[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 216 (Friday, November 12, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62767-62768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24795]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 141

[FRL-9232-01-OW]


The National Drinking Water Advisory Council Microbial and 
Disinfection Byproducts Rule Revisions Working Group: Request for 
Nominations

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting that 
the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC or Council), a 
Federal Advisory Committee established under the Safe Drinking Water 
Act of 1974, provide the agency with advice and recommendations on key 
issues related to potential revisions to the following Microbial and 
Disinfection Byproducts (MDBP) rules: Stage 1 and Stage 2 Disinfectants 
and Disinfection Byproducts Rules, Surface Water Treatment Rule, 
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, and Long-Term 1 Enhanced 
Surface Water Treatment Rule. EPA is seeking consensus advice from the 
NDWAC, which would be used to inform the development of potential rule 
revisions. To support the work of the Council, EPA is asking the NDWAC 
to form a working group, to be called the Microbial and Disinfection 
Byproducts Rule Revisions Working Group, that would include 
stakeholders with a variety of backgrounds and expertise. The working 
group would explore specific issues and identify potential MDBP rule 
revisions options for the Council to consider in making its 
recommendations to EPA. This announcement solicits nominations of 
qualified individuals to serve on the working group. EPA anticipates 
the working group would be active approximately from Spring 2022 
through mid-2023.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted no later than December 13, 2021 
per the instructions below.

ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations and supporting information 
electronically, with the subject line ``NDWAC MDBP Working Group'' to 
[email protected], as there may be a delay in processing U.S. mail 
and no hand deliveries are currently accepted due to the COVID-19 
pandemic. If you have concerns about submitting your nomination 
electronically, you may contact Elizabeth Corr, the Designated Federal 
Official (DFO) for the NDWAC, by email at [email protected], with 
the subject line ``NDWAC MDBP Working Group,'' or by phone at (202) 
564-3798 to discuss a possible alternative delivery method. For more 
information on submitting nominations, go to the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.
    For more information on the MDBP Rule Revisions Working Group, 
including specific charge to the Council and working group formation 
information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/ndwac.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding this announcement and request for 
nominations may contact Elizabeth Corr at [email protected]; or by 
phone at (202) 564-3798. You may also mail Elizabeth Corr at the Office 
of Ground Water and Drinking Water, MC: 4601M, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460, but be 
advised that there may be a delay in processing U.S. mail and no hand 
deliveries will be accepted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Further 
information on the NDWAC can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/ndwac. 
For more information about the MDBP rule revisions visit: www.epa.gov/dwsixyearreview/revisions-microbial-and-disinfection-byproducts-rules.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Working Group Nominations: EPA seeks 
perspectives from state officials and tribal officials, drinking water 
system operators from systems of all sizes, and environmental and 
public interest representatives. Any interested person and/or 
organization may nominate qualified individuals for possible working 
group participation. Interested individuals may self-nominate. EPA 
values and welcomes diversity. All qualified individuals are encouraged 
to apply regardless of sex, race, disability, or ethnicity. Nominations 
should be submitted in time to arrive no later than December 13, 2021.
    EPA will consider all nominations. Criteria to be used in 
evaluating nominees includes:
     Demonstrated experience with drinking water issues at the 
national, state, or local levels, particularly with knowledge of the 
MDPB rules;
     Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication 
and consensus-building skills;
     Willingness to commit time to the working group and 
demonstrated ability to work constructively on committees; and
     Background that would help members contribute to the 
diversity of expertise, experience, and perspectives on the working 
group, e.g., geographic, economic, social, cultural, educational 
backgrounds, professional affiliations, and other considerations.
    Nominations must include a resume that provides the nominee's 
background, experience, and educational qualifications, and a brief 
statement (one page or less) describing the nominee's interest in 
serving on the working group and addressing the other criteria 
previously described. EPA encourages nominees to provide any additional 
information that may be useful for consideration, such as their 
availability to participate as a member of the working group, and how 
the nominee's background, skills, and experience would contribute to 
the diversity of the working group. Nominees should be identified by 
name, occupation, position, current business address, email address, 
and telephone number. The DFO will use the email address provided for 
the nominee to acknowledge receipt of nominations.
    EPA anticipates that most or all meetings of the working group 
would be held virtually. Individuals selected to serve on the working 
group may be offered travel expenses and per diem to attend any in-
person meetings.
    NDWAC: Congress created the Council on December 16, 1974, as part 
of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, Public Law 93-523, 42 U.S.C. 
300j-5. The Council is operated in accordance with the provisions of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2. The Council 
consists of 15 members, including the chairperson, all of whom are 
appointed by the EPA Administrator. Five members are from appropriate 
state and local agencies concerned with water hygiene and public water 
supply; five members represent private organizations or groups 
demonstrating an active interest in the field of water hygiene and 
public water supply--of which two such members shall be associated with 
small, rural public water systems; and five members are from the 
general public.
    MDBP Rules: On January 11, 2017 (40 FR 141; January 11, 2017) EPA 
identified eight contaminants covered by the MDBP rules as candidates 
for revision in the agency's review of existing national primary 
drinking water regulations (NPDWRs): Chlorite, Cryptosporidium, 
Haloacetic acids, Heterotrophic bacteria, Giardia lamblia, Legionella, 
Total Trihalomethanes, and viruses. The eight contaminants are included 
in the following MDBP rules: Stage 1 and Stage 2 Disinfectants and 
Disinfection Byproducts Rules, Surface Water Treatment Rule, Interim

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Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, and Long-Term 1 Enhanced Surface 
Water Treatment Rule. The purpose of the Surface Water Treatment Rules 
(SWTRs) identified as candidates for revision is to reduce disease 
incidence associated with pathogens and viruses in drinking water. The 
SWTRs require public water systems to filter and disinfect surface 
water sources to provide protection from microbial pathogens. The 
purpose of the Stage 1 and Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection 
Byproducts Rules is to reduce drinking water exposure to disinfection 
byproducts which can form in water when disinfectants used to control 
microbial pathogens react with natural organic matter found in source 
water. If consumed in excess of EPA's standard over many years, 
disinfection byproducts may increase health risks.

Jennifer L. McLain,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 2021-24795 Filed 11-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P