Stakeholder Input: Listening Session to Provide Information and Solicit Suggestions for Regulations Forthcoming Under the Clean Water Act, 11980-11983 [2011-4989]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 43 (Friday, March 4, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11980-11983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4989]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Chapter I

[Docket EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0119; FRL-9275-4]


Stakeholder Input: Listening Session to Provide Information and 
Solicit Suggestions for Regulations Forthcoming Under the Clean Water 
Act

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of listening sessions.

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SUMMARY: The EPA is today announcing plans to hold ``listening 
sessions'' on March 18 and April 29, 2011, to provide information about 
the Clean Boating Act (CBA), and to gather recommendations from the 
public for forthcoming regulation of recreational vessels under the 
Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 312(o). The listening sessions will be 
held in Annapolis, MD. EPA may hold additional listening sessions in 
other locations if there is sufficient interest. The CBA, which was 
passed by

[[Page 11981]]

Congress and signed into law in 2008, directs EPA to promulgate 
regulations to establish management practices and associated standards 
of performance for discharges incidental to the normal operation of 
recreational vessels (e.g., bilgewater, ballast water, and graywater). 
Because these regulations will affect the owners and operators of 
approximately 17 million recreational vessels, EPA seeks to inform the 
general public and regulated community of its plans for development of 
the regulations, and to hear the views of the general public, the 
recreational boating community, State agencies, and other interested 
stakeholders.

DATES: The listening sessions will be held at 210 Holiday Court, 
Annapolis, Maryland 21401, on March 18 and April 29, 2011, at 7 p.m. 
EST. Any additional listening sessions that are scheduled will be 
published in a forthcoming Federal Register document. If you would 
prefer to provide written comments, EPA is asking for comments or 
relevant information from the interested public to be submitted to the 
docket on or before June 2, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Submit your statements or input, identified by Docket ID No. 
EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0119 by one of the following methods:
     https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: ow-docket@epa.gov. Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OW-2011-0119.
     Mail: Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail 
Code: 2822-1T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, 
Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0119.
     Hand Delivery: Water Docket, EPA Docket Center, EPA West 
Building Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, 
ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0119. Such deliveries are only accepted during 
the Docket's normal hours of operation (see below), and special 
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2011-
0119. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in 
the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you 
consider to be CBI (or otherwise protected) through https://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The https://www.regulations.gov Web site 
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment.
    If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through 
https://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically 
captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the 
public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an 
electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other 
contact information in the body of your comment, as well as with any 
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to 
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA 
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid 
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of 
any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public 
docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at https://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
in https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Water Docket, EPA/
DC, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. 
The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the 
Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the 
Water Docket is (202) 566-2426.
    Public Listening Session: EPA intends to hold public listening 
sessions to provide information to and gather information from the 
public to assist EPA in the development of regulations for recreational 
vessels. Written and oral statements will be accepted at the public 
listening sessions. Input generated from the public listening sessions 
will be compiled and archived in Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0119, 
found at https://www.regulations.gov. The public listening session will 
include an EPA discussion of the background of the CBA, a discussion of 
the intent of the proposed regulation, and EPA's general approach to 
the regulatory process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about the CBA 
or on the listening sessions, contact Brian Rappoli at 202-566-1548, or 
e-mail cleanboatingact-hq@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    Today's document does not contain or establish any regulatory 
requirements. Rather, it announces public listening sessions and seeks 
public input for use in developing proposed regulations under the CWA 
Section 312(o).
    Today's document will be of interest to the general public, State 
regulatory agencies, other Federal agencies, environmental groups, and 
owners or operators of recreational vessels.

B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?

    1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through 
https://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of 
the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information on a disk 
or CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM 
as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the 
specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one 
complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as 
CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information 
claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. 
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with 
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
    2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments, 
remember to:
     Identify the document by docket number and other 
identifying information (subject heading, Federal Register date, and 
page number).
     Follow directions.
     Describe any assumptions and provide any technical 
information and/or data that you used.
     Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns and 
suggest alternatives.
     Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide 
reasons to support your views.

Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline 
identified. You may submit your comments electronically, by mail, 
through hand delivery/courier, or in person by

[[Page 11982]]

attending the public listening sessions being held on March 18 and 
April 22, 2011.

