Safe DKIiMtlNG . Water HATi inr FY 2007 2nd Quarter Report Water Lines SDW Hotline Report In This Issue What's New 1 Did You Know 1 Quarterly Trend 2 Frequently Asked Qs & As 3 Hotline Stats 5 Appendix A 7 Top Ten Caller Topics Number of Questions Percent of Topic Total* Questions Tap Water Testing 287** 13 Local Drinking Water Quality 180 8 Lead 141 6 CCR 135 6 Stage 2 DBPR 116 5 Household Wells 92 4 Home Water Treatment Units 90 4 Complaints About PWSs 82 4 Public Notification 79 4 UCMR 74 3 *A total of 2,241 questions from callers were answered by the Hotline in the 2nd 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 Questions and Comments Calls*** ECSS Questions**** Total 1,927 179 2,106 ***A single call may generate multiple questions. **** Questions registered through EPA's Enterprise Customer Service Solution knowledge base at the OGWDW Web site. Published Quarterly See past reports at http://intranet.epa.gov/ow/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: Arsenic in your Drinking Water - Just the Facts for Consumers (EPA816-F-07- 002, March 2007) is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/arsenic/pdfs/fs arsenic iustthefactsforconsumers.pdf. Complying with the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule: Small Entity Compliance Guide (EPA815-R-07-015, February 2007) is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/disinfection/lt2/pdfs/guide It2 stepguide smallentitvcomp lianceguide.pdf. Complying with the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule: Small Entity Compliance Guide (EPA815-R-07-014, February 2007) is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/disinfection/stage2/pdfs/guide st2 stepguide smallentitv complianceguide.pdf. Final UIC Program Guidance #83, Using the Class V Experimental Technology Well Classification for Pilot Carbon Geologic Sequestration Projects, is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/pdfs/guide uic carbonseguestration final-03- 07.pdf. The draft agenda for the second workshop on the development of regulations for aircraft public water systems is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/airlinewater/reg meetings.html. Presentations from the total coliform rule distribution system stakeholder technical workshop are available at www.epa.gov/safewater/disinfection/tcr/regulation revisions.html. Drinking Water State Revolving Fund National Information Management System (DWNIMS) data from 2006 is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf/dwnims.html. Reference Guide for the Second Cycle of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR 2) (EPA815-R-06-016, December 2006) is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/ucmr/ucmr2/pdfs/guide ucmr2 referrenceguide.pdf. Did You Know? The three primary chemical agents used in chlorine disinfection are: free chlorine, chloramine (chlorine and ammonia bonded together), and chlorine dioxide (chlorine and oxygen bonded together) (American Water Works Association). ------- 2nd Quarter FY 2007 Calendar: Who? What? Where? When? More Information EPA Workshop on the Development of Regulations for Aircraft Public Water Systems Arlington, VA March 28 & 29, 2007 www.epa.gov/safewater/ airlinewater/regmeeting s.html EPA Implementation Overview for the Second Cycle of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR 2) Web cast February 8, 13, & 21, 2007 www.epa.gov/safewater/ ucmr/calendar.html EPA Total ColiformRule Technical Workshop Washington, DC January 30 - February 1, 2007 www.epa.gov/safewater/ disinfection/tcr/regulatio n revisions.html 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 Total ColiformRule Technical Workshop Preparatory Web cast Web cast January 17, 2007 www.epa.gov/safewater/ disinfection/tcr/regulatio n revisions.html EPA Stage 2 DBPR and LT2ESWTR Complete Rule Overview Web cast January 16 & 18, 2007 www.epa.gov/safewater/ disinfection/training, html 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 On January 4, 2007, EPA published the final Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR 2). Shortly after publication of the final rule, EPA sent out notices to large (those serving 100,000 persons or more) public water systems (PWSs) that would be required to monitor under UCMR 2. A previous letter, sent out on August 28, 2006, contained the customer retrieval key (CRK) for each PWS. Systems were urged to use their CRK to register in the central data exchange (CDX) to input information into the Safe Drinking Water Accession and Review System (SDWARS) for UCMR 2. During the second quarter of FY 2007, the