[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 8, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48503-48517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19913]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6847-1]


Draft Modification of the National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for the Eastern Portion of 
the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) of the Gulf of Mexico (GMG280000)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of draft modification of NPDES general permit for the 
Eastern Portion of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) of the Gulf of 
Mexico (GMG2800000).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Regional Administrator (RA) of EPA, Region 4 (``Region 
4''), is today proposing to modify, in part, the National Pollutant 
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for the OCS of the 
Gulf of Mexico (General Permit No. GMG280000) for discharges in the 
Offshore Subcategory of the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source 
Category (40 CFR part 435, subpart A) as authorized by section 402 of 
the Clean Water Act (``CWA'' or the ``Act''), 33 U.S.C. 1342. The 
existing general permit, issued by Region 4, and published at 63 FR 
55718, October 16, 1998, authorizes discharges from exploration, 
development, and production facilities located in and discharging to 
all Federal waters of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico seaward of the outer 
boundary of the territorial seas. Today EPA is proposing to modify the 
general permit numbering system to make it specific to the Region 4 
area of responsibility. Additional modifications are being made to add 
tables for produced water discharge critical dilution concentrations 
and for chemically treated seawater used to pressure test piping and 
pipelines. These modification are being incorporated into part I.B.10 
of the permit along with associated effluent limitations and 
monitoring.
    This permit modification is in accordance with a settlement entered 
into by EPA with various parties which filed a petition for review of 
the October 16, 1998, general permit in the Fifth Circuit Court of 
Appeals under the caption Marathon Oil Company et al. v. Browner, Civ. 
99-60090. After the permit was issued, and aside from other provisions 
within the permit which specify that any operator authorized by the 
permit may request to be excluded from coverage and receive an 
individual permit pursuant to 40 CFR 122.28(a)(4)(iii), EPA determined 
that the method for calculating effluent limitations and monitoring 
requirements for produced water discharges that appear as part I.B.3 in 
the permit are not appropriate for coverage under a general permit in 
the manner set forth in the October 16, 1998, general permit. The 
intent of this proposed modification is to establish a table of 
critical dilution concentrations for use in determining toxicity 
limitations. Those permittees that have produced water discharges that 
would fall outside of the proposed table would need to apply for and 
receive individual NPDES permits.
    In brief, EPA today proposes to modify the general permit as 
follows: changing the general permit numerical designation; requiring 
permittees to indicate what type of effluents the facility is expected 
to discharge within

[[Page 48504]]

the written notification of intent; allowing approval of a shorter 
notice to drill (NTD) notification period in certain circumstances; the 
addition of a section 403(c) reopener clause; inclusion of a new table 
to be used by those permittees discharging produced water to calculate 
the critical dilution concentration; and the addition of limitations 
and monitoring requirements for those permittees discharging chemically 
treated freshwater or seawater used for the hydrostatic testing of new 
pipes and pipelines and condensation. Any operator seeking coverage 
under the general permit may be subject to some or all of the proposed 
modifications.
    Finally, EPA also is providing today some additional clarifications 
and minor corrections of existing general permit language based upon 
questions and comments received by the Agency subsequent to the 
original permit issuance. This information is provided for 
clarification purposes only and is not part of the permit modifications 
being noticed for comment today.

DATES: Comments on this proposed action must be received by October 10, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to comment upon or object to any of the 
proposed permit modifications in Section III or wishing to request a 
public hearing, are invited to submit same in writing within sixty (60) 
days of this notice to the NPDES and Biosolids Permits Section; United 
States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4; Atlanta Federal 
Center; 61 Forsyth St. S.W.; Atlanta, GA 30303-3104, Attention: Ms. Ann 
Brown.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William Truman, Environmental 
Scientist, telephone number (404) 562-9457, or at the following 
address: United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, Water 
Management Division, NPDES and Biosolids Permits Section, Atlanta 
Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303.

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. Coverage of General Permit
III. Proposed General Permit Modifications
IV. Clarifications and Minor Corrections
V. Cost Estimate
VI. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
VII. Paperwork Reduction Act
VIII. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), as Amended by the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), 5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.

