[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 118 (Monday, June 21, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 34351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13931]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7775-9]


National Drinking Water Advisory Council's Water Security Working 
Group Meeting Announcement

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is 
announcing the first teleconference meeting of the Water Security 
Working Group (WSWG) of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council 
(NDWAC). The purpose of this conference call is to provide a forum for 
the WSWG members to introduce themselves, to discuss the ground rules 
and standard operating procedures, and to develop an estimated time 
frame and approach to complete the WSWG charge. Any interested person 
or organization may attend or dial into the conference call (see the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section and the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this notice for more information).

DATES: The first WSWG conference call will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 
5:30 p.m., Eastern standard time, on July 6, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested participants from the 
public should contact Marc Santora, Designated Federal Officer, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Ground Water and Drinking 
Water, Water Security Division (Mail Code 4601-M), 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, 20460. Please contact Marc Santora at 
[email protected] or call 202-564-1597 to register and receive 
pertinent details such as the telephone number and extension to 
participate in the conference call.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The WSWG encourages public participation. A 
limited number of additional phone lines may be available for members 
of the public that are outside of the Washington, DC metropolitan 
commuting area and are unable to attend in person. The Designated 
Federal Officer will reserve any additional teleconferencing lines that 
are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To ensure adequate 
time for public involvement, oral statements will be limited to five 
minutes, and it is preferred that only one person present the statement 
on behalf of a group or organization. Any person who wishes to file a 
written statement can do so before or after the WSWG meeting. Written 
statements received prior to the meeting will be distributed to all 
members of the WSWG before any final discussion or vote is completed. 
Any statements received after the meeting will become part of the 
permanent meeting file and will be forwarded to the WSWG members for 
their information. Any person needing special accommodations at this 
meeting, including wheelchair access, should contact the Designated 
Federal Officer, at the number or e-mail listed under the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section, at least five business days before the 
meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Background

    The EPA is designated as the lead Agency for the security of the 
nation's drinking water and wastewater sectors. The National Drinking 
Water Advisory Council was established under the Safe Drinking Water 
Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.) 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. On February 10, 2004, NDWAC voted and 
approved to form the WSWG to address best security practices for 
drinking water and wastewater facilities (i.e., the water sector) in 
becoming more secure against malevolent threats. The Agency is 
projecting three to five face-to-face meetings over the course of the 
next year in addition to conference calls and/or video conferencing on 
an as needed basis. After the WSWG completes the charge, a report out 
in terms of recommendations will be made to the full NDWAC. The full 
NDWAC will, in turn, make appropriate recommendations to the EPA.

Working Group Charge

    The charge for the Water Security Working Group is to provide 
recommendations to the full NDWAC that: (1) Identify, compile, and 
characterize best security practices and policies for drinking water 
and wastewater utilities and provide an approach for considering and 
adopting these practices and policies at a utility level; (2) consider 
mechanisms to provide recognition and incentives that facilitate a 
broad and receptive response among the water sector to implement these 
best security practices and policies and make recommendations as 
appropriate; (3) consider mechanisms to measure the extent of 
implementation of these best security practices and policies, identify 
the impediments of their implementation, and make recommendations as 
appropriate.

    Dated: June 15, 2004.
Nanci Gelb,
Acting Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 04-13931 Filed 6-18-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P