US EPA climate change and drinking water comments
30/06/10 20:04 Filed in: Report
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Drinking Water Advisory Council's Climate Ready Water Utilities Working Group Meeting Announcement
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr22jn10-52]
SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is announcing the fourth in-person meeting of the Climate Ready Water Utilities (CRWU) Working Group of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC). The purpose of this meeting is for the Working Group to discuss climate-related tools and resources needed to address water utilities' short-term and long-term needs and mechanisms to facilitate the adoption of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies by the water sector.
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr22jn10-52]
SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is announcing the fourth in-person meeting of the Climate Ready Water Utilities (CRWU) Working Group of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC). The purpose of this meeting is for the Working Group to discuss climate-related tools and resources needed to address water utilities' short-term and long-term needs and mechanisms to facilitate the adoption of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies by the water sector.
DATES: The fourth in-person CRWU Working Group meeting will take place
on July 8, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Mountain Daylight Time
(MDT) and on July 9, 2010, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., MDT.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Hotel Boulderado, which
is located at 2115 13th Street, Boulder, Colorado 80302.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested participants from the
public should contact Lauren Wisniewski, Designated Federal Officer,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Ground Water and
Drinking Water, Water Security Division (Mail Code 4608T), 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. Please contact Lauren
Wisniewski at wisniewski.lauren@epa.gov or call 202-564-2918. CRWU
Working Group meeting agendas and summaries are available at: http://
www.epa.gov/safewater/ndwac/#current.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Agenda: At previous meetings, the CRWU Working Group drafted key
findings on the water sector and climate change, an adaptive response
framework that describes actions that CRWU would undertake, and
enabling environment recommendations for activities needed to create a
supportive environment in which a utility can take steps to be climate
ready. In this meeting, the Working Group will focus on tools,
training, and resources needed to support water utilities, ways to
integrate CRWU efforts with existing programs, and mechanisms to
facilitate the adoption of climate change adaptation and mitigation
strategies.
Public Participation: There will be an opportunity for public
comment during the CRWU Working Group meeting. Oral statements will be
limited to five (5) minutes, and it is preferred that only one person
present the statement on behalf of a group or organization. Any person
who wishes to file a written statement can do so before or after the
CRWU Working Group meeting. Written statements received prior to the
meeting will be distributed to all members of the Working Group before
any final discussion or vote is completed. Any statements received
after the meeting will become part of the permanent meeting file and
will be forwarded to the CRWU Working Group members for their
information. For information on access or services for individuals with
disabilities, please contact Lauren Wisniewski at 202-564-2918 or by e-
mail at wisniewski.lauren@epa.gov. To request accommodation of a
disability, please contact Lauren Wisniewski, preferably, at least 10
days prior to the meeting to give EPA as much time as possible to
process your request.
Background: The Agency's National Water Program Strategy: Response
to Climate Change (2008) identified the need to provide drinking water
and wastewater utilities with easy-to-use resources to assess the risk
associated with climate change and to identify potential adaptation
strategies. The 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 May 28, 2009, the NDWAC voted on and
approved the formation of the CRWU Working Group. EPA anticipates that
the Working Group will have five face-
[[Page 35459]]
to-face meetings between December 2009 and September 2010 in addition
to conference calls and/or video conferencing on an as needed basis. To
date, there have been three face-to-face meetings. After the Working
Group completes its charge, it will make recommendations to the full
NDWAC. The NDWAC will consider these recommendations and make its own
recommendations to the EPA.
Working Group Charge: The charge for the CRWU Working Group is to
evaluate the concept of ``Climate Ready Water Utilities'' and provide
recommendations to the full NDWAC on the development of an effective
program for drinking water and wastewater utilities, including
recommendations to: (1) Define and develop a baseline understanding of
how to use available information to develop climate change adaptation
and mitigation strategies, including ways to integrate this information
into existing complementary programs such as the Effective Utility
Management and Climate Ready Estuaries Program; (2) Identify climate
change-related tools, training, and products that address short-term
and long-term needs of water and wastewater utility managers,
decisionmakers, and engineers, including ways to integrate these tools
and training into existing programs; and (3) Incorporate mechanisms to
provide recognition or incentives that facilitate broad adoption of
climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies by the water sector
into existing EPA Office of Water recognition and awards programs or
new recognition programs.
