[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 74 (Monday, April 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 20352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-8929]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9139-3]


National Drinking Water Advisory Council's Climate Ready Water 
Utilities Working Group Meeting Announcement

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is 
announcing the third in-person meeting of the Climate Ready Water 
Utilities (CRWU) Working Group of the National Drinking Water Advisory 
Council (NDWAC). The purpose of this meeting is for the Working Group 
to discuss key findings, the adaptive response framework on what it 
means to be climate ready, enabling environment recommendations, and 
climate-related tools to support utilities.

DATES: The third in-person CRWU Working Group meeting will take place 
on May 5, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Central Daylight Time 
(CDT) and on May 6, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., CDT.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Omni Hotel Chicago, which 
is located at 676 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested participants from the 
public should contact Lauren Wisniewski, Designated Federal Officer, 
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. Please contact Lauren 
Wisniewski at [email protected] or call 202-564-2918. CRWU 
Working Group meeting agendas and summaries will be posted at: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ndwac/#current.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Agenda: The CRWU Working Group has developed draft key findings on 
the water sector and climate change, a draft adaptive response 
framework that describes actions that a CRWU would undertake, and draft 
enabling environment recommendations for activities needed to create a 
supportive environment in which a utility can take steps to be climate 
ready. The Working Group will discuss revisions and refinements to 
these draft report sections. Additionally, the working group will 
discuss tools, training, and resources needed to support water 
utilities and ways to integrate CRWU efforts with existing programs.
    Public Participation: There will be an opportunity for public 
comment during the CRWU Working Group 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. Any person 
who wishes to file a written statement can do so before or after the 
CRWU Working Group meeting. Written statements received prior to the 
meeting will be distributed to all members of the Working Group before 
any final discussion or vote is completed. Any statements received 
after the meeting will become part of the permanent meeting file and 
will be forwarded to the CRWU Working Group members for their 
information. For information on access or services for individuals with 
disabilities, please contact Lauren Wisniewski at 202-564-2918 or by e-
mail at [email protected]. To request accommodation of a 
disability, please contact Lauren Wisniewski, preferably, at least 10 
days prior to the meeting to give EPA as much time as possible to 
process your request.
    Background: The Agency's National Water Program Strategy: Response 
to Climate Change (2008) identified the need to provide drinking water 
and wastewater utilities with easy-to-use resources to assess the risk 
associated with climate change and to identify potential adaptation 
strategies. The 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, the NDWAC voted on and 
approved the formation of the CRWU Working Group. EPA anticipates that 
the Working Group will have five face-to-face meetings between December 
2009 and September 2010 in addition to conference calls and/or video 
conferencing on an as needed basis. To date, there have been two face-
to face meetings. After the Working Group completes its charge, it will 
make recommendations to the full NDWAC. The NDWAC will consider these 
recommendations and make its own recommendations to the EPA.
    Working Group Charge: The charge for the CRWU Working Group 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.

    Dated: April 13, 2010.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 2010-8929 Filed 4-16-10; 8:45 am]
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