[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 76034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-31089]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0943; FRL9716-6]


National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing the 
final ``National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate 
Change'' (2012 Strategy). The Strategy describes a set of long-term 
visions and goals for the management of water resources in light of 
climate change and charts key strategic actions to be taken to achieve 
the goals in 2012 and subsequent years. The Strategy will be a roadmap 
to inform the National Water Program planning process. The Strategy 
also includes goals and strategic actions for EPA in ten geographic 
climate regions, largely patterned after the climate regions 
established by the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). The 
final version of the Strategy reflects public comments. The final 
Strategy, is available on the Internet at: http://www.epa.gov/water/climatechange.

ADDRESSES: Public comments received on the draft strategy and the final 
Strategy are available at the Water Docket, located at the EPA Docket 
Center (EPA/DC), EPA West 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20004. These documents are also available via the EPA Dockets at http://www.regulations.gov under docket number EPA-HQ-OW-2012-0943.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elana Goldstein, Office of Water 
(4101M), Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Building, Mail 
Code 4101M, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: 202-564-1800; email address: [email protected]. For more information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/water/climatechange.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Climate change alters the hydrological 
background in which EPA's water programs function. Climate change poses 
challenges to various aspects of water resource management, including 
how to: address risks to drinking water, wastewater and storm water 
infrastructure; protect the quality of surface water, ground water and 
drinking water; build resilience of watersheds, wetlands, and coastal 
and ocean waters; and work with tribal communities to understand the 
implications of climate change to their economy and culture. To remain 
effective and continue to fulfill its mission, the National Water 
Program will need to adapt to already observed and projected climatic 
changes. To that end, EPA will continue to collaborate with partners at 
the federal, state, tribal, and local levels to develop the requisite 
information, tools and strategies.

    Dated: December 17, 2012.
Nancy K. Stoner,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Water.
[FR Doc. 2012-31089 Filed 12-21-12; 4:15 pm]
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