[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 24, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58500-58501]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23103]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 131

[EPA-HQ-OW-2010-0606; FRL-9901-25-OW]

Water Quality Standards Regulatory Clarifications Proposed Rule;
Public Meeting and Public Webinars

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Announcement of public meeting and public webinars.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing one
public meeting and two public webinars to be held for the proposed rule
``Water Quality Standards Regulatory Clarifications,'' which was
published separately in the Federal Register (September 4, 2013).

DATES: The public meeting will be held in Washington, DC on October 23,
2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern. The two public webinars will
be held on September 24, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern and
November 14, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern. The comment
period for the proposed rulemaking will end on December 3, 2013. To
register for the public meeting or either public webinar, please visit:
http://www.tetratech-ffx.com/wqsregs/public/ or contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Information regarding the
time of the public meeting and public webinars is also listed below in
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: To register for the public meeting or either public webinar,
please visit: http://www.tetratech-ffx.com/wqsregs/public/. You will
receive an email confirmation after your registration has been
submitted. Information about the public meeting and webinars can also
be found at the EPA Web site for the rulemaking at, http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/wqs_index.cfm, under the ``Current
Outreach'' section.
    The public meeting will be held at the Smithsonian National
Zoological Park in the Visitor Center Auditorium. The Zoo address is
3001 Connecticut Avenue NW. in Washington, DC. The Visitor Center
Auditorium is located at the Connecticut Avenue entrance to the zoo.
More information about travel to the Zoo is available at http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Visit/gettingtozoo.cfm.
    The public webinars will be held using Adobe[supreg] Connect.
Following registration and within one week of the scheduled webinars,
you will receive an email with information for accessing the webinar on
the day of the event.
    The proposed rule was published separately in the Federal Register
and a complete set of documents related to the proposal are available
for public inspection at the EPA Docket Center, located at 1301
Constitution Avenue NW., Room 3334, Washington, DC between 8:30 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. A
reasonable fee may be charged for copying. Documents are also available
through the electronic docket system at http://www.regulations.gov
under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2010-0606. The EPA Web site for the
rulemaking can be found at: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/wqs_index.cfm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janita Aguirre, EPA Headquarters,
Office of Water, Office of Science and Technology, at<PHONE_NUMBER> or
email address<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposal for which EPA is holding the
public meeting and public webinars has been published separately in the
Federal Register (78 FR 54517; September 4, 2013). In the proposed
rulemaking, EPA is proposing changes to the federal water quality
standards (WQS) regulation at 40 CFR Part 131 which helps implement the
Clean Water Act in order to improve effectiveness in restoring and
maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the
nation's waters. The proposed rule addresses the following key program
areas: Administrator's determinations that new or revised WQS are
necessary, designated uses, triennial reviews, antidegradation,
variances to WQS, and compliance schedule authorizing provisions. Once
final, the proposed rule will lead to improved water quality standard
development, implementation and compliance as well as improving the
ability of water systems to adapt and respond to the impacts of climate
change.

    EPA will discuss the contents of the proposed rule during the
webinars and meeting and will provide the opportunity for interested
parties to ask clarifying questions prior to the close of the comment
period. These clarifying questions or any public views expressed during
the webinars and meeting will not be considered formal comments and
will not be recorded for inclusion in the official administrative
record. If anyone wishes their comments to be considered formal comment
and want a formal response from EPA, they must submit their comments on
the proposed rule to the associated docket (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2010-0606) by one of the following methods: Electronically, by mail, by
facsimile, or through hand delivery/courier. Please refer to the notice
of proposed rulemaking for the addresses and detailed instructions for
submitting written comments. Written comments must be received by the
December 3, 2013.
    Public Meeting: The public meeting will be open to all stakeholders
interested in the rule. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, October
23, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Eastern. The meeting will be
held at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park's Visitor Center
Auditorium, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW., Washington, DC. If you are
interested in attending the public meeting, EPA prefers that you pre-
register at http://www.tetratech-ffx.com/wqsregs/public/ by October 21,
2013. EPA will prepare a pre-registration list to streamline the check-
in process on the day of the public meeting. If you choose not to pre-
register, you will be asked to provide the following information on a
sign-in sheet at the public meeting: Name, affiliation, address, email
address and telephone number.
    Public Webinars: The public webinars will be open to all
stakeholders interested in the rule. The public webinars will be held
on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern and
Thursday, November 14, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern using
Adobe[supreg] Connect. However, there is a limitation of 500
participants for each webinar. In order to ensure access to the webinar
of choice, interested individuals should register in advance following
instructions on the Internet at http://www.tetratech-ffx.com/wqsregs/public/. Although you may register at any time prior to the session of
your choice, EPA prefers that you register at least three days in
advance. You will receive an email confirmation after your registration
has been submitted. Following registration and within one week of the
scheduled webinars, you will receive an email with information for
accessing the webinar on the day of the event. The agenda and resource
material will be identical for the two public webinars. You do not need
to attend both sessions. If you do not have Internet access, please
contact the person named in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section
above.
    Other EPA Outreach: Throughout the comment period, EPA expects to
conduct outreach with additional stakeholders as well as state and
tribal governments. This outreach includes discussions and consultation
with federally-recognized Indian tribes, consistent with Executive
Order 13175 (Tribal Consultation) and outreach with state water quality
program officials as co-regulators.
    Comment Period: The comment period will remain open until December
3, 2013.

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

    The EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OW-2010-0606. The EPA has also developed a Web site for the
proposed rulemaking at: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/wqs_index.cfm. Please refer to the notice of proposed rulemaking for
detailed information on accessing information related to the proposal.

    Dated: September 16, 2013.
Elizabeth Southerland,
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2013-23103 Filed 9-23-13; 8:45 am]
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