Sole Source Aquifer Designation of the Troutdale Aquifer System; Clark County, WA, 52541-52544 [E6-14710]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 6, 2006 / Notices
iv. Describe any assumptions and
provide any technical information and/
or data that you used.
v. If you estimate potential costs or
burdens, explain how you arrived at
your estimate in sufficient detail to
allow for it to be reproduced.
vi. Provide specific examples to
illustrate your concerns and suggest
alternatives.
vii. Explain your views as clearly as
possible, avoiding the use of profanity
or personal threats.
viii. Make sure to submit your
comments by the comment period
deadline identified.
II. Did EPA Approve the Application?
The Agency approved the application
after considering all required data on
risks associated with the proposed use
of coyote urine, and information on
social, economic, and environmental
benefits to be derived from use.
Specifically, the Agency has considered
the nature of the chemical and its
pattern of use, application methods and
rates, and level and extent of potential
exposure. Based on these reviews, the
Agency was able to make basic health
and safety determinations which show
that use of coyote urine when used in
accordance with widespread and
commonly recognized practice, will not
generally cause unreasonable adverse
effects to the environment.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
III. Approved Application
The company submitted an
application to EPA to register the
pesticide product ShakeAway Deer
Repellent Granules (EPA File Symbol
80917-1) containing the same chemical
at 5 percent. However, since the notice
of receipt of the application to register
the product as required by section
3(c)(4) of FIFRA, as amended, did not
publish in the Federal Register,
interested parties may submit comments
on or before October 6, 2006 for this
product only.
Listed below is the application
approved on March 28, 2006 for
ShakeAway Deer Repellent Granules.
EPA issued a notice, published in the
Federal Register of December 15, 2004
(69 FR 75063) (FRL–7687–7), which
announced that Shake-Away, 2330
Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT, 06518,
had submitted an application to register
the pesticide product, Deer Repellent
Granules, an animal repellent (File
Symbol 80917-R), containing 5% coyote
urine. This product was not previously
registered.
The application was approved on
March 28, 2006, as Shake-Away Deer
Repellent Granules (EPA Registration
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19:40 Sep 05, 2006
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Number 80917-1) as an animal
repellent.
I. Background
Section 1424(e) of the Safe Drinking
Water Act states:
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Chemicals,
Pesticides and pests.
Dated: August 23, 2006.
Janet L. Andersen,
Director, Biopesticides and Pollution
Prevention Division, Office of Pesticide
Programs.
[FR Doc. E6–14718 Filed 9–5–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–S
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL–8217–2]
Sole Source Aquifer Designation of the
Troutdale Aquifer System; Clark
County, WA
AGENCY:
Environmental Protection
Agency.
Notice of Final Determination.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
pursuant to Section 1424(e) of the Safe
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300h–
3(e), Pub. L. 93–523), and in response to
a petition from a group of Clark County
residents (two private groups and 8
individuals), the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10
Administrator has determined that the
Troutdale aquifer system, in Clark
County, Washington, is a sole or
principal source of drinking water, and
that if contaminated, would create a
significant hazard to public health. As a
result of this action, all Federal
financially-assisted projects proposed
over the designated aquifer system will
be subject to EPA review to ensure that
they do not create a significant hazard
to public health.
DATES: This determination shall be
promulgated for purposes of judicial
review at 1 p.m. eastern time on
September 20, 2006.
ADDRESSES: The information upon
which this determination is based is
available to the public and may be
inspected during normal business hours
at the EPA Region 10 Library, 1200
Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington
98101, or on the EPA Web site at: https://
yosemite.epa.gov/r10/water.nsf/
Sole+Source+Aquifers/Program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Martha Lentz, Hydrogeologist, Office of
Environmental Assessment, OEA–095,
Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle,
Washington 98101, 206–553–1593.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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If the Administrator determines, on his
own initiative or upon petition that an area
has an aquifer which is the sole or principal
drinking water source for the area and which,
if contaminated, would create a significant
hazard to public health, he shall publish
notice of that determination in the Federal
Register. After the publication of any such
notice, no commitment for Federal financial
assistance (through a grant, contract, loan
guarantee, or otherwise) may be entered into
for any project which the Administrator
determines may contaminate such aquifer
through a recharge zone so as to create a
significant hazard to public health, but a
commitment for Federal assistance may, if
authorized under another provision of law,
be entered into to plan or design the project
to assure that it will not so contaminate the
aquifer.
The EPA Region 10 Drinking Water
Section received a draft sole source
aquifer (SSA) petition in early
November 2005 from a group of Clark
County residents, who represent both
individuals and private public interest
groups. The petitioners were:
The Columbia Riverkeeper,
The Rosemere Neighborhood
Association,
Dvija Michael Bertish,
Dennis Dykes,
Thom McConathy,
Nathan Reynolds,
Karen Kingston,
Coleen Broad,
Richard Dyrland,
Dean Swanson.
A final petition was presented to EPA
on November 29, 2005. On December
28, 2005, EPA sent a letter to the
petitioners acknowledging that the
agency considered the petition
complete, and that the technical review
process would begin.
