[Federal Register: October 7, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 194)]
[Notices]
[Page 60150-60151]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07oc04-35]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL 7825-4]
Notice of Final NPDES General Permit for New and Existing Sources
and New Dischargers in the Offshore Subcategory of the Oil and Gas
Extraction Category for the Western Portion of the Outer Continental
Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico (GMG290000)
SUMMARY: EPA Region 6 today issues a final National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for the Western Portion of
the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico (No. GMG290000). The
general permit authorizes discharges from new sources, existing
sources, and new dischargers in the Offshore Subcategory of the Oil and
Gas Extraction Point Source Category (40 CFR part 435, subpart A). The
reissued permit will become effective November 8, 2004. The existing
permit published in the Federal Register, at 64 FR 19156 on April 19,
1999 and modified on January 22, 2001 (66 FR 6850), authorizes
discharges from exploration, development, and production facilities
located in and discharging to Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico
seaward of the outer boundary of the territorial seas offshore of
Louisiana and Texas. Today's action reissues the permit which expired
on November 3, 2003.
A copy of the Region's responses to comments and the final permit
may be obtained from the EPA Region 6 Internet site: http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6wq/6wq.htm
.
A Record of Decision which completes the Environmental Assessment
process required by the National Environmental Policy Act is also
available at the above Internet address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Diane Smith, EPA Region 6, 1445
Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202, Telephone: (214) 665 7191, or via e-
mail to the following address: smith.diane@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulated Entities. Entities potentially regulated by this action
are those which operate offshore oil and gas extraction facilities
located in the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore of Louisiana and Texas.
[[Page 60151]]
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Examples of regulated
Category entities
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Industry.................................. Offshore Oil and Gas
Extraction Platforms.
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This table lists the types of entities that EPA is now aware could
potentially be regulated by this action. Other types of entities not
listed in the table could also be regulated. To determine whether your
(facility, company, business, organization, etc.) is regulated by this
action, you should carefully examine the applicability criteria in Part
I. Section A.1. of the general permit. If you have questions regarding
the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the
person listed in the preceding FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
Pursuant to section 402 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C.
section 1342, EPA proposed and solicited comments on NPDES general
permit GMG290000 at 69 FR 39478 (June 30, 2004). Notice of this
proposed permit modification was also published in the New Orleans
Times Picayune, Lafayette Daily Advertiser, and Houston Chronicle on
July 2, 2004. The comment period closed on July 30, 2004.
Region 6 received comments from the Offshore Operators Committee,
Petroleum Equipment Suppliers Association, Cognis Oilfield Chemicals,
Minerals Management Service, Murphy Exploration and Development
Company, and W&T Offshore, Inc.
EPA Region 6 has considered all comments received. In response to
those comments the following changes were made to the proposed permit.
The effective date was changed to be 30 days after the publication date
in the Federal Register. Produced water monitoring requirements are
included for facilities located in the hypoxic zone. The analytical
method for analysis of cadmium in barite is included. A new allowance
is included for blending of compliant synthetic base fluids in drilling
fluids. The discharge of hydrate control fluids was added to the list
of miscellaneous discharges which are authorized. The toxicity limit
for sub-sea fluids was decreased from 200 mg/l to 50 mg/l. Non-lethal
effects are required to be reported for chronic toxicity testing and
the dilution series required for testing was clarified. A number of
minor typographical errors and clarifications were also made to the
permit's language.
Miguel Flores,
Director, Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region 6.
[FR Doc. 04-22594 Filed 10-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P