Safe DKIiMtlNG . Water HATi inr FY 2007 1st Quarter Report Water Lines SDW Hotline Report In This Issue What's New Did You Know. Quarterly Trend.. Frequently Asked Qs & As.. Hotline Stats. Top Ten Caller Topics .. , , Percent of T . Number of T . Topic „ .. Total r Questions _ .. Questions Tap Water Testing 324** 11 Lead 202 7 Coliforms 199 7 Stage 2 DBPR 190 6 Local Drinking Water Quality 188 6 LT2ESWTR 146 5 Home Water Treatment Units 142 5 Complaints About PWSs 122 4 Public Notification 120 4 Household Wells 104 4 *A total of 2,943 questions from callers were answered by the Hotline in the 1st Quarter of FY 2007. **Citizens who obtain their drinking water from private household wells asked 12 percent of the tap water testing questions. Calls and ECSS Incidents Calls*** ECSS Incidents**** Total 2,151 201 2,352 ***A single call may generate multiple questions. **** Incidents registered through EPA's Enterprise Customer Service Solution knowledge base at the OGWDW Web site. Published Quarterly See past reports at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/hotline Safe Drinking Water Hotline: National Toll-free No.: (800) 426-4791 For More Information Contact: Harriet Hubbard, EPA Project Officer (202) 564-4621 Operated by The Track Group / Booz Allen Hamilton Under Contract #GS-23F-0135N/1140 What's New New Publications: How-To Manual: Update and Enhance Your Local Source Water Protection Assessments (EPA816-K-06-004) is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/sourcewater/pubs/update enhance assessments.pdf. The memorandum Management of Aerators during Collection of Tap Samples to Comply with the Lead and Copper Rule from October 20, 2006, is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/pdfs/memo tapsamples-aerators 10202006.pdf. Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: Program Operations Manual - Provisional Edition (EPA816-B-06-007) is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf/pdfs/manual dwsrf programoperationalmanual.pdf. The DWSRF Guide to Understanding Audits (EPA816-K-06-007) is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf/pdfs/guide dwsrf understandingaudits.pdf. DWSRF Awards for Sustainable Public Health Protection brochure (EPA816-F- 06-046) and map are available at www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf. The Safe Drinking Water Hotline 2006 Annual Report and three quarterly reports are available at www.epa.gov/safewater/hotline/reports.html. System Partnership Solutions to Improve Public Health Protection, Volume II (EPA816-R-06-005) is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/smallsvs/pdfs/casestudies smallsvstems- capacitvdev svstempartnershipsolutions.pdf. UCMR 2: Fact Sheet for Assessment Monitoring for List 1 Contaminants (EPA815-F-06-005) is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/ucmr/ucmr2/pdfs/fs ucmr2 assessment.pdf. Did You Know? Over 200 million Americans currently drink water that has been disinfected (American Water Works Association). ------- 1st Quarter FY 2007 Calendar: Who? What? Where? When? More Information EPA Stage 2 DBPR and LT2ESWTR Compliance and Assistance Tools for Systems Web cast January 23 & 25, 2007 www.epa.gov/safewater/ disinfection/training.html EPA Stage 2 DBPR and LT2ESWTR Complete Rule Overview Web cast January 16 & 18, 2007 www.epa.gov/safewater/ disinfection/training.html EPA Total ColiformRule Technical Workshop Washington, DC January 30 - February 1, 2007 www.epa.gov/safewater/ disinfection/tcr/regulatio n revisions.html EPA Total ColiformRule Technical Workshop Preparatory Web cast Web cast January 17, 2007 www.epa.gov/safewater/ disinfection/tcr/regulatio n revisions.html NDWAC Public Meeting Fort Worth, TX December 14, 2006 EPA Listening Session on Exploring Bottled Water as an Alternative Compliance Option in Limited Situations for NTNCWs Washington, DC December 12, 2006 EPA Public Meeting to Discuss the Draft Simultaneous Compliance Guidance Manual for Stage 2 Rules Washington, DC October 26, 2006 EPA Drinking Water Security Workshops Various On-going www.epa.gov/safewater/ security DWA SDW Regulatory Compliance Training Various On-going www.epa.gov/safewater/ dwa/calendar.html Quarterly Trend In a continuing effort to make public water systems (PWSs) aware of requirements under the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule and the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, EPA sent out flyers to notify smaller public water systems of upcoming compliance dates as well as information concerning the registration process for the Data Collection and Tracking System (DCTS). The Safe Drinking Water Hotline received 190 questions regarding the Stage 2 Rule and 146 questions regarding the Long Term 2 Rule during the first quarter of FY 2007. The majority of these calls were generated by the flyers. Hotline staff worked closely with EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water staff to provide clarification on the applicability of the rules and references to EPA's Web site for additional information and guidance documents. Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1st Quarter Report 2 ------- 1st Quarter FY 2007 Frequently Asked Qs & As This section provides answers to frequently asked questions not necessarily represented in one of the Top Ten Topic categories. Q: Public water systems (PWSs) in Kentucky received a letter from EPA concerning compliance with the Radionuclides Rule. Should radionuclide monitoring data be submitted to the state or EPA? A: PWSs located in Kentucky should submit radionuclide data to EPA. The Commonwealth of Kentucky is currently developing regulations and undertaking actions required by EPA in order to receive legal authority to administer and enforce requirements of the Radionuclides Rule in Kentucky. Upon completion of this process and following the opportunity for public comment, EPA will make a determination of whether Kentucky meets federal requirements to have primary enforcement responsibility (primacy agency) for the requirements of the Radionuclides Rule. Until such time, EPA retains authority for regulating public water systems with respect to these requirements and taking enforcement actions as required by the Radionuclides Rule. Qs A consecutive ground water system serving fewer than 3,300 persons chooses the standard monitoring option for compliance with the Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE) requirement of the Stage 2 Disinfectant and Disinfection Byproducts (DBP) Rule. A consecutive ground water system serving fewer than 3,300 persons is required to have two standard monitoring locations for compliance with the IDSE standard monitoring option. One location should be a high TTHM location and the other should be a high HAA5 location (40 CFR 141.601 (b)). However, the Initial Distribution System Evaluation Guide for Systems Serving Fewer Than 10,000 People For the Final Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (EPA815-B-06-001, January 2006) contains a statement on page 5-6 that consecutive groundwater systems serving fewer than 3,300 persons must monitor at or near the connection to the wholesale system indicating a third monitoring location is required. Is this system required to have two or three standard monitoring locations. Qs When a required LT2 parameter for a specific sampling date (Cryptosporidium, E. coli, or turbidity) is missing, must a public water system (PWS) resample for all three parameters or only the missing parameter? As If a system is unable to report a valid analytical result for a scheduled sampling date due to equipment failure, loss of or damage to the sample, failure to comply with the analytical method requirements, or the failure of an approved laboratory to analyze the sample, then the system must collect a replacement sample. PWSs must resample when a required parameter is missing (40 CFR 141,702(b)(2)(i)). However, if a system must resample for Cryptosporidium, EPA recommends that you also resample for E. Coli and turbidity. Monitoring results with sample collection dates that do not comply with the schedule entered into the Data Collection and Tracking System (DCTS) by the PWS before monitoring began will be flagged. The PWS must enter an explanation in the comments field on the DCTS to inform the reviewer of the reason for the resample (Source Water Monitoring Guidance Manual For Public Water Systems For The Final Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, EPA815-R-06-005, February 2006). Qs What is the definition of "finished water" as it pertains to the Stage 2 DBP Rule? As Finished water is water that has been introduced into the distribution system of a public water system and is intended for distribution and consumption without further treatment, except as necessary to maintain water quality in the distribution system (e.g., booster disinfection, addition of corrosion control chemicals) (71 FR 388, 409; January 4, 2006). Qs Is there a regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act that requires drinking water from a PWS to meet a specified temperature? As There is no regulatory standard for the temperature of drinking water. As Consecutive ground water systems serving fewer than 3,300 persons are required to have two standard monitoring locations as indicated in 40 CFR 141.601 (b)(1). This system does not have to include a sampling location at or near the connection to the wholesale system. Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1st Quarter Report 3 ------- 1st Quarter FY 2007 Quarterly Summary of Hotline Service Total number of calls answered 2,151 Total number of ECSS incidents 201 Average wait time (in seconds) 46 Percent of calls satisfied immediately 99.9% Percent of all calls answered in < 5 min 94.9% Percent of callbacks answered in 5 days 100% Number of times callers were transferred to the WSC Wellcare Hotline 539 Number of times callers listened to recorded message about CCRs 260 Number of times callers listened to recorded message about local drinking water quality for PWS customers 381 Number of times callers listened to recorded message about tap water testing and quality for household well owners 257 Number of times callers listened to recorded message about tap water testing for PWS