In January 2006 EPA met with the
petitioners to discuss expanding the
aquifer system boundary to include
more of the geologic formations. There
was agreement to extend the boundary,
and the petitioners agreed to provide
updated values for population and
drinking water use data. On January 17,
2006 the petitioners provided the
adjusted water use and population data
to EPA.
In February of 2006, the Troutdale
aquifer system review was completed
and the area appeared to meet all
criteria for SSA designation. The legal
and technical basis for the proposal was
outlined in an EPA publication titled:
‘‘Draft Support Document for the Sole
Source Aquifer Designation of the
Troutdale Aquifer System’’. After a
technical peer review and public
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rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
comment period, a final publication was
compiled titled: ‘‘Final Support
Document for the Sole Source Aquifer
Designation of the Troutdale Aquifer
System’’.
II. Basis for Determination
Among the factors to be considered by
EPA in connection with the designation
of an area under Section 1424(e) are: (1)
Whether the aquifer is the area’s sole or
principal source of drinking water, and
(2) whether contamination of the aquifer
would create a significant hazard to
public health.
EPA Region 10 follows EPA guidance
which interprets the statutory language
of ‘‘sole or principal’’ as meaning that
the aquifer must supply at least 50
percent of the drinking water for the
area. Furthermore, there should be no
alternate drinking water source(s) which
can physically, legally, and
economically supply all those who
depend upon the aquifer for drinking
water, should it become contaminated.
In addition, aquifer boundaries should
be delineated based on sound
hydrogeologic principles and the best
available scientific information.
Although designation determinations
are largely based on science-based
criteria, the Regional Administrator may
also consider the overall public interest
and net environmental and public
health benefits in making a sole source
aquifer determination.
On the basis of information available
to this Agency, the Region 10
Administrator has made the following
findings:
(1) The aquifer system is the principal
source of drinking water (approximately
99.4%) for the people in the Troutdale
aquifer system area and there are no
alternate sources which can physically,
legally, and economically supply all
those who depend upon the aquifer for
drinking water, should it become
contaminated. Potential alternate
sources considered include surface
water, alternative aquifers, and an
intertie with the Portland Water Bureau.
None of these drinking water sources
are considered by EPA to be feasible
replacements for the entire aquifer
system due to economic barriers or
because these sources are not consumed
or utilized for domestic purposes in
significant quantities.
(2) Contamination of the aquifer
system would create a significant hazard
to public health. The aquifer system is
vulnerable to contamination because
recharge occurs essentially over the
entire area, the aquifer is highly
permeable, and there are many human
activities that have released, or have the
potential to release, contaminants to the
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aquifers. The Washington Department of
Ecology (WDOE) currently lists 204
active cleanup and 12 Federal
Superfund sites in the proposed aquifer
service area. These sites are known to
have been contaminated and are
undergoing cleanup. Many of these sites
include plumes of groundwater
contamination. WDOE also lists 625
hazardous waste generators, and 609
underground storage tanks in this area.
• Superfund sites—12
• Active state cleanup sites—90
• Active voluntary and independent
cleanup sites—114
• LUST sites—185
• Hazardous waste sites—625
• UST sites—609
Other sources of contamination
include untreated or poorly treated
storm water and septic systems. There
are about 7,000 septic systems within
the City of Vancouver’s sewer service
area. There are tens of thousands of
additional septic systems outside the
city discharging to the aquifer. The
county is experiencing rapid growth
which increases the threat to the quality
of the aquifer as well as increases the
demand for potable water.
Because the aquifer system is
vulnerable to contamination and
restoring groundwater quality can be
difficult or even impossible; and
because the aquifer system is the
principal source of drinking water for
the area and there are no other sources
which can economically supply all
those who depend upon it for drinking
water; EPA believes that contamination
of the aquifer system would pose a
significant hazard to public health.
These findings are based on
information from various sources
including the petition, EPA guidance,
U.S. Geological Survey reports, and
public comments.
III. Description of the Troutdale
Aquifer System
The following is a summary of
information from the Support Document
available upon request from EPA Region
10, or from the EPA Web site. Much of
the hydrogeological information in the
Support Document is taken from the
petition and from ‘‘Description of the
Groundwater Flow System in the
Portland Basin, Oregon and
Washington’’, U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) Water Supply Paper 2470–A, by
McFarland, William D. and David S.
Morgan, 1996A.
The petitioned area is within Clark
County, Washington, which is a part of
the southernmost boundary of the state,
along the Columbia River. The
geography is characterized by flat-lying
alluvial lands along the Columbia River
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and its tributaries. These alluvial lands
are interrupted by low, rolling hills and/
or buttes with benches and hilly areas
that rise to meet the foothills of the
Cascade Range to the east and the
northeast. The altitude of the land
surface ranges from approximately 10
feet along the Columbia River to about
3,000 feet in the foothill of the Cascade
Range. The Columbia River flows
westward out of the Columbia River
Gorge, past the City of Vancouver,
Washington, where it flows northward.
