Reissuance of the NPDES General Permit for Groundwater Remediation Facilities in Idaho (Permit Number IDG911000), 47104-47105 [2014-19063]

Download as PDF 47104 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 155 / Tuesday, August 12, 2014 / Notices FERC Contact: Christiane Casey, christiane.casey@ferc.gov, (202) 502– 8577. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, competing applications (without notices of intent), or notices of intent to file competing applications: 60 days from the issuance of this notice. Competing applications and notices of intent must meet the requirements of 18 CFR 4.36. Comments, motions to intervene, notices of intent, and competing applications may be filed electronically via the Internet. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission’s Web site https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ efiling.asp. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at https:// www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ ecomment.asp. You must include your name and contact information at the end of your comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1–866–208–3676, or for TTY, (202) 502–8659. Although the Commission strongly encourages electronic filing, documents may also be paper-filed. To paper-file, mail an original and five copies to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. More information about this project, including a copy of the application, can be viewed or printed on the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link of Commission’s Web site at https:// www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp. Enter the docket number (P–14593) in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support. Dated: August 6, 2014. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2014–19040 Filed 8–11–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES [FRL–9915–10–Region 10] Reissuance of the NPDES General Permit for Groundwater Remediation Facilities in Idaho (Permit Number IDG911000) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability of final NPDES General Permit. AGENCY: The Associate Director, Office of Water and Watersheds, EPA Region SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:45 Aug 11, 2014 Jkt 232001 10, is publishing this notice of availability of the final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Groundwater Remediation Facilities in Idaho (the GWGP), Permit No. IDG911000. The GWGP authorizes groundwater discharges to waters of the United States in Idaho, as authorized by Section 402 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C. 1342. The GWGP contains effluent limitations and other requirements that ensure that these remediated groundwater discharges will not cause or contribute to impairments of the beneficial uses of the receiving waters or impair other surface water quality standards (WQS) codified at Idaho Administrative Procedures Act (IDAPA) 58.01.02 DATES: The issuance date of the GWGP is August 28, 2014. The GWGP shall become effective on September 15, 2014. New operators seeking coverage under the GWGP must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to discharge at least 180 days prior to the anticipated commencement of a discharge. Operators that have administratively extended coverage under the 2007 GWGP shall be authorized to discharge upon receipt of an EPA authorization letter after the GWGP becomes effective. These dischargers include Univar USA, Inc., PacifiCorp Idaho Falls Pole Yard, and McCall Oil and Chemical Company. A new facility seeking coverage, Boise State University (BSU), submitted an initial application on January 25, 2013 and additional NOI information on October 25, 2013. BSU will also be authorized to discharge under the GWGP upon receipt of an EPA authorization letter after the GWGP becomes effective. ADDRESSES: Copies of the GWGP, the Response to Comments document, and the Fact Sheet may be found on the Region 10 Web site at https:// www.epa.gov/region10/water/npdes/ generalpermits.html. Copies of the documents are also available upon request. Written requests for copies of the documents may be submitted to EPA, Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900, OWW–130, Seattle, WA 98101. Electronic requests may be sent to: washington.audrey@epa.gov. Requests by telephone may be made to Audrey Washington at (206) 553–0523. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Nogi at (206) 553–1841 or nogi.jill@ epa.gov SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 30, 2012, the previous NPDES General Permit for Groundwater Remediation Facilities in Idaho (GWGP) expired. EPA solicited public comments PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 on the draft GWGP in the Federal Register on April 3, 2014. The GWGP no longer provides authorization for groundwater discharges from mining operations. Those existing mining operations with an EPA administrative extension of coverage under the 2007 General Permit may continue to operate under the limitations and conditions specified under the 2007 General Permit until such time as a new Permit is issued for those facilities. Notices of the draft GWGP were published in the Idaho Statesman and the Idaho Hispano newspapers on April 3, 2014, and the City of Nampa Parks and Recreation Summer Activity Guide on April 15, 2014. An informational public meeting was held in Boise on May 1, 2014. The 45-day comment period closed on May 19, 2014. Changes have been made to the GWGP in response to comments received during the public review period. All comments, along with the EPA’s responses, are summarized in the Response to Comments document. State Certification of the Idaho GWGP. Pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1341, on July 25, 2014, the State of Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) certified that the conditions of the GWGP comply with State WQS at IDAPA 58.01.02, including the State’s antidegradation policy. Endangered Species Act. Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), 16 U.S.C. 1531–1544, requires federal agencies to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) if their actions have the potential to either beneficially or adversely affect any threatened or endangered species, or designated critical habitat. EPA evaluated the GWGP and determined that the issuance of the GWGP will have no effect on any threatened, endangered, or candidate species; designated critical habitat; and therefore, ESA consultation was not required. Essential Fish Habitat. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires EPA to consult with NOAA– NMFS when a proposed discharge has the potential to adversely affect an Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). EPA’s EFH assessment concluded that the discharges authorized by the GWGP will not adversely affect EFH or those species regulated under a Federal Fisheries Management Plan. Executive Order 12866. