[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51429-51430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25257]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7076-7]


Public Listening Sessions on the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) 
Program and Related Areas of the National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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

SUMMARY: EPA is inviting all interested members of the public to 
participate in one or all of a series of five public listening sessions 
on the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program (section 303(d) of the 
Clean Water Act) and related issues in the National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) program (section 402 of the Clean Water 
Act).

DATES: See Supplementary Information section for meeting dates.

ADDRESSES: See Supplementary Information section for meeting locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on the 
meetings and to register to attend one or more meetings, visit EPA's 
TMDL web site at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/meetings/. When 
registering online, include your name, affiliation, address, phone 
number, fax number, email, and which TMDL listening session you will 
attend. If you are unable to register online, please fax registration 
information to (703) 934-1057. If you have questions about these 
meetings or if you want to mail in a written statement in advance of a 
public meeting or after a meeting, contact: Anne C. Weinberg, U.S. EPA 
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (4503F), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, 
phone (202) 401-078 or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of these listening sessions is 
to: Improve understanding of the TMDL program; provide information 
about the status of the current program; get stakeholder perspectives 
on key issues associated with the TMDL program and related issues in 
the NPDES program; and identify/discuss ideas about how to address 
issues in the TMDL and NPDES programs. EPA will use the information 
received at these public listening sessions as it considers changes to 
the regulations which govern the TMDL program (40 CFR part 130) and 
related areas of the NPDES program (40 CFR parts 122, 123, and 124), 
with a view toward proposing modifications in mid-2002.
    Four of the public TMDL listening sessions will focus on specific 
themes/issues including: Implementation of TMDLs Addressing Nonpoint 
Sources; Scope and Content of TMDLs; EPA's Role, the Pace/Schedule for 
Development of TMDLs, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
System (NPDES) Permitting Pre and Post TMDLs; and Listing Impaired 
Waters. At each of these meetings, the public will have an opportunity 
to discuss TMDL interests or concerns both related and unrelated to the 
specific theme/issue of the meeting. At the fifth meeting in 
Washington, DC, EPA will summarize the input received at the first four 
public meetings and will provide an opportunity for additional input.
    We are using a non-traditional format for these listening sessions. 
These listening sessions will include: A background presentation by 
EPA, small group sessions during which participants can choose to 
discuss issues associated with the theme or other topics of concern to 
them, and general discussions in plenary session to report the 
highlights and/or raise questions from the small group sessions. In 
addition, any person who wishes to file a written statement may do so 
before or after the public listening session.
    Members of the public who would like to attend one or more meetings 
or submit a written statement, should see the information on 
registering for meetings and submitting written statements in the For 
Further Information Contact section of this notice.

Public Meeting Information

    The public TMDL listening sessions will be held on the following 
dates,

[[Page 51430]]

times and locations, and will focus on the themes/issues indicated 
below:

1. Public TMDL Listening Session, Chicago, IL

    Meeting Theme: Implementation of TMDLs Addressing Nonpoint Sources.
    Topics to be discussed include: How can we ensure TMDLs are 
implemented? What existing technical tools, authorities/programs, and 
funding sources are available to foster implementation?
    Date: Oct. 22-23, 2001.
    Time: 1 pm-6 pm on Oct. 22, 2001, and 8 am-noon on Oct. 23, 2001.
    Location: The Congress Plaza Hotel, 520 South Michigan Avenue, 
Chicago, IL 60605, phone: (312) 427-3800 or (800) 635-1666, web site: 
http://www.congressplazahotel.com.

2. Public TMDL Listening Session, Sacramento, CA

    Meeting Theme: Scope and Content of TMDLs.
    Topics to be discussed include: Are TMDLs appropriate for all 
impaired waters and pollutants? How can TMDLs be defined to facilitate 
the use of adaptive management? How can we develop TMDLs to encourage 
stakeholder involvement in the allocation process? How can TMDLs be 
defined to promote a watershed approach?
    Date: Nov. 1-2, 2001.
    Time: 1 pm--6 pm on Nov. 1, 2001 and 8 am--noon on Nov. 2, 2001.
    Location: Doubletree Hotel Sacramento, 2001 Point West Way, 
Sacramento, CA 95815, phone (916) 929-8855, web site: http://www.doubletreehotels.com.

3. Public TMDL Listening Session, Atlanta, GA

    Meeting Theme: EPA's Role, the Pace/Schedule for Development of 
TMDLs, and NPDES Permitting Pre and Post TMDL.
    Topics to be discussed include: How can EPA most effectively 
support and ensure State TMDL development?; requirements for EPA action 
in response to States' action or inaction; schedules for development 
and implementation of TMDLs; NPDES permitting in impaired waters prior 
to the establishment of a TMDL; and implementing TMDLs in NPDES 
permits, including the schedule and role of States and EPA in issuing 
these permits.
    Date: Nov. 7-8, 2001.
    Time: 1 pm-6 pm on Nov. 7, 2001 and 8 am-noon on Nov. 8, 2001.
    Location: Atlanta Capitol Plaza Hotel (formerly Ramada Capitol 
Plaza Hotel), 450 Capitol Avenue, SW., Atlanta, GA 30312, phone: (404) 
591-2000 or (800) 589-7952, web site: http://www.atlantacapitolplaza.com.

4. Public TMDL Listening Session, Oklahoma City, OK

    Meeting Theme: Listing Impaired Waters.
    Topics to be discussed include: Timing: How often should the 
section 303(d) list be submitted to EPA (every 2, 4, or 5 years)? 
Scope: Should the reporting requirements for section 305(b) and section 
303(d) be integrated into a single report? List Credibility: What steps 
should be taken to ensure credible lists of impaired waters? Data and 
information: What can be done to improve data and information available 
to support listing decisions? Public review: How can we improve public 
understanding of listing decisions?
    Date: Nov. 15-16, 2001.
    Time: 1 pm-6 pm on Nov. 15, 2001 and 8 am-noon on Nov. 16, 2001.
    Location: Hilton Oklahoma City Northwest, 2945 Northwest 
Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73112, phone: (405) 848-4811 or (800) 
HILTONS, web site: http://www.hilton.com.

5. Public TMDL Listening Session, Washington, DC

    Meeting Theme: All Issues.
    Date: Dec. 11, 2001.
    Time: 8:30 am to 5 pm on Dec. 11, 2001.
    Location: Wyndham Washington, DC, 1400 M St., NW., Washington, DC 
20005, phone: (202) 429-1700 or (800) WYNDHAM, web site: http://www.wyndham.com.
    Members of the public who plan to attend any of these meetings 
should see information on registering for the public meetings in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above.
    For background information on the TMDL program visit EPA's TMDL web 
site at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/ and for background information 
on the NPDES program visit EPA's NPDES web site at: http://cfpub1.epa.gov/npdes/).

    Dated: October 2, 2001.
Robert H. Wayland III,
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds.
[FR Doc. 01-25257 Filed 10-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P