81 FR 37589 - Notice of Availability: Draft Protective Action Guide (PAG) for Drinking Water After a Radiological Incident
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 112 (June 10, 2016)
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 112 (June 10, 2016)
| Page Range | 37589-37592 | |
| FR Document | 2016-13786 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 112 (Friday, June 10, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 37589-37592] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-13786] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0268; FRL-9947-55-OW] Notice of Availability: Draft Protective Action Guide (PAG) for Drinking Water After a Radiological Incident AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of document availability; request for public comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: As part of its mission to protect human health and the environment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes protective action guides to help federal, state, local and tribal emergency response officials make radiation protection decisions during emergencies. EPA, in coordination with a multi-agency working group within the Federal Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Committee, is proposing an addition to the 2013 revised interim Protective Action Guides and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents (``2013 revised PAG Manual'' hereafter) to provide guidance on drinking water. The Draft Protective Action Guide for Drinking Water is now available in the EPA Docket, under ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0268, and EPA is requesting comment on the draft guide. DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 25, 2016. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ- OAR-2007-0268, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. 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 [[Page 37590]] 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 http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa M. Christ, Standards and Risk Management Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Mail Code 4607M, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-8354; fax number: (202) 564-3758; Email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. General Information A. Does this action apply to me? This action does not impose any requirements on anyone. It notifies interested parties of EPA's proposed, draft drinking water protective action guide (PAG) and requests public comment. The drinking water PAG will help federal, state, local, tribal officials and public water systems make decisions about use of water during radiological emergencies. The drinking water PAG is non-regulatory guidance. B. What authority does EPA have to provide Protective Action Guidance? The historical and legal basis of EPA's role in the 2013 PAG Manual begins with Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970, in which the Administrator of the EPA assumed all the functions of the Federal Radiation Council (FRC), including the charge to ``. . . advise the President with respect to radiation matters, directly or indirectly affecting health, including guidance for all federal agencies in the formulation of radiation standards and in the establishment and execution of programs of cooperation with [s]tates.'' (Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1970, sec. 2(a)(7), 6(a)(2); Sec. 274.h of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (AEA), codified at 42 U.S.C. 2021(h)). Recognizing this role, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) directed EPA, in its Radiological Emergency Planning and Preparedness Regulations, to ``establish Protective Action Guides (PAGs) for all aspects of radiological emergency planning in coordination with appropriate federal agencies.'' (44 CFR 351.22(a)). FEMA also tasked EPA with preparing ``guidance for state and local governments on implementing PAGs, including recommendations on protective actions which can be taken to mitigate the potential radiation dose to the population.'' (44 CFR 351.22(b)). All of this information was to ``be presented in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) `Manual of Protective Action Guides and Protective Actions for Nuclear Incidents.' ''(44 CFR 351.22(b)). Additionally, section 2021(h) charged the Administrator with performing ``such other functions as the President may assign to him [or her] by Executive Order.'' Executive Order 12656 states that the Administrator shall ``[d]evelop, for national security emergencies, guidance on acceptable emergency levels of nuclear radiation. . ..'' (Executive Order No. 12656, sec. 1601(2)). EPA's role in PAGs development was reaffirmed by the National Response Framework, Nuclear/ Radiological Incident Annex of June 2008. C. What is the PAG Manual: Protective Action Guides and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents? In 2013, EPA revised the PAG Manual to provide federal, state and local emergency management officials with guidance for responding to radiological emergencies (78 FR 22257, April 15, 2013). See the 2013 PAG Manual at https://www.epa.gov/radiation/protective-action-guides-pags. A protective action guide (PAG) is the projected dose to an individual from a release of radioactive material at which a specific protective action to reduce or avoid that dose is recommended. Emergency management officials use PAGs for making decisions regarding actions to protect the public from exposure to radiation during an emergency. Such actions include evacuation, shelter-in-place, temporary relocation, water and food restrictions. The PAGs are based on the following essential principles, which also apply to the selection of any protective action during an incident:Prevent acute effects. Balance protection with other important factors and ensure that actions result in more benefit than harm. Reduce risk of chronic effects. The PAG Manual is not a legally binding regulation or standard and does not supersede any environmental laws; PAGs are not intended to define ``safe'' or ``unsafe'' levels of exposure or contamination. As indicated by the use of non-mandatory language such as ``may,'' ``should'' and ``can,'' the Manual only provides recommendations and does not confer any