customers 486 Comparison to Previous Year Calls ECSS Incidents 1st Quarter FY 2007 2,151 201 1st Quarter FY 2006 2,204 192 Top Ten Referrals Inquiry Referred to: Number of Referrals Percent of Total* Referrals *A total of 1,190 referrals to other resources, agencies, and organizations were provided by the Hotline in the 1st Quarter of FY 2007. EPA Internet 223 19 State Lab Certification 195 16 Local Water System 181 15 State PWSS 161 14 NSF/WQA/UL 98 8 Combined Regions 51 4 AGWT/WSC 47 4 Other Hotlines 36 3 EPA HQ OGWDW 30 3 FDA/I BWA 24 2 Customer Profiles Customer Calls Analytical Laboratories 30 Citizen - Private Well 132 Citizen - PWS 1129 Consultants/lndustry/Trade (DW) 143 Consultants/lndustry/Trade (Other) 46 Environmental Groups 2 EPA 22 Other Federal Agency 16 Government, Local 11 Government, State 29 Government, Tribal 2 Spanish Speaking 20 International 7 Media 1 Medical Professional 8 Public Water System 408 Schools/University 58 Other 87 TOTALS 2,151 ECSS Incident Topics Topic Number of Incidents Arsenic 5 Bottled Water 6 Compliance/Issues (PWS) 19 Consumer Concerns 22 Contaminants and Standards 33 Definitions 11 Facts, Figures, and Databases 10 Household Wells 17 Other 49 Local Drinking Water Quality 8 Long Term 2 ESWT Rule 6 Source Water Protection 2 Stage 2 D/DBP Rule 9 Tap Water Testing 4 TOTALS 201 Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1st Quarter Report 4 ------- 1st Quarter FY 2007 Caller Question Topics Topics Number of Questions Microbials/Disinfection Byproducts Chlorine 26 Coliforms 199 Cryptosporidium 20 Disinfection/Disinfection Byproducts (Other) 27 Long Term 2 ESWTR 146 Other Microbials 22 Stage 2 D/DBPR 190 Surface Water Treatment (SWTR, ESWTR, LT1FBR) 10 Trihalomethane (THM) 19 Home Water Disinfection 9 Home Water Storage 5 Inorganic Chemicals (IOC)/Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOC) Arsenic 47 Fluoride 27 Methyl-ferf/'a/y-butyl-ether(MTBE) 6 Perchlorate 1 Phase I, II & V 13 Sodium Monitoring 6 Sulfate 0 Lead and Copper Copper 33 Lead 202 Lead Contamination Control Act (LCCA)/Lead Ban 16 Radionuclides Radionuclides (Other) 63 Radionuclides (Radon) 51 Secondary DW Regulations Secondary DW Regulations 88 SDWA Background/Overview Definitions & Applicability 40 MCL List 94 Other Background 53 SDWA 85 Topics Number of Questions Water on Tap 1 Other DW Regulations Analytical Methods (DW) 26 Contaminant Candidate List/ Drinking Water Priority List 12 Consumer Confidence Report (DW) 97 DW Primacy (PWS) 9 Operator (PWS) Certification 10 Other Drinking Water Security 6 Public Notification (PWS) 120 Security Planning Grants 1 State Revolving Fund (DW) 6 Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) 17 Other Drinking Water Additives Program 3 Bottled Water 46 Complaints about PWS 122 Compliance & Enforcement (PWS) 25 Home Water Treatment Units 142 Infrastructure/Cap. Development 17 Local DW Quality 188 Tap Water Testing 324 Treatment/BATs (DW) 2 Drinking Water Source Protection Ground Water Rule 12 Sole Source Aquifer 3 Source Water/Wellhead Protection 8 UIC Program 19 Out of Purview Household Wells 104 Non-Environmental 55 Non-EPA Environmental 19 Other EPA (Programs) 51 TOTALS 2,943 EPA DISCLAIMER Answers to questions in the Safe Drinking Water Hotline quarterly report are intended to be purely informational and are based on SDWA provisions, EPA regulations, guidance, and established policy effective at the time of publication. The answers given reflect EPA staffs best judgment at the time and do not represent a final or official EPA interpretation. This report does not substitute for the applicable provisions of statutes and regulations, guidance, etc., nor is it a regulation itself. Thus, it does not impose legally-binding requirements on EPA, States, or the regulated community. An answer to a question in this report may be revised at any time to reflect EPA's revisions to existing regulations, changes in EPA's approach to interpreting its regulations or statutory authority, or for other reasons. EPA may provide a different answer to a question in this report in the future. Also, an answer provided in this report may not apply to a particular situation based upon the circumstances. Any decisions regarding a particular case will be made based on the applicable statutes and regulations. Therefore, interested parties are free to raise questions and objections about the appropriateness of the application of an answer in this report to a particular situation, and EPA will consider whether or not the recommendations or interpretations in the answer are accurate and appropriate in that situation. The information in this report is not intended, nor can it be relied upon, to create any rights enforceable by any party in litigation with the United States. Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1st Quarter Report 5 ------- SAFE DRINKING WATER HOTLINE QUARTERLY REPORT First Quarter FY 2007 Appendix A: Federal Register Summaries FINAL RULES "National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Ground Water Rule; Final Rule" November 8, 2006 (71 FR 65574) EPA promulgated a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, the Ground Water Rule, to provide for increased protection against microbial pathogens in public water systems that use ground water sources. The Ground Water Rule establishes a risk-targeted approach to target ground water systems that are susceptible to fecal contamination, instead of requiring disinfection for all ground water systems. The occurrence of fecal indicators in a drinking water supply is an indication of the potential presence of microbial pathogens that may pose a threat to public health. This rule requires ground water systems that are at risk of fecal contamination to take corrective action to reduce cases of illnesses and deaths due to exposure to microbial pathogens. A key objective of the rule is to protect public health by requiring these higher risk ground water sources to monitor and, when necessary, take corrective action. Corrective action can include correcting all significant deficiencies; providing an alternate source of water; eliminating the source of contamination; or providing treatment that reliably achieves at least 99.99 percent (4-log) treatment of viruses (using inactivation, removal, or a state-approved combination of 4-log virus inactivation and removal) for each contaminated ground water source. This final rule was effective on January 8, 2007. CORRECTIONS "National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Ground Water Rule; Correction" November 21, 2006 (71 FR 67427) This rule made corrections to the table of analytical methods for source water monitoring in the Ground Water Rule. NOTICES "National Drinking Water Advisory Council: Request for Nominations" October 4, 2006 (71 FR 58600) EPA invited all interested persons to nominate qualified individuals to serve a three-year term as members of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (Council). This 15-member Council was established by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to provide practical and independent advice, consultation, and recommendations to the Agency on the activities, functions, policies, and regulations required by the SDWA. The terms of four members expire in December 2006. To maintain the representation required in the statute, nominees for the 2007 Council should represent State and local officials concerned with public water supply and public health protection (two vacancies) or represent the general public (two vacancies). All nominations will Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1st Quarter Report 6 ------- be fully considered, but applicants need to be aware of the specific representation needed as well as geographical balance so that all major areas of the U.S. (East, Mid-West, South, Mountain, South-West, and West) will be represented. Nominations were to be submitted on or before November 15, 2006. "Public Water System Supervision Program Revision for the State of Utah" October 12, 2006 (71 FR 60145) The State of Utah has revised its Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) Primacy Program by adopting federal regulations for the Arsenic Rule and Filter Backwash Recycling Rule, which correspond to 40 CFR Parts 141 and 142. EPA has completed its review of these revisions in accordance with SDWA, and proposes to approve Utah's primacy revisions for the above stated Rules. This approval action does not extend to public water systems in Indian country, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 1151. The comment period for this proposal was extended until November 13, 2006. "Request for Nominations of Drinking Water Contaminants for the Contaminant Candidate List" October 16, 2006 (71 FR 6074) EPA requested nominations of chemical and microbial contaminants for possible inclusion in the third drinking water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 3). EPA is also requested information that shows the nominated contaminant may have an adverse health effect on people and the contaminant occurs or is likely to occur in public water systems. Nominations must have been received on or before December 15, 2006. "Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Community Water System Survey 2006" October 19, 2006 (71 FR 61766) EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12. On June 1, 2006, (71 FR 31176-31177), EPA sought comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received two comments during the comment period, which are addressed in the ICR. Any additional comments on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice. Comments must be submitted by November 20, 2006. "Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; 2007 Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment; Agency Information Collection" October 25, 2006 (71 FR 64239) The purpose of this information collection is to identify the infrastructure needs of community public water systems for the 20-year period from January 2007 through December 2027. EPA will use a questionnaire to collect capital investment need information from large (serving more than 100,000 people) and medium (serving more than 3,300 people but less than 100,000) Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1st