I. Introduction

    In 1972, section 301(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
(also referred to as the Clean Water Act) was amended to provide that 
the discharge of any pollutants to waters of the United States (U.S.) 
from any point source is unlawful, except if the discharge is in 
compliance with an NPDES permit.
    On October 16, 1998, Region 4, issued a general permit for 
discharges of pollutants from exploration, development, and production 
facilities located in all Federal waters of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico 
seaward of the outer boundary of the territorial seas. The previous 
permit (July 9, 1986, reissued by Region 4 in 1991) was issued jointly 
by Region 4 and Region 6. Region 6 subsequently, reissued a permit in 
1992 and 1999 for the Western Portion of the Outer Continental Shelf 
(``Western Planning Area'').
    For consistency, Region 4, developed a permit similar to those 
issued by Region 6, taking into account any site-specific 
considerations. Both Regions adopted the same method of determining 
produced water toxicity limitations using the Cornell Mixing Zone 
Expert System (CORMIX) to calculate critical dilutions. However, 
information from the vast number of operating facilities in the Western 
Planning Area as compared to the relatively few operating facilities in 
the Eastern Planning Area, enabled Region 6 to develop model input 
parameters based upon information from a large number of operating 
facilities. Region 6 also was able to develop a series of critical 
dilution tables based upon this information, and critical dilution 
tables for a large segment of potential permittees were developed and 
included within the Region 6 general permit.
    In this modification, EPA is publishing critical dilution tables as 
part of the general permit, such as those used in Region 6's general 
permit. Due to the fact that fewer than 30 produced water dischargers 
exist in Region 4's permit coverage area, Region 4 elected to model the 
toxicity limitations using the range of data gathered from the 
operators within this area. Region 4 believes this approach will 
include all the expected permittees, and will avoid the significant 
resource demands that would have been required to support a critical 
dilution table for the ranges used by Region 6. The derivation of 
critical dilution tables on the scale of those developed by Region 6 
would have required over 200 runs of the CORMIX model just to generate 
ranges that take into account the variations in discharge flow rate, 
discharge pipe diameter, and distance from the pipe to the sea floor. 
Currently, EPA is unaware of any facilities in Region 4's area which 
fall outside of the critical dilution tables in today's proposed draft. 
The small number of potential permittees did not justify the 
expenditure of available resources to produce numerous tables.
    EPA, Region 4, proposes to modify this general permit by including 
a critical dilution table comparable to those utilized by the Region 6 
general permit. In accordance with 40 CFR 122.28(3)(i) and (c)(1), any 
owner or operator with a facility with produced water effluent will be 
required meet the critical dilution values within the limits of the 
table, or to apply for and obtain an individual permit in order to 
discharge into U.S. waters. Existing discharges of produced water shall 
continue to be authorized under the 1991 general permit as reissued by 
Region 4, if a timely Notice of Intent (NOI) was submitted to obtain 
coverage under the general permit issued on October 16, 1998.
    Additionally, EPA has received numerous requests regulated 
community regarding the need of a NPDES permit for the discharge of 
fluids used in the hydrostatic testing of pipelines. These fluids 
primarily consist of seawater, biocides, corrosion inhibiting solvents 
(CIS), and other treatment chemicals. The Region 6 general permit 
addresses this activity under miscellaneous discharges, with prescribed 
limits on chemical concentration and toxicity. For consistency, Region 
4, proposes to modify the general permit to include effluent 
limitations and monitoring requirements for chemically treated 
seawater.
    EPA, Region 4, also proposes to include an additional requirement 
for submitting an NOI. Under paragraph (4), part I.4., Notification 
Requirements (Existing Sources and New Sources), the permittee shall 
provide information on the types of discharges expected along with data 
regarding outfall locations.
    In addition, to further distinguish permits issued under this 
general permit from those previously issued by Regions 4 and 6, Region 
4 proposes to modify the general permit number to include an alpha 
character in the 6th position. Permit coverage will be assigned as 
GMG28A001--A999, GMG28B001--B999, GMG28C001--C999, etc. 

