[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 139 (Thursday, July 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 37453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18095]


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DELAWARE RIVER BASIN COMMISSION


Water Quality Regulations; Proposed Amendments to Comprehensive 
Plan, Water Code of the Delaware River, Administrative Manual--Part III 
Water Quality Regulations; Public Hearing

AGENCY: Delaware River Basin Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking and public hearing.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Delaware River Basin 
Commission will hold a public hearing to receive comments on 
modifications to its proposed amendments to its Comprehensive Plan, 
Water Code and Water Quality Regulations concerning water quality 
criteria for toxic pollutants, and policies and procedures to establish 
wasteload allocations and effluent limitations for point source 
discharges to Zone 2 through 5 (Trenton, New Jersey to the Delaware 
Bay) of the tidal Delaware River.

DATES: The public hearing will be held on Thursday, September 5, 1996 
beginning at 10:00 a.m. and continuing as long as there are people 
present wishing to testify.
    The deadline for inclusion of written comments in the hearing 
record will be 5:00 p.m. on September 5, 1996.

ADDRESSES: The hearing will be held in the Goddard Conference Room of 
the Commission's offices at 25 State Police Drive, West Trenton, New 
Jersey.
    Written comments should be submitted to Susan M. Weisman, 
Commission Secretary, Delaware River Basin Commission, P.O. Box 7360, 
West Trenton, New Jersey 08628.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan M. Weisman, Commission 
Secretary, at (609) 883-9500 ext. 203.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Rationale

    On October 5, 11 and 13, 1995, the Commission held public hearings 
on proposed amendments to its water quality regulations as noticed in 
the Federal Register, Vol. 60, No. 143, July 26, 1995 and Vol. 60, No. 
183, September 21, 1995. The public hearing record, originally 
scheduled to close on November 13, 1995, was extended by the Commission 
at its October 25, 1995 business meeting to December 13, 1995. Oral and 
written comments were received from 31 individuals and organizations as 
well as a coalition of 14 industrial and municipal dischargers to the 
Delaware Estuary.
    As a result of comments received on that proposal and discussions 
with the Commission's Water Quality and Toxics Advisory Committees, the 
Commission has decided to modify its initial proposal. The proposal, as 
modified, is summarized below and is the subject of the September 5, 
1996 public hearing.
    Specifically, water quality criteria for selected toxic pollutants 
are proposed for incorporation in the Comprehensive Plan and Article 3 
of the Water Code and Water Quality Regulations as stream quality 
objectives. Revisions are also proposed for Article 4 of the Water 
Quality Regulations describing the policies and procedures to be used 
to establish wasteload allocations for those discharges containing 
pollutants which impact the designated uses of the river.
    Adoption of these revisions will provide a mechanism for 
identifying toxic pollutants which may impair aquatic life and human 
health, and developing uniform and equitable wasteload allocations for 
these pollutants for all NPDES discharges to the tidal Delaware River. 
The permitting authorities of the states will utilize the allocations 
developed by the Commission to establish effluent limitations for NPDES 
permittees in their jurisdiction.
    Modifications to the initial proposal which resulted from the 
public participation process include the following:
    1. Revised numerical values for the stream quality objectives for 
five parameters,
    2. Inclusion of numerical factors to convert total recoverable 
water quality criteria for seven metals into dissolved stream quality 
objectives,
    3. Inclusion of language requiring the Commission to identify and 
designate critical habitat within the tidal Delaware River,
    4. Revised language regarding discharges to exposed benthic 
habitat,
    5. Inclusion of a provision for a demonstration to support 
alternative requirements for dispersion areas (or mixing zones) where 
stream quality objectives for the protection of aquatic life from acute 
effects may be permitted,
    6. Deletion of tables of values of Minimum Performance Standards, 
and replacement with language describing the basis for establishing 
Minimum Performance Standards,
    7. Inclusion of language specifying the order of preference for 
information/data used to establish initial loadings for allocation of 
wasteloads, and
    8. Revised language on adjustments for pollutants in intake water.
    Copies of the full text of the proposed amendments may be obtained 
by contacting Ms. Weisman at the address provided in FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT. Persons wishing to testify are requested to notify 
the Secretary in advance.

    Delaware River Basin Compact, 75 Stat. 688.

    Dated: July 9, 1996.
Susan M. Weisman,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-18095 Filed 7-17-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6360-01-P