legal rights or impose any legally binding requirements upon any member of the public, states or any federal agency. Rather, the PAG Manual provides projected radiation dose levels at which specific actions are recommended in order to reduce or avoid that dose. The 2013 revised interim PAG Manual is designed to provide flexibility to be more or less restrictive as deemed appropriate by decision makers based on the unique characteristics of the incident and the local situation. D. What additional guidance is being proposed for the PAG Manual? The draft drinking water protective action guidance was developed by a multi-agency PAG Subcommittee of the Federal Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Committee and is published by the EPA with concurrence from the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Health and Human Services, including both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Labor. A large scale radiation contamination incident could impact the United States, driving the need for a pre-established drinking water PAG. EPA is proposing a two-tiered intermediate phase drinking water PAG of 100 mrem projected dose in the first year for infants, children and pregnant or nursing women and 500 mrem projected dose in the first year for the general population. The proposed PAG is designed to work in concert with the other Protective Action Guides currently in place for other media in the intermediate phase (i.e., the Food and Drug Administration's 500 mrem PAG for ingestion of food) and provides an additional level of protection for the most sensitive life stages. Authorities have flexibility on how to apply the PAG. In some cases they may find it prudent to use a single PAG (e.g., 100 mrem) as a target for the whole population, while in other circumstances, authorities may find that it makes sense to use both targets simultaneously. For example, emergency managers can use a two-tiered approach to focus on protecting the most sensitive population with limited, alternate water resources. Because the water and food PAGs are [[Page 37591]] designed to be used in concert, the appropriate protective actions will be influenced by the exposure scenario and factors that influence the viability of alternative approaches to reducing that dose. This proposed, additional draft guidance recommends protective actions when drinking water may be impacted by a radiological or nuclear incident. The two-tier approach seeks to balance the goal of keeping radiation doses as low as possible with the practical and logistical challenges of providing alternative drinking water during the response to a disaster. EPA has included examples of estimated costs for selected drinking water protective actions in the Docket, ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0268. In developing the drinking water PAG, the Agency considered potential cumulative exposure from a radiation incident. Ultimately, a PAG does not represent an ``acceptable'' routine exposure; a PAG is a dose at which protective action is advised in order to reduce or avoid that dose. Every PAG is developed with the same three principles: prevent acute effects, balance protection with other important factors and ensure that actions result in more benefit than harm, and reduce risk of chronic effects. Emergency management officials should consider all exposure routes when making protective action decisions in an emergency. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the Agency has established maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for radiological contaminants in drinking water. The National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) for radionuclides are based on lifetime exposure criteria and assume 70 years of continued exposure to contaminants in drinking water. While the SDWA framework is appropriate for day-to-day normal operations, it may not provide the necessary tools to assist emergency responders with determining the need for an immediate protective action. EPA expects that any drinking water system adversely impacted during a radiation contamination incident will take action to return to compliance with MCLs as soon as practicable. E. How were comments received on the 2013 draft PAG Manual considered in developing this proposal? On April 15, 2013, EPA published a Federal Register notice requesting public comments on the appropriateness of developing and incorporating a drinking water PAG in the revised PAG Manual (78 FR 22257). Regarding the specific issue of drinking water, the Agency received about 50 comment letters from members of the public, state and local emergency response and health organizations, environmental advocates, industry associations, organizations opposed to nuclear power, and from national and international radiation protection organizations. Several commenters from state emergency management agencies and radiation control programs expressed an urgent need for EPA to establish a drinking water PAG, pointing out that drinking water is the only media not currently addressed in the PAG Manual. Commenters stated that a drinking water PAG is a critical aspect of a coordinated emergency response after a radiation contamination incident. Commenters representing states agencies from Ohio, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Washington suggested that a drinking water PAG should be established at the 500 mrem level, to be consistent with the FDA food PAG and with the DHS guidance \1\ for water. While EPA agrees with the need of establishing a drinking water PAG, which is consistent with currently available guidance, it is also important to note that EPA believes that when possible, PAG recommendations should provide an additional level of protection to sensitive life-stages. For short-term incidents, it is appropriate to consider a lower tier PAG level of 100 mrem for sensitive life-stages including pregnant women, nursing women and children 15 years old and under. This approach of setting a two-tier level of protection incorporates suggestions submitted by commenters regarding the adequate consideration of children and sensitive subpopulations. There is an abundant precaution built into the derivation of the drinking water PAG through a variety of assumptions, including amount of water consumed, exposure duration and dose-response modeling, using the dose-response for the most sensitive life stages to derive the PAG for children through age 15 years. Today's proposal ensures that protective measures are appropriate for all members of the public, including sensitive subpopulations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Guidance established by the Department of Homeland Security as an intermediate-level PAG for drinking water interdiction (73 FR 45029, April 1, 2008). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In contrast, several commenters from environmental protection advocate organizations suggested that a drinking water PAG is not needed, and urged EPA to base any emergency response measures regarding drinking water solely on the NPDWR for Radionuclides MCLs. Some commenters expressed concerns that establishing a drinking water PAG would weaken existing environmental standards and regulations. However, the drinking water standards are legal limits designed to prevent health effects from everyday exposure to low levels of radiation over long periods and they are not changing with this proposal. Estimated risk of excess cancer cases for lifetime exposure (70 years) to radioactive contaminants in drinking water at 4 mrem/yr (the MCL) generally falls in a range of risks deemed acceptable by the Agency's regulations. Estimated risks associated with a shorter (one year) exposure to radioactivity in drinking water at the proposed PAG levels fall within a similar range. Emergency guides are temporary measures to minimize risk while enabling prioritization of limited resources during an emergency response. The PAG levels are guidance for emergency situations; they do not supplant any standards or regulations, nor do they affect the stringency or enforcement of any standards or regulations. The PAG levels are intended to be used only in an emergency when radiation levels have already exceeded environmental standards. EPA expects that any drinking water system adversely impacted during a radiation incident will take action to return to compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act levels as soon as practicable. F. When will the PAG Manual be finalized? Once comments on this proposed, additional draft action have been addressed, EPA will add drinking water guidance to the full PAG Manual, which will then be issued in final form for incorporation into state, local, tribal and federal emergency response plans over a one-year implementation timeframe. G. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA? When submitting comments, remember to: Identify the rulemaking by docket number, subject heading, Federal Register date and page number. Follow directions--the EPA may ask you to respond to specific questions or organize comments by referencing the chapter number of the draft action guide Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and substitute language for your requested changes. Describe any assumptions and provide technical information and data that you used. [[Page 37592]] If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow it to be reproduced. Illustrate your concerns with specific examples and suggest alternatives. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of profanity or personal threats. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified. H. What specific comments are being sought? While all comments regarding any aspect of the draft drinking water PAG guidance will be considered, please comment on the following issues specifically: Please comment on the appropriateness of the drinking water PAG and the guidance for advance planning. Please comment on what implementation challenges might be associated with the two-tiered approach to the water PAG that EPA should consider, and suggest additional guidance that would be helpful. Please comment on whether (and if so why) EPA should reconsider using a single-tier drinking water PAG rather than tiered approach proposed in the draft action guide. Please suggest additional guidance that would aid pre- incident planning and implementation specific to your community's drinking water systems. Please comment on how this guidance should be implemented in emergency response and recovery plans at all levels of government, including considerations for public communications during an emergency. In the future, calculations and derived response levels will be provided in the Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Center (FRMAC) Assessment Manuals. Emergency planners are referred to FRMAC Monitoring and Sampling Methods to assess surface and drinking water impacts from a radiological emergency. See the Assessment and Monitoring & Sampling folders at http://www.nv.doe.gov/nationalsecurity/homelandsecurity/frmac/manuals.aspx. After considering public comments, EPA intends to issue a final PAG Manual, which will supersede the 1992 PAG Manual and the 2013 revised PAG Manual. Dated: June 3, 2016. Joel Beauvais, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water. [FR Doc. 2016-13786 Filed 6-9-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 112 / Friday, June 10, 2016 / Notices 37589
the CAA, on or before December 16, will be made available for public directly to the Docket without going
2016. viewing online at www.regulations.gov through www.regulations.gov, your
Under the terms of the proposed without change, unless the comment email address is automatically captured
consent decree, EPA would contains copyrighted material, and included as part of the comment
expeditiously deliver notice of EPA’s confidential business information (CBI), that is placed in the official public
response to the Office of the Federal or other information whose disclosure is docket, and made available in EPA’s
Register for review and publication restricted by statute. Information electronic public docket.
following signature of such response. In claimed as CBI and other information Dated: June 1, 2016.
addition, the proposed consent decree whose disclosure is restricted by statute
Lorie J. Schmidt,
outlines the procedure for the Plaintiffs is not included in the official public
docket or in the electronic public Associate General Counsel.
to request costs of litigation, including
docket. EPA’s policy is that copyrighted [FR Doc. 2016–13792 Filed 6–9–16; 8:45 am]
attorney fees.