II. Coverage of General Permit

    Section 301(a) of the CWA provides that the discharge of pollutants 
is unlawful except in accordance with the terms of an NPDES permit. The 
EPA has determined that oil and gas facilities seaward of the 200 meter 
water depth in certain parts of the Eastern Portion of the Gulf of 
Mexico as described in the NPDES general permit are more

[[Page 48505]]

appropriately controlled by a separate general permit, individual 
permits, or both, 40 CFR 122.28(c). This determination covers both 
existing sources and new sources. This decision is based on the Federal 
regulations at 40 CFR 122.28, 40 CFR part 125 (Subpart M--Ocean 
Discharge Criteria); the Environmental Impact Statement; and the 
Agency's previous decisions in other areas of the Gulf of Mexico's OCS. 
As in the case of individual permits, noncompliance with any condition 
of a general permit constitutes an enforceable violation of the Act 
under section 309 of the Act.
    With this proposed permit modification, all lease blocks with 
operating facilities discharging produced water will be required to 
meet the critical dilution limitations in the table, or to apply for 
and obtain individual permits in order to discharge into waters of the 
U.S. This notice to modify the general permit will also clarify and 
correct certain aspects of the general permit issued on October 16, 
1998.

III. Proposed General Permit Modifications

    Today, EPA is proposing the following permit modifications. These 
provisions represent the only revisions in this notice that are subject 
to the federal public notice and comment requirements.

1. General Permit Number (63 FR 55718, October 16, 1999)

    The original general permit, issued jointly by Regions 4 and 6 on 
July 9, 1986, carried the permit number of GMG280000. On November 19, 
1992, Region 6 issued a final permit for the Western Gulf of Mexico 
under GMG290000. In order to distinguish the current permit coverage 
numbers from those facilities covered by the permits previously issued 
by Regions 4 and 6, EPA is proposing to designate those facilities 
covered by the Region 4 permit as General Permit Number GMG28AXXX, 
where the 6th significant figure will carry an alphabetic designation. 
The new numbering convention will be, e.g., GMG28A001--A999, 
GMG28B001--B999, GMG28C001--C999, etc. All notices of general permit 
coverage provided since the effective date of the November 16, 1998 
permit, will be changed to as indicated above. The last three digits of 
the assigned permit number will remain the same.

2. Notice of Intent (NOI) Requirements (Part I.B.4, 63 FR 55747)

    Part I., section A. 4.(4) requires information identifying the 
receiving waters and the location of the discharge outfalls. EPA 
believes that more information is required pertaining to the nature of 
the permitted discharges. To aid in compliance tracking, EPA proposes 
that the permittee identify the types of discharges expected for the 
operation applied for under the general permit. Expected discharges 
would be identified by the nomenclature used in part I., section B.1-
10. Additional information may be required regarding miscellaneous 
discharges (63 FR 55750).

3. Notice To Drill (Part I.A.4, 63 FR 55747)

    In recognition that there are situations where a permittee may be 
unable to meet the minimum 60 day notice period due to unforeseen 
circumstances, EPA today proposes to modify the 60 day requirement by 
adding ``or lesser notice as approved by the Director'' to allow for 
case-by-case requests for a shortened notice period.
    In emergency situations where ``Severe Property Damage'' may result 
(see definition 47, 63 FR 55756), or loss of life, or personal injury, 
bypass provisions at part II.B.3. (63 FR 55752) may be utilized. Upset 
provisions may also be available as specified at part II.B.4. (Id.).

4. Section 403(c) Reopener Clause

    As a result of the President's Executive Order 13158 on Marine 
Protected Areas dated May 26, 2000, the EPA has been directed to reduce 
pollution of beaches, coasts, and ocean waters by developing CWA 
regulations that strengthen water quality protections for coastal and 
ocean waters. These new standards will guide the agency when it reviews 
proposals for onshore and offshore activities that result in discharges 
to ocean or coastal waters. In developing these regulations, EPA may 
set higher levels of protection in especially valued or vulnerable 
areas. As a result of this development the following reopener clause 
will be added as new paragraph 7, part I., section A. Permit 
Applicability and Coverage Conditions as follows:

7. 403(c) Reopener Clause.

    In addition to any other grounds specified herein, this permit 
may be modified or revoked at any time if, on the basis of any new 
data or requirements, EPA determines that continued or increased 
discharges may cause unreasonable degradation of the marine 
environment or if EPA determines that additional conditions are 
necessary to protect the marine environment or special aquatic 
sites. Also, coverage under this permit may be denied or revoked and 
an individual NPDES permit application required such that any 
concerns, as stated, may be included in an individual NPDES permit.

