[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9312-9313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4387]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7627-5]
National Drinking Water Advisory Council; Request for Water
Security Working Group Nominations
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is
announcing the formation of the Water Security Working Group (WSWG) of
the National Drinking Water Advisory Council, and soliciting all
interested persons to nominate qualified individuals to serve a one-
year term. Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified
individuals for membership on the working group.
Background: Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7 designates
EPA as the sector-specific agency for the security of the nation's
drinking water and wastewater sectors. In order to assist the water
sector in becoming more secure against malevolent threats, the Agency
is facilitating the development of voluntary best security practices
and policies for drinking water and wastewater facilities. The National
Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC), established under the Safe
Drinking Water Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.), provides
practical and independent advice, consultation and recommendations to
the Agency on the activities, functions and policies related to the
implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act. On February 10, 2004,
NDWAC voted on and approved the formation of the Water Security Working
Group. After this working group completes their charge, they will make
recommendations to the full NDWAC. The full NDWAC will in turn, make
appropriate recommendations to the EPA. For a general description of
the working group charge, the criteria for selecting working group
members, and the specific directions for submitting working group
member nominations, please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
DATES: Submit nominations via U.S. mail on or before March 29, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Address all nominations to Marc Santora, Designated Federal
Officer, National Drinking Water Advisory Council Water Security
Working Group, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Ground
Water and Drinking Water, Water Security Division (Mail Code 4601-M),
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, 20460.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E-mail your questions to Marc Santora,
Designated Federal Officer, [email protected], or call 202-564-1597.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Working Group Charge: The charge for the Water Security Working
Group (WSWG) is to provide recommendations to the full NDWAC that: (1)
Identify, compile, and characterize best security practices and
policies for drinking water and wastewater utilities and provide an
approach for considering and adopting these practices and policies at a
utility level; (2) consider mechanisms to provide recognition and
incentives that facilitate a broad and receptive response among the
water sector to implement these best security practices and policies,
and make recommendations as appropriate; (3) consider mechanisms to
measure the extent of implementation of these best security practices
and policies, identify the impediments of their implementation, and
make recommendations as appropriate.
Selection Criteria: The criteria for selecting WSWG members are as
follows: the WSWG members are recognized experts in their fields; the
WSWG members are as impartial and objective as possible; the WSWG
members collectively represent an array of backgrounds and perspectives
within the water sector and related disciplines (e.g. public health,
emergency response); and the WSWG members are available to fully
participate in the working group. The schedule remains flexible,
however, it is estimated that WSWG's meetings will be convened by
spring of 2004 and will be conducted
[[Page 9313]]
over a relatively short time frame, approximately one (1) year. Over
the course of this period, WSWG members will be asked to attend a
series of meetings, a maximum of five (5), participate in conference
calls and video conferencing as necessary, participate in the
discussion of key issues at all meetings, and review and finalize the
products and outputs of the working group. The EPA is looking to create
a diverse WSWG. Potential WSWG nominations could include individuals
from the wastewater and drinking water industries, stakeholder
organizations, state and local officials, public health officials,
environmental organizations, emergency first responders, and security
experts. The Agency is looking for a range of industry representation
in terms of the size of the population served, as well as investor and
publicly owned and operated facilities. This is not an exhaustive list;
it is only intended to provide a framework to consider potential
nominees.
Nomination of a Member: Any interested person or organization may
nominate qualified individuals for membership to the working group.
Name, occupation, position, address, and telephone number should
identify all nominees. To be considered, all nominations must include a
current resume providing the nominee's background, experience and
qualifications, in addition to a statement (not to exceed two 2
paragraphs) about their particular expertise and interest in water
security. Please note that the Agency will not formally acknowledge or
respond to nominations.
Dated: February 24, 2004.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 04-4387 Filed 2-26-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P