The tributaries to the Columbia River
that drain Clark County include the
North and East Forks of the Lewis, Little
Washougal, Washougal, and Lake
Rivers. Major creeks are Cedar, Salmon,
Burnt Bridge, and Lacamas Creeks.
The geologic units of the Troutdale
aquifer system are all lacustrine and
fluvial sediments of the upper and
lower members of the Troutdale
Formation, other consolidated sand and
gravel aquifer units, and overlying
unconsolidated alluvium and flood
deposits. These aquifer system units
overlie volcanic and marine
sedimentary rocks that are commonly
known as the ‘‘older rocks’’ unit. The
older rocks unit is minimally productive
as an aquifer and is therefore not
included in the aquifer system being
considered for sole source designation.
Sedimentary units of the aquifer
system include eight hydrogeologic
units comprising the Portland Basin
aquifer system. From youngest to oldest,
these hydrogeologic units are (1) The
unconsolidated sedimentary aquifer, (2)
the Troutdale gravel aquifer in the
Troutdale Formation, (3) confining unit
1, (4) the Troutdale sandstone aquifer in
the Troutdale Formation, (5) confining
unit 2, (6) the sand and gravel aquifer,
and (7) older rocks. The eighth unit is
an undifferentiated fine-grained
sediment deposit that occurs in the
basin where the Troutdale sandstone
and the sand and gravel aquifer are
absent or where there is insufficient
information to characterize the aquifer
units within the lower Troutdale
member.
The quality of groundwater in the
proposed aquifer service area is
generally good with some exceptions.
Dissolved-solids concentrations ranged
from 12 to 245 milligrams per liter, with
a median concentration of 132
milligrams per liter. Most waters can be
characterized as soft to moderately hard.
Concentrations of nitrate as nitrogen
exceeded 1.0 milligram per liter
throughout the Vancouver urban area,
and were as large as 6.7 milligrams per
liter (Maximum Contaminant Level
(MCL) is 10 milligrams per liter).
Potential nitrate sources are septic
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 6, 2006 / Notices
systems and fertilizers. According to the
1990 Census, there are more than 31,000
septic systems in Clark County. An
analysis of limited historical data
indicates that nitrate concentrations
may be decreasing in the southwestern
part of the county around the Vancouver
urban area. A slight increase in nitrate
concentrations was noted in rural areas.
Nitrate concentrations correlated with
sulfate concentrations (r = 0.61),
indicating similar sources for the two.
Volatile organic compounds have been
detected in wells in the Vancouver
urban area. Compounds identified
included tetrachloroethene, 1,1,1trichloroethane, and other solvents.
Atrazine and 2,4-D have also been
detected in well water. Trace elements
and radiochemical constituents were
present only at small levels, indicating
natural sources for these constituents.
The Troutdale aquifer system
boundaries are represented by rivers
and the geologic boundary between the
aquifer system units and the older rocks
unit. The Columbia River forms the
southern and western boundaries of the
proposed Troutdale aquifer system. The
northern boundary follows the North
Fork of the Lewis River from its
confluence with the Columbia River,
east to the confluence of Cedar Creek.
Cedar Creek is used as the northeast
boundary because its location is the
closest geographic representation of the
geologic boundary between the
Troutdale unit and the older rocks unit,
and the creek also most likely acts as a
local ground water divide for the upper
parts of the aquifer system. The aquifer
boundary follows Cedar Creek east
where the boundary turns southeast and
follows the mapped geologic contact
between the Troutdale Formation and
the older rocks unit. The eastern
boundary follows the geologic contact
south to the Little Washougal River, and
then follows the Little Washougal River
to its confluence with the Washougal
River. The boundary then follows the
Washougal River south to Woodburn
Hill, where it turns northwest and
follows the geologic contact along a
small outcrop of the older rocks unit.
The boundary follows the geologic
contact through the City of Camas, and
meets the Columbia River. In the
northern part of the area, the aquifer
system boundary is drawn around Bald
Mountain, which is excluded from the
aquifer system because it is composed of
the older rocks unit. Please see the
Support Document for a more detailed
hydrogeologic description.
IV. Project Reviews
The Safe Drinking Water Act
authorizes EPA to review proposed
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Federal financially-assisted projects
which have the potential to contaminate
a designated SSA. Federal assistance
may be denied if EPA determines that
a project may contaminate the SSA
through its recharge zone so as to create
a significant hazard to public health.
Outright denial of Federal funding is
rare as most projects pose limited risk
to ground water quality or can be
feasibly modified to prevent ground
water contamination. Proposed projects
that are funded entirely by state, local,
or private concerns are not subject to
SSA review by EPA.
EPA does not review all possible
Federal financially-assisted projects, but
tries to focus on those projects which
pose the greatest risk to public health.
Memorandums of Understanding have
been developed between EPA and
various Federal funding agencies to help
identify, coordinate, and evaluate
projects. EPA relies to the maximum
extent possible on existing local and
state mechanisms to protect SSAs from
contamination. Whenever feasible, EPA
coordinates project reviews with local
and state agencies that have a
responsibility for ground water
protection. Their comments are given
full consideration in the Federal review
process.
