Proposed Reissuance of the NPDES General Permit for Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and Production Facilities Located in State and Federal Waters in Cook Inlet, AK (AKG-31-5000), 20397 [E6-5958]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 76 / Thursday, April 20, 2006 / Notices of the information collection when making your request. Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be electronically mailed to IC DocketMgr@ed.gov. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– 800–877–8339. [FR Doc. E6–5936 Filed 4–19–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–8160–2] Proposed Reissuance of the NPDES General Permit for Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and Production Facilities Located in State and Federal Waters in Cook Inlet, AK (AKG–31–5000) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed NPDES general permit reissuance—extension of the comment period. AGENCY: In response to numerous requests from the oil and gas industry, local governments, community groups, and Tribes, EPA hereby extends the comment period for an additional 30 days, from May 1, 2006 to May 31, 2006. DATES: Comments must be received by May 31, 2006. ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to: Director, Office of Water and Watersheds, U.S. EPA, Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, M/S OWW–130, Seattle, Washington 98101. Comments may also be submitted via e-mail to the following address: shaw.hanh@epa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Hanh Shaw, U.S. EPA, Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, M/S OWW–130, Seattle, Washington 98101. Telephone: (206) 553–0171. A copy of the Proposed Permit, the fact sheet that fully explains the proposal and a copy of EPA’s Environmental Assessment (EA) and preliminary Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI), prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), may be obtained from Ms. Shaw. EPA’s current administrative record on the proposal is available for examination at U.S. EPA, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101. Additionally, a copy of the proposed permit, fact sheet, EA, preliminary FONSI, and this Federal Register Notice may be obtained on the Internet at: https://www.epa.gov/r10earth. hsrobinson on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:56 Apr 19, 2006 Jkt 208001 The documents are also available from the EPA Alaska Operations Office, Room 537, Federal Building, 222 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99513. Please contact Ms. Dianne Soderlund at (907) 271–3425 for assistance. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The existing permit, NPDES Permit No. AKG–28–5000 (Existing Permit), was previously reissued on April 1, 1999 and expired on April 1, 2004 (64 FR 19156). The Existing Permit will remain in effect until a new permit is reissued for those discharges which were covered at the time of expiration. The Existing Permit authorizes discharges from oil and gas exploration, development, and production facilities located in and discharging to state and Federal waters in Cook Inlet north of a line extending between Cape Douglas (at 58°51′ latitude, 153°15′ longitude) on the west and Port Chatham (at 59°13′ latitude, 151°47′ longitude) on the east. EPA proposes to replace the Existing Permit with the proposed reissued permit (Proposed Permit), renumbered as AKG– 31–5000. The following changes are proposed to be made as a part of the permit reissuance: 1. EPA proposes to expand the existing coverage area to include the recent Minerals Management Service Lease Sales Nos. 191 and 199 and the State waters adjoining those lease areas. 2. EPA proposes to authorize discharges from oil and gas exploration facilities located within the expanded coverage area, including discharges associated with the use of syntheticbased drilling fluids. 3. EPA proposes to authorize discharges from new oil and gas development and production facilities located within the expanded coverage area, including sanitary waste water, domestic waste water, deck drainage, and miscellaneous discharges such as cooling water and boiler blowdown. These new development and production facilities, however, would not be authorized to discharge produced water, drilling fluids, or drill cuttings under the Proposed Permit. 4. EPA proposes to add new whole effluent toxicity and technology-based limits for discharges that contain treatment chemicals, such as biocides and corrosion inhibitors. These discharges include, but are not limited to, water flood waste water, cooling water, boiler blowdown, and desalination unit waste water. 5. EPA proposes to add a new water quality-based effluent limit for total residual chlorine. 6. EPA proposes to change the monitoring requirements found in the PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 20397 Existing Permit. The proposed changes would result in increased monitoring for facilities that violate the effluent limits, and reduced monitoring for facilities that demonstrate a good compliance record. 7. EPA proposes to expand the Existing Permit’s baseline study to include all new facilities. 8. EPA proposes to include a new study that will involve collecting ambient data to determine the effect of large volume produced water discharges on Cook Inlet. 9. EPA proposes to expand the permit’s discharge prohibition near protected areas, coastal marshes, and deltas. 10. EPA proposes to change the permit number from AKG–28–5000 to AKG–31–5000. Dated: April 17, 2006. Michael F. Gearheard, Director, Office of Water and Watersheds. [FR Doc. E6–5958 Filed 4–19–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P EXPORT-IMPORT BANK [Public Notice 85] Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Export-Import Bank of the U.S. Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Export-Import Bank, as a part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on the proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The form will be used by exporters to report and pay premiums on insured shipment to various foreign buyers. Our customers will be able to submit this form on paper or electronically. DATES: Written comments should be received on or before May 22, 2006 to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: Address all comments to David Rostker, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, NEOB, Room 10202, Washington, DC 20503, (202) 395–3897. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title and Form Number: Report of Premiums Payable for Exporters Only, EIB 92–29. OMB Number: None. Type of Review: Regular. Need and Use: The information requested enables the applicant to E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM 20APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 76 (Thursday, April 20, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 20397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5958]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8160-2]


Proposed Reissuance of the NPDES General Permit for Oil and Gas 
Exploration, Development and Production Facilities Located in State and 
Federal Waters in Cook Inlet, AK (AKG-31-5000)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed NPDES general permit reissuance--extension of the 
comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In response to numerous requests from the oil and gas 
industry, local governments, community groups, and Tribes, EPA hereby 
extends the comment period for an additional 30 days, from May 1, 2006 
to May 31, 2006.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 31, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to: Director, Office of Water and 
Watersheds, U.S. EPA, Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, M/S OWW-130, 
Seattle, Washington 98101.
