[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 48329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19715]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9186-8]
Tribal Drinking Water Operator Certification Program
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the program details of EPA's voluntary
Tribal Drinking Water Operator Certification Program, effective October
1, 2010. The program enables qualified drinking water operators at
public water systems in Indian country to be recognized as certified
operators by EPA. This program will provide the benefits of
certification to both the public water system operators and the Tribal
communities they serve. Through the training required to receive and
maintain certification, operators learn how to supply drinking water
that meets national standards and gain understanding of the associated
public health benefits. Certification demonstrates the operator has the
skills, knowledge, education and experience necessary to deliver safe
water supporting consumer confidence. Certification designates the
water system operator as a public health professional and demonstrates
the operator has the skills, knowledge, education and experience
necessary to deliver safe water supporting consumer confidence.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Safe Drinking Water Hotline, toll
free 1-800-426-4791, can be contacted for general information about
this document. For technical inquiries please contact Ronald Bergman,
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Drinking Water Protection
Division, Protection Branch, 4606M, Environmental Protection Agency,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number:
202-564-3823, e-mail address: bergman.ronald@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. How can I get copies of this document and other related information?
1. Electronic Access. EPA's Tribal Drinking Water Operator
Certification Program updates and application materials regarding this
program can be found at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/tribal.html.
2. Hard Copies. Hard copies of EPA's Tribal Drinking Water Operator
Certification Program are available upon request. Please contact Kyle
Carey, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Drinking Water
Protection Division, Protection Branch, 4606M, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: 202-564-2322, e-mail: carey.kyle@epa.gov.
B. Approved Providers and Reciprocity
Although participation in this Certification Program is voluntary,
EPA requires a Tribe to have, or agree to obtain within a certain time
frame, a certified operator(s) for their public drinking water
system(s) in order to secure funds in the Drinking Water Infrastructure
Grant Tribal Set-Aside (DWIG TSA) program. The Federal drinking water
regulations require some system operators to be ``qualified.''
Participation in EPA's Tribal Drinking Water Operator Certification
program meets this requirement. Operators certified through this
program will be listed by the Region on their ``register'' pursuant to
the regulations (i.e., CFR 141.130(c)). The EPA Tribal Drinking Water
Operator Certification program is available in the nine EPA regions
with federally recognized Tribes. Public water system operators in
Indian country seeking certification and/or interested in the EPA
national program should contact the Association of Boards of
Certification (ABC), 208 5th Street, Suite 201 Ames, IA 50010-6259;
telephone number: 515-232-3623, fax: 515-232-3778, http://www.abccert.org or the Intertribal Council of Arizona (ITCA), 2214
North Central Avenue, Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85004, telephone number:
602-258-4822, fax: 602-258-4825, http://www.itcaonline.com. Additional
providers may be added per EPA approval.
Under the EPA Tribal Drinking Water Operator Certification Program,
reciprocity will be extended to any operators already certified by a
State with an approved operator certification program and on a case-by-
case basis to operators already certified by other EPA-approved
providers pre-dating this program.
Dated: August 4, 2010.
Cynthia C. Dougherty,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 2010-19715 Filed 8-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P