[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 142 (Monday, July 24, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 45569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18642]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 131

[FRL-OW-6839-7]
RIN 2040-ZA00


Extension of Comment Period and Change to Public Hearing Schedule 
for the Proposed Rule on Water Quality Standards for Kansas

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period and change to public 
hearing schedule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is extending the comment period and rescheduling the 
public hearing for its July 3, 2000, proposed rule to promulgate water 
quality standards for the State of Kansas. If promulgated as final 
standards, they would supersede aspects of Kansas's water quality 
standards that EPA disapproved in 1998. In furtherance of EPA's 1998 
disapproval action, EPA is proposing: that all discharges to stream 
segments for which continuous flow is sustained primarily through the 
discharge of treated effluent shall protect the States' designated 
uses; that 7Q10, 4B3, or other scientifically defensible design flows 
approved by EPA shall be used to implement the State's chronic aquatic 
life criteria; that 1Q10, 1B3, or other scientifically defensible 
design flows approved by EPA shall be used to implement the State's 
acute aquatic life criteria; implementation procedures for use when 
applying the States' antidegradation policy to determine whether to 
allow a lowering of surface water quality by point sources of pollution 
where nonpoint sources also contribute the pollutant of concern to that 
body of water; and, an aquatic life use for one stream segment and a 
primary contact recreation use for 1,292 stream segments and 164 lakes. 
In addition, under its discretionary authority to address State 
standards that the Administrator determines are inconsistent with the 
Clean Water Act, EPA is proposing: that water quality standards in 
Kansas apply to all privately owned surface waters in Kansas that are 
waters of the U.S.; and numeric human health criteria for alpha- and 
beta-endosulfan.
    EPA originally established a deadline of September 1, 2000, for the 
submission of public comments on this proposed rule. In response to 
concerns raised by stakeholders, EPA is extending the comment period 
until October 16, 2000 and is rescheduling the public hearings. It is 
EPA's intent to provide the public and all stakeholders an adequate 
period of time to fully analyze the issues, to prepare comprehensive 
comments and to assemble any available data. Therefore, we are 
extending the comment period an additional 46 days for a total comment 
period of 105 days. Furthermore, EPA is rescheduling the public 
hearings from July 27, 2000 to September 13 and 14, 2000 to provide 
additional time for interested parties to prepare for the hearings.

DATES: EPA will accept public comments on this proposed rule until 
October 16, 2000. Comments postmarked after this date may not be 
considered. On September 13 and 14, 2000, EPA is holding public 
hearings on proposed water quality standards for Kansas.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to submit comments should send an original 
plus 2 copies, (and, if possible, an electronic version of comments 
either in WordPerfect or ASCII format), to Ann Jacobs at 
[email protected] or at U.S. EPA Region VII, Water Resources 
Protection Branch, 901 North 5th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66101. 
There will be two public hearings. The first public hearing will be 
held on Wednesday, September 13, 2000, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 
(CDT) in the Museum Classroom of the Kansas Center for Historical 
Research at 6425 S.W. 6th Avenue in Topeka, Kansas. The telephone 
number for the Kansas Center for Historical Research is 785-272-8681. 
The second public hearing will be held on Thursday, September 14, from 
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (CDT) in the Convention Center of the Best 
Western Silver Spur at 1510 West Wyatt Earp Boulevard in Dodge City, 
Kansas. The telephone number of the Best Western Silver Spur is 316-
227-2125. The administrative record for today's proposed rule is 
available for public inspection at EPA Region VII, Regional Records 
Center, 901 North 5th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66101, between 8 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Jacobs at [email protected] or at 
U.S. EPA Region VII, Water Resources Protection Branch, 901 North 5th 
Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66101 (Telephone: 913-551-7930).

    Dated: July 17, 2000.
J. Charles Fox,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 00-18642 Filed 7-21-00; 8:45 am]
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