[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 29, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77972-77974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28497]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 136

[Docket Number OW-2004-0041; FRL-7855-9]


Stakeholder Process for Detection and Quantitation Procedures; 
Notice of Public Meeting and Request for Nominations to a Federal 
Advisory Committee on Detection and Quantitation Procedures and Uses in 
Clean Water Act (CWA) Programs

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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

SUMMARY: There will be a half-day public meeting on January 26, 2005, 
to present the findings and recommendations in the Situation Assessment 
Report on Detection and Quantitation Approaches and Uses in Clean Water 
Act (CWA) Programs (Situation Assessment Report). In addition, USEPA 
invites nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for 
appointment to the Federal Advisory Committee on Detection and 
Quantitation Approaches and Uses in

[[Page 77973]]

Clean Water Act (CWA) Programs. The purpose of this committee will be 
to reach agreement and provide advice on: A common set of terms and 
concepts; one or more specific approaches and/or procedures for 
detection and quantitation for use in Clean Water Act programs; and 
interpretation and uses of the numbers that result from the testing 
procedures.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 26, 2005, from 1:30 
p.m. until approximately 4:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. Nominations 
for the committee will be accepted until 5 p.m. on February 9, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, 
Ariel Rios South Building, NETI Conference Room 6226. Nominations may 
be submitted electronically, by mail, or through hand delivery/courier. 
Follow the detailed instructions as provided in III. Composition and 
Organization. To protect personal information from disclosure to the 
public, do not submit nomination material to the docket of the Federal 
Advisory Committee on Detection and Quantitation Approaches and Uses in 
Clean Water Act (CWA) Programs or through any online commenting system. 
Submit nomination materials to: Mary T. Smith, Director, Engineering 
and Analysis Division, MC 4303T, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, T: 202-566-1000, F: 
202-566-1053, e-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marion Kelly, Engineering and Analysis 
Division, MC4303T, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; Telephone number: (202) 
566-1045; Fax number: (202) 566-1053; E-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information

    On September 15, 2004, EPA announced its intention to have a 
neutral third party conduct a situation assessment to determine whether 
a stakeholder process for detection and quantitation procedures should 
proceed and, if so, how that process should be designed. 69 FR 55547. 
The neutral third party has conducted the situation assessment with 
affected stakeholders and has solicited their ideas for the design of 
multi-party discussions on the policy and technical issues surrounding 
the development of detection and quantitation procedures and uses of 
those procedures in Clean Water Act (CWA) programs. The neutral third 
party has presented its recommendations to the Agency in a document 
entitled Situation Assessment Report on Detection and Quantitation 
Approaches and Uses in Clean Water Act (CWA) Programs. The 
recommendations contained in the report will be the primary topic of 
discussion at the public meeting.

II. Request for Nominations

    The Federal Advisory Committee on Detection and Quantitation 
Approaches and Uses in Clean Water Act (CWA) Programs (hereinafter 
referred to as the Detection and Quantitation Advisory Committee) is 
being established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 
U.S.C. App. 2 (Public Law 92-463), and copies of the Committee Charter 
will be filed with the appropriate committees of Congress and the 
Library of Congress. The Detection and Quantitation Advisory Committee 
will provide advice and recommendations to the Agency regarding the 
detection and quantitation procedures used in Clean Water Act programs. 
The Detection and Quantitation Advisory Committee will hold meetings, 
analyze issues, conduct reviews, produce reports, make necessary 
recommendations, and undertake other activities necessary to meet its 
responsibilities. The objectives of the Committee are to provide advice 
and recommendations to EPA in areas such as: a common set of terms and 
concepts; one or more specific approaches and procedures for detection 
and quantitation for use in Clean Water Act programs; and 
interpretation and uses of the numbers that result from detection and 
quantitation procedures.

