Re-Proposal of the NPDES General Permit for Oil and Gas Geotechnical Surveying and Related Activities in Federal Waters of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, 56577-56578 [2014-22475]

Download as PDF asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 183 / Monday, September 22, 2014 / Notices the final permit modifications for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit (TXG330000) regulating discharges from oil and gas wells in the Coastal Subcategory in Texas and in the Stripper Subcategory which discharge into waters in Texas. These modifications would restore coverage eligibility for certain inland discharges that existed in the previous permit and require freshwater whole effluent toxicity species for discharges to freshwater receiving waters. EPA proposed the draft permit modification in the Federal Register on December 2, 2013. EPA Region 6 has considered all comments received and makes few significant changes to the proposed permit. A copy of the Region’s responses to comments and the final permit may be obtained from the EPA Region 6 internet site: https:// www.epa.gov/region6/water/npdes/ genpermit/index.htm. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Evelyn Rosborough, Region 6, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202–2733. Telephone: (214) 665–7515. DATES: This permit modification is effective on September 22, 2014, and expires July 6, 2017. In accordance with 40 CFR 23, this permit shall be considered issued for the purpose of judicial review on October 6, 2014. Under section 509(b) of the CWA, judicial review of this general permit can be held by filing a petition for review in the United States Court of Appeals within 120 days after the permit is considered issued for judicial review. Under section 509(b)(2) of the CWA, the requirements in this permit may not be challenged later in civil or criminal proceedings to enforce these requirements. In addition, this permit may not be challenged in other agency proceedings. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Changes from the proposed permit modification include: 1. Add ‘‘no visible sheen’’ limit to produced water discharges to inland waters; 2. Replace acute 48-hour toxicity freshwater testing with acute 24-hour toxicity LC–50 freshwater and remove the cease discharge requirement; and 3. Set October 1, 2017, deadline to comply with the acute Toxicity LC–50 limit. Other Legal Requirements A. State Certification Under section 401(a)(1) of the CWA, EPA may not issue an NPDES permit until the State in which the discharge VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:07 Sep 19, 2014 Jkt 232001 will occur grants or waives certification to ensure compliance with appropriate requirements of the CWA and State law. The Railroad Commission of Texas issued the 401 certification on May 30, 2014. B. Other Regulatory Requirements When EPA issued the general permit in 2012, EPA had conducted evaluations required by Coastal Zone Management Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Historic Preservation Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, and Regulatory Flexibility Act. The scope of today’s permit modification action does not trigger requirements for new evaluations for compliance with those regulatory requirements. Dated: September 11, 2014. William K. Honker, Director, Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region 6. [FR Doc. 2014–22470 Filed 9–19–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9916–98-Region 10] Re-Proposal of the NPDES General Permit for Oil and Gas Geotechnical Surveying and Related Activities in Federal Waters of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Reopening of public comment period for the re-proposal of the Geotechnical General Permit. AGENCY: On August 15, 2014, EPA provided public notice on the reproposal of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Oil and Gas Geotechnical Surveys and Related Activities in Federal Waters of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas (Permit No. AKG–28–4300), and established a comment deadline of September 15, 2014. In response to a request from the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission to reopen the comment period deadline, EPA is reopening the comment period to September 30, 2014. DATES: Comments. The public comment period for the Geotechnical General Permit re-proposal is reopened until September 30, 2014. EPA will only consider comments on the re-proposed permit provisions. Comments submitted previously on the initial draft Geotechnical General Permit need not SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 56577 be resubmitted; comments addressing permit provisions or issues beyond the scope of this re-proposal will not be considered. Comments must be received by or post-marked no later than midnight Pacific Standard Time on September 30, 2014. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods. Include your name, address, telephone number, the General Permit number (AKG–28–4300) and a concise statement of the basis and facts supporting the comment. Mail: Send paper comments to Erin Seyfried, Office of Water and Watersheds, Mail Stop OWW–130, 1200 6th Avenue, Suite 900, Seattle, WA 98101–3140. Email: Send electronic comments to R10geotechpermit@epa.gov. Fax: Fax comments to the attention of Erin Seyfried at (206) 553–0165. Hand Delivery/Courier: Deliver comments to Erin Seyfried, Office of Water and Watersheds, Mail Stop OWW–191, 1200 6th Avenue, Suite 900, Seattle, WA 98101–3140. Call (206) 553–0523 before delivery to verify business hours. Viewing and/or Obtaining Copies of Documents. A copy of the re-proposed Geotechnical General Permit, the Fact Sheet, which explains the proposal in detail, and the revised Ocean Discharge Criteria Evaluation (ODCE) may be obtained by contacting EPA at 1 (800) 424–4372. Copies of the documents are also available for viewing and downloading at: https:// yosemite.epa.gov/r10/water.nsf/ npdes+permits/DraftPermitsAK https:// yosemite.epa.gov/r10/water.nsf/ npdes+permits/arctic-gp See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for other document viewing locations. