[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 114 (Friday, June 12, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35930-35931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12727]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-10010-54-OW]
The National Drinking Water Advisory Council: Request for
Nominations
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Request for nominations.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting
nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be
considered to fill vacancies on the National Drinking Water Advisory
Council (NDWAC or Council). The 15-member Council was established by
the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to provide independent advice,
consultation, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on matters
relating to the activities, functions, policies, and regulations
required by the SDWA. This announcement solicits nominations to fill
five vacancies with three-year appointments from December 2020 through
December 2023. The EPA may also consider nominations received through
this solicitation in 2021 and in the event of unplanned vacancies on
the Council. To enable the EPA to maintain the representation required
by statute, the Agency is seeking nominees who are from appropriate
state and local agencies concerned with water hygiene and public water
supply; representatives of private organizations or groups
demonstrating an active interest in the field of water hygiene and
public water supply, including nominees associated with small, rural
public water systems; and from the general public.
DATES: Nominations should be submitted no later than July 13, 2020.
ADDRESSES: We encourage you to submit nominations electronically, with
the subject line ``NDWAC Membership 2020,'' to corr.elizabeth@epa.gov,
as there may be a delay in processing U.S. mail and no hand deliveries
are currently accepted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have
concerns about submitting your nomination electronically, you may
contact Elizabeth Corr, the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the
NDWAC, by email at corr.elizabeth@epa.gov, with the subject line
``NDWAC Membership 2020,'' or by phone at (202) 564-3798, to discuss a
possible alternative delivery method.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Email your questions to Elizabeth Corr
at corr.elizabeth@epa.gov; or call (202) 564-3798. You may also mail
Elizabeth Corr, at the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, MC:
4601M, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20460, but be advised that there may be a delay in
processing U.S. mail and no hand deliveries will be accepted due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
National Drinking Water Advisory Council: The Council was created
by Congress on December 16, 1974, as part of the Safe Drinking Water
Act of 1974, Public Law 93-523, 42 U.S.C. 300j-5, and is operated in
accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2. The Council consists of 15 members, including
the chairperson, all of whom are appointed by the EPA Administrator.
Five members are from appropriate state and local agencies concerned
with water hygiene and public water supply; five members represent
private organizations or groups demonstrating an active interest in the
field of water hygiene and public water supply--of which two such
[[Page 35931]]
members shall be associated with small, rural public water systems; and
five members are from the general public. The current list of members
is available on the EPA's NDWAC website at https://www.epa.gov/ndwac
under ``NDWAC roster.''
The Council typically will meet in person once each year and may
hold a second meeting, either in person or by video/teleconference,
during the year. Members also may be asked to participate in ad hoc
workgroups to develop policy recommendations, advice letters, and
reports to address specific program issues.
Member Nominations: Any interested person and/or organization may
nominate qualified individuals for membership. Interested candidates
may self-nominate. The EPA values and welcomes diversity.
In an effort to obtain nominations of diverse candidates, the EPA
encourages nominations of women and men of all racial and ethnic
groups.
All nominations will be fully considered, but applicants need to be
aware of the specific representation required by the SDWA: State and
local agencies concerned with water hygiene and public water supply
(two vacancies in 2020); private organizations or groups demonstrating
an active interest in the field of water hygiene and public water
supply (three vacancies in 2020--of which one will be associated with
small, rural public water systems); and the general public (one vacancy
in 2021). The EPA may also consider nominations received through this
solicitation in the event of unplanned vacancies on the Council. Other
criteria used to evaluate nominees will include:
Demonstrated experience with drinking water issues at the
national, state, or local level;
Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication
and consensus-building skills;
Willingness to commit time to the Council and demonstrated
ability to work constructively on committees;
Absence of financial conflicts of interest;
Absence of appearance of a lack of impartiality; and
Background and experience that would help members
contribute to the diversity of perspectives on the Council, e.g.,
geographic, economic, social, cultural, educational backgrounds,
professional affiliations, and other considerations.
Nominations must include a resume, which provides the nominee's
background, experience, and educational qualifications, as well as a
brief statement (one page or less) describing the nominee's interest in
serving on the Council and addressing the other criteria previously
described. Nominees are encouraged to provide any additional
information that they think would be useful for consideration, such as:
Availability to participate as a member of the Council; and how the
nominee's background, skills, and experience would contribute to the
diversity of the Council. Nominees should be identified by name,
occupation, position, current business address, email address, and
telephone number. The DFO will use the email address provided for the
nominee to acknowledge receipt of nominations.
Persons selected for membership will receive compensation for
travel and a nominal, daily compensation (if appropriate) while
attending meetings. All selected candidates will be designated as
Special Government Employees (SGEs) and will be required to submit the
``Confidential Financial Disclosure Form for Environmental Protection
Agency Special Government Employees'' (EPA Form 3110-48). This
confidential form provides information to the EPA's ethics officials,
to determine whether there is a conflict between the SGE's public
duties and their private interests, including an appearance of a loss
of impartiality as defined by federal laws and regulations. The form
may be viewed and downloaded through the ``Ethics requirements'' link
on the EPA's website at https://www.epa.gov/ndwac.
Other sources, in addition to this Federal Register announcement,
may also be utilized in the solicitation of nominees. To help the EPA
in evaluating the effectiveness of its outreach efforts, please tell us
how you learned of this opportunity.
Jennifer L. McLain,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 2020-12727 Filed 6-11-20; 8:45 am]
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