III. Composition and Organization

    The Committee will be composed of approximately 20 members. EPA 
will have a balanced representation of members in terms of points of 
view represented and the scope of the activities of the Committee. An 
EPA employee will act as the Designated Federal Official (DFO) who will 
be responsible for providing the necessary staffing, operations, and 
support for the Committee. The agency is seeking qualified senior-level 
professionals from diverse sectors throughout the United States to be 
considered for membership on the Committee. The Agency is seeking 
representation from among, but not limited to, the groups listed below. 
Please indicate in your submittal the sector with which the nominee is 
most closely associated and the organization, group or perspective the 
nominee would represent: State government; environmental professionals; 
regulated industry; environmental laboratories; Publicly Owned 
Treatment Works; and the environmental community. Establishing a 
balance and diversity of technical and policy experience, knowledge, 
and judgement, will be important considerations in the selection of 
members. EPA also plans to use technical experts who will be available 
to help the Committee understand technical concepts and provide 
technical assistance to the Committee. Such experts will not be members 
of the Committee and will not participate in the Committee's 
deliberations.
    All Committee meetings will be called, announced, and held in 
accordance with FACA requirements, including public notice of meetings 
in the Federal Register, open meetings, and an opportunity for 
interested persons to file comments before or after meetings, or to 
make statements during the public meetings to the extent time permits. 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations of 
qualified candidates to be considered for appointments to the Federal 
Advisory Committee on Detection and Quantitation Approaches and Uses in 
Clean Water Act (CWA) Programs. Representatives from State governments, 
industry, wastewater treatment plants, environmental laboratories and 
the environmental community are especially encouraged to apply. EPA may 
use additional avenues and resources to solicit nominees. In 
particular, the Agency will consider the recommendations contained in 
the document, Situation Assessment Report on Detection and Quantitation 
Approaches and Uses in Clean Water Act (CWA) Programs, which is 
available on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/methods/det/.
    The deadline for EPA to receive nominations is February 9, 2005. 
Appointments will be made by the Deputy Administrator of the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency. Appointments are expected to be 
announced in March 2005. Nominations for membership must include a 
resume describing the professional and educational qualifications of 
the nominee and the group or interest the person would represent. 
Contact details should include full name and title, business mailing 
address, telephone, fax, and e-mail address. A supporting letter of 
endorsement is also recommended.

[[Page 77974]]

IV. Does the Public Meeting Apply to Me?

    The meeting on January 26, 2005, is open to the general public, and 
may be of interest to persons who are or may be required to perform 
analytical test measurements for reporting and compliance under the 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) under the CWA, 
including regulated industry, environmental groups, State governments, 
publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and environmental laboratories. 
Since various individuals or groups may be interested, the Agency has 
not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be 
affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding this 
meeting, please consult the individual identified under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

V. How Can I Get Copies of This Document and Other Related

    Information?
    You may access this Federal Register document electronically 
through the Internet under the ``Federal Register'' listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. You may obtain an electronic copy of the 
Situation Assessment Report on Detection and Quantitation Approaches 
and Uses in Clean Water Act (CWA) Programs on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/methods/det/. This document will be available 
as soon as possible, but no later than January 4, 2005. The docket 
number is OW-2004-0041. If you require a printed copy of the report, 
contact the individual identified under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.

VI. How May I Participate in This Meeting?

    Members of the general public are encouraged to attend this meeting 
in person. Anyone wishing to participate via teleconference should 
contact the individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at 
least 5 business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate 
arrangements can be made. Members of the general public are invited to 
pose questions on the Situation Assessment Report. Each individual or 
group wishing to make prepared comments should submit their request to 
the individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT before the 
date of the meeting in order to be included in the meeting agenda. The 
request should identify the name of the individual making the 
presentation, the organization (if any) the individual will represent, 
and any requirements for audiovisual equipment (e.g., overhead 
projector, 35mm projector, chalkboard). Each speaker should bring 30 
copies of his or her comments and presentation slides for distribution 
at the meeting. Other interested persons who did not pre-register may 
also present prepared comments at the meeting if time permits. Seating 
at the meeting will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals 
requiring special accommodations at this meeting, including wheelchair 
access and assistance for the hearing impaired, should contact the 
individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least 5 
business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can 
be made.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 136

    Environmental protection, Analytical methods, Wastewater, NPDES, 
FACA.

    Dated: December 22, 2004.
Geoffrey H. Grubbs,
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 04-28497 Filed 12-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P