[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 1994)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-184]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 6, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 300

[FRL-4822-5]

 

National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan 
(NCP)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Reopening of comment period on proposed rule; notice of public 
meeting.

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SUMMARY: On October 22, 1993 (58 FR 54702), EPA published in the 
Federal Register a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would 
revise the National Contingency Plan (NCP) consistent with the Oil 
Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA). The public comment period for the NPRM 
ended December 20, 1993. EPA received several letters requesting a 
comment period extension. To accommodate these requests and obtain 
additional input concerning the NPRM, EPA will hold a public meeting at 
which interested parties may present their concerns for EPA's 
consideration in finalizing the NCP. EPA is today reopening the comment 
period until the day of that meeting.

DATES: EPA must receive all comments on or before January 14, 1994. The 
public meeting will be held on January 14, 1994, from 9 a.m. until 4 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted in triplicate to Emergency 
Response Division, Attn: Superfund Docket Clerk, Docket Number NCP-R2/
A, Superfund Docket, room M2427, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
401 M Street SW., Washington, DC 20460.
    The meeting will be held in EPA's Region 10 office, located at 1200 
Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Morris, Emergency Response 
Division (5202G), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street 
SW., Washington, DC 20460, (703) 603-9053.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Meeting

    Meeting attendees should send a letter by telephone facsimile by 
Monday, January 10, 1994, stating attendees' names, addresses, 
affiliation, and telephone numbers, to Richard Norris, EPA Emergency 
Response Division, at (703) 603-9116. Those who do not have a facsimile 
machine may telephone (703) 603-9074 and leave a message containing the 
information requested above.
    Attendees should submit in writing any additional comments they 
wish to add to the public record in the event that time does not allow 
for all comments to be presented orally. Additional written comments 
may also be submitted to the EPA docket, if commenters do not wish to 
attend the public meeting. Written comments should be submitted in 
triplicate either at the public meeting or to: Emergency Response 
Division, Attn: Superfund Docket Clerk, Docket Number NCP-R2/A, 
Superfund Docket, room M2427, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 
M Street SW., Washington, DC 20460.

Summary of Proposed Rule

    The proposed revisions (58 FR 54702) include the creation of Area 
Committees and Area Contingency Plans; a National Response Unit to 
assist in coordinating spill removal resources, personnel, and 
equipment; and U.S. Coast Guard District Response Groups to assist On-
Scene Coordinators and maintain Coast Guard response equipment. In 
addition, the NPRM includes criteria and procedures for responding to 
discharges that result in substantial threats to public health or 
welfare; procedures and standards for preventing, mitigating, and 
removing worst case discharges; and a new provision addressing spills 
of national significance. EPA also proposed to revise subpart J of the 
NCP, which provides for a Product Schedule that lists dispersants, 
bioremediation agents, and other miscellaneous oil spill control 
substances. The subpart J revisions would reflect new dispersant 
effectiveness testing and acceptability criteria.

    Dated: December 29, 1993.
Elliott P. Laws,
Assistant Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-184 Filed 1-5-94; 8:45 am]
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