V. Public Participation and Response to
Comments
The following is a summary of the
information from the ‘‘EPA Response to
Public Comments Submitted on the
Draft Support Document for the Sole
Source Aquifer Designation of the
Troutdale Aquifer System’’, which is
available on the EPA Region 10 Sole
Source Aquifer Web site.
EPA used various methods to notify
and involve the public and others in the
Troutdale Aquifer System SSA
designation process. The outreach effort
included briefings to local and State
government, distribution of EPA facts
sheets, placing information in local
libraries, a public advertisement in the
local newspaper, and posting all
designation information on the EPA
Region 10 Sole Source Aquifer Web site.
A public comment period was in
effect from March 1, 2006 to May 1,
2006. EPA received 26 letters of support
for the designation from a combination
of individuals, public interest groups,
Indian tribes, and public utilities. A
letter from the City of Portland Bureau
of Water Works suggested corrections to
the Support Document regarding
accurate wording of information about
the Bureau of Water Works. A letter
from the Board of Clark County
Commissioners listed 7 questions for
EPA to answer. In a follow-up letter, the
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52543
Board questions the need for the
designation and requests a written
guarantee that EPA will only address
technical aspects of federally-funded
projects in the area, and not involve
itself in local land use issues. A letter
from the City of Vancouver questioned
the need for the designation, and
questioned the validity of the alternative
source evaluation. There were no letters
expressing strong opposition to the
designation.
The primary reason given for
supporting the proposed action was a
belief that designation would increase
protection of the area’s ground water.
Many people cited concerns regarding
historical and current ground water
contamination of the aquifer system,
indicating the high degree of aquifer
vulnerability. Many cited the
educational benefit that SSA status
would have on the area’s residents and
on Clark County government on the
source of the area’s drinking water, and
its value and the need for protection and
conservation. Some people commented
that protection of the area’s ground
water was important because there are
no feasible alternate sources of drinking
water.
Two local governmental agencies
questioned the need for the sole source,
citing other ground water protection
laws that are currently in effect. In
response, there is no program in the
State of Washington that designates an
entire aquifer boundary for protection
efforts. EPA has authority to review, and
recommend mitigating measures to any
federally-financially assisted project
that is determined to be a risk to the
ground water. No such review exists
through any other program.
One governmental agency expressed
concern that special interests would
exploit the designation which would
lead to unnecessary project delays and
the advancement of other agendas. In
response, EPA’s role, after designation,
is to review federally-financially
assisted projects proposed in the area, to
make sure that they will not
contaminate the aquifer. Project delays
would only occur if it became necessary
to incorporate mitigating measures to
assure that the public’s drinking water
would be protected.
One government agency believes that
there are feasible alternative sources of
drinking water for the area. In response,
EPA considered and evaluated the
potential costs of supplying the aquifer
population with water from various
rivers, Lake Vancouver, etc. * * *
individually. We did not consider them
collectively because if they were not
feasible individually, then they would
certainly not be economically feasible
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collectively. It would cost considerably
more to hook up everyone to not only
a river source, but also to a lake source.
When evaluating economic feasibility,
the costs of supply lines running to
every single household in the area must
be included * * * this includes every
household up in the foothills, out in the
middle of the woods, and not just in the
metropolitan areas. Although there may
be a collection of alternative water
supplies that could serve the City of
Vancouver, this still does not meet the
EPA guidance criteria for alternative
sources, which states that it has to be
shown that the alternative source could
supply the entire population that lives
over the aquifer. We requested
information from the public that would
show us if any such alternatives exist,
but none were supplied to us.
One government agency requested the
EPA provide the technical basis for
listing Salmon Creek and Lacamas Creek
as losing stream reaches. In response,
both creeks were measured as losing
reaches by the U.S. Geological Survey in
stream measurements made in 1996.
One government agency expressed
concern that EPA is unwilling to
guarantee in writing that Federal agency
Memorandums of Understanding
(MOU’s) will only address technical
project elements and not diverge into
non-technical issues such as land use or
other local jurisdiction decisional
concerns. In response, EPA creates
MOU’s with other Federal agencies to
ensure that that EPA receives project
information on all federally-financially
assisted projects that are located in a
Sole Source Aquifer and which have the
potential to contaminate such aquifer.
EPA’s role is to review the projects and
either approve as-is, or recommend
changes in the project design that offer
aquifer protection. Such recommended
changes in project designs could have
an indirect impact on local land use.
EPA’s direct role in local projects is
solely the technical review of federallyfinancially assisted projects.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
VI. Summary
This determination affects only the
Troutdale Aquifer System located in
Clark County, Washington. As a result
of this determination, all Federal
financially-assisted projects proposed in
the designated area will be subject to
EPA review to ensure that they do not
create a significant hazard to public
health.
Dated: August 14, 2006.
Ron Kreizenbeck,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 10.