II. Background

    The potential environmental impacts from discharges incidental to 
the normal operation of recreational vessels are broad. Recreational 
boating activities can introduce non-indigenous invasive species to new 
aquatic environments through the discharge of encrusting organisms from 
boat hulls, boat trailers, fishing gear, and through water retained by 
live wells and fishing buckets, recreational gear, ballast water, and 
bilge water. Boating activities can also introduce toxic chemicals and 
other pollutants. For example, graywater discharges from the vessel 
galley, sinks, or showers can contribute to eutrophication, enhanced 
turbidity, and introduce pathogenic organisms to the surrounding water. 
Coatings used to deter organism growth on vessel hulls can release 
heavy metals and/or other biocides, which can lead to acute or chronic 
toxicity in non-targeted organisms. Bilgewater can contain oils, 
dissolved heavy metals, and other chemical constituents that can result 
in toxic effects on aquatic organisms, contribute to eutrophication, 
and have negative aesthetic impacts.
    The CBA creates a new section 402(r) of the CWA to exclude 
recreational vessels from National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
System permitting requirements. In addition, it adds a new CWA section 
312(o) directing EPA to develop regulations that identify the 
discharges incidental to the normal operation of recreational vessels 
(other than a discharge of sewage), for which it is reasonable and 
practicable to develop management practices to mitigate adverse impacts 
on waters of the United States. Those regulations need to include 
management practices, as well as performance standards for each such 
practice. Following promulgation of the EPA performance standards, new 
CWA section 312(o) directs the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to 
promulgate regulations governing the design, construction, 
installation, and use of the management practices. Following 
promulgation of the USCG regulations, new CWA section 312(o)(6) 
prohibits the operation of a recreational vessel or any discharge 
incidental to their normal operation in waters of the United States and 
waters of the contiguous zone (i.e., 12 miles into the ocean), unless 
the vessel owner or operator is using an applicable management practice 
meeting the EPA-developed performance standards.
    To be successful, the management practices and performance 
standards to be developed under the Act will need to be technically 
effective in reducing or controlling discharges, but also will need to 
be readily implemented by the recreational boat owner.
    To help the public prepare for the listening session, the following 
background information is provided. Please note that the information 
presented in this section is in summary form; for more detail, please 
refer to the information available at https://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/vessel/CBA/about.cfm.

A. Why is EPA developing proposed regulations for operational 
discharges from recreational vessels?

    In July of 2008, Congress passed the Clean Boating Act of 2008 
(Pub. L. 110-288). The CBA directs EPA to promulgate regulations to 
establish management practices and associated standards of performance 
for discharges incidental to the normal operation of recreational 
vessels.

B. What vessels are subject to the CBA?

    The CBA defines recreational vessels as vessels: (1) Manufactured 
primarily for pleasure, (2) used primarily for pleasure, or (3) vessels 
leased, rented, or chartered for pleasure (CWA section 502(25)). The 
definition specifically excludes vessels that are subject to USCG 
inspection and either engaged in commercial use or carry paying 
passengers. EPA anticipates that the proposed regulation will apply to 
recreational vessels including, but not limited to: personal 
watercraft, canoes, kayaks, recreational fishing boats, sail boats, ski 
boats, power boats and large yachts.

C. What are ``Management Practices'' (MPs) and who will they apply to?

    EPA anticipates the proposed regulation will consist of a number of 
MPs that will describe practices to reduce environmental pollution from 
recreational vessels. Each vessel owner/operator would be responsible 
for implementing the MPs applicable to the types of discharges their 
vessel creates. The owner/operator is not responsible for those MPs for 
discharges that their vessel does not create (for example, a sailboat 
owner is not responsible for the engine maintenance MPs if the sailboat 
does not have an engine).

D. If I own a recreational vessel, what will I need to do?

    At this time, we are only seeking public input to assist us in 
developing the regulations. Under the CBA, the regulations are to be 
developed in three phases: Phase 1, EPA develops MPs for incidental 
discharges from recreational vessels; Phase 2, EPA develops performance 
standards for the MPs; and Phase 3, USCG develops regulations requiring 
use of the MPs. Following promulgation of the USCG Phase 3 regulations, 
discharges incidental to the normal operation of recreational vessels 
into waters of the United States or the contiguous zone that are not in 
accordance with the management practices and performance standards will 
be prohibited. Violations of the CWA section 312(o) regulations will be 
subject to fines under the CWA.

E. When will this regulation be enforced and who will be enforcing it?

    The regulations will be enforceable upon finalization of the Phase 
3 regulations by the USCG. The USCG will be the Federal agency 
enforcing MPs and performance standards. Relevant State agencies can, 
at their discretion, also enforce these practices and standards under 
CWA section 312(j) and 312(k).

III. Request for Public Input and Comment

    Today's document is being issued to inform the public that EPA is 
in the process of developing regulations under the CWA section 312(o) 
and to solicit input from the public. EPA is accepting information 
during the listening sessions scheduled for March 18 and April 29, 
2011, and/or by submission of written comments or relevant information 
to gain early public input on development of the MPs. Additionally, EPA 
will be conducting a series of weekly ``webinars'' to facilitate public 
participation. More information about the webinar series can be found 
at https://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/vessel/CBA/. EPA is 
also seeking input from the public on whether to hold additional 
listening sessions in other locations (e.g., Gulf of Mexico, Great 
Lakes region, and West Coast).
    In addition to requesting recommendations for MPs that should be 
considered for inclusion in the forthcoming proposed rule, EPA is 
specifically requesting comment on the following:
    (1) Are there any guidances, supporting documentation, or 
communication strategies that you would recommend EPA develop to help 
vessel owner/operators better understand and comply with the MPs being 
developed by EPA? If so, please suggest your approaches.

[[Page 11983]]

    (2) Are there specific discharges (e.g., ballast water) or broad 
categories of discharges (e.g., oily wastes) for which EPA should 
consider developing MPs?
    (3) Are there specific effluent limitations or best management 
practices that EPA should consider incorporating into the forthcoming 
regulations? If so, please provide the recommendation and any 
supporting information.
    (4) Are there relevant Federal, State, or international permits, 
rules, or guidances EPA should consider using to inform decisions being 
made for the CWA section 312(o)? If so, please identify the specific 
sections of the permits, rules, or guidances you believe EPA should 
consider.

    Dated: February 24, 2011.
Denise Keehner,
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds.
[FR Doc. 2011-4989 Filed 3-3-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P