[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 4, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 46251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-22115]
[[Page 46251]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 141
[FRL-7048-9]
Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation for Public Water
Systems; Amendment to the List 2 Rule and Partial Delay of Reporting of
Monitoring Results
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), as amended in 1996,
requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish criteria
for a program to monitor unregulated contaminants and to publish a list
of contaminants to be monitored. In fulfillment of this requirement,
EPA published Revisions to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring
Regulation (UCMR) for public water systems on September 17, 1999 (64 FR
50556), March 2, 2000 (65 FR 11372) and January 11, 2001 (66 FR 2273),
which included lists of contaminants for which monitoring was required
or would be required in the future. EPA is proposing to correct an
omission in the January 11, 2001, List 2 UCMR concerning laboratory
certification. This correction will automatically approve laboratories
of public water systems, that are certified to conduct compliance
monitoring using Method 515.3, to also use Method 515.4 for UCMR
analyses. Additionally, EPA is delaying requirements for the electronic
reporting of unregulated contaminant monitoring results until its
electronic reporting system is ready to accept data. The January 11,
2001, List 2 UCMR requires certain public water systems to start
reporting the results of their unregulated contaminant monitoring to
EPA electronically by July 1, 2001. This proposed rule notifies such
public water systems that the electronic reporting system that EPA is
developing to accept monitoring data is not ready, and that EPA is
removing the reporting requirement until it is available. This action
does not delay or suspend the implementation of any of the requirements
of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulations for sample
collection and analysis on the previously established schedule.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing by October 4, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments
and enclosures (including references) to docket number W-00-01-III,
Comment Clerk, Water Docket (MC4101), USEPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC 20460. Hand deliveries should be delivered to EPA's
Water Docket at 401 M. St., SW., Room EB57, Washington, DC. 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 a Word
Perfect (WP), WP5.1, WP6.1 or WP8 file or as an ASCII file avoiding the
use of special characters and forms of encryption. Electronic comments
must be identified by the docket number W-00-01-III. Comments and data
will also be accepted on disks in WP 5.1, 6.1, 8 or ASCII file format.
Electronic comments on this proposed rule may be filed online at many
Federal Depository Libraries.
The record for this proposed rulemaking has been established under
docket number W-00-01-III and includes supporting documentation as well
as printed, paper versions of electronic comments. The record is
available for inspection from 9 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays at the Water Docket, EB 57, USEPA
Headquarters, 401 M., Washington, DC. For access to docket materials,
please call 202/260-3027 to schedule an appointment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Job (202-260-7084) or Jeffrey
Bryan (202-260-4934), Drinking Water Protection Division, Office of
Ground Water and Drinking Water (MC-4607), U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460.
General information about UCMR may be obtained from the EPA Safe
Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. The Hotline operates Monday
through Friday, excluding Federal holidays, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
ET.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the
January 11, 2001, UCMR for Public Water Systems. In the ``Rules and
Regulations'' section of today's Federal Register, EPA is approving
revisions to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation for
Public Water Systems as a direct final rule without prior proposal
because EPA views these as noncontroversial revisions and anticipates
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. For further
information, please see the information provided in the direct final
rule titled ``Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation for Public
Water Systems; Amendment to the List 2 Rule and Partial Delay of
Reporting of Monitoring Results'' that is located in the ``Rules and
Regulations'' section of this Federal Register publication. For the
various statutes and executive orders that require findings for
rulemaking, EPA incorporates the findings from the direct final rule
into this companion proposal for the purpose of providing public notice
and opportunity for comment.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 141
Environmental protection, Chemicals, Indian lands,
Intergovernmental relations, Radiation protection, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Water supply.
Dated: August 28, 2001.
Christine Todd Whitman,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-22115 Filed 8-29-01; 2:33 pm]
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