5. Produced Water Discharges (Part I.B.3, 63 FR 55749)

    The nature of produced water discharges could be toxic to marine 
organisms in the immediate vicinity of these discharges. Rapid and 
dispersed mixing are important to reducing and eliminating toxic 
effects. The measure of any toxic effects vary with discharge volume, 
density, depth, flow rate, discharge pipe opening diameter and 
orientation, and current speed. EPA proposes to replace Appendix A for 
the calculation of permit limitation for produced water toxicity. 
Rather, these variables will be considered within a table of produced 
water critical dilutions developed using CORMIX model (Version 3.2). 
The Limiting Permissible Concentration (LPC), the critical dilution, at 
the edge of the 100-meter mixing zone is defined as the arithmetic 
formula of 0.1  x  LC50, or LC50=10  x  critical 
dilution. This corrects the 0.01 multiplier originally used in the 
general permit. Finally, for purposes of this general permit, the small 
quantities of water generated during production as a result of 
condensation are exempt as ``produced water'' and subject to the 
``miscellaneous discharge'' limitations and monitoring requirements of 
the permit (see infra).
    The table is only for produced water effluent discharged below the 
surface using a vertical port orientation:

     Table 4.--Produced Water Critical Dilutions (Percent Effluent) for Water Depths of Less Than 200 Meters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Pipe diameter
                    Discharge rate  (bbl/day)                    -----------------------------------------------
                                                                     >0" to 5"       >5" to 7"       >7" to 9"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>0 to 500.......................................................            0.11            0.11            0.11
501 to 1000.....................................................            0.22            0.22            0.22

[[Page 48506]]

 
1001 to 2000....................................................            0.37            0.37            0.37
2001 to 3000....................................................            0.48            0.48            0.48
3001 to 4000....................................................            0.56            0.56            0.56
4001 to 5000....................................................            0.65            0.66            0.66
5001 to 6000....................................................            0.73            0.78            0.78
6001 to 7000....................................................            0.77            0.78            0.78
7001 to 8000....................................................            0.84            0.86            0.86
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  Table 4-A.--Produced Water Critical Dilutions (Percent Effluent) for Water Depths of Greater Than 200 Meters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Pipe diameter
                    Discharge rate  (bbl/day)                    -----------------------------------------------
                                                                     >0" to 5"       >5" to 7"       >7" to 9"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>0 to 500.......................................................            0.08            0.08            0.08
501 to 1000.....................................................            0.12            0.12            0.12
1001 to 2000....................................................            0.18            0.18            0.18
2001 to 3000....................................................            0.22            0.22            0.22
3001 to 4000....................................................            0.24            0.25            0.25
4001 to 5000....................................................            0.28            0.28            0.28
5001 to 6000....................................................            0.30            0.30            0.31
6001 to 7000....................................................            0.32            0.32            0.32
7001 to 8000....................................................            0.35            0.35            0.35
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The tables were formulated using the following CORMIX (Version 3.2) 
input parameters:

Surface density: 1023.0 kg/m\3\
Discharge density: 1070.2 kg/m\3\
Density gradient: 0.163 kg/m\3\/m (linear)
Discharge concentration: 100%
Legal mixing zone: 100 meters
Darcy-Wiesbach friction constant: 0.02
Current speed: 5 cm/sec ( 200 meters), 15 cm/sec (>200 meters)
Vertical discharge angle (Theta) 90 deg. is directed toward the 
surface, -90 deg. is directed toward the seafloor
Wind speed: 4 m/sec