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) exempts this action from the review E:\FR\FM\12AUN1.SGM 12AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 155 / Tuesday, August 12, 2014 / Notices requirements of Executive Order 12866 pursuant to Section 6 of that order. Paperwork Reduction Act. The information collection requirements of the GWGP are consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Regulatory Flexibility Act. 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., requires that EPA prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis on rules subject to the requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act [APA, 5 U.S.C. 553] that have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. However, EPA has concluded that NPDES General Permits are not rulemakings under the APA, and are therefore not subject to APA rulemaking requirements or the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. Section 201 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA), Public Law 104–4, generally requires federal agencies to assess the effects of their regulatory actions (defined to be the same as rules subject to the RFA) on tribal, state, and local governments and the private sector. However, the Idaho GWGP is not subject to the RFA, and are therefore not subject to the UMRA. Appeal of Permit. Any interested person may appeal the Idaho GWGP in the Federal Court of Appeals in accordance with section 509(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1369(b)(1). This appeal must be filed within 120 days of the Permit issuance date. Persons affected by the Permit may not challenge the conditions of the Permit in further EPA proceedings (see 40 CFR 124.19). Instead, they may either challenge the Permit in court or apply for an individual NPDES Permit. Authority: This action is taken under the authority of Section 402 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1342. I hereby provide public notice of the final Permit action in accordance with 40 CFR 124.15(b). Dated: August 4, 2014. Christine Psyk, Associate Director, Office of Water & Watersheds, Region 10, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. [FR Doc. 2014–19063 Filed 8–11–14; 8:45 am] emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 6560–50–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:45 Aug 11, 2014 Jkt 232001 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–ORD–2014–0581; FRL–9915–07– ORD] Notice of Availability of the Risk Assessment Forum White Paper: Probabilistic Risk Assessment Methods and Case Studies and Probabilistic Risk Assessment To Inform Decision Making: Frequently Asked Questions Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Notice of Availability. AGENCY: This notice announces the availability of ‘‘Risk Assessment Forum White Paper: Probabilistic Risk Assessment Methods and Case Studies’’ and its companion document ‘‘Probabilistic Risk Assessment to Inform Decision Making: Frequently Asked Questions.’’ The drafts were released for public comment, and externally peer reviewed by experts from academia, industry, environmental groups, and other government agencies. DATES: The document will be available for use by EPA risk assessors and other interested parties on August 12, 2014. ADDRESSES: The Risk Assessment Forum White Paper: Probabilistic Risk Assessment Methods and Case Studies and Probabilistic Risk Assessment to Inform Decision Making: Frequently Asked Questions are available electronically through the EPA Web site at https://epa.gov/raf/prawhitepaper/ index.htm. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rita S. Schoeny, Office of the Science Advisor, Mail Code 8105R, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number (202) 566– 1127; fax number (202) 565–2911; or email: schoeny.rita@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PRA began playing an increasingly important role in Agency risk assessments following the 1997 release of EPA’s Policy for Use of Probabilistic Analysis in Risk Assessment at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and publication of the Guiding Principles for Monte-Carlo Analysis. PRA was a major focus in an associated review of EPA risk assessment practices by the Science Advisory Board (SAB) (Letter from M. G. Morgan and R. T. Parkin, Science Advisory Board, to S. Johnson, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. February 28, 2007. EPA/SAB–07/003). https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/ sabproduct.nsf/55E1B2C78C60 85EB8525729C00573A3E/$File/sab-07SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 47105 003.pdf). Both this white paper and the companion FAQ document address recommendations on risk assessment processes described in the U.S. National Research Council’s (NRC) report Science and Decisions: Advancing Risk Assessment. The white paper and FAQ documents were released for public comment in September 2009 and underwent external peer review in May 2010. PRA is a group of techniques that incorporate variability and uncertainty into the risk assessment process. PRA provides estimates of the range and likelihood of a hazard, exposure, or risk, rather than a single point estimate. It can provide a more complete characterization of risks, including uncertainties and variability, to protect more sensitive or vulnerable populations and lifestages. The information obtained from a PRA can be used by decision makers to weigh risks from decision alternatives, or to invest in research with the greatest impact on risk estimate uncertainty. These documents describe how PRA can be applied to enhance the scientific foundation for decision making across the Agency. They were created in response to recommendation of numerous advisory bodies, including the SAB and NRC; these groups recommended that EPA incorporate probabilistic analyses into Agency decision-making processes. This white paper and accompanying FAQ explain how EPA can use probabilistic methods to address data, model, and scenario uncertainty and variability by capitalizing on the wide array of tools and methods that comprise PRA. Both documents address issues such as variability and uncertainty, their relevance to decision making, and the PRA goal of providing quantitative characterization of the uncertainty and variability in estimates of hazard, exposure, or risk. The difference between the white paper and the FAQs document is the level of detail provided about PRA concepts and practices and the intended audience (e.g., risk assessors for the white paper vs. decision makers) for the FAQ document. Dated: July 31, 2014. Robert Kavlock, Interim EPA Science Advisor. [FR Doc. 2014–19065 Filed 8–11–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P E:\FR\FM\12AUN1.SGM 12AUN1

