[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 164 (Monday, August 25, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 51013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21661]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7548-9]


Public Water System Supervision Program Revision for the State of 
Oklahoma

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of tentative approval.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the State of Oklahoma is revising 
its approved Public Water System Supervision Program. Oklahoma has 
adopted an Arsenic Rule, Radionuclides Rule, Long Term 1 Enhanced 
Surface Water Treatment Rule, Filter Backwash Recycling Rule, Public 
Notification Rule, Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions, and a revised 
Public Water Supply Definition. The Arsenic Rule is adopted to improve 
public health by reducing the maximum contaminant level of Arsenic in 
drinking water from 50 micrograms/Liter to 10 micrograms/Liter. The 
Radionuclides Rule is adopted to improve public health protection and 
reduce the risk of cancer by reducing the exposure to radionuclides in 
drinking water. The Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule 
will improve control of microbial pathogens, specifically the protozoan 
Cryptosporidium, in drinking water and address risk trade-offs with 
disinfection byproducts. The Filter Backwash Recycling Rule is adopted 
to further protect public health by requiring public water systems, 
where needed, to institute changes to the return of recycle flows to a 
plant's treatment process that may otherwise compromise microbial 
control. The Public Notification Rule is adopted to notify the public 
anytime a water system violates national primary drinking water 
regulations or has other situations posing a risk to public health. The 
Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions will eliminate unnecessary 
requirements, streamline and reduce reporting burden, and promote 
consistent national implementation of the Lead and Copper Rule. 
Finally, the revised Public Water Supply Definition will now include 
other constructed conveyances. EPA has determined that these revisions 
are no less stringent than the corresponding federal regulations. 
Therefore, EPA intends to approve these program revisions.

DATES: All interested parties may request a public hearing. A request 
for a public hearing must be submitted by September 24, 2003, to the 
Regional Administrator at the EPA Region 6 address shown below. 
Frivolous or insubstantial requests for a hearing may be denied by the 
Regional Administrator. However, if a substantial request for a public 
hearing is made by September 24, 2003, a public hearing will be held. 
If no timely and appropriate request for a hearing is received and the 
Regional Administrator does not elect to hold a hearing on his own 
motion, this determination shall become final and effective on 
September 24, 2003. Any request for a public hearing shall include the 
following information: The name, address, and telephone number of the 
individual, organization, or other entity requesting a hearing; a brief 
statement of the requesting person's interest in the Regional 
Administrator's determination and a brief statement of the information 
that the requesting person intends to submit at such hearing; and the 
signature of the individual making the request, or, if the request is 
made on behalf of an organization or other entity, the signature of a 
responsible official of the organization or other entity.

ADDRESSES: All documents relating to this determination are available 
for inspection between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, at the following offices: Oklahoma Department of 
Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, Public Water Supply 
Section, 707 North Robinson, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73101 and United 
States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, Drinking Water 
Section (6WQ-SD), 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dawn D. Ison, EPA Region 6, Drinking 
Water Section at the Dallas address given above or at telephone (214) 
665-2162.

    Authority: Section 1413 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, as 
amended (1996), and 40 CFR part 142 of the National Primary Drinking 
Water Regulations.

    Dated: August 18, 2003.
Lawrence E. Starfield,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 03-21661 Filed 8-22-03; 8:45 am]
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