[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 243 (Thursday, December 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66367-66368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32921]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5935-9]


Draft General NPDES Permit for Shore-Based Seafood Processors 
Operating in Kodiak, Alaska (General NPDES Permit No. AK-G52-8000)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of draft general NPDES permit.

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SUMMARY: The Director, Office of Water, EPA Region 10, is proposing to 
issue a general National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 
permit no. AK-G52-8000 for shore-based seafood processors operating in 
Kodiak, Alaska, pursuant to the provisions of the Clean Water Act, 33 
U.S.C. 1251 et seq. The proposed general NPDES permit authorizes 
discharges to St. Paul Harbor and Near Island Channel. The existing ten 
shore-based facilities are engaged in the processing of fresh, frozen, 
and canned seafood, surimi and fish powder. Discharges authorized by 
the proposed general permit include processing wastes, process 
disinfectants, and other wastewater, including cooling water, boiler 
water, freshwater pressure relief water, refrigeration condensate, 
water used to transfer seafood to a facility, and live tank water. One 
facility discharges treated domestic and sanitary wastewater to St. 
Paul Harbor. The proposed permit authorizes discharge of wastewater to 
waters of the United States in and contiguous to the State of Alaska.
    The processing facilities are required to collect and route all 
seafood processing wastes and wastewater to a treatment system 
consisting of 1 mm screens or equivalent technology. All seafood solid 
wastes are collected and transported to the by-product recovery 
facility in Kodiak. One facility processes fish wastes into fish powder 
at their location.
    The proposed general permit contains the same effluent guideline 
limitations as the previous individual permits. Separate monitoring of 
the surimi and fish powder waste streams are new additions to the 
proposed general permit.
    The proposed general NPDES permit for seafood processors in Kodiak, 
Alaska, does not authorize discharges of petroleum hydrocarbons, toxic 
pollutants, or other pollutants not specified in the permit.

DATES: The issuance date of this public document is December 18, 1997. 
The expiration date of this public document is on or before January 20, 
1998.
    Public Comments: Interested persons may submit written comments on 
the draft general NPDES permit to the attention of Florence Carroll at 
the address below. 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. Comments must be submitted to EPA on or 
before the expiration date of the public document.
    After the expiration date of the public document, the Director, 
Office of Water, EPA Region 10, will make a final determination with 
respect to issuance of the general permit. The tentative requirements 
contained in the draft general permit will become final conditions if 
no substantive comments are received during the public comment period. 
The permit is expected to become effective on March 12, 1998.
    Persons wishing to comment on State Certification of the proposed 
general NPDES permit should submit written comments within this 30-day 
comment period to the State of Alaska, Alaska Department of 
Environmental Conservation (ADEC), 410 Willoughby Avenue, Suite 105, 
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1795.
    Comments should be addressed to the attention of Alaska Water 
Quality Standards Consistency Review.
    Persons wishing to comment on the State Determination of 
Consistency with the Alaska Coastal Management Program should submit 
written comments within this 30-day comment period, to the State of 
Alaska, Office of Management and Budget, Division of Governmental 
Coordination, P.O. Box 110030, Juneau, Alaska 99811-0030. Comments 
should be addressed to the attention of Alaska Coastal Management 
Program Consistency Review.
    Public Hearing: No public hearings have been scheduled. Persons 
requesting a public hearing should submit their request to Florence 
Carroll at the address below. Notice of a public

[[Page 66368]]

hearing will be published in the Federal Register. Notices will also be 
mailed to all interested persons receiving copies of the proposed 
general permit.
    Appeal of Permit: Within 120 days following the service of notice 
of EPA's final permit decision under 40 CFR 124.15, any interested 
person may appeal the general permit in the Federal Court of Appeal in 
accordance with section 509(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act. Persons 
affected by a general permit may not challenge the conditions of the 
permit as a right of further EPA proceedings. Instead, they may either 
challenge the permit in court or apply for an individual NPDES permit 
and then request a formal hearing on the issuance or denial of an 
individual permit.
    Administrative Record: The complete administrative record for the 
draft general permit is available for public review; contact Florence 
Carroll at the telephone number below in the EPA Region 10. Copies of 
the draft general NPDES permit and fact sheet are available upon 
request from the Region 10 Public Information Center at the following 
telephone number: 1-800-424-4EPA(4372)if calling from Idaho, Oregon, 
and Washington and 1-206-553-1200 if calling from Alaska and all other 
states.

ADDRESSES: Public comments should be sent to: Environmental Protection 
Agency Region 10, NPDES Compliance Unit (OW-133), Attn: Florence 
Carroll, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington, 98101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Florence Carroll, of EPA Region 10, at 
the address listed above or telephone (206) 553-1760.
    Regulatory Flexibility Act: After review of the facts presented in 
the notice printed above, I hereby certify pursuant to the provision of 
5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this general NPDES permit will not have a 
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. Moreover, 
the permit reduces a significant administrative burden on regulated 
sources.

    Dated: December 5, 1997.
Roger K. Mochnick,
Assistant Director, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 97-32921 Filed 12-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U