[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7169-7170]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3579]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5966-3]


Final Modified General NPDES Permit for Facilities Related to Oil 
and Gas Extraction on the North Slope of the Brooks Range, Alaska 
(Permit Number AKG-31-0000)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of a final modified general permit.

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SUMMARY: The Director, Office of Water, EPA Region 10 is issuing a 
modified General NPDES permit for facilities related to Oil and Gas 
Extraction on the North Slope of the Brooks Range in Alaska. This 
general permit regulates activities related to the extraction of oil 
and gas on the North Slope of the Brooks Range in the North Slope 
Borough in the state of Alaska. The modified general permit includes a 
provision to extend the area of coverage to include facilities off-
shore of the North Slope Borough. The extension would cover sanitary 
and/or domestic wastewater discharges, construction dewatering, and 
hydrostatic test water. The modified general permit also includes a new 
outfall designation for the discharge of hydrostatic test water. In 
addition, several sections of the permit have been changed to provide 
clarification on issues that have been confusing during the 
administration of the permit to date. This permit will be used to cover 
dischargers that have been previously unpermitted due to resource 
constraints. The permit establishes effluent limitations, standards, 
prohibitions and other conditions on discharges from covered 
facilities. These conditions are based on existing national effluent 
guidelines, the state of Alaska's Water Quality Standards and material 
contained in the administrative record. A description of the basis for 
the conditions and requirements of the modified general permit was 
given in the fact sheet and changes to the proposed general permit are 
documented in the Response to Comments.

DATES: The general permit will become effective on March 16, 1998 and 
will expire on April 10, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the final general NPDES 
permit, response to comments, and today's publication will be provided 
upon request by EPA Region 10, Public Information Office, at (800) 424-
4372 or (206) 553-1200 or upon request to Cindi Godsey at (907) 271-
6561. Requests may also be electronically mailed to: 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget has 
exempted this action from the review requirements of Executive Order 
12866 pursuant to section 6 of that order.
    The state of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation 
(ADEC), has certified that the subject discharges comply with the 
applicable provisions of sections 208(e), 301, 302, 306 and 307 of the 
Clean Water Act. The State of Alaska, Office of Management and Budget, 
Division of Governmental Coordination (DGC), has certified that the 
general NPDES permit is consistent with the approved Alaska Coastal 
Management Program.
    Comments were received which caused changes to the proposed permit. 
These are detailed in the Response to Comments. The following is a 
summary of some of the changes:
    ADEC had authorized a mixing zone for chlorine for discharges of 
sanitary

[[Page 7170]]

wastewater to the tundra in the original general permit but the size 
was not included in the final issuance of the general permit. This has 
been included in the modified general permit. A condition has been 
added to the permit clarifying that hydrostatic test water may not be 
discharged from pipelines that have been previously used to transport 
crude oil.
    Within 120 days following service of notice of EPA's final permit 
decision under 40 CFR 124.15, any interested person may appeal this 
general NPDES permit in the Federal Court of Appeal in accordance with 
section 509(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act.

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: February 3, 1998.
Roger K. Mochnick,
Acting Director, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 98-3579 Filed 2-11-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P