Feb. 27, 2003 -- This week's update from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) includes news on the National Source Water Protection Conference, President Bush's FY 2004 budget request for Water Programs and more.
2003 National Source Water Protection Conference Set For June 2-4
EPA's Office of Water is pleased to invite you to participate in the 2003 National Source Water Protection (SWP) Conference June 2-4 at the Hotel Washington in Washington, DC. With over 165,000 source water assessments nearing completion, the National Source Water Protection Conference will promote protection planning and coordination, fostering partnerships, and identifying opportunities that lead to successful implementation of drinking water protection.
The conference will bring together various Federal, Tribal, State, and local officials; Interstate organizations; watershed managers; conservation partners; members of environmental, public health, business, and citizens' organizations; technical assistance providers and others to learn about effective actions that prevent contamination of drinking water sources.
G. Tracy Mehan, III, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water, will be the keynote speaker. He will discuss "Challenges and Opportunities of Source Water Protection." In addition, the conference will provide a wide variety of action oriented sessions that will enable participants to:
* Build Networks and Partnerships to Promote Protection * Incorporate Protection Goals into Other Responsibilities
* Find Tools and Funding to Make Protection Happen * Identify Opportunities and Overcome Challenges
For more information visit:
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/protect/swpconf.html or call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. Advanced sign-up is required.
G. Tracy Mehan, III to Testify on the President's FY '04 budget request for Water Programs
G. Tracy Mehan, III will be testifying to Congress on the President's request for water program funding for fiscal year 2004 on Thursday, Feb. 27. at 10 a.m. in Washington, D.C. The hearing is before the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The hearing will be on the requests for OW and OSWER programs over which the subcommittee has jurisdiction. Governor Whitman will be testifying on the President's request for the whole agency on Wednesday, February 26, in front of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. EPA's FY 04 budget request can be seen at http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/swanccnav.html.
Arsenic Small Entity Compliance Guide Now Available
The Office of Water has published a guidance entitled Complying With the Revised Drinking Water Standard for Arsenic: Small Entity Compliance Guide - One of the Simple Tools for Effective Performance Guide Series.
The booklet was produced as a small entity compliance guide for small drinking water systems affected under the revised Arsenic Rule. It provides small systems with step-by-step instruction on meeting the revised rule, from determining if the system has an arsenic problem, to arsenic monitoring requirements.
To access the guide online go to, http://www.epa.gov/safewater/smallsys/ssinfo.htm.
Copies can also be obtained from the Office of Water Resources Center by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 (reference number EPA 816-R-02-008A when requesting copies).
Additional worksheets are also available; please reference Document Number EPA 816-R-02-008B when requesting worksheets. For further information, please contact Andrew Bielanski at (202) 564-3824.