Quarter Report 7 ------- community water systems. The questionnaire will also be used by EPA survey teams in visits to 400 to 600 statistically-selected small (serving less than 3,300 people) community water systems to ascertain their infrastructure needs. Participation in the survey is voluntary. The data from the questionnaires will provide EPA with a basis for estimating the nationwide infrastructure needs of community water systems. Also, as mandated by Section 1452(a)(l)(D)(ii) of the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA uses the results of the latest survey to allocate Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) monies to the states. Under the allotment formula, each State receives a grant of the annual DWSRF appropriation in proportion to its share of the total national need—with the proviso that each state receives at least 1 percent of the total funds available. "Notice of Tentative Approval and Solicitation of Request for a Public Hearing for Public Water System Supervision Program Revision for the Commonwealth of Virginia" October 30, 2006 (71 FR 63321) The Commonwealth of Virginia is revising its approved Public Water System Supervision Program. Virginia has adopted the Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule to improve control of microbial pathogens in drinking water, including specifically the protozoan Cryptosporidium. EPA has determined that these revisions are no less stringent than the corresponding federal regulations. Therefore, EPA has decided to tentatively approve these program revisions. All interested parties are invited to submit written comments on this determination and may request a public hearing. Effective date for this approval is November 29, 2006. "Listening Session on Exploring Bottled Water as an Alternative Compliance Option in Limited Situations for Non-Transient, Non-Community Water Systems" November 15, 2006 (71 FR 6651) EPA announced a listening session on the viability of bottled water as an alternative compliance option for chronic contaminants regulated under the SDWA. The purpose of this meeting is to identify information and data needed for EPA to evaluate the efficacy of bottled water as an alternative compliance option for non-transient, non-community water systems. The listening session was to be held in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, December 12, 2006, at RESOLVE. "Public Water System Supervision Program Revisions for the State of Minnesota; Notice of Approval" November 17, 2006 (71 FR 66946) Minnesota has revised the following rules: Consumer Confidence Reports; Lead and Copper Technical Corrections; Synthetic Organic Chemicals/Inorganic Chemicals (SOC/IOC) Technical Amendments; Analytical Methods Technical Corrections; Analytical Methods for Radionuclides; Point of Use Devices; Public Water Supply (PWS) Definition; Administrative Penalty Order (APO) Authority; and Variances and Exemptions for compliance with National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Rule. EPA has determined that these revisions by the State are no Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1st Quarter Report 8 ------- less stringent than the corresponding Federal regulations. Therefore, EPA intends to approve these revisions to the State of Minnesota's Public Water System Supervision Program. The effective date for this action is December 18, 2006. "Meeting of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council—Notice of Public Meeting" November 21, 2006 (71 FR 67349) EPA gave notice of a public meeting of the NDWAC. The primary topics to be discussed and considered by the Council are the issues and challenges facing the thousands of small drinking water systems nationwide. Status reports on other national drinking water program issues, such as the approach to a draft rule for drinking water supplies on airlines; the early implementation of the rules protecting drinking water supplies from microbial contaminants; the recently- promulgated Ground Water Rule; revisions to the existing Total Coliform Rule; and implementation recommendations for the Contaminant Candidate List 3. The meeting was to be held December 14, 2006, in Fort Worth, TX. "Public Water System Supervision Program Revisions for the State of Texas" November 22, 2006 (71 FR 67579) Texas is revising its approved Public Water System Supervision Program. Texas has adopted the Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions (LCRMR), the Filter Backwash Recycling Rule (FBRR), and the Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT1ESWTR). EPA has determined that the proposed LCRMR, FBRR and LT1ESWTR revisions submitted by Texas are no less stringent than the corresponding federal regulation. Therefore, EPA intends to approve the program revisions. The effective date for this action was December 22, 2006. "Notice of Tentative Approval and Solicitation of Request for a Public Hearing for Public Water System Supervision Program Revision for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" November 24, 2006 (71 FR 67865) Pennsylvania has revised its approved Public Water System Supervision Program. Pennsylvania has adopted a Radionuclides Rule to establish a new maximum contaminant level (MCL) for uranium and revise monitoring requirements. EPA has determined that these revisions are no less stringent than the corresponding federal regulations. Therefore, EPA has decided to tentatively approve these program revisions. It is noted that Pennsylvania's regulations in 25 Pa. Code 109 do not specifically provide for the use of bottled water as a means for a water system to qualify for a variance or exemption for radionuclides; thus, the Commonwealth interprets this to mean that the practice is disallowed. The effective date for this action was December 26, 2006. Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1st Quarter Report 9 ------- "Formal Reopening of the EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room" November 24, 2006 (71 FR 67864) The EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) houses eight consolidated paper docket facilities and includes a Public Reading Room, offering a variety of tools for members of the public seeking access to hardcopy or electronic public dockets. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room, which was temporarily closed due to flooding, formally reopened on November 6, 2006. Current information on docket operations, locations, and telephone numbers is available on the EPA Docket Center Web site at www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm. The Water Docket, including all docket information pertaining to SDWA regulations, is one of the affected dockets. The URL is www.epa.gov/ow/docket.html. "Notice of Approval of the Primacy Application for National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for the State of Kansas" December 11, 2006 (71 FR 71542) EPA has determined to approve an application by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to incorporate the following EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Arsenic and Clarifications to Compliance and New Source Contaminants Monitoring; Consumer Confidence Reports Rule; Filter Backwash Recycling Rule; Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule; Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions; Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule; Public Notification Rule; Radionuclides Rule; and Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule. EPA has determined that Kansas's regulations are no less stringent than the corresponding Federal regulations and that Kansas continues to meet all requirements for primary enforcement responsibility. The effective date for this action was January 10, 2007 "Notice of Approval of the Primacy Application for National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for the State of Nebraska" December 11, 2006 (71 FR 71541) EPA has determined to approve an application by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to incorporate the following EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Arsenic and Clarifications to Compliance and New Source Monitoring Rule; Filter Backwash Recycling Rule; Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions; Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule; Public Notification Rule; Radionuclides Rule; and Variance and Exemption Rule. The effective date for this action was January 10, 2007. "Semiannual Regulatory Agenda, Fall 2006" December 11, 2006 (71 FR 73848) EPA publishes the semiannual regulatory agenda to update the public about regulations and major policies currently under development, reviews of existing regulations and major policies, and rules and major policymakings completed or canceled since the last agenda. Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1st Quarter Report 10 ------- "Total Coliform Rule / Distribution System Stakeholder Technical Workshop and Request for Nominations" December 28, 2006 (71 FR 78203) EPA held a technical workshop in Washington, DC, to discuss available information on the Total Coliform Rule (TCR) and available information regarding risks in distribution systems in support of revisions to the TCR. If results from the workshop indicate that a formal consensus building process is appropriate for the revision effort, the Agency will consider establishing a Committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide advice and recommendations on how best to utilize available information for potential revisions to the TCR and to address public health risks from contamination of distribution systems. In addition, such a Committee could provide recommendations to determine if further information is needed to be collected to address health risks associated with distribution systems. To prepare in advance for the potential establishment of a Federal Advisory Committee, EPA is soliciting nominations for membership on the Committee in this notice. The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 30, 2007, through Thursday, February 1, 2007. Submit nominations for a potential Federal Advisory Committee on or before January 29, 2007. 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