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Seyfried, Office of Water and Watersheds, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, Mail Stop OWW–191, 1200 6th Avenue, Suite 900, Seattle, WA 98101–3140, (206) 553– 1448, seyfried.erin@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA seeks public comment only on the following proposed changes: (1) Inclusion of seasonal prohibitions on wastewater discharges specific to the 3–25 mile lease deferral area in the Chukchi Sea; (2) Clarification of drilling fluid testing requirements (Discharge 001); (3) Clarification of Environmental Monitoring Program requirements and inclusion of language regarding preexisting baseline data; (4) Revision of sampling frequencies for fecal coliform and total residual chlorine (Sanitary Wastewater, Discharge 003); and (5) E:\FR\FM\22SEN1.SGM 22SEN1 asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 56578 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 183 / Monday, September 22, 2014 / Notices Clarification of Notice of Intent submission requirements. Document Viewing Locations. (1) EPA Region 10 Library, Park Place Building, 1200 6th Avenue, Suite 900, Seattle, WA 98101; (206) 553–1289. (2) EPA Region 10, Alaska Operations Office, 222 W 7th Avenue, #19, Room 537, Anchorage, AK 99513; (907) 271– 5083. (3) Z. J. Loussac Public Library, 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 99503; (907) 343–2975. (4) North Slope Borough School District Library/Media Center, Pouch 169, 829 Aivak Street, Barrow, AK 99723; (907) 852–5311. EPA’s current administrative record for the draft and re-proposed Geotechnical General Permit is available for review at the EPA Region 10 Office, Park Place Building, 1200 6th Avenue, Suite 900, Seattle, WA 98101, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Contact Erin Seyfried at seyfried.erin@epa.gov or (206) 553– 1448. Oil Spill Requirements. Section 311 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1321, prohibits the discharge of oil and hazardous materials in harmful quantities. Discharges authorized under the Geotechnical General Permit are excluded from the provisions of CWA Section 311, 33 U.S.C. 1321. However, the Geotechnical General Permit will not preclude the institution of legal action, or relieve the permittees from any responsibilities, liabilities, or penalties for other unauthorized discharges of oil and hazardous materials, which are covered by Section 311. Executive Order 12866. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) exempts this action from the review requirements of Executive Order 12866 pursuant to Section 6 of that order. Paperwork Reduction Act. EPA has reviewed the requirements imposed on regulated facilities in the Geotechnical General Permit and finds them consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Regulatory Flexibility Act. Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., a federal agency must prepare an initial regulatory flexibility analysis ‘‘for any proposed rule’’ for which the agency ‘‘is required by section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), or any other law, to publish general notice of proposed rulemaking.’’ The RFA exempts from this requirement any rule that the issuing agency certifies ‘‘will not, if promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.’’ EPA has VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:07 Sep 19, 2014 Jkt 232001 concluded that NPDES general permits are permits, not rulemakings, under the APA and thus not subject to APA rulemaking requirements or the FRA. Notwithstanding that general permits are not subject to the RFA, EPA has determined that the Geotechnical General Permit will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. This determination is based on the fact that the regulated companies are not classified as small businesses under the Small Business Administration regulations established at 49 FR 5023 et seq. (February 9, 1984). These facilities are classified as Major Group 13—Oil as Gas Extraction SIC 1311 Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas. Authority: This action is taken under the authority of Section 402 of the Clean Water Act as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1342. I hereby provide notice that the public comment period for the Geotechnical General Permit re-proposal is reopened until September 30, 2014, in accordance with 40 CFR 124.10 and 124.13. Dated: September 12, 2014. Christine Psyk, Associate Director, Office of Water and Watersheds, Region 10. [FR Doc. 2014–22475 Filed 9–19–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Federal Communication Commission. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Comments are requested concerning: Whether the proposed collection(s) of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission’s burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection(s) of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid OMB Control Number. Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before October 22, 2014. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the FCC contact listed below as soon as possible. ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Leslie F. Smith, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), via email PRA@fcc.gov or to Leslie.Smith@ fcc.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on the information collection, contact Leslie F. Smith at (202) 418–0217. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission is requesting that OMB approve this new information collection under the emergency processing provisions of the PRA, 5 CFR 1320.5, 1320.8(d), and 1320.13 by November 3, 2014. OMB Control Number: 3060–0806. Titles: Universal Service—Schools and Libraries Universal Service Program, FCC Forms 470 and 471. Form Number: FCC Forms 470 and 471. Type of Review: Revision to a currently approved collection. Respondents: State, local or tribal government public institutions, and other not-for-profit institutions. Number of Respondents and Responses: 82,000 respondents; 82,000 responses. Estimated Time per Response: FCC Form 470 (3 hours for response; 0.5 for recordkeeping); FCC Form 471 (4 hours for response; 0.5 for recordkeeping). Frequency of Response: On occasion and annual reporting requirements, and recordkeeping requirement. Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151–154, 201– 205, 218–220, 254, 303(r), 403, and 405. Total Annual Burden: 334,000 hours. Total Annual Cost: No cost. DATES: E:\FR\FM\22SEN1.SGM 22SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 183 (Monday, September 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56577-56578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22475]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9916-98-Region 10]


