[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 48 (Monday, March 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15392-15393]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05109]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-10767-01-OW]


National Drinking Water Advisory Council: Request for Nominations

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites 
nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for three-year 
appointments to the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC or 
Council). The 15-member Council was established by the Safe Drinking 
Water Act (SDWA) to provide independent advice, consultation, and 
recommendations to the EPA Administrator on matters relating to 
activities, functions, policies, and regulations under the SDWA. This 
notice solicits nominations to fill anticipated vacancies in 2023 with 
three-year appointments from December 2023 through December 2026. EPA 
may also consider nominations received through this solicitation to 
fill anticipated vacancies in 2024 and in the event of unanticipated 
vacancies on the Council. To enable EPA to maintain the membership 
required by statute, the Agency is seeking nominees who are from the 
general public; appropriate state and local agencies concerned with 
water hygiene and public water supply; and representatives of private 
organizations or groups demonstrating an active interest in the field 
of water hygiene and public water supply, including nominees associated 
with small, rural public water systems.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted in time to arrive no later than 
April 12, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to [email protected]. If you have 
concerns about submitting your nomination electronically, you may 
contact Elizabeth Corr, the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the 
NDWAC, by email at [email protected], or by phone at (202) 564-3798, to 
discuss an alternative delivery method.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public who wants 
further information concerning the nomination process may contact 
Elizabeth Corr at [email protected]; or call (202) 564-3798. General 
information concerning the NDWAC can be found on EPA's website at 
https://www.epa.gov/ndwac.

[[Page 15393]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    National Drinking Water Advisory Council: The Council was created 
by Congress on December 16, 1974, as part of the Safe Drinking Water 
Act of 1974, Public Law 93-523, 42 U.S.C. 300j-5, and is operated in 
accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA), 5 U.S.C. 10. The Council consists of 15 members, including the 
chairperson, all of whom are appointed by the EPA Administrator. Five 
members are from the general public; five are from appropriate state 
and local agencies concerned with water hygiene and public water 
supply; and five are from representatives of 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. The current list of members is 
available on EPA's NDWAC website at https://www.epa.gov/ndwac under 
``NDWAC roster.''
    The Council will meet once each year and may hold additional 
meetings during the year. Meetings are typically one to two days and 
may be in person or virtual. Members also may be asked to participate 
in ad hoc working groups to develop policy recommendations, advice 
letters, and reports that address specific program issues for the 
Council's consideration.
    Member Nominations: Any interested person or organization may 
nominate qualified individuals to be considered for appointment to the 
NDWAC. Interested individuals may self-nominate. In accordance with 
Executive Order 14035 (June 25, 2021) and consistent with law, EPA 
values and welcomes opportunities to increase diversity, equity, 
inclusion, and accessibility on its federal advisory committees. EPA's 
federal advisory committees strive to have a workforce that reflects 
the diversity of the American people.
    All nominations will be fully considered, but nominees need to be 
aware of the specific membership requirements of the SDWA: Five members 
from the general public; five members from state and local agencies 
concerned with water hygiene and public water supply; and five members 
from representatives of 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. EPA anticipates vacancies over the course of 2023 
and 2024 in all of these categories. This notice solicits nominations 
to fill anticipated vacancies in 2023, including for three new members 
of whom two will be from the general public and one will be from 
representatives of private organizations or groups demonstrating an 
active interest in the field of water hygiene and public water supply. 
EPA may also consider nominations received through this solicitation to 
fill anticipated vacancies in 2024, including for two new members of 
whom one will be from state and local agencies concerned with water 
hygiene and public water supply and one will be from representatives of 
private organizations or groups demonstrating an active interest in the 
field of water hygiene and public water supply associated with small, 
rural public water systems. EPA may also consider nominations received 
through this solicitation in the event of unanticipated vacancies on 
the Council, which may occur in any category. Other criteria used to 
evaluate nominees will include:
     Demonstrated experience with drinking water issues at the 
national, state, or local level, which can include experience with 
drinking water regulations, funding programs, infrastructure 
operations, and cross-cutting issues such as environmental justice, 
climate resiliency, capacity development, and public health emergencies 
as relates to drinking water;
     Demonstrated ability to work constructively on committees 
and/or in consensus-building processes;
     Availability and willingness to serve a three-year term as 
an active and contributing member; and
     Background and experience that would help members 
contribute to the diversity of expertise on the Council--e.g., 
geographic, economic, social, cultural, educational backgrounds, 
professional affiliations, and other considerations.
    Nominations must include (1) a resume or curriculum vitae, (2) a 
brief statement (one page or less) describing the nominee's interest in 
serving on the Council and addressing the criteria previously 
described, and (3) a short biography describing the qualifications of 
the nominee. Nominations should include the nominee's name, current 
business address or other mailing address, email address, and daytime 
telephone number. The DFO will use the email address provided for the 
nominee to acknowledge receipt of the nomination. If an email address 
is not available, the nomination should identify the nominee's 
preferred alternative means of contact.
    NDWAC members receive travel and per diem allowances, where 
appropriate and in accordance with Federal travel regulations, and 
receive compensation (if appropriate) for travel and while attending 
meetings. All NDWAC members serve as Special Government Employees 
(SGEs). Candidates invited to serve on the NDWAC will be asked to 
submit the ``Confidential Financial Disclosure Form for Environmental 
Protection Agency Special Government Employees'' (EPA Form 3110-48). 
This confidential form provides information to EPA's ethics officials, 
to determine whether there is a statutory conflict between a person's 
public responsibilities as an SGE member and private interests and 
activities, or the appearance of a loss of impartiality, as defined by 
federal laws and regulations. The form may be viewed at the link under 
``Ethics requirements'' on EPA's NDWAC website at https://www.epa.gov/ndwac. This form should not be submitted as part of a nomination.
    Other sources, in addition to this Federal Register announcement, 
may also be utilized in the solicitation of nominees. To help EPA 
evaluate the effectiveness of its outreach efforts, please tell us how 
you learned of this opportunity.

Jennifer L. McLain,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 2023-05109 Filed 3-10-23; 8:45 am]
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