[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 31, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 14553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7184]



[[Page 14553]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8788-1]


Notice of an Underground Injection Control Program Meeting To 
Discuss Innovative Ideas for Aquifer Storage and Recovery

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of a meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Underground 
Injection Control Program will be hosting a meeting to discuss 
innovative ideas for Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) operations that 
would prevent endangerment of underground sources of drinking water. 
While ASR may be a valuable tool to support public drinking water 
supplies, EPA or States with primary enforcement responsibility 
regulate underground injection activities to protect underground 
sources of drinking water pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA 
is assembling an interdisciplinary group of experts to generate ideas 
regarding the use of ASR technology in a manner that will prevent 
endangerment of drinking water resources. EPA requests those interested 
in attending to register at http://www.horsleywitten.com/EPA-ASR.

DATES: The ASR Expert Meeting will be held on May 5-6, 2009. The 
meeting will be two (2) half days (May 5, 1 p.m.-5 p.m., May 6, 8 a.m.-
1 p.m.). Registration must be received by April 30, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the 12th floor Huron Conference 
room at the EPA Region 5 Office, 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 
60604.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jyl Lapachin, Drinking Water 
Protection Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (4606M), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-0327; fax number 
(202) 564-3756; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) is the 
term used to describe the practice of underground injection of non-
hazardous water with the intent for later recovery as a water 
management tool. While ASR has the potential to be a valuable tool for 
ensuring that drinking water supplies are available in times when other 
sources of drinking water may be unavailable, the underground injection 
and storage of water has sometimes resulted in adverse ground water 
quality.
    EPA or States with primary enforcement responsibility implement 
underground injection control programs under the Safe Drinking Water 
Act to prevent endangerment of underground sources of drinking water. 
EPA recognizes that ASR can be a viable tool to meet water demands. 
Therefore, EPA is holding an expert-level meeting with an 
interdisciplinary group of technical and policy experts from a variety 
of sectors such as Federal, State, private industry, environmental 
organizations, academia and public water systems. The meeting objective 
is to generate innovative ideas and individual input from participants 
on the storage of water in aquifers (i.e., underground storage areas) 
for later retrieval in a manner that is protective of underground 
sources of drinking water. EPA is seeking individual input from the 
meeting attendees. EPA is not seeking advice, group recommendations or 
consensus on any matters discussed during the meeting.
    The ASR Expert Meeting will begin with short plenary presentations 
designed to provide the participants with a common knowledge base and 
terminology to encourage effective and productive discussions. The 
plenary topics will be broad and address multiple challenges related to 
ASR including: (1) Current ASR practices; (2) scientific and technical 
considerations for ASR; and (3) policy considerations for ASR. 
Interactive discussion sessions will follow the plenary presentation 
and provide a forum for attendees to communicate and develop creative 
ideas for protective ASR practices.
    Space is limited and EPA expects to be able to accommodate 30 
participants. EPA will attempt to accommodate additional registrants as 
observers. To encourage productive and creative discussion, EPA seeks 
individuals with significant ASR experience to register for the 
meeting. Significant ASR experience includes: (1) Whether the 
individuals have a demonstrated ability to advance ASR knowledge and 
practices through their work, including, but not limited to, prior 
presentations at professional conferences or publishing research in 
peer-reviewed media; (2) whether the individuals have at least five 
years of experience performing ASR-related work in operations, site 
characterization, program implementation, research, or system design; 
and (3) whether the individuals have significant professional 
experience in managing, supervising, and leading ASR-related projects. 
EPA's goal is to create discussion groups consisting of a diverse mix 
of participants with regard to expertise in ASR-related policy, 
science, and current practices, with the intention of stimulating ideas 
for creative and novel approaches to ASR management and operations 
while protecting underground sources of drinking water.
    Interested individuals should register for the meeting using the 
form available at http://www.horsleywitten.com/EPA-ASR.
    Special Accomodations: Any person needing special accommodations at 
this meeting, including wheelchair access, should contact Jyl Lapachin 
at the phone 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 public meeting.

    Dated: March 26, 2009.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. E9-7184 Filed 3-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P