[FR Doc. E6–14710 Filed 9–5–06; 8:45 am]
18:44 Sep 05, 2006
[DA 06–1728]
Tenth Meeting of the Advisory
Committee for the 2007 World
Radiocommunication Conference
(WRC–07 Advisory Committee)
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, this
notice advises interested persons that
the tenth meeting of the WRC–07
Advisory Committee will be held on
October 4, 2006, at the Federal
Communications Commission. The
purpose of the meeting is to continue
preparations for the 2007 World
Radiocommunication Conference. The
Advisory Committee will consider any
preliminary views and draft proposals
introduced by the Advisory Committee’s
Informal Working Groups.
DATES: October 4, 2006; 11 a.m.–12
noon.
Federal Communications
Commission, 445 12th Street, SW.,
Room TW–C305, Washington, DC
20554.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alexander Roytblat, FCC International
Bureau, Strategic Analysis and
Negotiations Division, at (202) 418–
7501.
The
Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) established the WRC–07 Advisory
Committee to provide advice, technical
support and recommendations relating
to the preparation of United States
proposals and positions for the 2007
World Radiocommunication Conference
(WRC–07).
In accordance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act, Public Law
92–463, as amended, this notice advises
interested persons of the tenth meeting
of the WRC–07 Advisory Committee.
The WRC–07 Advisory Committee has
an open membership. All interested
parties are invited to participate in the
Advisory Committee and to attend its
meetings. The proposed agenda for the
tenth meeting is as follows:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Jkt 208001
2. Approval of Agenda.
3. Approval of the Minutes of the
Ninth Meeting.
4. Status of Preliminary Views and
Draft Proposals.
5. Reports on Recent WRC–07
Preparatory Meetings.
6. NTIA Draft Preliminary Views and
Proposals.
7. Informal Working Group Reports
and Documents relating to:
a. Consensus Views and Issues
Papers.
b. Draft Proposals.
8. Future Meetings.
9. Other Business.
Federal Communications Commission.
John Giusti,
Acting Chief, International Bureau.
[FR Doc. 06–7392 Filed 9–5–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
Notice of Agreement Filed
The Commission hereby gives notice
of the filing of the following agreement
under the Shipping Act of 1984.
Interested parties may submit comments
on this agreement to the Secretary,
Federal Maritime Commission,
Washington, DC 20573, within ten days
of the date this notice appears in the
Federal Register. Copies of agreements
are available through the Commission’s
Office of Agreements (202–523–5793 or
tradeanalysis@fmc.gov).
Agreement No.: 011346–017.
Title: Israel Trade Conference
Agreement.
Parties: A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S and
Zim Integrated Shipping Services, Ltd.
Filing Party: Marc J. Fink, Esq.; Sher
& Blackwell LLP; 1850 M Street, NW.;
Suite 900; Washington, DC 20036.
Synopsis: The amendment deletes
Farrell Lines, Inc. as a party to the
agreement.
By order of the Federal Maritime
Commission.
Dated: August 31, 2006.
Karen V. Gregory,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6–14740 Filed 9–5–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6730–01–P
Agenda
FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
Tenth Meeting of the WRC–07 Advisory
Committee, Federal Communications
Commission, 445 12th Street, SW.,
Room TW–C305, Washington, DC 20554
Ocean Transportation Intermediary
License Revocations
October 4, 2006; 11 a.m.–12 noon
1. Opening Remarks.
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
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The Federal Maritime Commission
hereby gives notice that the following
Ocean Transportation Intermediary
licenses have been revoked pursuant to
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52541-52544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14710]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-8217-2]
Sole Source Aquifer Designation of the Troutdale Aquifer System;
Clark County, WA
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of Final Determination.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that pursuant to Section 1424(e) of the
Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300h-3(e), Pub. L. 93-523), and in
response to a petition from a group of Clark County residents (two
private groups and 8 individuals), the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) Region 10 Administrator has determined that the Troutdale
aquifer system, in Clark County, Washington, is a sole or principal
source of drinking water, and that if contaminated, would create a
significant hazard to public health. As a result of this action, all
Federal financially-assisted projects proposed over the designated
aquifer system will be subject to EPA review to ensure that they do not
create a significant hazard to public health.
DATES: This determination shall be promulgated for purposes of judicial
review at 1 p.m. eastern time on September 20, 2006.
ADDRESSES: The information upon which this determination is based is
available to the public and may be inspected during normal business
hours at the EPA Region 10 Library, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle,
Washington 98101, or on the EPA Web site at: https://yosemite.epa.gov/
r10/water.nsf/Sole+Source+Aquifers/Program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martha Lentz, Hydrogeologist, Office
of Environmental Assessment, OEA-095, Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101, 206-553-1593.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 1424(e) of the Safe Drinking Water Act states:
If the Administrator determines, on his own initiative or upon
petition that an area has an aquifer which is the sole or principal
drinking water source for the area and which, if contaminated, would
create a significant hazard to public health, he shall publish
notice of that determination in the Federal Register. After the
publication of any such notice, no commitment for Federal financial
assistance (through a grant, contract, loan guarantee, or otherwise)
may be entered into for any project which the Administrator
determines may contaminate such aquifer through a recharge zone so
as to create a significant hazard to public health, but a commitment
for Federal assistance may, if authorized under another provision of
law, be entered into to plan or design the project to assure that it
will not so contaminate the aquifer.
