Proposed Rule2022-02733
Notice of Public Meeting: Environmental Justice Considerations for the Development of the Proposed Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR)
Primary source
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Published
February 9, 2022
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting two identical public meetings to discuss and solicit input on environmental justice considerations related to the development of the proposed per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) national primary drinking water regulation (NPDWR) under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). In the context of developing this proposed regulation, environmental justice considerations include the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies with a particular focus on unique challenges faced by communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms and risks. EPA is holding these meetings to share information and provide an opportunity for communities to offer input on the development of the proposed PFAS NPDWR. Information on how to register and request to speak during one of the meetings is detailed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this announcement.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 27 (Wednesday, February 9, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 9, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7412-7413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02733]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 141
[EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0114; FRL-8543-O3-OW]
Notice of Public Meeting: Environmental Justice Considerations
for the Development of the Proposed Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
(PFAS) National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting two
identical public meetings to discuss and solicit input on environmental
justice considerations related to the development of the proposed per-
and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) national primary drinking water
regulation (NPDWR) under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). In the
context of developing this proposed regulation, environmental justice
considerations include the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of
all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with
respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of
environmental laws, regulations, and policies with a particular focus
on unique challenges faced by communities disproportionately burdened
by environmental harms and risks. EPA is holding these meetings to
share information and provide an opportunity for communities to offer
input on the development of the proposed PFAS NPDWR. Information on how
to register and request to speak during one of the meetings is detailed
in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this announcement.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 20, 2022. The two
identical public meetings will be held on March 2, 2022 (1 p.m. to 4
p.m., eastern time) and April 5, 2022 (5 p.m. to 8 p.m., eastern time).
The public meetings will be held in an online-only format.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OW-2022-0114, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/">https://www.regulations.gov/</a>. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0114 for this action. Comments received may be
posted without change to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/">https://www.regulations.gov/</a>, including any
personal information provided. For detailed instructions on sending
comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the
``Public Participation'' heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this announcement.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical inquiries, contact
Ashley Greene, Standards and Risk Management Division, Office of Ground
Water and Drinking Water (MC 4607M), Environmental Protection Agency,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460 at (202) 566-1738 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#197e6b7c7c777c37786a71757c60597c6978377e766f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="11766374747f743f7062797d7468517461703f767e67">[email protected]</span></a>. For more information about the proposed PFAS
NPDWR, visit: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas">https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Public Participation
These online meetings will be open to the public and EPA encourages
input and will provide opportunities for public engagement.
A. Written Comments
Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No, EPA-HQ-OW-2022-
0114 at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>; see instructions identified in the
ADDRESSES section of this announcement. Once submitted, comments cannot
be edited or removed from the docket. The EPA may publish any comment
received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI)
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA
will generally not consider comments or comment contents located
outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other
file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA
public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions,
and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets</a>.
B. Participation in Public Meeting
Registration: Individuals planning to participate in either of the
online public meetings must register at <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas">https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas</a> no later than March 1, 2022, for the
March 2, 2022 meeting and April 4, 2022, for the April 5, 2022 meeting.
Individuals are also invited to speak during the meetings. Those
interested in speaking can sign-up to make brief verbal remarks as a
part of their registration. EPA will do its best to include all those
interested in attending and requesting verbal input, but may have to
limit attendance due to web conferencing size or limit verbal remarks
due to meeting time limitations; therefore, EPA urges people to
register early. Meeting information and web conferencing meeting
details, including telephone call-in information, will be emailed to
registered participants in advance of each of the meetings. If you have
any difficulty registering or have additional questions or comments
about the public meeting, please email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eebea8afbd838b8b9a8780899d9b9e9e819c9aae8d8f8a839b9d899c819b9ec08d8183"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e3b3a5a2b08e8686978a8d84909693938c9197a38082878e969084918c9693cd808c8e">[email protected]</span></a>.
Special Accommodations: For information on electronic access or
accommodations for individuals with disabilities or other requested
assistance (e.g., language translation), please contact Ashley Greene
at (202) 566-1738 or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0d6a7f68686368236c7e656168744d687d6c236a627b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d7b0a5b2b2b9b2f9b6a4bfbbb2ae97b2a7b6f9b0b8a1">[email protected]</span></a>. Please allow at
least five business days prior to each of the meetings to give EPA time
to process your request.
II. The Proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation
Under SDWA, EPA sets public health goals and enforceable standards
for drinking water quality. On March 3, 2021, EPA published a final
determination (<a href="https://www.epa.gov/ccl/regulatory-determination-4">https://www.epa.gov/ccl/regulatory-determination-4</a>) to
regulate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
(PFOS) in drinking water. EPA is currently developing a proposed NPDWR
for PFOA and PFOS. EPA is also evaluating additional PFAS and assessing
the available science to consider regulations for groups of PFAS.
NPDWRs are legally
[[Page 7413]]
enforceable maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) or treatment techniques
that apply to public water systems. MCLs and treatment techniques
protect public health by limiting the levels of contaminants in
drinking water.
In October 2021, EPA released the PFAS Strategic Roadmap (<a href="https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-strategic-roadmap-epas-commitments-action-2021-2024">https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-strategic-roadmap-epas-commitments-action-2021-2024</a>) laying out an overall approach to addressing PFAS. Establishing
an NPDWR for PFOA and PFOS is a key action in the Roadmap. EPA expects
to issue a proposed regulation in fall 2022 (before the agency's
statutory deadline of March 2023). EPA anticipates issuing a final
regulation in fall 2023 after considering public comments on the
proposal.
Jennifer L. McLain,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 2022-02733 Filed 2-8-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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