For a period of thirty (30) days material, including copyrighted material BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
following the date of publication of this contained in a public comment, will not
notice, the Agency will accept written be placed in EPA’s electronic public
comments relating to the proposed docket but will be available only in ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
consent decree from persons who are printed, paper form in the official public AGENCY
not named as parties or intervenors to docket. Although not all docket [EPA–HQ–OAR–2007–0268; FRL–9947–55–
the litigation in question. EPA or the materials may be available OW]
Department of Justice may withdraw or electronically, you may still access any
withhold consent to the proposed of the publicly available docket Notice of Availability: Draft Protective
consent decree if the comments disclose materials through the EPA Docket Action Guide (PAG) for Drinking Water
facts or considerations that indicate that Center. After a Radiological Incident
such consent is inappropriate, B. How and to whom do I submit AGENCY: Environmental Protection
improper, inadequate, or inconsistent comments? Agency (EPA).
with the requirements of the Act. Unless ACTION: Notice of document availability;
EPA or the Department of Justice You may submit comments as
provided in the ADDRESSES section. request for public comment.
determines that consent to this consent
decree should be withdrawn, the terms Please ensure that your comments are SUMMARY: As part of its mission to
of the consent decree will be affirmed. submitted within the specified comment protect human health and the
period. Comments received after the environment, the Environmental
II. Additional Information About close of the comment period will be Protection Agency (EPA) publishes
Commenting on the Proposed Consent marked ‘‘late.’’ EPA is not required to protective action guides to help federal,
Decree consider these late comments.
state, local and tribal emergency
If you submit an electronic comment,
A. How can I get a copy of the consent response officials make radiation
EPA recommends that you include your
decree? protection decisions during
name, mailing address, and an email
The official public docket for this address or other contact information in emergencies. EPA, in coordination with
action (identified by Docket ID No. the body of your comment and with any a multi-agency working group within
EPA–HQ–OGC–2016–0301) contains a disk or CD ROM you submit. This the Federal Radiological Preparedness
copy of the proposed consent decree. ensures that you can be identified as the Coordinating Committee, is proposing
The official public docket is available submitter of the comment and allows an addition to the 2013 revised interim
for public viewing at the Office of EPA to contact you in case EPA cannot Protective Action Guides and Planning
Environmental Information (OEI) Docket read your comment due to technical Guidance for Radiological Incidents
in the EPA Docket Center, EPA West, difficulties or needs further information (‘‘2013 revised PAG Manual’’ hereafter)
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., on the substance of your comment. Any to provide guidance on drinking water.
NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket identifying or contact information The Draft Protective Action Guide for
Center Public Reading Room is open provided in the body of a comment will Drinking Water is now available in the
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday be included as part of the comment that EPA Docket, under ID No. EPA–HQ–
through Friday, excluding legal is placed in the official public docket, OAR–2007–0268, and EPA is requesting
holidays. The telephone number for the and made available in EPA’s electronic comment on the draft guide.
Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744, public docket. If EPA cannot read your DATES: Comments must be received on
and the telephone number for the OEI comment due to technical difficulties or before July 25, 2016.
Docket is (202) 566–1752. and cannot contact you for clarification, ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
An electronic version of the public EPA may not be able to consider your identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
docket is available through comment. OAR–2007–0268, to the Federal
www.regulations.gov. You may use Use of the www.regulations.gov Web eRulemaking Portal: http://
www.regulations.gov to submit or view site to submit comments to EPA www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
public comments, access the index electronically is EPA’s preferred method instructions for submitting comments.
