[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 23 (Friday, February 3, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5471-5472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2025]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2012-0035; FRL-9624-9]

40 CFR Parts 141 and 142


Announcement of Public Meeting on the Consumer Confidence Report 
(CCR) Rule Retrospective Review

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be holding a 
public meeting via the Internet on February 23, 2012, to obtain 
stakeholder input on the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) Rule as part 
of the agency's Retrospective Review of Existing Regulations. EPA plans 
to discuss electronic delivery of CCRs, resource implications for 
implementing CCR delivery certification, use of CCRs to meet Tier 3 
Public Notification requirements, and how contaminant levels are 
reported in the CCR. EPA invites the public to participate in this 
information exchange on the CCR rule. The instructions for registration 
for the meeting are located in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 
this notice.

DATES: The webinar will be held on February 23, 2012, from 2 p.m. to 4 
p.m., Eastern Standard Time. The web dialogue will be available from 
February 23, 2012, to March 9, 2012.
    How To Access Information: EPA has established a docket for this 
activity under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2012-0035; background 
information (including the CCR and Public Notification rules) are 
available in this docket. Comments received on the Preliminary Plan for 
Periodic Retrospective Reviews of Existing Regulations are available 
for viewing in EPA's Docket No. EPA-HQ-OA-2011-0154. Publicly available 
docket materials are available either electronically through 
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Water Docket, EPA/DC, EPA 
West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The Public 
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public 
Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Water 
Docket is (202) 566-2426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adrienne Harris, Drinking Water 
Protection Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water 
(MC4606M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460 at (202) 250-8793 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Listening Session Registration: Individuals planning on 
participating in the Listening Session must register for the meeting at 
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/396514342.
    Web Dialogue Registration: Individuals planning on participating in 
the web dialogue discussions must join the community at http://CCRRetrospectiveReview.ideascale.com.
    The web dialogue will be available from February 23, 2012, to March 
9, 2012, for the public to share and post comments on the dialogue.
    Special Accommodations: For information on access or accommodations 
for individuals with disabilities, please contact Adrienne Harris at 
(202) 250-8793 or by email at [email protected]. Please 
allow at least five business days prior to the meeting to give EPA time 
to process your request.
    Background: Consumer Confidence Reports are a key part of the 
public's right-to-know as established in the 1996 Amendments to the 
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA, section 1414(c)). The Consumer 
Confidence Report, or CCR, is an annual water quality report that a 
community water system is required by Federal regulations (63 FR 44511, 
August 19, 1998) to provide to its customers each year. Community water 
systems (CWSs) serving 10,000 or more persons are required to mail or 
otherwise directly deliver these reports. States may allow CWSs serving 
fewer than 10,000 persons to provide these reports by other means. The 
report lists the regulated contaminants found in the drinking water, as 
well as health effects information related to violations of the 
drinking water standards. More information on CCRs can be accessed on 
EPA's Web site at http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ccr/index.cfm.
    In August 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized 
its Improving Our Regulations: Final Plan for Periodic Retrospective 
Reviews of Existing Regulations in response to E.O. 13563. Since 1998, 
when the CCR rule was finalized, the communication of information and 
the speed with which information can be shared have greatly expanded, 
along with a corresponding increase in the diversity of communication 
tools. The EPA included the CCR rule in its retrospective review plan 
to explore ways to promote greater transparency

[[Page 5472]]

and public participation in protecting the nation's drinking water. The 
agency's CCR retrospective review will look for opportunities to 
improve the effectiveness of communicating drinking water information 
to the public, while lowering the burden on water systems and States. 
One example suggested by water systems is to allow electronic delivery 
through email, thereby reducing mailing charges. As EPA evaluates 
alternative delivery options and other opportunities to improve 
communication with consumers, the agency will consider impacts on 
consumer burden, environmental justice, and State implementation. By 
improving communication, customers are better prepared to make informed 
decisions and the readership of CCRs also may increase.

    Dated: January 25, 2012.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 2012-2025 Filed 2-2-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P