[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 87 (Thursday, May 7, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21363-21364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-10644]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8902-4]


Small Drinking Water System Variances and Other Approaches for 
the Equitable Consideration of Small System Customers Stakeholder 
Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is giving notice of a 
public meeting to discuss policies to assure equitable treatment of 
small drinking water system customers. These policies include small 
drinking water system variance methodologies and alternative 
strategies. This meeting is open to the public and will provide a forum 
for public discussion on potential changes to EPA's existing small 
drinking water system variance determination methodology as well as to 
discuss alternative compliance strategies (e.g., capacity development 
and utilization of provisions of the Drinking Water State Revolving 
Fund such as disadvantaged community loan subsidies) that could be 
considered.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2009, from 
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees should register for the meeting by 
contacting Rebecca Allen of EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking 
Water at (202) 564-4689 or by e-mail at [email protected] no later 
than May 14, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 
Thomas Circle, NW., Washington, DC 20005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For administrative or technical 
meeting information, contact Rebecca Allen, Office of Water, Office of 
Ground Water and Drinking Water, Standards and Risk Management 
Division, Targeting and Analysis Branch, U.S. EPA, 1201 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460 at (202) 564-4689 or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: The 2010 Budget states that EPA is to ``* * * work with 
State and local governments to address Federal drinking water policy in 
order to provide equitable consideration of small system customers.'' 
One approach is to revise the Agency's small system variance 
affordability methodology. Other approaches include capacity 
development and utilization of provisions of the Drinking Water State 
Revolving Fund such as disadvantaged community loan subsidies.
    The 1996 amendments of the Safe Drinking Water Act provide States 
the authority to grant variances to small public water systems that 
cannot afford to comply with a National Primary Drinking Water 
Standard. More specifically, States may issue such variances if EPA 
determines that affordable compliance technologies are not available; 
and EPA determines variance technologies are available that both 
achieve the maximum reduction that is affordable and are protective of 
public health. When issued by the State, a small system variance would 
allow a system to install and maintain a variance technology in lieu of 
technology that can achieve compliance with the regulation. Variances 
are not available for microbial contaminants.
    EPA's current methodology to determine affordable compliance 
technologies for small systems compares the current household cost of 
water plus the estimated additional cost to comply with a new rule to 
an affordability ``threshold'' of 2.5 percent of the median household 
income. This methodology is described in EPA's 1998 Announcement of 
Small System Compliance Technology Lists for Existing National Primary 
Drinking Water Regulations and Findings Concerning Variance 
Technologies (63 FR 42032, August 6, 1998).
    EPA is considering revisions to this methodology to provide 
equitable consideration of small system customers. EPA believes it is 
important to consider public health and compliance costs. EPA also 
intends to

[[Page 21364]]

consider other approaches, such as targeted use of funding to 
disadvantaged water systems. EPA plans to further consult with the 
National Drinking Water Advisory Council and to review the many public 
comments we received on an earlier proposal to revise the existing 
methodology.

Special Accommodations

    For information on access or accommodations for individuals with 
disabilities, please contact Rebecca Allen at (202) 564-4689 or by e-
mail at [email protected]. Please allow at least 10 days prior to 
the meeting to give EPA time to process your request.

    Dated: May 4, 2009.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. E9-10644 Filed 5-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P