listing of the contents of the official for receiving comments. The electronic Once submitted, comments cannot be
public docket, and access those public docket system is an ‘‘anonymous edited or withdrawn. The EPA may
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
documents in the public docket that are access’’ system, which means EPA will publish any comment received to its
available electronically. Once in the not know your identity, email address, public docket. Do not submit
system, key in the appropriate docket or other contact information unless you electronically any information you
identification number then select provide it in the body of your comment. consider to be Confidential Business
‘‘search.’’ In contrast to EPA’s electronic public Information (CBI) or other information
It is important to note that EPA’s docket, EPA’s electronic mail (email) whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
policy is that public comments, whether system is not an ‘‘anonymous access’’ Multimedia submissions (audio, video,
submitted electronically or in paper, system. If you send an email comment etc.) must be accompanied by a written
VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:02 Jun 09, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10JNN1.SGM 10JNN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_37701/page/1.svg)
![37590 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 112 / Friday, June 10, 2016 / Notices
comment. The written comment is appropriate federal agencies.’’ (44 CFR ‘‘may,’’ ‘‘should’’ and ‘‘can,’’ the Manual
considered the official comment and 351.22(a)). FEMA also tasked EPA with only provides recommendations and
should include discussion of all points preparing ‘‘guidance for state and local does not confer any legal rights or
you wish to make. The EPA will governments on implementing PAGs, impose any legally binding
generally not consider comments or including recommendations on requirements upon any member of the
comment contents located outside of the protective actions which can be taken to public, states or any federal agency.
primary submission (i.e. on the web, mitigate the potential radiation dose to Rather, the PAG Manual provides
cloud, or other file sharing system). For the population.’’ (44 CFR 351.22(b)). All projected radiation dose levels at which
additional submission methods, the full of this information was to ‘‘be presented specific actions are recommended in
EPA public comment policy, in the Environmental Protection Agency order to reduce or avoid that dose. The
information about CBI or multimedia (EPA) ‘Manual of Protective Action 2013 revised interim PAG Manual is
submissions, and general guidance on Guides and Protective Actions for designed to provide flexibility to be
making effective comments, please visit Nuclear Incidents.’ ’’(44 CFR 351.22(b)). more or less restrictive as deemed
http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/ Additionally, section 2021(h) charged appropriate by decision makers based
commenting-epa-dockets. the Administrator with performing on the unique characteristics of the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa ‘‘such other functions as the President incident and the local situation.
M. Christ, Standards and Risk may assign to him [or her] by Executive
D. What additional guidance is being
Management Division, Office of Ground Order.’’ Executive Order 12656 states
proposed for the PAG Manual?
Water and Drinking Water, Mail Code that the Administrator shall ‘‘[d]evelop,
4607M, U.S. Environmental Protection for national security emergencies, The draft drinking water protective
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue guidance on acceptable emergency action guidance was developed by a
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone levels of nuclear radiation. . ..’’ multi-agency PAG Subcommittee of the
number: (202) 564–8354; fax number: (Executive Order No. 12656, sec. Federal Radiological Preparedness
(202) 564–3758; Email: 1601(2)). EPA’s role in PAGs Coordinating Committee and is
christ.lisa@epa.gov. development was reaffirmed by the published by the EPA with concurrence
National Response Framework, from the Department of Energy, the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Department of Defense, the Department
Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex of
1. General Information June 2008. of Homeland Security (DHS), including
the Federal Emergency Management
A. Does this action apply to me? C. What is the PAG Manual: Protective Agency, the Nuclear Regulatory
This action does not impose any Action Guides and Planning Guidance Commission, the Department of Health
requirements on anyone. It notifies for Radiological Incidents? and Human Services, including both the
interested parties of EPA’s proposed, In 2013, EPA revised the PAG Manual Centers for Disease Control and
draft drinking water protective action to provide federal, state and local Prevention and the Food and Drug
guide (PAG) and requests public emergency management officials with Administration (FDA), the U.S.
comment. The drinking water PAG will guidance for responding to radiological Department of Agriculture and the
help federal, state, local, tribal officials emergencies (78 FR 22257, April 15, Department of Labor.
