Rules and Regulations. Notice of tentative approval and Solicitation of Requests for a Public Hearing

619 words·~3 min read·/register/2002/12/30/02-32898

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BILLING CODE 6560-50-P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-7432-1] Notice of Tentative Approval and Solicitation of Request for a Public Hearing for Public Water System Supervision Program Revision for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of tentative approval and Solicitation of Requests for a Public Hearing. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provision of section 1413 of the Safe Drinking Water Act as amended, and the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Implementation that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is revising its approved Public Water System Supervision Program.

Pennsylvania has adopted an Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (IESWTR) to improve control of microbial pathogens in drinking water, including specifically the protozoan Cryptosporidium, and a Stage 1 Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR), setting new requirements to limit the formation of chemical disinfection byproducts in drinking water. EPA has determined that these revisions are no less stringent than the corresponding Federal regulations outside of two minor omissions to their regulations.

The two items concern turbidity monitoring reporting requirements under IESWTR for systems that use alternative filtration technologies and selection of disinfection byproduct monitoring locations under the DBPR for surface water systems serving at least 10,000 people. These omissions are being addressed through an EPA/Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection signed letter agreement that includes required interim actions to cover the deficiencies and a schedule for correcting the deficiencies.

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. DATES: Comments or a request for a public hearing must be submitted by January 29, 2003. This determination shall become effective on January 30, 2003 if no timely and appropriate request for a hearing is received and the Regional Administrator does not elect to hold a hearing on his own motion, and if no comments are received which cause EPA to modify its tentative approval.

ADDRESSES: Comments or a request for a public hearing must be submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029. All documents relating to this determination are available for inspection between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the following offices: • Drinking Water Branch, Water Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029. • Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply and Wastewater Management, 11th Floor Rachael Carson State Office Building Harrisburg, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8467.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Gambatese, Drinking Water Branch (3WP22) at the Philadelphia address given above; telephone

(215)814-5759 or fax

(215)814-2318. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: All interested parties are invited to submit written comments on this determination and may request a public hearing. All comments will be considered, and, if necessary, EPA will issue a response. Frivolous or insubstantial requests for a hearing may be denied by the Regional Administrator. However, if a substantial request for a public hearing is made by January 29, 2003, a public hearing will be held. A request for public hearing shall include the following:

(1)The name, address, and telephone number of the individual, organization, or other entity requesting a hearing;

(2)a brief statement of the requesting person's interest in the Regional Administrator's determination and of information that the requesting person intends to submit at such a hearing; and

(3)the signature of the individual making the request; or, if the request is made on behalf of an organization or other entity, the signature of a responsible official of the organization or other entity. Dated: December 11, 2002. Donald S. Welsh, Regional Administrator, Region III. [FR Doc. 02-32898 Filed 12-27-02; 8:45 am]