Agencies

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 155 (Tuesday, August 12, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47104-47105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19063]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9915-10-Region 10]


Reissuance of the NPDES General Permit for Groundwater 
Remediation Facilities in Idaho (Permit Number IDG911000)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of final NPDES General Permit.

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

SUMMARY: The Associate Director, Office of Water and Watersheds, EPA 
Region 10, is publishing this notice of availability of the final 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit 
for Groundwater Remediation Facilities in Idaho (the GWGP), Permit No. 
IDG911000. The GWGP authorizes groundwater discharges to waters of the 
United States in Idaho, as authorized by Section 402 of the Clean Water 
Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C. 1342. The GWGP contains effluent limitations and 
other requirements that ensure that these remediated groundwater 
discharges will not cause or contribute to impairments of the 
beneficial uses of the receiving waters or impair other surface water 
quality standards (WQS) codified at Idaho Administrative Procedures Act 
(IDAPA) 58.01.02

DATES: The issuance date of the GWGP is August 28, 2014. The GWGP shall 
become effective on September 15, 2014. New operators seeking coverage 
under the GWGP must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to discharge at 
least 180 days prior to the anticipated commencement of a discharge. 
Operators that have administratively extended coverage under the 2007 
GWGP shall be authorized to discharge upon receipt of an EPA 
authorization letter after the GWGP becomes effective. These 
dischargers include Univar USA, Inc., PacifiCorp Idaho Falls Pole Yard, 
and McCall Oil and Chemical Company. A new facility seeking coverage, 
Boise State University (BSU), submitted an initial application on 
January 25, 2013 and additional NOI information on October 25, 2013. 
BSU will also be authorized to discharge under the GWGP upon receipt of 
an EPA authorization letter after the GWGP becomes effective.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the GWGP, the Response to Comments document, and 
the Fact Sheet may be found on the Region 10 Web site at https://www.epa.gov/region10/water/npdes/generalpermits.html. Copies of the 
documents are also available upon request. Written requests for copies 
of the documents may be submitted to EPA, Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, 
Suite 900, OWW-130, Seattle, WA 98101. Electronic requests may be sent 
to: washington.audrey@epa.gov. Requests by telephone may be made to 
Audrey Washington at (206) 553-0523.

