[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