The EPA Region 10 Drinking Water Section received a draft sole
source aquifer (SSA) petition in early November 2005 from a group of
Clark County residents, who represent both individuals and private
public interest groups. The petitioners were:
The Columbia Riverkeeper,
The Rosemere Neighborhood Association,
Dvija Michael Bertish,
Dennis Dykes,
Thom McConathy,
Nathan Reynolds,
Karen Kingston,
Coleen Broad,
Richard Dyrland,
Dean Swanson.
A final petition was presented to EPA on November 29, 2005. On
December 28, 2005, EPA sent a letter to the petitioners acknowledging
that the agency considered the petition complete, and that the
technical review process would begin.
In January 2006 EPA met with the petitioners to discuss expanding
the aquifer system boundary to include more of the geologic formations.
There was agreement to extend the boundary, and the petitioners agreed
to provide updated values for population and drinking water use data.
On January 17, 2006 the petitioners provided the adjusted water use and
population data to EPA.
In February of 2006, the Troutdale aquifer system review was
completed and the area appeared to meet all criteria for SSA
designation. The legal and technical basis for the proposal was
outlined in an EPA publication titled: ``Draft Support Document for the
Sole Source Aquifer Designation of the Troutdale Aquifer System''.
After a technical peer review and public
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comment period, a final publication was compiled titled: ``Final
Support Document for the Sole Source Aquifer Designation of the
Troutdale Aquifer System''.
II. Basis for Determination
Among the factors to be considered by EPA in connection with the
designation of an area under Section 1424(e) are: (1) Whether the
aquifer is the area's sole or principal source of drinking water, and
(2) whether contamination of the aquifer would create a significant
hazard to public health.
EPA Region 10 follows EPA guidance which interprets the statutory
language of ``sole or principal'' as meaning that the aquifer must
supply at least 50 percent of the drinking water for the area.
Furthermore, there should be no alternate drinking water source(s)
which can physically, legally, and economically supply all those who
depend upon the aquifer for drinking water, should it become
contaminated. In addition, aquifer boundaries should be delineated
based on sound hydrogeologic principles and the best available
scientific information.
Although designation determinations are largely based on science-
based criteria, the Regional Administrator may also consider the
overall public interest and net environmental and public health
benefits in making a sole source aquifer determination.
On the basis of information available to this Agency, the Region 10
Administrator has made the following findings:
(1) The aquifer system is the principal source of drinking water
(approximately 99.4%) for the people in the Troutdale aquifer system
area and there are no alternate sources which can physically, legally,
and economically supply all those who depend upon the aquifer for
drinking water, should it become contaminated. Potential alternate
sources considered include surface water, alternative aquifers, and an
intertie with the Portland Water Bureau. None of these drinking water
sources are considered by EPA to be feasible replacements for the
entire aquifer system due to economic barriers or because these sources
are not consumed or utilized for domestic purposes in significant
quantities.
(2) Contamination of the aquifer system would create a significant
hazard to public health. The aquifer system is vulnerable to
contamination because recharge occurs essentially over the entire area,
the aquifer is highly permeable, and there are many human activities
that have released, or have the potential to release, contaminants to
the aquifers. The Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE) currently
lists 204 active cleanup and 12 Federal Superfund sites in the proposed
aquifer service area. These sites are known to have been contaminated
and are undergoing cleanup. Many of these sites include plumes of
groundwater contamination. WDOE also lists 625 hazardous waste
generators, and 609 underground storage tanks in this area.
Superfund sites--12
Active state cleanup sites--90
Active voluntary and independent cleanup sites--114
LUST sites--185
Hazardous waste sites--625
UST sites--609
Other sources of contamination include untreated or poorly treated
storm water and septic systems. There are about 7,000 septic systems
within the City of Vancouver's sewer service area. There are tens of
thousands of additional septic systems outside the city discharging to
the aquifer. The county is experiencing rapid growth which increases
the threat to the quality of the aquifer as well as increases the
demand for potable water.
Because the aquifer system is vulnerable to contamination and
restoring groundwater quality can be difficult or even impossible; and
because the aquifer system is the principal source of drinking water
for the area and there are no other sources which can economically
supply all those who depend upon it for drinking water; EPA believes
that contamination of the aquifer system would pose a significant
hazard to public health.
These findings are based on information from various sources
including the petition, EPA guidance, U.S. Geological Survey reports,
and public comments.
III. Description of the Troutdale Aquifer System
The following is a summary of information from the Support Document
available upon request from EPA Region 10, or from the EPA Web site.
Much of the hydrogeological information in the Support Document is
taken from the petition and from ``Description of the Groundwater Flow
System in the Portland Basin, Oregon and Washington'', U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS) Water Supply Paper 2470-A, by McFarland, William D. and
David S. Morgan, 1996A.