6. Miscellaneous Discharges (Part I.B.10, 63 FR 55750; Table 2, 63 FR 
55759 and Table 3, 63 FR 55761)

    EPA is proposing to modify the existing list of miscellaneous 
discharges to add additional wastewater sources: (1) chemically treated 
freshwater and seawater which has been used to hydrostatically test new 
piping and pipelines, and (2) water produced as a result of 
condensation during the production process. These discharges will be 
limited for free oil, concentration of treatment chemicals, and 
toxicity. Effluent limitations and monitoring requirements will be the 
same as authorized by the Region 6 general permit (part I.B.11, 64 FR 
19162 and 19163).
Proposed Permit Limitations
    Treatment Chemicals. The concentration of treatment chemicals in 
discharged chemically treated freshwater and seawater which has been 
used to hydrostatically test new piping and pipelines shall not exceed 
the most stringent of the following three constraints:
    (1) The maximum concentrations and any other conditions specified 
in the EPA product registration labeling if the chemical is an EPA 
registered product, or
    (2) The maximum manufacturer's recommended concentration, or
    (3) 500 mg/l.
    Free Oil. No free oil shall be discharged. Discharge is limited to 
those times that a visible sheen observation is possible unless the 
operator uses the static sheen method. Monitoring shall be performed 
using the visual sheen method on the surface of the receiving water 
once per week when discharging, or by use of the static sheen method at 
the operator's option. The number of days a sheen is observed must be 
recorded.
    Toxicity. The 48-hour minimum and monthly average minimum No 
Observable Effect Concentration (NOEC), or if specified the 7-day 
average minimum and monthly average minimum NOEC, must be equal to or 
greater than the critical dilution concentration specified in this 
permit in Table 4-A for seawater discharges and 4-B for freshwater 
discharges. Critical dilution shall be determined using Table 4 of this 
permit and is based on the discharge rate, discharge pipe diameter, and 
water depth between the discharge pipe and the bottom. The monthly 
average minimum NOEC value is defined as the arithmetic average of all 
48-hour average NOEC (or 7-day average minimum NOEC) values determined 
during the month.
Proposed Monitoring Requirements
    Flow. Once per month, an estimate of the flow (MGD) must be 
recorded.
    Toxicity. The required frequency of testing for continuous 
discharges shall be determined as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Discharge rate                 Toxicity testing frequency
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0-499 bbl/day..........................  Once per year.
500-4,599 bbl/day......................  Once per quarter.

[[Page 48507]]

 
4,600 bbl/day and above................  Once per month.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Intermittent or batch discharges shall be monitored once per 
discharge but are required to be monitored no more frequently than the 
corresponding frequencies shown above for continuous discharges.
    Samples shall be collected after addition of any added substances, 
including seawater that is added prior to discharge, and before the 
flow is split for multiple discharge ports. Samples also shall be 
representative of the discharge. Methods to increase dilution also 
apply to seawater and freshwater discharges which have been chemically 
treated.
    If the permittee has been compliant with this toxicity limit for 
one full year (12 consecutive months) for a continuous discharge of 
chemically treated seawater or freshwater, the required testing 
frequency shall be reduced to once per year for that discharge.

          Table 5-A.--Critical Dilutions (Percent Effluent) for Toxicity Limitations for Seawater to Which Treatment Chemicals Have Been Added
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                 Pipe diameter
            Depth difference (meters)                  Discharge rate (bbl/day)      -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         >0" to 2"        >2" to 4"        >4" to 6"           >6"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All.............................................  0 to 1,000........................             12               24.7             24.5             24.6
                                                  >1,000 to 10,000..................             11.2             12.4             12.2             14
                                                  >10,000...........................              9.6             24               23               20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


         Table 5-B.--Critical Dilutions (Percent Effluent) for Toxicity Limitations for Freshwater to Which Treatment Chemicals Have Been Added
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                 Pipe diameter
            Depth difference (meters)                  Discharge rate (bbl/day)      -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         >0" to 2"        >2" to 4"        >4" to 6"           >6"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All.............................................  0 to 1,000........................              1.1              1.2              2.9              2.9
                                                  >1,000 to 10,000..................             19               39               28               24
                                                  >10,000...........................             13               63               41               74
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Clarifications and Minor Corrections

    EPA also is providing the information in this section to help 
further explain or clarify existing requirements of the general permit 
based on questions and comments received following the original 
issuance of the permit.

1. Permit Transfers (Part I.A.4, 63 FR 55747)

    The Agency has received several comments regarding the transfer of 
discharge authority where a facility is sold during the period of 
general permit's coverage. Part of the confusion over transfers 
resulted in the requirement for an NOI with required information be 
submitted to the EPA for each discharging facility in order to secure 
permit coverage. If a facility is purchased or sold to another 
operator, permittees have raised the concern that the new operator will 
be required to resubmit the same data from the original operator's NOI 
to maintain permit coverage. This would result in a redundant review by 
EPA of this information and untimely delays. EPA is clarifying that 
where the operator notifies EPA within 30 days prior to the transfer, 
no additional NOI documentation need be submitted.
    The Agency is not deviating from standard procedures for transfer 
of NPDES permits as set forth in 40 CFR 122.63. EPA does not believe 
this requirement to be burdensome to industry. It is not EPA's intent 
to conduct another NOI review. Presumably, all of the NOI requirements 
would have been previously submitted to EPA for review, and 
subsequently approved by EPA. If the facility remains operational, then 
the NOI by the new operator, should simply reference the previously 
submitted NOI, EPA's authorization to proceed, and the assigned permit 
number. It is not EPA's intent to encumber the industry's transactions, 
but rather to keep the Agency informed as to ownership and entitlement 
of the permitting responsibilities.
    There is also some confusion by industry over the steps required to 
submit an NOI for non-operational or newly acquired leases. For these 
leases, the general permit states that an exploration or development 
production plan must be prepared and submitted to EPA before an NOI can 
be accepted. These plans are normally the responsibility of the Mineral 
Management Service (MMS), and not part of the EPA permit process. This 
requirement is corrected to read: ``No NOI will be accepted for either 
a non-operational or newly acquired lease until such time as an 
exploration or development production plan has been prepared.''

