[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69599-69600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26402]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7843-8]


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

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

[[Page 69600]]


ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the third 
public meeting of the Water Security Working Group (WSWG) of the 
National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC), which was established 
under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The purpose of this meeting is to 
provide an opportunity for the WSWG members to continue deliberations 
on the features of active and effective security programs for drinking 
water and wastewater utilities (water sector), to continue 
deliberations on incentives to encourage broad adoption of active and 
effective security programs throughout the water sector, and to begin 
deliberations on mechanisms to measure the extent of implementation of 
water security programs. Final WSWG findings and recommendations will 
be provided to the NDWAC for their consideration. The WSWG anticipates 
providing findings and recommendations to the NDWAC in Spring 2005. Two 
additional meetings of the WSWG are planned and will be announced in 
the near future.

DATES: The WSWG meeting is December 15-17, 2004. On December 15, 2004, 
the meeting is scheduled from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., eastern time 
(e.t.). On December 16, 2004, the meeting is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 
5:30 p.m., e.t. On December 17, 2004, the meeting is schedule from 8 
a.m. to 12 p.m., e.t.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Radisson Barcelo Hotel, 
Washington, 2121 P Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037. The telephone 
number for this hotel is (202) 293-3100.

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 receive additional 
details.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The WSWG mission is to: (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 to their implementation, and make recommendations as 
appropriate. The Group is comprised of sixteen members from water and 
wastewater utilities, public health, academia, state regulators, and 
environmental and community interests. It is supported by technical 
experts from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of 
Homeland Security, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 
the Department of Defense.

Closed and Open Parts of the Meeting

    The WSWG is a working group of the NDWAC; it is not a Federal 
advisory committee and therefore not subject to the same public 
disclosure laws that govern Federal advisory committees. The Group can 
enter into closed session as necessary to provide an opportunity to 
discuss security-sensitive information relating to specific water 
sector vulnerabilities and security tactics. Currently, the WSWG does 
not anticipate closing any parts of the December meeting to the public. 
However, the Group reserves the right to enter into closed session, if 
necessary, late in the afternoon of December 15, 2004, immediately 
before lunch on December 16, 2004, and late in the day on December 17, 
2004. If closed sessions are needed, opportunities for public comment 
will be provided before the closed sessions begin.
    If the there is a closed meeting session, only WSWG members, 
Federal resource personnel, facilitation support contractors and 
outside experts identified by the facilitation support contractors will 
attend the closed meeting. A general summary of the topics discussed 
during closed meetings and the individuals present will be included 
with the summary of the open portions of the WSWG meeting.

Public Comment

    An opportunity for public comment will be provided during the open 
part of the WSWG meeting. 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. Written comments may be provided 
at the meeting or may be sent, by mail, to Marc Santora, Designated 
Federal Officer for the WSWG, at the e-mail address listed in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.

Special Accommodations

    Any person needing special accommodations at this meeting, 
including wheelchair access, should contact Marc Santora, Designated 
Federal Officer, at the number or e-mail address listed in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. Requests for 
special accommodations should be made at least five business days in 
advance of the WSWG meeting.

    Dated: November 23, 2004.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 04-26402 Filed 11-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P