this working 
group. The Advisory Council was established to provide practical and 
independent advice, consultation, and recommendations to the Agency on 
the activities, functions, and policies related to the implementation 
of the Safe Drinking Water Act as amended.
    Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified 
individuals for membership on the working group. Nominees should be 
identified by name, occupation, position, address and telephone number. 
To be considered, all nominations must include a current resume 
providing the nominee's background, experience and qualifications.
    Following the January 22, 2001 Federal Register promulgation of the 
arsenic rule, a number of concerns were raised to EPA by States, public 
water systems, and other stakeholders regarding the adequacy of science 
and the basis for national cost estimates underlying the rule. Because 
of the importance of the arsenic rule and the national debate 
surrounding it related to science and costs, EPA's Administrator 
publicly announced on March 20, 2001, that the Agency would take 
additional steps to reassess the scientific and cost issues associated 
with this rule and seek further public input on each of these important 
issues.
    Consistent with that commitment, EPA will work with the National 
Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) to convene a panel of 
nationally recognized technical experts to review the cost of 
compliance estimates associated with the final arsenic in drinking 
water rule.
    The criteria for selecting working group members and for conducting 
the review are that working group members are recognized experts in 
their fields; that working group members are as impartial and objective 
as possible; that working group members represent an array of 
backgrounds and perspectives (within their disciplines); that the 
working group members are available to participate fully in the review, 
which will be conducted over a relatively short time frame (i.e., 
within approximately 3-4 months); and that the results of the review be 
made publicly available for comment. Working group members will be 
asked to attend a series of meetings (approximately three) over the 
course of 3-4 months, participate in the discussion of key issues and 
assumptions at these meetings, and review and finalize the products and 
outputs of the working group. The working group will make a 
recommendation to the full NDWAC. The NDWAC will, in turn, make a 
recommendation to EPA.
    Nominations should be submitted to Janet Pawlukiewicz, Designated 
Federal Officer, National Drinking Water Advisory Council, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Ground Water and Drinking 
Water (4601), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20460, no 
later than May 14, 2001. The Agency will not formally acknowledge or 
respond to nominations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Pawlukiewicz at 
[email protected] or call (202) 260-9194.

    Dated: May 2, 2001.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 01-11423 Filed 5-3-01; 8:45 am]
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