2. Notice To Drill (``NTD'') (Part I.A.4, 63 FR 55747)

    The general permit states that an NTD shall contain the assigned 
NPDES general permit number ``assigned to the lease block.'' EPA has 
realized that this language has caused some confusion as general permit 
coverage is given on an individual facility basis within a given lease 
block, rather than to the lease block itself. Therefore, EPA is 
clarifying that it is the facility's assigned permit coverage number 
that must be included in the NTD.

3. Notice of Intent--Latitude and Longitude Requirements (Part I.B.4, 
63 FR 55747)

    Under the general permit, as part of the facility's submission, the 
NOI

[[Page 48508]]

requires inclusion of the latitude and longitude of proposed outfall 
location(s). Concerns have been raised that, in addition to the 
environmental conditions experienced at the time of siting, due to 
inherent errors in the positioning equipment the exact outfall location 
can vary from the originally proposed site. Additionally, while a well 
surface location may be fixed, the location of the discharge will be in 
part dictated by the size, layout and actual orientation of the 
facility in the lease block. This uncertainty can be in the range of 
several hundred meters. EPA recognizes the practical realities of this 
type of operation and, therefore, is clarifying that EPA will allow 
flexibility in the actual placement of a facility after review of the 
photodocumentation survey. Consistent with MMS protocol, EPA will allow 
flexibility in placement of a surface location. However, the final 
siting shall be placed no further than 500 m from the proposed surface 
location covered by a photodocumentation survey.

4. Notice of Intent--Update of Technical References and Notification 
Address (Part I.A.4, 63 FR 55747)

    Part I.A.4.(10) and (11) refer to the bottom conditions within 1000 
meters of the proposed discharge site. For clarification purposes, EPA 
is taking this opportunity to update its technical references as 
follows:

    ``(10) Technical information on the characteristics of the sea 
bottom in accordance with MMS Notice To Lessees 98-20, Shallow 
Hazard Requirements, or the most current MMS guidelines for shallow 
hazard investigation and analysis.''
    ``(11) MMS live bottom survey in accordance with MMS Notice To 
Lessees 99-G16 Live-Bottom Surveys and Reports, or the most current 
MMS guidelines for live-bottom surveys and reports,'' for facilities 
* * *.

    EPA also is updating the Agency address for submission of all 
notices required under the general permit. All NOIs, NTDs, Notices of 
Commencement of Operations (NCOs), Notices of Termination of Operations 
(NTOs), and other subsequent reports shall be sent by certified mail to 
the following address: Director, Water Management Division, NPDES and 
Biosolids Permits Section, U.S. EPA, Region 4, Atlanta Federal Center, 
61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303-8960. Part III A. of the 
permit addresses the submittal process for monthly monitoring results 
and other related reports.

5. Photodocumentation Surveys (Part I.A.4(11), 63 FR 55747)

    CWA. The general permit requires photodocumentation surveys for 
operational facilities in less than 100 meters water depth in the 
Central Planning Area, except facilities with current active discharges 
on the effective date of the general permit (November 16, 1998). EPA 
has been asked to clarify whether the exception includes ``operational 
leases'' as defined on page 55718 of the permit (operational leases are 
defined as ``leases on which a discharge has taken place within two 
years of the effective dates of the general permits''). The answer is 
no.
    As provided in the permit, only currently active dischargers are 
operational facilities and thus excluded from the NOI requirement for 
photodocumentation. The exemption only applies to ``facilities'' that 
have discharged within two years of the effective date of the permit, 
not the entire lease containing the facility (i.e., the ``operational 
lease''). Such a lease-wide exemption would only be allowed if the 
entire block had been surveyed by photodocumentation.
    However, EPA has reserved the right to deny this exemption for 
operational facilities if a significant increase in discharge volume 
will occur, or if a change in the nature (kind) of effluent to be 
discharged will occur where no previous photodocumentation has been 
done at said facility. EPA understands that some deviation from noticed 
surface locations is expected. Consistent with MMS protocol, EPA will 
allow flexibility in placement of a surface location. However, for 
notification purposes, the final surface location shall be placed no 
further than 500 feet from the proposed surface location. Should the 
final location be placed within 500 m of an area previously covered by 
a photodocumentation survey, then no additional survey is required.

