[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34131-34132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9190]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8183-8]


Draft NPDES General Permit for Groundwater Remediation Discharge 
Facilities in Idaho (Permit No. ID-G91-0000)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft NPDES general permit.

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SUMMARY: The Director, Office of Water and Watersheds, EPA Region 10, 
is proposing to issue a general National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) permit for groundwater remediation discharge 
facilities in Idaho, pursuant to the provisions of the Clean Water Act, 
33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. The draft general permit authorizes the 
discharge of treated groundwater from new and existing facilities to 
surface waters of the United States within the State of Idaho. 
Interested persons may submit comments on the proposed general permit 
to EPA Region 10 at the address below.

DATES: Comments must be received or postmarked by August 14, 2006. A 
fact sheet has been prepared which sets forth the principal factual, 
legal, policy, and scientific information considered in the development 
of the draft general permit.
    The draft general permit contains a variety of technology-based and 
water quality-based effluent limitations for 55 pollutants of concern 
commonly found in contaminated groundwater, along with administrative 
and monitoring requirements, as well as other standard conditions, 
prohibitions, and management practices. Effluent limits are applied at 
end-of-pipe with no mixing zone. However, mixing zones are available on 
an individual basis at the discretion of the Idaho Department of 
Environmental Quality (IDEQ) for pollutants with water quality-based 
effluent limits. Mixing zones will be granted through an individual 
State certification that will be attached to EPA's authorization to 
discharge letter.
    Public Comment: Interested persons may submit written comments on 
the draft general NPDES permit to the attention of Robert Rau at the 
address below. Copies of the draft general permit and fact sheet are 
available upon request. The general permit and fact sheet may also be 
downloaded from the Region 10 Web site at http://www.epa.gov/r10earth/waterpermits.htm (click on draft permits, then Idaho). All comments 
should include the name, address, and telephone number of the commenter 
and a concise statement of comment and the relevant facts upon which it 
is based. Comments of either support or concern which are directed at 
specific, cited permit requirements are appreciated.
    After the expiration date of the Public Notice on August 14, 2006, 
the Director, Office of Water and Watersheds, EPA Region 10, will make 
a final determination with respect to issuance of the general permit. 
The proposed requirements contained in the draft general permit will 
become final upon issuance if no significant comments are received 
during the public comment period.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed general permit should be sent to 
Robert Rau; USEPA Region 10; 1200 6th Ave, OWW-130; Seattle, Washington 
98101. Comments may also be received via electronic mail at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information can be obtained 
by contacting Robert Rau at the address above, or by visiting the 
Region 10 Web site at http://www.epa.gov/r10earth/waterpermits.htm. 
Requests may also be made to Audry Washington at (206) 553-0523, or 
electronically mailed to: [email protected]. For further 
information regarding the State's certification of the general permit, 
contact Johnna Sandow at the address below.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Hearing

    Persons wishing to request a public hearing should submit their 
written request by August 14, 2006 stating the nature of the issues to 
be raised as well as the requester's name, address and telephone number 
to Robert Rau at the address above. If a public hearing is scheduled, 
notice will be published in the Federal Register. Notice will also be 
posted on the Region 10 Web site, and will be mailed to all interested 
persons receiving copies of the draft permit.

Administrative Record

    The complete administrative record for the draft permit is 
available for public review at the EPA Region 10 headquarters at the 
address listed above.

[[Page 34132]]

Other Legal Requirements

A. State Water Quality Standards and State Certification

    EPA is also providing Public Notice of IDEQ's intent to certify the 
general permit pursuant to section 401 of the Clean Water Act. IDEQ has 
provided a draft certification that the draft general permit complies 
with State Water Quality Standards (IDAPA 58.01.02), including the 
State's antidegradation policy.
    Persons wishing to comment on State certification of the draft 
general NPDES permit should send written comments to Ms. Johnna Sandow 
at the IDEQ State Office, 1410 N. Hilton, Boise, Idaho 83706, or via 
electronic mail at [email protected].

B. Endangered Species Act

    EPA has determined that issuance of the groundwater remediation 
discharge General Permit will have no affect any threatened or 
endangered species, designated critical habitat, or essential fish 
habitat.

C. Executive Order 12866

    EPA has determined that this general permit is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under the terms of Executive Order 12866 and is 
therefore not subject to OMB review.

D. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information collection requirements of this permit were 
previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., 
and assigned OMB control numbers 2040-0086 (NPDES permit application) 
and 2040-0004 (discharge monitoring reports).

E. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., 
requires that EPA prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis for rules 
subject to the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553(b) that have a significant 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. However, general 
NPDES permits are not ``rules'' subject to the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 
553(b), and is therefore not subject to the RFA.

F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Section 201 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA), Public Law 
104-4, generally requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of 
their ``regulatory actions'' (defined to be the same as ``rules'' 
subject to the RFA) on tribal, state, and local governments and the 
private sector. However, general NPDES permits are not ``rules'' 
subject to the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553(b), and is therefore not 
subject to the RFA.

    Dated: June 1, 2006.
Christine Psyk,
Associate Director, Office of Water and Watersheds, Region 10.
 [FR Doc. E6-9190 Filed 6-12-06; 8:45 am]
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