Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Water Act Claim, 62080-62081 [2023-19433]

Download as PDF 62080 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 173 / Friday, September 8, 2023 / Notices lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 system, key in the appropriate docket identification number then select ‘‘search.’’ B. How and to whom do I submit comments? Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OGC–2023– 0452 via https://www.regulations.gov. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from this docket. EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit to EPA’s docket at https:// www.regulations.gov any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https:// www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epadockets. For additional information about submitting information identified as CBI, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name, mailing address, and an email address or other contact information in the body of your comment. This ensures that you can be identified as the submitter of the comment and allows EPA to contact you in case EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties or needs further information on the substance of your comment. Any identifying or contact information provided in the body of a comment will be included as part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket and made available in EPA’s electronic public docket. 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. Use of the https:// www.regulations.gov website to submit comments to EPA electronically is EPA’s preferred method for receiving comments. The electronic public docket system is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which means EPA will not know your identity, email address, or VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:30 Sep 07, 2023 Jkt 259001 other contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the specified comment period. Comments received after the close of the comment period will be marked ‘‘late.’’ EPA does not plan to consider these late comments. Steven Neugeboren, Associate General Counsel. [FR Doc. 2023–19431 Filed 9–7–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OGC–2023–0453; FRL–11386–01– OGC] Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID number for this action. Comments received may be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments, see the ‘‘Additional Information About Commenting on the Proposed Consent Decree’’ heading under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Glazer, Water Law Office, Office of General Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; telephone: (202) 564–0908; email address: glazer.thomas@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Water Act Claim I. Additional Information About the Proposed Consent Decree Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of proposed consent decree; request for public comment. The president signed VIDA into law on December 4, 2018. Among other things, VIDA directed EPA to ‘‘promulgate Federal standards of performance for marine pollution control devices for each type of discharge incidental to the normal operation of a vessel’’ by December 4, 2020. 33 U.S.C. 1322(p)(4)(A)(i). EPA published a proposed rulemaking on October 26, 2020, 85 FR. 67818, but did not take final action in time to meet the statutory deadline. On September 13, 2022, Plaintiffs sent EPA a notice of intent (NOI) to sue alleging that EPA had failed to satisfy its mandatory duty under VIDA to promulgate Federal standards of performance. The Plaintiffs filed a complaint on February 6, 2023, seeking a declaratory judgment that EPA violated the statutory deadline and ordering the Agency to promulgate expeditiously. The parties initiated settlement discussions, which produced the proposed consent decree. Under the consent decree, EPA would be obligated to sign a decision taking final action by September 23, 2024. The consent decree’s schedule is based on EPA’s projected timeline for completing the rulemaking. This deadline may be extended by written agreement of the parties or by the court pursuant to Federal Rule 60(b). For a period of thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, EPA will accept written comments relating to the proposed consent decree from persons who are not parties to the litigation. EPA or the Department of Justice may withdraw or withhold consent to the proposed consent decree if the comments received disclose facts or considerations that AGENCY: In accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator’s March 18, 2022, memorandum regarding ‘‘Consent Decrees and Settlement Agreements to resolve Environmental Claims Against the Agency,’’ notice is hereby given of a proposed consent decree in Center for Biological Diversity, et al., v. Regan, et al., No. 3:23–cv–535 (N.D. Cal. 2023). On February 6, 2023, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Friends of the Earth, and Marcelin Keever (collectively, ‘‘Plaintiffs’’) filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the EPA alleging that the Agency had failed to perform its non-discretionary duty to promulgate national standards of performance for discharges incidental to the normal operation of large commercial vessels (and ballast water from certain other types of vessels) pursuant to the Clean Water Act (CWA) as amended by the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act of 2018 (VIDA). EPA seeks public input on a proposed consent decree setting a date for final action on the national standards of performance prior to its final decision-making regarding potential settlement of the litigation. DATES: Written comments on the proposed consent decree must be received by October 10, 2023. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OGC–2023–0453 online at https:// www.regulations.gov (EPA’s preferred method). Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\08SEN1.SGM 08SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 173 / Friday, September 8, 2023 / Notices indicate that such consent is inappropriate, improper, inadequate, or inconsistent with the requirements of the CWA. II. Additional Information About Commenting on the Proposed Consent Decree A. How can I get a copy of the proposed consent decree? The official public docket for this action (identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OGC–2023–0453) contains a copy of the proposed consent decree. The official public docket is available for public viewing at the Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket in the EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center 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 OEI Docket is (202) 566–1752. The electronic version of the public docket for this action contains a copy of the proposed consent decree and is available through https:// www.regulations.gov. You may use https://www.regulations.gov to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official public docket, and access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, key in the appropriate docket identification number then select ‘‘search.’’ lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 B. How and to whom do I submit comments? Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OGC–2023– 0453 via https://www.regulations.gov. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from this docket. EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit to EPA’s docket at https:// www.regulations.gov any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:30 Sep 07, 2023 Jkt 259001 policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https:// www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epadockets. For additional information about submitting information identified as CBI, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name, mailing address, and an email address or other contact information in the body of your comment. This ensures that you can be identified as the submitter of the comment and allows EPA to contact you in case EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties or needs further information on the substance of your comment. Any identifying or contact information provided in the body of a comment will be included as part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket and made available in EPA’s electronic public docket. 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. Use of the https:// www.regulations.gov website to submit comments to EPA electronically is EPA’s preferred method for receiving comments. The electronic public docket system is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which means EPA will not know your identity, email address, or other contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the specified comment period. Comments received after the close of the comment period will be marked ‘‘late.’’ EPA does not plan to consider these late comments. Steven M. Neugeboren, Associate General Counsel. [FR Doc. 2023–19433 Filed 9–7–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Agency Information Collection Activities: Renewal Without Change of Existing Collection; Comment Request Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. ACTION: Final notice of information collection under review; ADEA waivers. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Equal Employment SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 62081 Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) announces that it has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for a threeyear extension without change of the existing collection requirements under the Waivers of rights and claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). No public comments were received in response to the EEOC’s June 12, 2023 60-Day Notice soliciting comments on the proposed extension of this collection. DATES: Written comments on this notice must be submitted on or before October 10, 2023. ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Oram, Assistant Legal Counsel, (202) 921–2665 and kathleen.oram@eeoc.gov, or Ashley T. Adams, General Attorney, (202) 921– 2697 and ashley.adams@eeoc.gov, Office of Legal Counsel, 131 M Street NE, Washington, DC 20507. Requests for this notice in an alternative format should be made to the Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs at (202) 663–4191 (voice) or (202) 663– 4494 (TTY). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) allows for individuals to waive rights and claims protected under the Act, provided certain circumstances are met; particularly that the waiver is knowing and voluntary. In order for an individual’s waiver in connection with a program to be considered knowing and voluntary, the employer must inform the individual in writing in a manner calculated to be understood by the average individual eligible to participate, as to (i) any class, unit, or group of individuals covered by such program, any eligibility factors for such program, and any time limits applicable to such program; and (ii) the job titles and ages of all individuals eligible or selected for the program, and the ages of all individuals in the same job classification or organizational unit who are not eligible or selected for the program. The EEOC’s regulations clarify that the relevant section of the ADEA addresses two principal issues: to whom information must be provided, and what information must be disclosed to such E:\FR\FM\08SEN1.SGM 08SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 173 (Friday, September 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62080-62081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19433]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OGC-2023-0453; FRL-11386-01-OGC]


Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Water Act Claim

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of proposed consent decree; request for public comment.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
Administrator's March 18, 2022, memorandum regarding ``Consent Decrees 
and Settlement Agreements to resolve Environmental Claims Against the 
Agency,'' notice is hereby given of a proposed consent decree in Center 
for Biological Diversity, et al., v. Regan, et al., No. 3:23-cv-535 
(N.D. Cal. 2023). On February 6, 2023, the Center for Biological 
Diversity, the Friends of the Earth, and Marcelin Keever (collectively, 
``Plaintiffs'') filed a complaint in the United States District Court 
for the Northern District of California against the EPA alleging that 
the Agency had failed to perform its non-discretionary duty to 
promulgate national standards of performance for discharges incidental 
to the normal operation of large commercial vessels (and ballast water 
from certain other types of vessels) pursuant to the Clean Water Act 
(CWA) as amended by the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act of 2018 (VIDA). 
EPA seeks public input on a proposed consent decree setting a date for 
final action on the national standards of performance prior to its 
final decision-making regarding potential settlement of the litigation.

DATES: Written comments on the proposed consent decree must be received 
by October 10, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OGC-2023-0453 online at https://www.regulations.gov (EPA's preferred 
method). Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID 
number for this action. Comments received may be posted without change 
to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments, see the 
``Additional Information About Commenting on the Proposed Consent 
Decree'' heading under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this 
document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Glazer, Water Law Office, 
Office of General Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; 
telephone: (202) 564-0908; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Additional Information About the Proposed Consent Decree

    The president signed VIDA into law on December 4, 2018. Among other 
things, VIDA directed EPA to ``promulgate Federal standards of 
performance for marine pollution control devices for each type of 
discharge incidental to the normal operation of a vessel'' by December 
4, 2020. 33 U.S.C. 1322(p)(4)(A)(i). EPA published a proposed 
rulemaking on October 26, 2020, 85 FR. 67818, but did not take final 
action in time to meet the statutory deadline.
    On September 13, 2022, Plaintiffs sent EPA a notice of intent (NOI) 
to sue alleging that EPA had failed to satisfy its mandatory duty under 
VIDA to promulgate Federal standards of performance. The Plaintiffs 
filed a complaint on February 6, 2023, seeking a declaratory judgment 
that EPA violated the statutory deadline and ordering the Agency to 
promulgate expeditiously.
    The parties initiated settlement discussions, which produced the 
proposed consent decree. Under the consent decree, EPA would be 
obligated to sign a decision taking final action by September 23, 2024. 
The consent decree's schedule is based on EPA's projected timeline for 
completing the rulemaking. This deadline may be extended by written 
agreement of the parties or by the court pursuant to Federal Rule 
60(b).
    For a period of thirty (30) days following the date of publication 
of this notice, EPA will accept written comments relating to the 
proposed consent decree from persons who are not parties to the 
litigation. EPA or the Department of Justice may withdraw or withhold 
consent to the proposed consent decree if the comments received 
disclose facts or considerations that

[[Page 62081]]

indicate that such consent is inappropriate, improper, inadequate, or 
inconsistent with the requirements of the CWA.

II. Additional Information About Commenting on the Proposed Consent 
Decree

A. How can I get a copy of the proposed consent decree?

    The official public docket for this action (identified by Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OGC-2023-0453) contains a copy of the proposed consent 
decree. The official public docket is available for public viewing at 
the Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket in the EPA Docket 
Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. 
The EPA Docket Center 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 OEI Docket is (202) 566-1752.
    The electronic version of the public docket for this action 
contains a copy of the proposed consent decree and is available through 
https://www.regulations.gov. You may use https://www.regulations.gov to 
submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the 
contents of the official public docket, and access those documents in 
the public docket that are available electronically. Once in the 
system, key in the appropriate docket identification number then select 
``search.''

B. How and to whom do I submit comments?

    Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OGC-2023-
0453 via https://www.regulations.gov. Once submitted, comments cannot 
be edited or removed from this docket. EPA may publish any comment 
received to its public docket. Do not submit to EPA's docket at https://www.regulations.gov any information you consider to be Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must 
be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered 
the official comment and should include discussion of all points you 
wish to make. EPA will generally not consider comments or comment 
contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, 
cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission 
methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or 
multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective 
comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets. For additional information about submitting information 
identified as CBI, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document.
    If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you 
include your name, mailing address, and an email address or other 
contact information in the body of your comment. This ensures that you 
can be identified as the submitter of the comment and allows EPA to 
contact you in case EPA cannot read your comment due to technical 
difficulties or needs further information on the substance of your 
comment. Any identifying or contact information provided in the body of 
a comment will be included as part of the comment that is placed in the 
official public docket and made available in EPA's electronic public 
docket. 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.
    Use of the https://www.regulations.gov website to submit comments 
to EPA electronically is EPA's preferred method for receiving comments. 
The electronic public docket system is an ``anonymous access'' system, 
which means EPA will not know your identity, email address, or other 
contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. 
Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the specified 
comment period. Comments received after the close of the comment period 
will be marked ``late.'' EPA does not plan to consider these late 
comments.

Steven M. Neugeboren,
Associate General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2023-19433 Filed 9-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


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