[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 210 (Thursday, October 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 58731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28814]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5915-7]


Notice of Tentative Decision To Deny Fundamentally Different 
Factors Variance Requests

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of tentative decision to deny Fundamentally Different 
Factors Variance requests.

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SUMMARY: EPA Region 6 intends to deny the Fundamentally Different 
Factors Variance requests submitted by a group of Oil and Gas Industry 
companies that own and operate oil production platforms and developed 
and undeveloped lease blocks in the Gulf of Mexico. These facilities 
are subject to limitations for the Offshore Subcategory of the Oil and 
Gas Extraction Point Source Category. The requests seek alternate best 
available technology economically achievable (BAT) oil and grease 
limits for produced water discharges.

DATES: Comments on this tentative decision to deny these Fundamentally 
Different Variance requests must be submitted by December 29, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this tentative decision should be sent to the 
Regional Administrator, EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 
75202-2733.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Wilma Turner, Customer Service 
Branch (6WQ-CA), EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-
2733, Telephone: (214) 665-7516, Fax: 214-665-6490, E-mail: 
[email protected]
    Copies of the tentative decision may be obtained from Ms. Turner.
    The administrative record for this tentative decision will be 
available for viewing at the EPA Headquarters Water Docket, room M2616, 
401 M Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20460, Monday through Friday from 9 
a.m. until 4 p.m. The phone number is 202-260-3027. Please ask for the 
public record for the Offshore Oil and Gas FDF Tentative Denial.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sixteen Oil and Gas Industry companies that 
own and operate oil production platforms and developed and undeveloped 
lease blocks in the Gulf of Mexico have submitted Clean Water Act 
section 301(b)(1)(A), 301(b)(2)(A) and 301(b)(2)(E) fundamentally 
Different Factors (FDF) variance requests. These requests seek 
alternate best available technology economically achievable (BAT) oil 
and grease limits for produced water discharges. These facilities are 
subject to limitations for the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source 
Category, Subpart A--Offshore Subcategory specified in 40 CFR 435. The 
companies seeking variances are: Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, ARCO 
Oil and Gas Company, Chevron USA Production Company, Conoco, Inc., 
CanadianOxy Offshore Production Company, Freeport-McMoRan, Kerr-McGee 
Corporation, Marathon Oil Company, Pennzoil Petroleum Company, Pennzoil 
Exploration and Production Company, Shell Offshore, Inc., Shell Western 
Exploration and Production, Inc., Texaco Exploration and Production, 
Inc., Texaco, Inc., Four Star Oil and Gas Company and Union Oil Company 
of California.
    This is to give notice that the Regional Administrator intents to 
deny the FDF Variance requests because they do not satisfy the criteria 
specified in section 301(n) of the Clean Water Act or 40 CFR 125.31. 
This decision is tentative and open to comment from the public.
    EPA's comments and public hearing procedures may be found at 40 CFR 
124.10 and 124.12 (48 FR 14264, April 1, 1983, as amended at 49 FR 
38051, September 26, 1984). During the comment period, any interested 
person may request a Public Hearing by filing a written request which 
must state the issues to be raised. A public hearing will be held when 
EPA finds a significant degree of public interest. EPA will notify each 
person who has submitted written comments or requested notice of the 
final decision. A final decision means a final decision to grant or 
deny the Fundamentally Different Factors Variance request.

    Dated: October 7, 1997.
Jerry Clifford,
Acting Regional Administrator, EPA Region 6.
[FR Doc. 97-28814 Filed 10-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P