[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 24, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58500-58501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23103]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 131

[EPA-HQ-OW-2010-0606; FRL-9901-25-OW]


Water Quality Standards Regulatory Clarifications Proposed Rule; 
Public Meeting and Public Webinars

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Announcement of public meeting and public webinars.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing one 
public meeting and two public webinars to be held for the proposed rule 
``Water Quality Standards Regulatory Clarifications,'' which was 
published separately in the Federal Register (September 4, 2013).

DATES: The public meeting will be held in Washington, DC on October 23, 
2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern. The two public webinars will 
be held on September 24, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern and 
November 14, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern. The comment 
period for the proposed rulemaking will end on December 3, 2013. To 
register for the public meeting or either public webinar, please visit: 
http://www.tetratech-ffx.com/wqsregs/public/ or contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Information regarding the 
time of the public meeting and public webinars is also listed below in 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: To register for the public meeting or either public webinar, 
please visit: http://www.tetratech-ffx.com/wqsregs/public/. You will 
receive an email confirmation after your registration has been 
submitted. Information about the public meeting and webinars can also 
be found at the EPA Web site for the rulemaking at, http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/wqs_index.cfm, under the ``Current 
Outreach'' section.
    The public meeting will be held at the Smithsonian National 
Zoological Park in the Visitor Center Auditorium. The Zoo address is 
3001 Connecticut Avenue NW. in Washington, DC. The Visitor Center 
Auditorium is located at the Connecticut Avenue entrance to the zoo. 
More information about travel to the Zoo is available at http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Visit/gettingtozoo.cfm.
    The public webinars will be held using Adobe[supreg] Connect. 
Following registration and within one week of the scheduled webinars, 
you will receive an email with information for accessing the webinar on 
the day of the event.
    The proposed rule was published separately in the Federal Register 
and a complete set of documents related to the proposal are available 
for public inspection at the EPA Docket Center, located at 1301 
Constitution Avenue NW., Room 3334, Washington, DC between 8:30 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. A 
reasonable fee may be charged for copying. Documents are also available 
through the electronic docket system at http://www.regulations.gov 
under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2010-0606. The EPA Web site for the 
rulemaking can be found at: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/wqs_index.cfm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janita Aguirre, EPA Headquarters, 
Office of Water, Office of Science and Technology, at 202-566-1860 or 
email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposal for which EPA is holding the 
public meeting and public webinars has been published separately in the 
Federal Register (78 FR 54517; September 4, 2013). In the proposed 
rulemaking, EPA is proposing changes to the federal water quality 
standards (WQS) regulation at 40 CFR Part 131 which helps implement the 
Clean Water Act in order to improve effectiveness in restoring and 
maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the 
nation's waters. The proposed rule addresses the following key program 
areas: Administrator's determinations that new or revised WQS are 
necessary, designated uses, triennial reviews, antidegradation, 
variances to WQS, and compliance schedule authorizing provisions. Once 
final, the proposed rule will lead to improved water quality standard 
development, implementation and compliance as well as improving the 
ability of water systems to adapt and respond to the impacts of climate 
change.

[[Page 58501]]

    EPA will discuss the contents of the proposed rule during the 
webinars and meeting and will provide the opportunity for interested 
parties to ask clarifying questions prior to the close of the comment 
period. These clarifying questions or any public views expressed during 
the webinars and meeting will not be considered formal comments and 
will not be recorded for inclusion in the official administrative 
record. If anyone wishes their comments to be considered formal comment 
and want a formal response from EPA, they must submit their comments on 
the proposed rule to the associated docket (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2010-0606) by one of the following methods: Electronically, by mail, by 
facsimile, or through hand delivery/courier. Please refer to the notice 
of proposed rulemaking for the addresses and detailed instructions for 
submitting written comments. Written comments must be received by the 
December 3, 2013.
    Public Meeting: The public meeting will be open to all stakeholders 
interested in the rule. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 
23, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Eastern. The meeting will be 
held at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park's Visitor Center 
Auditorium, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW., Washington, DC. If you are 
interested in attending the public meeting, EPA prefers that you pre-
register at http://www.tetratech-ffx.com/wqsregs/public/ by October 21, 
2013. EPA will prepare a pre-registration list to streamline the check-
in process on the day of the public meeting. If you choose not to pre-
register, you will be asked to provide the following information on a 
sign-in sheet at the public meeting: Name, affiliation, address, email 
address and telephone number.
    Public Webinars: The public webinars will be open to all 
stakeholders interested in the rule. The public webinars will be held 
on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern and 
Thursday, November 14, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern using 
Adobe[supreg] Connect. However, there is a limitation of 500 
participants for each webinar. In order to ensure access to the webinar 
of choice, interested individuals should register in advance following 
instructions on the Internet at http://www.tetratech-ffx.com/wqsregs/public/. Although you may register at any time prior to the session of 
your choice, EPA prefers that you register at least three days in 
advance. You will receive an email confirmation after your registration 
has been submitted. Following registration and within one week of the 
scheduled webinars, you will receive an email with information for 
accessing the webinar on the day of the event. The agenda and resource 
material will be identical for the two public webinars. You do not need 
to attend both sessions. If you do not have Internet access, please 
contact the person named in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
above.
    Other EPA Outreach: Throughout the comment period, EPA expects to 
conduct outreach with additional stakeholders as well as state and 
tribal governments. This outreach includes discussions and consultation 
with federally-recognized Indian tribes, consistent with Executive 
Order 13175 (Tribal Consultation) and outreach with state water quality 
program officials as co-regulators.
    Comment Period: The comment period will remain open until December 
3, 2013.

How can I get copies of this document and other related information?

    The EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OW-2010-0606. The EPA has also developed a Web site for the 
proposed rulemaking at: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/wqs_index.cfm. Please refer to the notice of proposed rulemaking for 
detailed information on accessing information related to the proposal.

    Dated: September 16, 2013.
Elizabeth Southerland,
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2013-23103 Filed 9-23-13; 8:45 am]
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