[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48731-48732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24505]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6158-9]


National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General 
Permits for Discharges From Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations 
(CAFOs)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of reopening of the public comment period for proposed 
NPDES general permits.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Region 6 of the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) intends to reopen, during a specified period of 
time, the comment period for the proposed reissuance of the EPA Region 
6 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general

[[Page 48732]]

permits for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in New 
Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas and all Indian Country Lands within these 
States.

DATES: EPA Region 6 will be accepting additional comments on the 
proposed CAFO general permits until October 12, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments and suggestions should be mailed to Ms. Wilma 
Turner (6WQ-CA), EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-
2733.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on the 
proposed permits or to request a complete copy of the entire fact sheet 
and the draft permits, please contact Ms. Wilma Turner at the above 
address or by telephone at (214) 665-7516. The draft permits may be 
obtained from the following website address: www.epa.gov/region6/6wq/
npdes/genpermt.htm

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Region 6 of the EPA publicly announced on 
June 26, 1998, in the Federal Register (see 63 FR 34874) the proposed 
reissuance of the EPA Region 6, National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) general permits for concentrated animal 
feeding operations (CAFOs) in New Mexico (Permit Nos. NMG800000 and 
NMG810000); Oklahoma (Permit Nos. OKG800000 and OKG810000); and Texas 
(Permit Nos. TXG800000 and TXG810000) and all Indian Country Lands 
within these States. EPA requested the general public to submit written 
comments on the proposed permits to EPA Region 6 during the public 
comment period ending on August 25, 1998. However, EPA has received 
numerous requests both during public hearings on the proposed permits 
and by mail to extend the August 25, 1998, deadline for commenting on 
the proposed permits. After considering these comments, EPA has decided 
to extend the comment period from August 25, 1998, to October 12, 1998. 
Therefore, the comment period for these general permits has been 
reopened and EPA Region 6 will be accepting additional comments on the 
proposed CAFO general permits until October 12, 1998.
    The public may comment on any aspects of the proposed permits. 
However, EPA is particularly requesting comments on the following 
issues:
    1. Should the general permit coverage be limited to some maximum 
number of animal units? If so, what should this maximum number be?
    2. Should the 303(d) list be used to establish stream segments 
impaired due to nutrients? If not, what specific criteria should be 
utilized?
    3. Should all nutrient-impaired watersheds be included in the 
impaired watershed permit or only those specifically identified as 
related to CAFO activities?
    4. The applicability of the proposed permits to pollutants from 
poultry operations that spread litter (manure) to land in a non-
agronomic manner.
    5. The definition of agricultural (agronomic) uses of manure based 
upon nitrogen and phosphorus application rates.
    6. The appropriate rates of manure application in impaired and 
nonimpaired watersheds when the manure is applied at rates that exceed 
agronomic rates.
William B. Hathaway,
Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 98-24505 Filed 9-10-98; 8:45 am]
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