For Further Information Contact:  Jill Nogi at (206) 553-1841 or 
nogi.jill@epa.gov

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    On June 30, 2012, the previous NPDES General Permit for Groundwater 
Remediation Facilities in Idaho (GWGP) expired. EPA solicited public 
comments on the draft GWGP in the Federal Register on April 3, 2014. 
The GWGP no longer provides authorization for groundwater discharges 
from mining operations. Those existing mining operations with an EPA 
administrative extension of coverage under the 2007 General Permit may 
continue to operate under the limitations and conditions specified 
under the 2007 General Permit until such time as a new Permit is issued 
for those facilities.
    Notices of the draft GWGP were published in the Idaho Statesman and 
the Idaho Hispano newspapers on April 3, 2014, and the City of Nampa 
Parks and Recreation Summer Activity Guide on April 15, 2014. An 
informational public meeting was held in Boise on May 1, 2014. The 45-
day comment period closed on May 19, 2014. Changes have been made to 
the GWGP in response to comments received during the public review 
period. All comments, along with the EPA's responses, are summarized in 
the Response to Comments document.
    State Certification of the Idaho GWGP. Pursuant to Section 401 of 
the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1341, on July 25, 2014, the State of 
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) certified that the 
conditions of the GWGP comply with State WQS at IDAPA 58.01.02, 
including the State's antidegradation policy.
    Endangered Species Act. Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA), 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544, requires federal agencies to consult with 
the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS) if their actions have the potential to either 
beneficially or adversely affect any threatened or endangered species, 
or designated critical habitat.
    EPA evaluated the GWGP and determined that the issuance of the GWGP 
will have no effect on any threatened, endangered, or candidate 
species; designated critical habitat; and therefore, ESA consultation 
was not required.
    Essential Fish Habitat. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act requires EPA to consult with NOAA-NMFS when a 
proposed discharge has the potential to adversely affect an Essential 
Fish Habitat (EFH). EPA's EFH assessment concluded that the discharges 
authorized by the GWGP will not adversely affect EFH or those species 
regulated under a Federal Fisheries Management Plan.
    Executive Order 12866. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
exempts this action from the review

[[Page 47105]]

requirements of Executive Order 12866 pursuant to Section 6 of that 
order.
    Paperwork Reduction Act. The information collection requirements of 
the GWGP are consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
    Regulatory Flexibility Act. 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., requires that EPA 
prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis on rules subject to the 
requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act [APA, 5 U.S.C. 553] 
that have a significant impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. However, EPA has concluded that NPDES General Permits are not 
rulemakings under the APA, and are therefore not subject to APA 
rulemaking requirements or the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA).
    Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. Section 201 of the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act (UMRA), Public Law 104-4, generally requires federal 
agencies to assess the effects of their regulatory actions (defined to 
be the same as rules subject to the RFA) on tribal, state, and local 
governments and the private sector. However, the Idaho GWGP is not 
subject to the RFA, and are therefore not subject to the UMRA.
    Appeal of Permit. Any interested person may appeal the Idaho GWGP 
in the Federal Court of Appeals in accordance with section 509(b)(1) of 
the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1369(b)(1). This appeal must be filed 
within 120 days of the Permit issuance date. Persons affected by the 
Permit may not challenge the conditions of the Permit in further EPA 
proceedings (see 40 CFR 124.19). Instead, they may either challenge the 
Permit in court or apply for an individual NPDES Permit.

    Authority: This action is taken under the authority of Section 
402 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1342. I hereby provide public 
notice of the final Permit action in accordance with 40 CFR 
124.15(b).

    Dated: August 4, 2014.
Christine Psyk,
Associate Director, Office of Water & Watersheds, Region 10, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency.
[FR Doc. 2014-19063 Filed 8-11-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

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