[Federal Register: November 2, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 211)]
[Notices]
[Page 63531-63532]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02no04-57]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7831-7]
Notice of Availability of Draft NPDES General Permits for
Discharges From Groundwater Remediation and Miscellaneous Surface Water
Discharge Activities in the States of Massachusetts and New Hampshire
and Indian Country Lands in the State of Massachusetts
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft NPDES General Permits MAG910000
and NHG910000.
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SUMMARY: The Director of the Office of Ecosystem Protection at the
Environmental Protection Agency's New England Regional Office (EPA-NE),
is proposing to issue National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) general permits to cover the discharge of contaminated waters
primarily related to groundwater remediation activities. The general
permits also cover a number
[[Page 63532]]
of miscellaneous discharges, including from: Construction projects
where chemical contamination is present; well development or
rehabilitation and aquifer pump testing at formerly contaminated sites;
clean-up of industrial sumps; pump-out of utility vaults and manholes;
hydrostatic testing of pipelines and tanks; and short-term testing at
dredging projects not covered by a permit issued by the Army Corps of
Engineers.
The proposed permits cover discharges to surface receiving waters
(waters of the United States) in the State of New Hampshire (NH), the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts (MA), as well as in Indian Country lands
located in Massachusetts. These general permits do not cover new
sources as defined under 40 CFR 122.2. The purpose of this document is
for soliciting public comment on the proposed general permits.
DATES: Interested persons may submit written comments on the draft
general permits to EPA Region 1 at the address given in the ADDRESSES
section of this notice. Written comments must be received by EPA or
postmarked by midnight on December 17, 2004.
Within the comment period, interested persons may also request in
writing a public hearing pursuant to 40 CFR 124.12 concerning the draft
general permits. Such requests shall state the nature of the issues
proposed to be raised at the hearing. A public hearing may be held at
least thirty days after public notice whenever the Regional
Administrator finds that response to this notice indicates significant
public interest. In reaching a final decision on this draft permit, the
Regional Administrator will respond to all significant comments and
make responses available to the public at EPA's Boston office. All
public comments or requests for a public hearing must be submitted to
the address below.
ADDRESSES: Written comments submitted in response to this public notice
may be hand delivered or mailed to: Mr. Roger A. Janson, Director,
NPDES Permits Unit, Office of Ecosystem Protection (mail code: CPE),US
EPA-NE, 1 Congress St, Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02114-2023.
EPA also requests that comments be sent via e-mail to
Rapp.Steve@EPA.GOV. However, no facsimiles (faxes) will be accepted.
A copy of all comments and supporting materials should also be
submitted to:
In MA: Mr. Paul Hogan, NPDES Permit Unit, MA Dept. of Env. Protection,
627 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608.
In NH: Mr. George Berlandi, NH Dept. of Env. Services, Wastewater
Engineering Bureau, P.O. Box 95, Concord, NH 03302-0095.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information concerning the
final permit may be obtained between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from Steven Rapp, Office of
Ecosystem Protection, EPA-NE, 1 Congress St., Suite 1100 (mail code:
CPE), Boston, MA 02114-2023; telephone: 617-918-1551; e-mail:
Rapp.Steve@epa.gov. The draft permits are based on an administrative
record. The record is available for public review at the EPA Region 1
address listed above. Copies of information in the record are available
upon request. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed general permits include
administrative requirements, effluent limitations for freshwaters and
marine waters, monitoring requirements, as well as other standards,
conditions, prohibitions, and management practices. A Fact Sheet has
also been prepared for the general permits. The Fact Sheet sets forth
the principal factual, legal, and policy information considered in the
development of the draft permits, as well as a description of the types
of discharges eligible for permit coverage under the general permits.
The draft general permit and Fact Sheet and suggested forms may be
viewed and downloaded over the Internet via the EPA-Region 1 Web site.
For dischargers in Massachusetts, see: http://www.epa.gov/ne/npdes/mass.html For dischargers in New Hampshire, see: http://www.epa.gov/ne/npdes/newhampshire.html.
). To obtain a paper copy of the permits and
Fact Sheet, including suggested notice forms, please contact EPA-NE
using the contact information provided in the ADDRESSES section of this
notice.
When the general permits are issued, the notice of final issuance
will be published in the Federal Register. The general permits shall be
effective on the date specified in the notice of final issuance of the
general permits published in the Federal Register and will expire five
years from the effective date.
Dated: October 20, 2004.
Robert W. Varney,
Regional Administrator, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 04-24417 Filed 11-1-04; 8:45 am]
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