The petitioned area is within Clark County, Washington, which is a
part of the southernmost boundary of the state, along the Columbia
River. The geography is characterized by flat-lying alluvial lands
along the Columbia River and its tributaries. These alluvial lands are
interrupted by low, rolling hills and/or buttes with benches and hilly
areas that rise to meet the foothills of the Cascade Range to the east
and the northeast. The altitude of the land surface ranges from
approximately 10 feet along the Columbia River to about 3,000 feet in
the foothill of the Cascade Range. The Columbia River flows westward
out of the Columbia River Gorge, past the City of Vancouver,
Washington, where it flows northward. The tributaries to the Columbia
River that drain Clark County include the North and East Forks of the
Lewis, Little Washougal, Washougal, and Lake Rivers. Major creeks are
Cedar, Salmon, Burnt Bridge, and Lacamas Creeks.
The geologic units of the Troutdale aquifer system are all
lacustrine and fluvial sediments of the upper and lower members of the
Troutdale Formation, other consolidated sand and gravel aquifer units,
and overlying unconsolidated alluvium and flood deposits. These aquifer
system units overlie volcanic and marine sedimentary rocks that are
commonly known as the ``older rocks'' unit. The older rocks unit is
minimally productive as an aquifer and is therefore not included in the
aquifer system being considered for sole source designation.
Sedimentary units of the aquifer system include eight hydrogeologic
units comprising the Portland Basin aquifer system. From youngest to
oldest, these hydrogeologic units are (1) The unconsolidated
sedimentary aquifer, (2) the Troutdale gravel aquifer in the Troutdale
Formation, (3) confining unit 1, (4) the Troutdale sandstone aquifer in
the Troutdale Formation, (5) confining unit 2, (6) the sand and gravel
aquifer, and (7) older rocks. The eighth unit is an undifferentiated
fine-grained sediment deposit that occurs in the basin where the
Troutdale sandstone and the sand and gravel aquifer are absent or where
there is insufficient information to characterize the aquifer units
within the lower Troutdale member.
The quality of groundwater in the proposed aquifer service area is
generally good with some exceptions. Dissolved-solids concentrations
ranged from 12 to 245 milligrams per liter, with a median concentration
of 132 milligrams per liter. Most waters can be characterized as soft
to moderately hard. Concentrations of nitrate as nitrogen exceeded 1.0
milligram per liter throughout the Vancouver urban area, and were as
large as 6.7 milligrams per liter (Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) is
10 milligrams per liter). Potential nitrate sources are septic
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systems and fertilizers. According to the 1990 Census, there are more
than 31,000 septic systems in Clark County. An analysis of limited
historical data indicates that nitrate concentrations may be decreasing
in the southwestern part of the county around the Vancouver urban area.
A slight increase in nitrate concentrations was noted in rural areas.
Nitrate concentrations correlated with sulfate concentrations (r =
0.61), indicating similar sources for the two. Volatile organic
compounds have been detected in wells in the Vancouver urban area.
Compounds identified included tetrachloroethene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane,
and other solvents. Atrazine and 2,4-D have also been detected in well
water. Trace elements and radiochemical constituents were present only
at small levels, indicating natural sources for these constituents.
The Troutdale aquifer system boundaries are represented by rivers
and the geologic boundary between the aquifer system units and the
older rocks unit. The Columbia River forms the southern and western
boundaries of the proposed Troutdale aquifer system. The northern
boundary follows the North Fork of the Lewis River from its confluence
with the Columbia River, east to the confluence of Cedar Creek. Cedar
Creek is used as the northeast boundary because its location is the
closest geographic representation of the geologic boundary between the
Troutdale unit and the older rocks unit, and the creek also most likely
acts as a local ground water divide for the upper parts of the aquifer
system. The aquifer boundary follows Cedar Creek east where the
boundary turns southeast and follows the mapped geologic contact
between the Troutdale Formation and the older rocks unit. The eastern
boundary follows the geologic contact south to the Little Washougal
River, and then follows the Little Washougal River to its confluence
with the Washougal River. The boundary then follows the Washougal River
south to Woodburn Hill, where it turns northwest and follows the
geologic contact along a small outcrop of the older rocks unit. The
boundary follows the geologic contact through the City of Camas, and
meets the Columbia River. In the northern part of the area, the aquifer
system boundary is drawn around Bald Mountain, which is excluded from
the aquifer system because it is composed of the older rocks unit.
Please see the Support Document for a more detailed hydrogeologic
description.
IV. Project Reviews
The Safe Drinking Water Act authorizes EPA to review proposed
Federal financially-assisted projects which have the potential to
contaminate a designated SSA. Federal assistance may be denied if EPA
determines that a project may contaminate the SSA through its recharge
zone so as to create a significant hazard to public health. Outright
denial of Federal funding is rare as most projects pose limited risk to
ground water quality or can be feasibly modified to prevent ground
water contamination. Proposed projects that are funded entirely by
state, local, or private concerns are not subject to SSA review by EPA.
