SeptS, 1995

EPA-SAB-DWC-CON-95-001

Honorable Carol M. Browner
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC  20460

            Subject:     Notification of a Consultation with the Office of Ground
                        Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) on the Development
                        of the Groundwater Disinfection Rule
Dear Ms. Browner:

      The Drinking Water Committee (DWC) of the Science Advisory Board (SAB) met
on August 16-18, 1995, in part to conduct a consultation with staff from the Office of
Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) regarding EPA's development of the
groundwater disinfection rule mandated by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Initially, the
Agency staff presented this issue as a briefing to update the Committee on the
regulatory and research issues affecting development of the rule. However, during the
presentation, it became evident that the issue was sufficiently developed for meaningful
exchange between the Committee and the Agency, hence, the preparation of this
Notification of a Consultation.

      The SAB has developed the consultation  as a mechanism to advise the Agency
on technical issues that should be considered in the development of regulations,
guidelines, or technical guidance before the Agency has taken a position. A
consultation is conducted under the normal  requirements of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, which include advance notice of the public meeting in the Federal
Register.

      As is our customary practice, there will be no formal report from the SAB as a
result of this consultation, nor do we expect any  formal response from the Agency.
However, individual members of the panel may provide comments, or the Committee
may provide more guidance at a later date in a Commentary or through a formal review.
We look forward to reviewing this issue further in the future.

                                    Sincerely,
Dr. Genevieve M. Matanoski, Chair                Dr. Verne Ray, Chair
Executive Committee                            Drinking Water Committee

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