and public water systems make 2013). See the 2013 PAG Manual at A large scale radiation contamination
decisions about use of water during https://www.epa.gov/radiation/ incident could impact the United States,
radiological emergencies. The drinking protective-action-guides-pags. A driving the need for a pre-established
water PAG is non-regulatory guidance. protective action guide (PAG) is the drinking water PAG. EPA is proposing
projected dose to an individual from a a two-tiered intermediate phase
B. What authority does EPA have to
release of radioactive material at which drinking water PAG of 100 mrem
provide Protective Action Guidance? projected dose in the first year for
a specific protective action to reduce or
The historical and legal basis of EPA’s avoid that dose is recommended. infants, children and pregnant or
role in the 2013 PAG Manual begins Emergency management officials use nursing women and 500 mrem projected
with Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970, PAGs for making decisions regarding dose in the first year for the general
in which the Administrator of the EPA actions to protect the public from population. The proposed PAG is
assumed all the functions of the Federal exposure to radiation during an designed to work in concert with the
Radiation Council (FRC), including the emergency. Such actions include other Protective Action Guides currently
charge to ‘‘. . . advise the President evacuation, shelter-in-place, temporary in place for other media in the
with respect to radiation matters, relocation, water and food restrictions. intermediate phase (i.e., the Food and
directly or indirectly affecting health, The PAGs are based on the following Drug Administration’s 500 mrem PAG
including guidance for all federal essential principles, which also apply to for ingestion of food) and provides an
agencies in the formulation of radiation the selection of any protective action additional level of protection for the
standards and in the establishment and during an incident: most sensitive life stages. Authorities
execution of programs of cooperation • Prevent acute effects. have flexibility on how to apply the
with [s]tates.’’ (Reorg. Plan No. 3 of • Balance protection with other PAG. In some cases they may find it
1970, sec. 2(a)(7), 6(a)(2); § 274.h of the important factors and ensure that prudent to use a single PAG (e.g., 100
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended actions result in more benefit than mrem) as a target for the whole
(AEA), codified at 42 U.S.C. 2021(h)). population, while in other
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
harm.
Recognizing this role, the Federal • Reduce risk of chronic effects. circumstances, authorities may find that
Emergency Management Agency The PAG Manual is not a legally it makes sense to use both targets
(FEMA) directed EPA, in its binding regulation or standard and does simultaneously. For example,
Radiological Emergency Planning and not supersede any environmental laws; emergency managers can use a two-
Preparedness Regulations, to ‘‘establish PAGs are not intended to define ‘‘safe’’ tiered approach to focus on protecting
Protective Action Guides (PAGs) for all or ‘‘unsafe’’ levels of exposure or the most sensitive population with
aspects of radiological emergency contamination. As indicated by the use limited, alternate water resources.
planning in coordination with of non-mandatory language such as Because the water and food PAGs are
VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:02 Jun 09, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10JNN1.SGM 10JNN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_37701/page/2.svg)
![37592 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 112 / Friday, June 10, 2016 / Notices
• If you estimate potential costs or Dated: June 3, 2016. Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
burdens, explain how you arrived at Joel Beauvais, Land and Resource Management Plan
your estimate in sufficient detail to Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of to comply with District of Mont Court
allow it to be reproduced. Water. Order, Review Period Ends: 07/20/
• Illustrate your concerns with [FR Doc. 2016–13786 Filed 6–9–16; 8:45 am] 2016, Contact: Jan Bowey 406–842–
specific examples and suggest BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 5432
EIS No. 20160132, Draft, FHWA, CO, US
alternatives.
50 Corridor East, Comment Period
• Explain your views as clearly as ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Ends: 07/29/2016, Contact: Patricia
possible, avoiding the use of profanity AGENCY Sergeson 720–963–3073
or personal threats. EIS No. 20160133, Final, FTA, VA,
[ER–FRL–9027–5]
• Make sure to submit your Potomac Yard Metrorail Station,
comments by the comment period Environmental Impact Statements; Review Period Ends: 07/11/2016,
deadline identified. Notice of Availability Contact: Dan Koenig 202–219–3528
EIS No. 20160134, Final, TVA, TN,
H. What specific comments are being Responsible Agency: Office of Federal PROGRAMMATIC—Ash
sought? Activities, General Information (202) Impoundment Closure, Review Period
564–7146 or http://www2.epa.gov/nepa. Ends: 07/11/2016, Contact: Ashley
While all comments regarding any Farless 423–751–2361
aspect of the draft drinking water PAG Weekly receipt of Environmental Impact
guidance will be considered, please Statements Dated: June 7, 2016.
comment on the following issues Filed 05/30/2016 Through 06/03/2016 Dawn Roberts,
specifically: Pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.9. Management Analyst, NEPA Compliance
Notice Division, Office of Federal Activities.
