[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 6 (Monday, January 10, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1707-1708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-425]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7859-1]


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

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the fourth 
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 in the water sector, and to continue 
deliberations on measures of the performance of water security 
programs. The focus of the meeting will be on review of draft 
recommendations on incentives and development of performance measures. 
The 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. One additional meeting of 
the WSWG is planned and will be announced in the near future.

DATES: The WSWG meeting is January 25-27, 2004, in Phoenix, Arizona. On 
January 25, 2005, the meeting is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., 
mountain time (m.t.). On January 26, 2005, the meeting is scheduled 
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., m.t. On January 27, 2005, the meeting is 
scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., m.t.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the City of Phoenix Water 
Services Department Training Room, 9th Floor, 200 West Washington 
Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Parking is available at the City's 
facilities at 305 West Washington Street. Water Services' reception 
will be able to validate your parking; please remember to bring your 
ticket with you. Once in the building, proceed to the 9th floor and 
check-in at the reception desk--you will then be directed to the 
meeting room, which is just beyond reception.

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 WSWG is comprised of sixteen members from water and 
wastewater utilities, public health, academia, state regulators, and 
environmental and community interests. Technical experts from the 
Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of 
Defense are also actively supporting the WSWG.

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 January meeting to the public. 
However, the Group reserves the right to enter into closed session, if 
necessary, late in the afternoon of January 25, 2005, immediately 
before lunch on January 26, 2005, and late in the day on January 27, 
2005. If closed sessions are needed, opportunities for public comment 
will be provided before the closed sessions begin.
    If 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 meetings. 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 mail or e-mail address listed in 
the FOR

[[Page 1708]]

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: January 4, 2005.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 05-425 Filed 1-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P