EPA does not review all possible Federal financially-assisted
projects, but tries to focus on those projects which pose the greatest
risk to public health. Memorandums of Understanding have been developed
between EPA and various Federal funding agencies to help identify,
coordinate, and evaluate projects. EPA relies to the maximum extent
possible on existing local and state mechanisms to protect SSAs from
contamination. Whenever feasible, EPA coordinates project reviews with
local and state agencies that have a responsibility for ground water
protection. Their comments are given full consideration in the Federal
review process.
V. Public Participation and Response to Comments
The following is a summary of the information from the ``EPA
Response to Public Comments Submitted on the Draft Support Document for
the Sole Source Aquifer Designation of the Troutdale Aquifer System'',
which is available on the EPA Region 10 Sole Source Aquifer Web site.
EPA used various methods to notify and involve the public and
others in the Troutdale Aquifer System SSA designation process. The
outreach effort included briefings to local and State government,
distribution of EPA facts sheets, placing information in local
libraries, a public advertisement in the local newspaper, and posting
all designation information on the EPA Region 10 Sole Source Aquifer
Web site.
A public comment period was in effect from March 1, 2006 to May 1,
2006. EPA received 26 letters of support for the designation from a
combination of individuals, public interest groups, Indian tribes, and
public utilities. A letter from the City of Portland Bureau of Water
Works suggested corrections to the Support Document regarding accurate
wording of information about the Bureau of Water Works. A letter from
the Board of Clark County Commissioners listed 7 questions for EPA to
answer. In a follow-up letter, the Board questions the need for the
designation and requests a written guarantee that EPA will only address
technical aspects of federally-funded projects in the area, and not
involve itself in local land use issues. A letter from the City of
Vancouver questioned the need for the designation, and questioned the
validity of the alternative source evaluation. There were no letters
expressing strong opposition to the designation.
The primary reason given for supporting the proposed action was a
belief that designation would increase protection of the area's ground
water. Many people cited concerns regarding historical and current
ground water contamination of the aquifer system, indicating the high
degree of aquifer vulnerability. Many cited the educational benefit
that SSA status would have on the area's residents and on Clark County
government on the source of the area's drinking water, and its value
and the need for protection and conservation. Some people commented
that protection of the area's ground water was important because there
are no feasible alternate sources of drinking water.
Two local governmental agencies questioned the need for the sole
source, citing other ground water protection laws that are currently in
effect. In response, there is no program in the State of Washington
that designates an entire aquifer boundary for protection efforts. EPA
has authority to review, and recommend mitigating measures to any
federally-financially assisted project that is determined to be a risk
to the ground water. No such review exists through any other program.
One governmental agency expressed concern that special interests
would exploit the designation which would lead to unnecessary project
delays and the advancement of other agendas. In response, EPA's role,
after designation, is to review federally-financially assisted projects
proposed in the area, to make sure that they will not contaminate the
aquifer. Project delays would only occur if it became necessary to
incorporate mitigating measures to assure that the public's drinking
water would be protected.
One government agency believes that there are feasible alternative
sources of drinking water for the area. In response, EPA considered and
evaluated the potential costs of supplying the aquifer population with
water from various rivers, Lake Vancouver, etc. * * * individually. We
did not consider them collectively because if they were not feasible
individually, then they would certainly not be economically feasible
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collectively. It would cost considerably more to hook up everyone to
not only a river source, but also to a lake source. When evaluating
economic feasibility, the costs of supply lines running to every single
household in the area must be included * * * this includes every
household up in the foothills, out in the middle of the woods, and not
just in the metropolitan areas. Although there may be a collection of
alternative water supplies that could serve the City of Vancouver, this
still does not meet the EPA guidance criteria for alternative sources,
which states that it has to be shown that the alternative source could
supply the entire population that lives over the aquifer. We requested
information from the public that would show us if any such alternatives
exist, but none were supplied to us.
One government agency requested the EPA provide the technical basis
for listing Salmon Creek and Lacamas Creek as losing stream reaches. In
response, both creeks were measured as losing reaches by the U.S.
Geological Survey in stream measurements made in 1996.
One government agency expressed concern that EPA is unwilling to
guarantee in writing that Federal agency Memorandums of Understanding
(MOU's) will only address technical project elements and not diverge
into non-technical issues such as land use or other local jurisdiction
decisional concerns. In response, EPA creates MOU's with other Federal
agencies to ensure that that EPA receives project information on all
federally-financially assisted projects that are located in a Sole
Source Aquifer and which have the potential to contaminate such
aquifer. EPA's role is to review the projects and either approve as-is,
or recommend changes in the project design that offer aquifer
protection. Such recommended changes in project designs could have an
indirect impact on local land use. EPA's direct role in local projects
is solely the technical review of federally-financially assisted
projects.
VI. Summary
This determination affects only the Troutdale Aquifer System
located in Clark County, Washington. As a result of this determination,
all Federal financially-assisted projects proposed in the designated
area will be subject to EPA review to ensure that they do not create a
significant hazard to public health.
Dated: August 14, 2006.
Ron Kreizenbeck,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 10.
[FR Doc. E6-14710 Filed 9-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P