[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 40, Volume 24]

[Revised as of July 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 40CFR233.50]



[Page 301-303]

 

                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT

 

         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)

 

PART 233_404 STATE PROGRAM REGULATIONS--Table of Contents

 

                       Subpart F_Federal Oversight

 

Sec.  233.50  Review of and objection to State permits.





    (a) The Director shall promptly transmit to the Regional 

Administrator:

    (1) A copy of the public notice for any complete permit applications 

received by the Director, except those for which permit review has been 

waived under Sec.  233.51. The State shall supply the Regional 

Administrator with copies of public notices for permit applications for 

which permit review has been waived whenever requested by EPA.

    (2) A copy of a draft general permit whenever the State intends to 

issue a general permit.

    (3) Notice of every significant action taken by the State agency 

related to the consideration of any permit application except those for 

which Federal review has been waived or draft general permit.

    (4) A copy of every issued permit.



[[Page 302]]



    (5) A copy of the Director's re sponse to another State's comments/ 

recommendations, if the Director does not accept these recommendations 

(Sec.  233.32(a)).

    (b) Unless review has been waived under Sec.  233.51, the Regional 

Administrator shall provide a copy of each public notice, each draft 

general permit, and other information needed for review of the 

application to the Corps, FWS, and NMFS, within 10 days of receipt. 

These agencies shall notify the Regional Administrator within 15 days of 

their receipt if they wish to comment on the public notice or draft 

general permit. Such agencies should submit their evaluation and 

comments to the Regional Administrator within 50 days of such receipt. 

The final decision to comment, object or to require permit conditions 

shall be made by the Regional Administrator. (These times may be 

shortened by mutual agreement of the affected Federal agencies and the 

State.)

    (c) If the information provided is inadequate to determine whether 

the permit application or draft general permit meets the requirements of 

the Act, these regulations, and the 404(b)(1) Guidelines, the Regional 

Administrator may, within 30 days of receipt, request the Director to 

transmit to the Regional Administrator the complete record of the permit 

proceedings before the State, or any portions of the record, or other 

information, including a supplemental application, that the Regional 

Administrator determines necessary for review.

    (d) If the Regional Administrator intends to comment upon, object 

to, or make recommendations with respect to a permit application, draft 

general permit, or the Director's failure to accept the recommendations 

of an affected State submitted pursuant to Sec.  233.31(a), he shall 

notify the Director of his intent within 30 days of receipt. If the 

Director has been so notified, the permit shall not be issued until 

after the receipt of such comments or 90 days of the Regional 

Administrator's receipt of the public notice, draft general permit or 

Director's response (Sec.  233.31(a)), whichever comes first. The 

Regional Administrator may notify the Director within 30 days of receipt 

that there is no comment but that he reserves the right to object within 

90 days of receipt, based on any new information brought out by the 

public during the comment period or at a hearing.

    (e) If the Regional Administrator has given notice to the Director 

under paragraph (d) of this section, he shall submit to the Director, 

within 90 days of receipt of the public notice, draft general permit, or 

Director's response (Sec.  233.31(a)), a written statement of his 

comments, objections, or recommendations; the reasons for the comments, 

objections, or recommendations; and the actions that must be taken by 

the Director in order to eliminate any objections. Any such objection 

shall be based on the Regional Administrator's determination that the 

proposed permit is (1) the subject of an interstate dispute under Sec.  

233.31(a) and/or (2) outside requirements of the Act, these regulations, 

or the 404(b)(1) Guidelines. The Regional Administrator shall make 

available upon request a copy of any comment, objection, or recom 

mendation on a permit application or draft general permit to the permit 

applicant or to the public.

    (f) When the Director has received an EPA objection or requirement 

for a permit condition to a permit application or draft general permit 

under this section, he shall not issue the permit unless he has taken 

the steps required by the Regional Administrator to eliminate the 

objection.

    (g) Within 90 days of receipt by the Director of an objection or 

requirement for a permit condition by the Regional Administrator, the 

State or any interested person may request that the Regional 

Administrator hold a public hearing on the objection or requirement. The 

Regional Administrator shall conduct a public hearing whenever requested 

by the State proposing to issue the permit, or if warranted by 

significant public interest based on requests received.

    (h) If a public hearing is held under paragraph (g) of this section, 

the Regional Administrator shall, following that hearing, reaffirm, 

modify or withdraw the objection or requirement for a permit condition, 

and notify the Director of this decision.



[[Page 303]]



    (1) If the Regional Administrator withdraws his objection or 

requirement for a permit condition, the Director may issue the permit.

    (2) If the Regional Administrator does not withdraw the objection or 

requirement for a permit condition, the Director must issue a permit 

revised to satisfy the Regional Administrator's objection or requirement 

for a permit condition or notify EPA of its intent to deny the permit 

within 30 days of receipt of the Regional Administrator's notification.

    (i) If no public hearing is held under paragraph (g) of this 

section, the Director within 90 days of receipt of the objection or 

requirement for a permit condition shall either issue the permit revised 

to satisfy EPA's objections or notify EPA of its intent to deny the 

permit.

    (j) In the event that the Director neither satisfies EPA's 

objections or requirement for a permit condition nor denies the permit, 

the Secretary shall process the permit application.



[53 FR 20776, June 1, 1988; 53 FR 41649, Oct. 24, 1988]