Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts From the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United States, 95135-95136 [2016-31034]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 27, 2016 / Notices ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OECA–2013–0335; FRL–9954– 89–OEI] Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NESHAP for Aerospace Manufacturing and Rework Facilities (Renewal) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted an information collection request (ICR), ‘‘NESHAP for Aerospace Manufacturing and Rework Facilities (40 CFR part 63, subpart GG) (Renewal)’’ (EPA ICR No. 1687.11, OMB Control No. 2060–0314), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through December 31, 2016. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register (81 FR 26546) on May 3, 2016 during a 60day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. An Agency may neither conduct nor sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before January 26, 2017. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA– HQ–OECA–2013–0335, to: (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or by email to docket.oeca@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; and (2) OMB via email to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. Address comments to OMB Desk Officer for EPA. EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI), or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Yellin, Monitoring, Assistance, and Media Programs Division, Office of asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:45 Dec 23, 2016 Jkt 241001 Compliance, Mail Code 2227A, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564–2970; fax number: (202) 564–0050; email address: yellin.patrick@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202–566–1744. For additional information about EPA’s public docket, visit: https:// www.epa.gov/dockets. Abstract: Owners and operators of affected facilities are required to comply with reporting and record keeping requirements for the General Provisions (40 CFR part 63, subpart A), as well as for the specific requirements at 40 CFR part 63, subpart GG. This includes submitting initial notifications, performance tests and periodic reports and results, and maintaining records of the occurrence and duration of any startup, shutdown, or malfunction in the operation of an affected facility, or any period during which the monitoring system is inoperative. These reports are used by EPA to determine compliance with these standards. Form Numbers: None. Respondents/affected entities: Aerospace manufacturing and rework facilities. Respondent’s obligation to respond: Mandatory (40 CFR part 63 Subpart GG). Estimated number of respondents: 144 (total). Frequency of response: Initially, occasionally, and semiannually. Total estimated burden: 154,000 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b). Total estimated cost: $13,900,000 (per year), which includes $144,000 in either annualized capital/startup or operation & maintenance costs. Changes in the Estimates: There is an adjustment increase in the total estimated burden hours and cost as currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved Burdens. The increase is due to an increase in the estimated number of sources subject to the rule, and a recent amendment which added reporting and recordkeeping requirements for facilities with specialty coating operations. However, there is a decrease in the total number of responses due to the rule removing SSM PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 95135 exemptions and requirements for SSM reports. Spencer Clark, Acting Director, Regulatory Support Division. [FR Doc. 2016–31166 Filed 12–23–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9957–36–ORD] Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts From the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: EPA is announcing the availability of a final report titled, ‘‘Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts from the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United States’’ (EPA/ 600/R/16/236F), which was prepared by EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD). This final report provides a review and synthesis of available scientific information concerning the relationship between hydraulic fracturing activities and drinking water resources in the United States. DATES: This document was available on December 13, 2016. ADDRESSES: The final report, ‘‘Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts from the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United States’’ is available primarily via the internet on EPA–ORD’s hydraulic fracturing Web site at www.epa.gov/ hfstudy. A limited number of paper copies are available from the Information Management Team, NCEA; phone: 703–347–8561; fax: 703–347– 8691. If you are requesting a paper copy, please provide your name, mailing address, and the document title. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dayna Gibbons, Office of Research and Development; phone: 202–564–7983; or email: gibbons.dayna@epa.gov. For technical information, contact Dr. Jeffrey Frithsen, Office of Research and Development; phone: 703–347–8623; or email: frithsen.jeff@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Information About the Document EPA found scientific evidence that hydraulic fracturing activities can impact drinking water resources under some circumstances. The report E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM 27DEN1 95136 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 27, 2016 / Notices identifies certain conditions under which impacts from hydraulic fracturing activities can be more frequent or severe, to include: • Water withdrawals for hydraulic fracturing in times or areas of low water availability, particularly in areas with limited or declining groundwater resources; • Spills during the handling of hydraulic fracturing fluids and chemicals or produced water that resulted in large volumes or high concentrations of chemicals reaching groundwater resources; • Injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids into wells with inadequate mechanical integrity, allowing gases or liquids to move to groundwater resources; • Injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids directly into groundwater resources; • Discharge of inadequately treated hydraulic fracturing wastewater to surface water; and • Disposal or storage of hydraulic fracturing wastewater in unlined pits resulting in contamination of groundwater resources. Data gaps and uncertainties limited EPA’s ability to fully assess the potential impacts on drinking water resources locally and nationally. Because of these data gaps and uncertainties, it was not possible to fully characterize the severity of impacts, nor was it possible to calculate or estimate the national frequency of impacts on drinking water resources from activities in the hydraulic fracturing water cycle. EPA’s report advances the scientific understanding of hydraulic fracturing’s impact on drinking water resources and can inform decisions by federal, state, tribal, local officials, industry, and communities to protect drinking water resources now and in the future. Dated: December 15, 2016. Mary A. Ross, Deputy Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES [FR Doc. 2016–31034 Filed 12–23–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:45 Dec 23, 2016 Jkt 241001 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OECA–2013–0333; FRL–9956– 15–OEI] Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Air Emission Standards for Tanks, Surface Impoundment and Containers (Renewal) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted an information collection request (ICR), ‘‘Air Emission Standards for Tanks, Surface Impoundment and Containers (40 CFR part 264, subpart CC, and 40 CFR part 265, subpart CC) (Renewal)’’ (EPA ICR No. 1593.10, OMB Control No. 2060– 0318), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through December 31, 2016. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register (81 FR 26546) on May 3, 2016 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. An Agency may neither conduct nor sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before January 26, 2017. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA– HQ–OECA–2013–0333, to: (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or by email to docket.oeca@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; and (2) OMB via email to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. Address comments to OMB Desk Officer for EPA. EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI), or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Yellin, Monitoring, Assistance, and Media Programs Division, Office of Compliance, Mail Code 2227A, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564–2970; fax number: (202) 564–0050; email address: yellin.patrick@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202–566–1744. For additional information about EPA’s public docket, visit: https:// www.epa.gov/dockets. Abstract: Owners and operators of affected facilities are required to comply with reporting and record keeping requirements for the General Provisions (40 CFR part 264, subpart A and 40 CFR part 265, subpart A), as well as for the specific requirements at 40 CFR part 264, subpart CC and 40 CFR part 265, subpart CC. This includes submitting initial notifications, performance tests and periodic reports and results, and maintaining records of the occurrence and duration of any startup, shutdown, or malfunction in the operation of an affected facility, or any period during which the monitoring system is inoperative. These reports are used by EPA to determine compliance with the standards. Form Numbers: None. Respondents/affected entities: Facilities that treat, store, or dispose of hazardous wastes in tanks, surface impoundments, and containers. Respondent’s obligation to respond: Mandatory (40 CFR part 264, subpart CC and 40 CFR part 265, subpart CC). Estimated number of respondents: 6,209 (total). Frequency of response: Occasionally and semiannually. Total estimated burden: 712,000 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b). Total estimated cost: $85,900,000 (per year), which includes $12,400,000 for either annualized capital/startup and/or operation & maintenance costs. Changes in the Estimates: There is an adjustment decrease in labor hours and capital and O&M costs from the mostrecently approved ICR. This is not due to any program changes. The decrease E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM 27DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95135-95136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31034]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9957-36-ORD]


Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts From the Hydraulic 
Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United States

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: EPA is announcing the availability of a final report titled, 
``Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts from the Hydraulic 
Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United 
States'' (EPA/600/R/16/236F), which was prepared by EPA's Office of 
Research and Development (ORD). This final report provides a review and 
synthesis of available scientific information concerning the 
relationship between hydraulic fracturing activities and drinking water 
resources in the United States.

DATES: This document was available on December 13, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The final report, ``Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: 
Impacts from the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water 
Resources in the United States'' is available primarily via the 
internet on EPA-ORD's hydraulic fracturing Web site at www.epa.gov/hfstudy. A limited number of paper copies are available from the 
Information Management Team, NCEA; phone: 703-347-8561; fax: 703-347-
8691. If you are requesting a paper copy, please provide your name, 
mailing address, and the document title.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Dayna Gibbons, Office of Research and 
Development; phone: 202-564-7983; or email: gibbons.dayna@epa.gov. For 
technical information, contact Dr. Jeffrey Frithsen, Office of Research 
and Development; phone: 703-347-8623; or email: frithsen.jeff@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Information About the Document

    EPA found scientific evidence that hydraulic fracturing activities 
can impact drinking water resources under some circumstances. The 
report

[[Page 95136]]

identifies certain conditions under which impacts from hydraulic 
fracturing activities can be more frequent or severe, to include:
     Water withdrawals for hydraulic fracturing in times or 
areas of low water availability, particularly in areas with limited or 
declining groundwater resources;
     Spills during the handling of hydraulic fracturing fluids 
and chemicals or produced water that resulted in large volumes or high 
concentrations of chemicals reaching groundwater resources;
     Injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids into wells with 
inadequate mechanical integrity, allowing gases or liquids to move to 
groundwater resources;
     Injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids directly into 
groundwater resources;
     Discharge of inadequately treated hydraulic fracturing 
wastewater to surface water; and
     Disposal or storage of hydraulic fracturing wastewater in 
unlined pits resulting in contamination of groundwater resources.
    Data gaps and uncertainties limited EPA's ability to fully assess 
the potential impacts on drinking water resources locally and 
nationally. Because of these data gaps and uncertainties, it was not 
possible to fully characterize the severity of impacts, nor was it 
possible to calculate or estimate the national frequency of impacts on 
drinking water resources from activities in the hydraulic fracturing 
water cycle.
    EPA's report advances the scientific understanding of hydraulic 
fracturing's impact on drinking water resources and can inform 
decisions by federal, state, tribal, local officials, industry, and 
communities to protect drinking water resources now and in the future.

    Dated: December 15, 2016.
Mary A. Ross,
Deputy Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2016-31034 Filed 12-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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