    Comments may also be submitted via e-mail to the following address: 
shaw.hanh@epa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Hanh Shaw, U.S. EPA, Region 10, 
1200 Sixth Avenue, M/S OWW-130, Seattle, Washington 98101. Telephone: 
(206) 553-0171. A copy of the Proposed Permit, the fact sheet that 
fully explains the proposal and a copy of EPA's Environmental 
Assessment (EA) and preliminary Finding of No Significant Impacts 
(FONSI), prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), may be obtained from Ms. Shaw. EPA's current administrative 
record on the proposal is available for examination at U.S. EPA, 1200 
Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101. Additionally, a copy of the proposed 
permit, fact sheet, EA, preliminary FONSI, and this Federal Register 
Notice may be obtained on the Internet at:https://www.epa.gov/r10earth.
    The documents are also available from the EPA Alaska Operations 
Office, Room 537, Federal Building, 222 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, 
Alaska 99513. Please contact Ms. Dianne Soderlund at (907) 271-3425 for 
assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The existing permit, NPDES Permit No. AKG-
28-5000 (Existing Permit), was previously reissued on April 1, 1999 and 
expired on April 1, 2004 (64 FR 19156). The Existing Permit will remain 
in effect until a new permit is reissued for those discharges which 
were covered at the time of expiration. The Existing Permit authorizes 
discharges from oil and gas exploration, development, and production 
facilities located in and discharging to state and Federal waters in 
Cook Inlet north of a line extending between Cape Douglas (at 
58[deg]51[min] latitude, 153[deg]15[min] longitude) on the west and 
Port Chatham (at 59[deg]13[min] latitude, 151[deg]47[min] longitude) on 
the east. EPA proposes to replace the Existing Permit with the proposed 
reissued permit (Proposed Permit), renumbered as AKG-31-5000.
    The following changes are proposed to be made as a part of the 
permit reissuance:
    1. EPA proposes to expand the existing coverage area to include the 
recent Minerals Management Service Lease Sales Nos. 191 and 199 and the 
State waters adjoining those lease areas.
    2. EPA proposes to authorize discharges from oil and gas 
exploration facilities located within the expanded coverage area, 
including discharges associated with the use of synthetic-based 
drilling fluids.
    3. EPA proposes to authorize discharges from new oil and gas 
development and production facilities located within the expanded 
coverage area, including sanitary waste water, domestic waste water, 
deck drainage, and miscellaneous discharges such as cooling water and 
boiler blowdown. These new development and production facilities, 
however, would not be authorized to discharge produced water, drilling 
fluids, or drill cuttings under the Proposed Permit.
    4. EPA proposes to add new whole effluent toxicity and technology-
based limits for discharges that contain treatment chemicals, such as 
biocides and corrosion inhibitors. These discharges include, but are 
not limited to, water flood waste water, cooling water, boiler 
blowdown, and desalination unit waste water.
    5. EPA proposes to add a new water quality-based effluent limit for 
total residual chlorine.
    6. EPA proposes to change the monitoring requirements found in the 
Existing Permit. The proposed changes would result in increased 
monitoring for facilities that violate the effluent limits, and reduced 
monitoring for facilities that demonstrate a good compliance record.
    7. EPA proposes to expand the Existing Permit's baseline study to 
include all new facilities.
    8. EPA proposes to include a new study that will involve collecting 
ambient data to determine the effect of large volume produced water 
discharges on Cook Inlet.
    9. EPA proposes to expand the permit's discharge prohibition near 
protected areas, coastal marshes, and deltas.
    10. EPA proposes to change the permit number from AKG-28-5000 to 
AKG-31-5000.

    Dated: April 17, 2006.
Michael F. Gearheard,
Director, Office of Water and Watersheds.
[FR Doc. E6-5958 Filed 4-19-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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