[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 48329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19715]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9186-8]


Tribal Drinking Water Operator Certification Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the program details of EPA's voluntary 
Tribal Drinking Water Operator Certification Program, effective October 
1, 2010. The program enables qualified drinking water operators at 
public water systems in Indian country to be recognized as certified 
operators by EPA. This program will provide the benefits of 
certification to both the public water system operators and the Tribal 
communities they serve. Through the training required to receive and 
maintain certification, operators learn how to supply drinking water 
that meets national standards and gain understanding of the associated 
public health benefits. Certification demonstrates the operator has the 
skills, knowledge, education and experience necessary to deliver safe 
water supporting consumer confidence. Certification designates the 
water system operator as a public health professional and demonstrates 
the operator has the skills, knowledge, education and experience 
necessary to deliver safe water supporting consumer confidence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Safe Drinking Water Hotline, toll 
free 1-800-426-4791, can be contacted for general information about 
this document. For technical inquiries please contact Ronald Bergman, 
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Drinking Water Protection 
Division, Protection Branch, 4606M, Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 
202-564-3823, e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. How can I get copies of this document and other related information?

    1. Electronic Access. EPA's Tribal Drinking Water Operator 
Certification Program updates and application materials regarding this 
program can be found at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/tribal.html.
    2. Hard Copies. Hard copies of EPA's Tribal Drinking Water Operator 
Certification Program are available upon request. Please contact Kyle 
Carey, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Drinking Water 
Protection Division, Protection Branch, 4606M, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
number: 202-564-2322, e-mail: [email protected].

B. Approved Providers and Reciprocity

    Although participation in this Certification Program is voluntary, 
EPA requires a Tribe to have, or agree to obtain within a certain time 
frame, a certified operator(s) for their public drinking water 
system(s) in order to secure funds in the Drinking Water Infrastructure 
Grant Tribal Set-Aside (DWIG TSA) program. The Federal drinking water 
regulations require some system operators to be ``qualified.'' 
Participation in EPA's Tribal Drinking Water Operator Certification 
program meets this requirement. Operators certified through this 
program will be listed by the Region on their ``register'' pursuant to 
the regulations (i.e., CFR 141.130(c)). The EPA Tribal Drinking Water 
Operator Certification program is available in the nine EPA regions 
with federally recognized Tribes. Public water system operators in 
Indian country seeking certification and/or interested in the EPA 
national program should contact the Association of Boards of 
Certification (ABC), 208 5th Street, Suite 201 Ames, IA 50010-6259; 
telephone number: 515-232-3623, fax: 515-232-3778, http://www.abccert.org or the Intertribal Council of Arizona (ITCA), 2214 
North Central Avenue, Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85004, telephone number: 
602-258-4822, fax: 602-258-4825, http://www.itcaonline.com. Additional 
providers may be added per EPA approval.
    Under the EPA Tribal Drinking Water Operator Certification Program, 
reciprocity will be extended to any operators already certified by a 
State with an approved operator certification program and on a case-by-
case basis to operators already certified by other EPA-approved 
providers pre-dating this program.

    Dated: August 4, 2010.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 2010-19715 Filed 8-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P