Dated: June 16, 2010.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 2010-15033 Filed 6-21-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
on July 8, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Mountain Daylight Time
(MDT) and on July 9, 2010, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., MDT.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Hotel Boulderado, which
is located at 2115 13th Street, Boulder, Colorado 80302.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested participants from the
public should contact Lauren Wisniewski, Designated Federal Officer,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Ground Water and
Drinking Water, Water Security Division (Mail Code 4608T), 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. Please contact Lauren
Wisniewski at wisniewski.lauren@epa.gov or call 202-564-2918. CRWU
Working Group meeting agendas and summaries are available at: http://
www.epa.gov/safewater/ndwac/#current.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Agenda: At previous meetings, the CRWU Working Group drafted key
findings on the water sector and climate change, an adaptive response
framework that describes actions that CRWU would undertake, and
enabling environment recommendations for activities needed to create a
supportive environment in which a utility can take steps to be climate
ready. In this meeting, the Working Group will focus on tools,
training, and resources needed to support water utilities, ways to
integrate CRWU efforts with existing programs, and mechanisms to
facilitate the adoption of climate change adaptation and mitigation
strategies.
Public Participation: There will be an opportunity for public
comment during the CRWU Working Group meeting. Oral statements will be
limited to five (5) minutes, and it is preferred that only one person
present the statement on behalf of a group or organization. Any person
who wishes to file a written statement can do so before or after the
CRWU Working Group meeting. Written statements received prior to the
meeting will be distributed to all members of the Working Group before
any final discussion or vote is completed. Any statements received
after the meeting will become part of the permanent meeting file and
will be forwarded to the CRWU Working Group members for their
information. For information on access or services for individuals with
disabilities, please contact Lauren Wisniewski at 202-564-2918 or by e-
mail at wisniewski.lauren@epa.gov. To request accommodation of a
disability, please contact Lauren Wisniewski, preferably, at least 10
days prior to the meeting to give EPA as much time as possible to
process your request.
Background: The Agency's National Water Program Strategy: Response
to Climate Change (2008) identified the need to provide drinking water
and wastewater utilities with easy-to-use resources to assess the risk
associated with climate change and to identify potential adaptation
strategies. The 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 May 28, 2009, the NDWAC voted on and
approved the formation of the CRWU Working Group. EPA anticipates that
the Working Group will have five face-
[[Page 35459]]
to-face meetings between December 2009 and September 2010 in addition
to conference calls and/or video conferencing on an as needed basis. To
date, there have been three face-to-face meetings. After the Working
Group completes its charge, it will make recommendations to the full
NDWAC. The NDWAC will consider these recommendations and make its own
recommendations to the EPA.
Working Group Charge: The charge for the CRWU Working Group is to
evaluate the concept of ``Climate Ready Water Utilities'' and provide
recommendations to the full NDWAC on the development of an effective
program for drinking water and wastewater utilities, including
recommendations to: (1) Define and develop a baseline understanding of
how to use available information to develop climate change adaptation
and mitigation strategies, including ways to integrate this information
into existing complementary programs such as the Effective Utility
Management and Climate Ready Estuaries Program; (2) Identify climate
change-related tools, training, and products that address short-term
and long-term needs of water and wastewater utility managers,
decisionmakers, and engineers, including ways to integrate these tools
and training into existing programs; and (3) Incorporate mechanisms to
provide recognition or incentives that facilitate broad adoption of
climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies by the water sector
into existing EPA Office of Water recognition and awards programs or
new recognition programs.
Dated: June 16, 2010.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 2010-15033 Filed 6-21-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