• Please comment on the
[FR Doc. 2016–13791 Filed 6–9–16; 8:45 am]
appropriateness of the drinking water Section 309(a) of the Clean Air Act
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
PAG and the guidance for advance requires that EPA make public its
planning. comments on EISs issued by other
• Please comment on what Federal agencies. EPA’s comment letters
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
implementation challenges might be on EISs are available at: http://
www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/ COMMISSION
associated with the two-tiered approach
to the water PAG that EPA should eisdata.html. [CC Docket No. 92–237; DA 16–599]
consider, and suggest additional EIS No. 20160124, Final, FERC, AK,
Sweetheart Lake Hydroelectric Next Meeting of the North American
guidance that would be helpful.
Project, Review Period Ends: 07/11/ Numbering Council
• Please comment on whether (and if
2016, Contact: John Matkowski 202– AGENCY: Federal Communications
so why) EPA should reconsider using a
502–8576 Commission.
single-tier drinking water PAG rather
EIS No. 20160125, Final, BIA, NV, Aiya ACTION: Notice.
than tiered approach proposed in the
Solar Project, Review Period Ends: 07/
draft action guide.
11/2016, Contact: Charles Lewis 602– SUMMARY: In this document, the
• Please suggest additional guidance 379–6782 Commission released a public notice
that would aid pre-incident planning EIS No. 20160126, Draft, USA, AZ, Lone announcing the meeting and agenda of
and implementation specific to your Star Ore Body Development Project, the North American Numbering Council
community’s drinking water systems. Comment Period Ends: 07/25/2016, (NANC). The intended effect of this
• Please comment on how this Contact: Michael Langley 602–230– action is to make the public aware of the
guidance should be implemented in 6953 NANC’s next meeting and agenda.
emergency response and recovery plans EIS No. 20160127, Final, NPS, CA, DATES: Thursday, June 30, 2016, 10:00
at all levels of government, including Restoration of Native Species in High a.m.
considerations for public Elevation Aquatic Ecosystems Plan,
Review Period Ends: 07/11/2016, ADDRESSES: Requests to make an oral
communications during an emergency. statement or provide written comments
Contact: Woody Smeck 559–565–3100
In the future, calculations and derived EIS No. 20160128, Final, USACE, NC, to the NANC should be sent to Carmell
response levels will be provided in the Morehead City Harbor Integrated Weathers, Competition Policy Division,
Federal Radiological Monitoring and Dredged Material Management Plan, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal
Assessment Center (FRMAC) Review Period Ends: 07/11/2016, Communications Commission, Portals
Assessment Manuals. Emergency Contact: Jennifer Owens 910–251– II, 445 12th Street SW., Room 5–C162,
planners are referred to FRMAC 4757 Washington, DC 20554.
Monitoring and Sampling Methods to EIS No. 20160129, Draft, USFS, CA, Los FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
assess surface and drinking water Padres Tamarisk Removal, Comment Carmell Weathers at (202) 418–2325 or
impacts from a radiological emergency. Period Ends: 07/25/2016, Contact: Carmell.Weathers@fcc.gov. The fax
See the Assessment and Monitoring & Lloyd Simpson 805–646–4348 ex. 316 number is: (202) 418–1413. The TTY
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Sampling folders at http:// EIS No. 20160130, Draft, NOAA, TX, number is: (202) 418–0484.
www.nv.doe.gov/nationalsecurity/ Flower Garden Banks National Marine SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
homelandsecurity/frmac/manuals.aspx. Sanctuary Boundary Expansion, summary of the Commission’s
After considering public comments, Comment Period Ends: 08/19/2016, document in CC Docket No. 92–237, DA
EPA intends to issue a final PAG Contact: Kelly Drinnen 409–621–5151 16–599 released May 31, 2016. The
Manual, which will supersede the 1992 Ext.105 complete text in this document is
PAG Manual and the 2013 revised PAG EIS No. 20160131, Third Final available for public inspection and
Manual. Supplemental, USFS, MT, copying during normal business hours
VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:02 Jun 09, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10JNN1.SGM 10JNN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_37701/page/4.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-08 07:35:47
Document Modified: 2018-02-08 07:35:47
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of document availability; request for public comment. | |
| Dates | Comments must be received on or before July 25, 2016. | |
| Contact | Lisa M. Christ, Standards and Risk Management Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Mail Code 4607M, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-8354; fax number: (202) 564-3758; Email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 37589 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR