[Federal Register: June 23, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 120)]
[Notices]               
[Page 36383]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23jn05-44]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7926-7]

 
Proposed Reissuance of General NPDES Permit for Offshore Oil and 
Gas Exploration Facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf and 
Contiguous State Waters (NPDES Permit Number AKG280000)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of extension of the public comment period for the 
proposed reissuance of a general NPDES permit.

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SUMMARY: The Director, Office of Water, EPA Region 10, proposes to 
extend the area of coverage of this general permit (AKG280000) to 
include the northern portion of the Hope Basin and other Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) areas along the northeast boundary that are 
within the MMS current 5-year oil and gas leasing program.

DATES: Interested persons may submit comments on the proposed 
reissuance of the general permit to EPA, Region 10 at the addresses 
below. Comments must be postmarked by July 25, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed reissuance of the general permit 
must be sent to the attention of the Director, Office of Water, 1200 
Sixth Avenue, M/S OWW-130, Seattle, Washington 98101. Comments may also 
be submitted electronically to koch.kristine@epa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the proposed general permit 
and fact sheet are available upon request. Requests may be made to 
Audrey Washington at (206) 553-0523 or to Kristine Koch at (206) 553-
6705. Requests may also be electronically mailed to: 
koch.kristine@epa.gov.
    The proposed general permit and fact sheet may also be found on the 
EPA Region 10 Web site at http://www.epa.gov/r10earth.htm, click on 

Water Quality, then click on NPDES permits under Programs, and then 
click on draft permits under EPA Region 10 Information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

    The Office of Management and Budget exempted this action from the 
review requirements of Executive Order 12866 pursuant to section 6 of 
that order.

Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    Under the RFA, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., a federal agency must prepare 
an initial regulatory flexibility analysis ``for any 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 
under the APA and thus not subject to the APA rulemaking requirements 
or the RFA.

    Dated: June 15, 2005.
Michael F. Gearheard,
Director, Office of Water, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 05-12451 Filed 6-22-05; 8:45 am]

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