[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32595-32596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16006]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8927-5]


National Drinking Water Advisory Council Request for Climate 
Ready Water Utilities Working Group Nominations

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is 
announcing the formation of the Climate Ready Water Utilities Working 
Group (CRWUWG) of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council, and 
soliciting all interested persons or organizations to nominate 
qualified individuals to serve on the working group. For a general 
description of the working group charge, the criteria for selecting 
working group members, and the specific directions for submitting 
working group member nominations, please see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section.

DATES: Submit nominations via U.S. mail on or before August 7, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Address all nominations to Lauren Wisniewski, National 
Drinking Water Advisory Council Climate Ready Water Utilities Working 
Group, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Ground Water and 
Drinking Water, Water Security Division (Mail Code 4608T), 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E-mail your questions to Lauren 
Wisniewski, [email protected], or call 202-564-2918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: The Agency's National Water Program Strategy: Response 
to Climate Change (2008) identified the need to provide drinking water 
and

[[Page 32596]]

wastewater utilities with easy-to-use resources to assess the risk 
associated with climate change and to identify potential adaptation 
strategies. EPA proposes to establish a Climate Ready Water Utilities 
program that will enable water and wastewater utilities to develop and 
implement long-range plans that account for climate change impacts. The 
program recognizes that any comprehensive approach to climate change 
must include both adaptation and mitigation. It should also engage a 
broad range of water sector stakeholders. The National Drinking Water 
Advisory Council (NDWAC), established under the Safe Drinking Water 
Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.), provides practical and 
independent advice, consultation and recommendations to the Agency on 
the activities, functions and policies related to the implementation of 
the Safe Drinking Water Act. On May 28, 2009, NDWAC voted on and 
approved the formation of the Climate Ready Water Utilities Working 
Group. After this working group completes its charge, it will make 
recommendations to the full NDWAC. The full NDWAC will, in turn, make 
appropriate recommendations to the EPA.
    Working Group Charge: The charge for the Climate Ready Water 
Utilities Work Group (CRWUWG) is to evaluate the concept of ``Climate 
Ready Water Utilities'' and provide recommendations to the full NDWAC 
on the development of an effective program for drinking water and 
wastewater utilities, including recommendations to: (1) Define and 
develop a baseline understanding of how to use available information to 
develop climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, including 
ways to integrate this information into existing complementary programs 
such as the Effective Utility Management and Climate Ready Estuaries 
Program; (2) Identify climate change-related tools, training, and 
products that address short-term and long-term needs of water and 
wastewater utility managers, decision makers, and engineers, including 
ways to integrate these tools and training into existing programs; and 
(3) Incorporate mechanisms to provide recognition or incentives that 
facilitate broad adoption of climate change adaptation and mitigation 
strategies by the water sector into existing EPA Office of Water 
recognition and awards programs or new recognition programs.
    Selection Criteria: The EPA is looking to create a diverse CRWUWG. 
Potential CRWUWG nominations could include individuals from stakeholder 
organizations such as wastewater and drinking water utilities, State 
and local officials, public health officials, environmental 
organizations, academia, and climate experts. The Agency is looking for 
a range of utility representation in terms of the size of the 
population served, geographic location, as well as investor- and 
publicly-owned and operated facilities. This is not an exhaustive list; 
it is only intended to provide a framework to consider potential 
nominees.
    Potential nominees should possess the following qualifications: 
Occupy a senior position within their organization; have broad 
experience outside their current position; demonstrate experience 
dealing with public policy issues; have extensive experience with and 
understanding of water utilities; and be knowledgeable on climate 
change. CRWUWG members should: Be recognized experts in their fields; 
be as impartial and objective as possible; collectively represent an 
array of backgrounds and perspectives within the water sector and 
related disciplines; and be available to fully participate in the 
working group.
    The schedule remains flexible; however, it is estimated that the 
first CRWUWG meeting will be convened in the fall of 2009, and 
subsequent meetings will be conducted over a relatively short time 
frame, approximately one year. Over the course of this period, CRWUWG 
members will be asked to attend up to five meetings, participate in 
conference calls and video-conferencing as necessary, participate in 
the discussion of key issues at all meetings, and review and finalize 
the products and outputs of the working group.
    Nomination of a Member: Any interested person or organization may 
nominate qualified individuals for membership to the working group. All 
nominees should be identified by their name, occupation, position, 
address, and telephone number. To be considered, all nominations must 
include a current resume providing the nominee's background, experience 
and qualifications, in addition to a statement (not to exceed two (2) 
paragraphs) about their particular expertise and interest in potential 
climate change impacts on water utilities. Please note that the Agency 
will not formally acknowledge or respond to nominations. Additional 
sources may be utilized in the solicitation of nominees.

    Dated: June 26, 2009.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. E9-16006 Filed 7-7-09; 8:45 am]
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