Hotline received 74 calls from PWSs concerning the CRK and the applicability of UCMR 2. Hotline staff worked closely with EPA's Technical Support Center (TSC) in Cincinnati, OH to assist PWSs and laboratories with implementation of the UCMR 2. Safe Drinking Water Hotline 2nd Quarter Report 2 ------- 2nd 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: EPA has developed an electronic data reporting system for public water systems (PWSs) subject to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation 2 (UCMR 2). This reporting system, the Safe Drinking Water Accession and Review System (SDWARS), has been pre-populated with large system sample location inventory, such as PWS identification number, name, facility identification, source water type, and sample point identification, name, and type. Where did this inventory information come from? A: EPA pre-populated the large system sample location inventory for UCMR 2 using recent large system information provided by some states. In addition, inventory information from the SDWARS, version 1.0 used during UCMR 1 and some information from the Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) was used. PWSs are responsible for verifying and correcting this inventory information as well as adding any new facility information or sampling points. Systems have 210 days from the publication of the January 4, 2007, final UCMR 2 Rule (i.e., until August 2, 2007) to complete this process. This information and other essential elements of UCMR 2 can be found in the Reference Guide for the Second Cycle of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (EPA815-R-06-016, December 2006), available at www.epa.gov/safewater/ucmr/ucmr2/pdfs/quide ucmr2 refe rre n ceq u id e. pdf. Q: Is it possible to edit the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation 2 (UCMR 2) public water system (PWS) inventory data that is pre-populated in the Safe Drinking Water Accession and Review System (SDWARS)? A: Systems have until August 2, 2007 to revise sampling location and monitoring schedules in SDWARS. After August 2, 2007, a system must notify EPA directly if there are sampling location or inventory changes, or if the system cannot sample according to the established schedule. Q: The Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR) 1 Monitoring Program was comprised of three separate lists of contaminants. Is there a Pre-Screen Testing List (List 3) of contaminants under UCMR 2? A: Pre-Screen Testing, the third tier of UCMR monitoring that is designed for priority "List 3" contaminants, is not required under UCMR 2. EPA retained the regulatory language that supports Pre-Screen Testing authority as part of the three-tiered UCMR framework. If EPA decides to include Pre-Screen Testing, EPA will initiate a rulemaking action to propose List 3 contaminants and their associated analytical methods (72 FR 368, 371; January 4, 2007). Q: A consecutive system is a public water system (PWS) that receives some or all of its finished water from one or more wholesale systems (40 CFR 141.2). Are consecutive systems subject to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 2 (UCMR 2)? A: Consecutive community water systems (CWSs) and consecutive non-transient non-community water systems (NTNCWSs) that purchase all of their finished water from another system are not subject to UCMR 2. CWSs and NTNCWSs that do not purchase their entire water supply as finished water from another PWS must monitor according to the applicable requirements (40 CFR 141.40(a)(2)). Q: When is a public water system (PWS) required to monitor for beta particles and photon emitters? A: Beta particle and photon radioactivity monitoring will be performed only by community water systems (CWSs) designated by the state as "vulnerable" or "contaminated." CWSs (both surface and ground water) designated by the state as vulnerable must collect quarterly samples for beta emitters and annual samples for tritium and strontium-90 at each entry point to the distribution system, beginning within one quarter after being notified by the state. Systems already designated by the state must continue to sample until the state reviews and either reaffirms or removes the designation. CWSs (both surface and ground water) designated by the state as utilizing waters contaminated by effluents from nuclear facilities must collect quarterly samples for beta emitters and iodine-131 and annual samples for tritium and strontium-90 at each entry point to the distribution system, beginning within one quarter after being notified by the state until the state