Re-Proposal of the NPDES General Permit for Oil and Gas 
Geotechnical Surveying and Related Activities in Federal Waters of the 
Beaufort and Chukchi Seas

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Reopening of public comment period for the re-proposal of the 
Geotechnical General Permit.

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

SUMMARY: On August 15, 2014, EPA provided public notice on the re-
proposal of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 
General Permit for Oil and Gas Geotechnical Surveys and Related 
Activities in Federal Waters of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas (Permit 
No. AKG-28-4300), and established a comment deadline of September 15, 
2014. In response to a request from the Alaska Eskimo Whaling 
Commission to reopen the comment period deadline, EPA is reopening the 
comment period to September 30, 2014.

DATES: Comments. The public comment period for the Geotechnical General 
Permit re-proposal is reopened until September 30, 2014. EPA will only 
consider comments on the re-proposed permit provisions. Comments 
submitted previously on the initial draft Geotechnical General Permit 
need not be resubmitted; comments addressing permit provisions or 
issues beyond the scope of this re-proposal will not be considered. 
Comments must be received by or post-marked no later than midnight 
Pacific Standard Time on September 30, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods. 
Include your name, address, telephone number, the General Permit number 
(AKG-28-4300) and a concise statement of the basis and facts supporting 
the comment.
    Mail: Send paper comments to Erin Seyfried, Office of Water and 
Watersheds, Mail Stop OWW-130, 1200 6th Avenue, Suite 900, Seattle, WA 
98101-3140.
    Email: Send electronic comments to R10geotechpermit@epa.gov.
    Fax: Fax comments to the attention of Erin Seyfried at (206) 553-
0165.
    Hand Delivery/Courier: Deliver comments to Erin Seyfried, Office of 
Water and Watersheds, Mail Stop OWW-191, 1200 6th Avenue, Suite 900, 
Seattle, WA 98101-3140. Call (206) 553-0523 before delivery to verify 
business hours.
    Viewing and/or Obtaining Copies of Documents. A copy of the re-
proposed Geotechnical General Permit, the Fact Sheet, which explains 
the proposal in detail, and the revised Ocean Discharge Criteria 
Evaluation (ODCE) may be obtained by contacting EPA at 1 (800) 424-
4372. Copies of the documents are also available for viewing and 
downloading at: https://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/water.nsf/npdes+permits/DraftPermitsAK https://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/water.nsf/npdes+permits/arctic-gp
    See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for other document viewing locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Seyfried, Office of Water and 
Watersheds, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, Mail Stop 
OWW-191, 1200 6th Avenue, Suite 900, Seattle, WA 98101-3140, (206) 553-
1448, seyfried.erin@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA seeks public comment only on the 
following proposed changes: (1) Inclusion of seasonal prohibitions on 
wastewater discharges specific to the 3-25 mile lease deferral area in 
the Chukchi Sea; (2) Clarification of drilling fluid testing 
requirements (Discharge 001); (3) Clarification of Environmental 
Monitoring Program requirements and inclusion of language regarding 
pre-existing baseline data; (4) Revision of sampling frequencies for 
fecal coliform and total residual chlorine (Sanitary Wastewater, 
Discharge 003); and (5)

[[Page 56578]]

Clarification of Notice of Intent submission requirements.
    Document Viewing Locations.
    (1) EPA Region 10 Library, Park Place Building, 1200 6th Avenue, 
Suite 900, Seattle, WA 98101; (206) 553-1289.
    (2) EPA Region 10, Alaska Operations Office, 222 W 7th Avenue, 
19, Room 537, Anchorage, AK 99513; (907) 271-5083.
    (3) Z. J. Loussac Public Library, 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 
99503; (907) 343-2975.
    (4) North Slope Borough School District Library/Media Center, Pouch 
169, 829 Aivak Street, Barrow, AK 99723; (907) 852-5311.
    EPA's current administrative record for the draft and re-proposed 
Geotechnical General Permit is available for review at the EPA Region 
10 Office, Park Place Building, 1200 6th Avenue, Suite 900, Seattle, WA 
98101, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Contact 
Erin Seyfried at seyfried.erin@epa.gov or (206) 553-1448.
    Oil Spill Requirements. Section 311 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1321, 
prohibits the discharge of oil and hazardous materials in harmful 
quantities. Discharges authorized under the Geotechnical General Permit 
are excluded from the provisions of CWA Section 311, 33 U.S.C. 1321. 
However, the Geotechnical General Permit will not preclude the 
institution of legal action, or relieve the permittees from any 
responsibilities, liabilities, or penalties for other unauthorized 
discharges of oil and hazardous materials, which are covered by Section 
311.
    Executive Order 12866. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
exempts this action from the review requirements of Executive Order 
12866 pursuant to Section 6 of that order.
    Paperwork Reduction Act. EPA has reviewed the requirements imposed 
on regulated facilities in the Geotechnical General Permit and finds 
them consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.
    Regulatory Flexibility Act. Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., a federal agency must prepare an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis ``for any proposed rule'' for which the 
agency ``is required by section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act 
(APA), or any other law, to publish general notice of proposed 
rulemaking.'' The RFA exempts from this requirement any rule that the 
issuing agency certifies ``will not, if promulgated, have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.'' EPA has 
concluded that NPDES general permits are permits, not rulemakings, 
under the APA and thus not subject to APA rulemaking requirements or 
the FRA. Notwithstanding that general permits are not subject to the 
RFA, EPA has determined that the Geotechnical General Permit will not 
have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
This determination is based on the fact that the regulated companies 
are not classified as small businesses under the Small Business 
Administration regulations established at 49 FR 5023 et seq. (February 
9, 1984). These facilities are classified as Major Group 13--Oil as Gas 
Extraction SIC 1311 Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas.

    Authority: This action is taken under the authority of Section 
402 of the Clean Water Act as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1342. I hereby 
provide notice that the public comment period for the Geotechnical 
General Permit re-proposal is reopened until September 30, 2014, in 
accordance with 40 CFR 124.10 and 124.13.

    Dated: September 12, 2014.
Christine Psyk,
Associate Director, Office of Water and Watersheds, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2014-22475 Filed 9-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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