reviews and either reaffirms or removes the designation (40 CFR 141.26(b)). Q: What are the requirements for becoming certified as an operator of a public water system (PWS)? Does EPA have some sort of test procedure? A: EPA does not provide PWS operator certification. Pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of Safe Drinking Water Hotline 2nd Quarter Report 3 ------- 2nd Quarter FY 2007 1996, EPA developed and issued guidelines specifying minimum standards for certification and recertification of the operators of community and non-transient, non- community PWSs. States are required to implement these guidelines or an equivalent state program. In addition, EPA will reimburse the training and certification costs for operators of smaller systems (those serving less than 3,300 persons) by providing grants to states. Information about the operator certification program is available at www.epa.qov/safewater/opcert/opcert.htm. Safe Drinking Water Hotline 2nd Quarter Report 4 ------- 2nd Quarter FY 2007 Quarterly Summary of Hotline Service Total number of calls answered 1,927 Total number of ECSS question and comments 179 Average wait time (in seconds) 63 Percent of calls satisfied immediately 99.9% Percent of all calls answered in < 5 min 89.9% Percent of callbacks answered in 5 days 100% Number of times callers were transferred to the WSC Wellcare Hotline 492 Number of times callers listened to recorded message about CCRs 270 Number of times callers listened to recorded message about local drinking water quality for PWS customers 391 Number of times callers listened to recorded message about tap water testing and quality for household well owners 268 Number of times callers listened to recorded message about tap water testing for PWS customers 497 Comparison to Previous Year ECSS Questions and Comments 2nd Quarter FY 2007 1,927 179 2nd Quarter FY 2006 2,242 241 Top Ten Referrals Number of Referrals Percent of Inquiry Referred to: Total* Referrals State Lab Certification 182 21 State PWSS 139 16 Local Water System 129 15 EPA Internet 89 10 NSF/WQA/UL 77 9 AGWT/WSC 53 6 Combined Regions 42 5 Other Hotlines 29 3 FDA/I BWA 24 3 Local Public Health 12 1 *A total of873 referrals to other resources, agencies, and organizations were provided by the Hotline in the 2nd Quarter of FY 2007. Customer Profiles Customer Calls Analytical Laboratories 27 Citizen - Private Well 121 Citizen - PWS 1036 Consultants/lndustry/Trade (DW) 147 Consultants/lndustry/Trade (Other) 37 Environmental Groups 3 EPA 18 Other Federal Agency 13 Government, Local 12 Government, State 35 Government, Tribal 2 Spanish Speaking 21 International 3 Media 4 Medical Professional 6 Public Water System 332 Schools/University 34 Other 76 TOTALS 1,927 ECSS Activities Number of Questions and Comments Arsenic 6 Bottled Water 5 Compliance/Issues (PWS) 12 Consumer Concerns 17 Contaminants and Standards 35 Definitions 4 Facts, Figures, and Databases 5 Household Wells 16 Other 36 Local Drinking Water Quality 24 Long Term 2 ESWT Rule 5 Source Water Protection 3 Stage 2 D/DBP Rule 7 Tap Water Testing 4 TOTALS 179 Safe Drinking Water Hotline 2nd Quarter Report 5 ------- 2nd Quarter FY 2007 Caller Question Topics Topics Number of Questions Microbials/Disinfection Byproducts Chlorine 29 Coliforms 72 Cryptosporidium 14 Disinfection/Disinfection Byproducts (Other) 25 Long Term 2 ESWTR 48 Other Microbials 22 Stage 2 D/DBPR 116 Surface Water Treatment (SWTR, ESWTR, LT1FBR) 6 Trihalomethane (THM) 11 Home Water Disinfection 9 Home Water Storage 9 Inorganic Chemicals (IOC)/Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOC) Arsenic 25 Fluoride 25 Methyl-ferf/'a/y-butyl-ether(MTBE) 2 Perchlorate 2 Phase I, II & V 43 Sodium Monitoring 6 Sulfate 0 Lead and Copper Copper 14 Lead 141 Lead Contamination Control Act (LCCA)/Lead Ban 8 Radionuclides Radionuclides (Other) 46 Radionuclides (Radon) 61 Secondary DW Regulations Secondary DW Regulations 35 SDWA Background/Overview Definitions & Applicability 22 MCL List 72 Other Background 41 SDWA 59 Topics Number of Questions Water on Tap 0 Other DW Regulations Analytical Methods (DW) 22 Contaminant Candidate List/ Drinking Water Priority List 6 Consumer Confidence Report (DW) 135 DW Primacy (PWS) 3 Operator (PWS) Certification 13 Other Drinking Water Security 6 Public Notification (PWS) 79 Security Planning Grants 0 State Revolving Fund (DW) 0 Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) 74 Other Drinking Water Additives Program 14 Bottled Water 37 Complaints about PWS 82 Compliance & Enforcement (PWS) 31 Home Water Treatment Units 90 Infrastructure/Cap. Development 3 Local DW Quality 180 Tap Water Testing 287 Treatment/BATs (DW) 11 Drinking Water Source Protection Ground Water Rule 13 Sole Source Aquifer 5 Source Water/Wellhead Protection 17 UIC Program 9 Out of Purview Household Wells 92 Non-Environmental 20 Non-EPA Environmental 21 Other EPA (Programs) 28 TOTALS 2,241 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 2nd Quarter Report 6 ------- 2nd Quarter FY 2007 ECSS Service Summary Date Searches Answers Viewed Sessions Hits Web Questions 1/1/2007 67 85 75 240 3 1/2/2007 91 88 99 279 3 1/3/2007 60 110 111 288 3 1/4/2007 173 195 129 496 2 1/5/2007 120 102 112 320 1 1/6/2007 7 64 80 137 1 1/7/2007 62 48 124 387 0 1/8/2007 96 130 141 371 2 1/9/2007 114 118 113 341 4 1/10/2007 62 104 163 482 2 1/11/2007 44 124 108 278 0 1/12/2007 59 78 109 282 6 1/13/2007 45 77 85 218 5 1/14/2007 15 59 72 133 0 1/15/2007 112 208 132 470 5 1/16/2007 155 189 117 530 3 1/17/2007 147 138 218 673 3 1/18/2007 82 112 121 331 3 1/19/2007 92 107 138 340 0 1/20/2007 27 81 144 428 1 1/21/2007 39 101 108 250 2 1/22/2007 115 137 110 357 1 1/23/2007 115 132 174 603 1 1/24/2007 182 156 142 469 1 1/25/2007 99 109 145 353 2 1/26/2007 58 67 121 248 2 1/27/2007 46 50 89 162 3 1/28/2007 45 58 89 173 1 1/29/2007 192 138 124 497 7 1/30/2007 90 88 129 292 3 1/31/2007 71 147 283 431 5 2/1/2007 49 81 108 236 2 2/2/2007 60 134 106 295 3 2/3/2007 16 58 83 152 0 2/4/2007 47 62 79 200 0 2/5/2007 108 125 101 324 0 2/6/2007 84 137 133 343 1 2/7/2007 97 111 104 316 3 2/8/2007 96 135 130 375 4 2/9/2007 65 89 114 239 1 2/10/2007 63 81 112 253 0 2/11/2007 49 53 63 169 2 2/12/2007 82 135 136 333 0 2/13/2007 72 114 114 314 1 2/14/2007 35 109 122 245 1 2/15/2007 68 95 116 276 3 2/16/2007 53 165 186 363 4 2/17/2007 15 80 90 172 1 2/18/2007 9 38 52 92 0 2/19/2007 61 73 101 224 1 2/20/2007 121 86 120 358 3 Safe Drinking Water Hotline 2nd Quarter Report 7 ------- 2nd Quarter FY 2007 Date Searches Answers Viewed Sessions Hits Web Questions 2/21/2007 49 102 143 279 4 2/22/2007 176 120 142 458 4 2/23/2007 18 93 123 223 0 2/24/2007 23 99 123 216 3 2/25/2007 23 98 101 202 0 2/26/2007 65 144 129 330 2 2/27/2007 130 169 146 448 4 2/28/2007 93 152 141 397 2 3/1/2007 39 84 147 238 2 3/2/2007 44 238 174 418 3 3/3/2007 42 103 119 230 0 3/4/2007 34 128 107 247 0 3/5/2007 88 159 267 479 2 3/6/2007 89 139 241 461 6 3/7/2007 76 130 286 440 2 3/8/2007 56 435 1,110 1,264 2 3/9/2007 43 91 123 239 3 3/10/2007 20 83 91 159 0 3/11/2007 48 92 200 249 0 3/12/2007 45 405 490 995 1 3/13/2007 112 109 150 346 2 3/14/2007 69 206 273 434 0 3/15/2007 106 146 136 348 1 3/16/2007 62 110 115 245 1 3/17/2007 14 146 143 246 0 3/18/2007 45 55 62 162 1 3/19/2007 70 74 184 316 3 3/20/2007 72 124 177 335 2 3/21/2007 71 180 177 380 1 3/22/2007 74 206 238 431 2 3/23/2007 63 179 233 383 0 3/24/2007 22 97 195 240 0 3/25/2007 30 100 156 246 0 3/26/2007 62 157 152 345 2 3/27/2007 97 201 240 490 3 3/28/2007 72 137 168 371 5 3/29/2007 100 118 166 383 5 3/30/2007 74 161 171 394 5 3/31/2007 17 145 314 351 1 TOTAL 6,365 11,076 13,928 30,556 179 Searches: The number of searches performed. Answers Viewed: The total number of times Answers were viewed. This represents the number of Answer pages viewed. That is, if only one Answer was selected, but it was viewed ten times, the Answers Viewed value would be ten. Sessions: The number of sessions for the time unit specified. A session is use of the end-user pages. A session ends when the end-user enters a 100% satisfaction rating for an Answer, submits an Ask a Question request, leaves the end-user pages, or a two-hour period of time has elapsed, whichever comes first. Hits: The number of page turns during the time period selected for the report. Web Questions: The number of questions generated from an Ask a Question request. Safe Drinking Water Hotline 2nd Quarter Report 8 ------- SAFE DRINKING WATER HOTLINE QUARTERLY REPORT Second Quarter FY 2007 Appendix A: Federal Register Summaries FINAL RULES "Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR) for Public Water Systems Revisions; Final Rule" January 4, 2007 (72 FR 367) The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), as amended in 1996, requires EPA to establish criteria for a program to monitor unregulated contaminants and to publish a list of contaminants to be monitored every five years. EPA published the first set of contaminants in 1999. This final regulation meets the SDWA requirement by publishing the next set of unregulated contaminants to be monitored and the requirements for such monitoring. This final rule describes the design for the second Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR) cycle (i.e., UCMR 2) of 2007-2011. EPA is requiring monitoring of 25 chemicals using 5 different analytical methods. UCMR 2 monitoring will occur during 2008- 2010. Implementation of this final rule will benefit the environment by providing EPA and other interested parties with scientifically valid data on the occurrence of these contaminants in drinking water, thereby permitting the assessment of the population potentially being exposed and the levels of that exposure. These data are the primary source of occurrence and exposure data for EPA to determine whether to regulate these contaminants. The effective date for this action is February 5, 2007. "Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants Under the Clean Water Act; National Primary Drinking Water Regulations; and National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations; Analysis and Sampling Procedures; Final Rule" March 12, 2007 (72 FR 11199) This rule modifies the testing procedures approved for analysis and sampling under the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA proposed these changes for public comment on August 18, 2003, and April 6, 2004. This rule also changes regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act that establish drinking water sampling and analysis procedures. The changes include approval of vendor-developed methods, new EPA and Voluntary Consensus Standard Body (VCSB) methods, updated VCSB methods, and approval of a modification to the test kit used with Syngenta Method AG-625 that restricts its use in certain circumstances. CORRECTIONS "Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR) for Public Water Systems Revisions; Correction" January 26, 2007 (72 FR 3916) EPA published this correction to the UCMR 2 for Table 1 in 40 CFR 141.40(a)(3). Safe Drinking Water Hotline 2nd Quarter Report 9 ------- "Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR) for Public Water Systems Revisions" January 30, 2007 (72 FR 4328) EPA published a correction to the billing code that appeared in the Friday, January 26, 2007 correction notice. NOTICES "Safe Drinking Water Act Determination; Underground Injection Control Program, Determination of Indian Country Status for Purposes of Underground Injection Control Program Permitting" February 26, 2007 (72 FR 8380) This notice announces the availability of EPA's Land Status Determination, which concludes that the approximately 160 acres of land located in the southeast portion of Section 8, Township 16N, Range 16W, in the State of New Mexico (the Section 8 land), is part of a dependent Indian community under 18 U.S.C. 1151(b) and, thus, considered to be "Indian country." EPA is therefore the appropriate agency to consider underground injection control permit applications under the Safe Drinking Water Act for that land. "Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program; EPA ICR No. 0370.19; OMB Control No. 2040-0042" February 28, 2007 (72 FR 8983) The Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program under the Safe Drinking Water Act established a federal and state regulatory system to protect underground sources of drinking water from contamination by injected fluids. Owners or operators of underground injection wells must obtain permits, conduct environmental monitoring, maintain records, and report results to EPA or the state UIC primacy agency. States must report to EPA on permittee compliance and related information. The mandatory information is reported using standardized forms and annual reports, and the regulations are codified at 40 CFR Parts 144 through 148. The data are used by UIC authorities to ensure the protection of underground sources of drinking water. "Notice of a Second Workshop on the Development of Regulations for Aircraft Public Water Systems" March 8, 2007 (72 FR 10528) EPA held a second workshop on the development of regulations for aircraft public water systems. This workshop will provide information about recent activities and an overview of approaches for the proposed Aircraft Drinking Water Rule. This is the second workshop in a series designed to gain perspectives from representatives from industry, government, public interest groups, and the general public. The workshop was held in Washington, D.C. on March 28-29, 2007. Safe Drinking Water Hotline 2nd Quarter Report 10 ------- "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 2nd Quarter Report 11 ------- "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. Safe Drinking Water Hotline 2nd Quarter Report 12 ------- |