6. Correction to Notification Requirements (Part I.A.4., 63 FR 55747)

    The general permit requires the operator to submit a notice of 
commencement of operations (NCO) for several activities. EPA is 
providing the following typographical correction to the 6th paragraph 
under part I., section A.4. of the general permit as follows: ``In 
addition, a notice of commencement of operations (NCO) is required to 
be submitted for each of the following activities: placing a production 
platform in the general permit coverage area (within 30 days after 
placement); and discharging produced water within the coverage area.''

7. Correction to the Sanitary Flow Measurement (Table 2, 63 FR 55758 
and Table 3, 63 FR 55760).

    The general permit requires the estimated flow to be recorded 
monthly. The tables entitled ``Existing Sources-Effluent Limitations, 
Prohibitions, and Monitoring Requirements for the Eastern Gulf of 
Mexico NPDES General Permit'' (Table 2) and ``New Sources-Effluent 
Limitations, Prohibitions, and Monitoring Requirements for the Eastern 
Gulf of Mexico NPDES General Permit'' (Table 3) do not include the 
requirement to report the estimated flow on the monthly reports.
    EPA has corrected its inadvertent omission of the ``Recorded/
Reported Value'' from Tables 2 (p. 55758) and 3 (p. 55760) of the 
permit for Sanitary Waste outfall. Consistent with the requirements of 
section B.7(c), the average flow in million gallons per day (MGD) must 
be estimated and recorded for the flow of sanitary wastes once per 
month and submitted on the DMR.

8. Correction to Oil and Grease Limitations of Produced Water 
Discharges (Part I.B.3., 63 FR 55749)

    The reporting requirement for the monthly DMR, is clarified to 
read: ``The highest daily maximum oil and grease concentration and the 
monthly average concentration shall be reported on the monthly DMR.''

9. Clarification to the (Exception) for Sanitary Waste Facilities (Part 
I.B.7., 63 FR 55749 and Part I.B.8., 63 FR 55750)

    The exception to the permit limitations for sanitary waste is 
clarified to read: ``(Exception) Any facility which properly operates 
and maintains a marine sanitation device (MSD) that complies with * * 
*.

10. Clarification to Monitoring Reports (Part III.A, 63 FR 55754)

    Part III.A. deals with the proper labeling and submission of 
discharge monitoring reports (DMRs). EPA inadvertently stated that the 
operator of each ``lease block'' shall be responsible for submitting 
DMRs. Since Region 4 issues the general permit to an individual 
facility, and not a lease block, the operator of each facility is 
responsible for submitting the appropriate DMR. EPA is providing the 
following typographical change in the general permit:

    The operator of each facility shall be responsible for 
submitting its monitoring results.

[[Page 48509]]

11. Termination of Coverage Under the 1991 General Permit Issued (63 FR 
55746)

    The general permit, issued on October 16, 1998, required facilities 
covered under the previous general permit to submit a written notice of 
intent within 60 days of the effective date of the permit (November 16, 
1998). NPDES permit coverage was terminated for those facilities with 
continuing operations after that deadline who had not submitted the 
requisite NOI. Therefore, those facilities which had not submitted the 
requsite NOI are currently operating without proper permit coverage.

V. Cost Estimate

    The cost of compliance with a general permit is lower than that of 
an individual permit. Therefore, there is a comparative financial 
benefit to coverage under the general permit even with produced water 
requirements from coverage under an individual permit.

VI. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Section 201 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA), Public Law 
104-4, generally requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of 
their ``regulatory actions'' on State, local, and tribal governments 
and the private sector. UMRA uses the term ``regulatory actions'' to 
refer to regulations. (See, e.g., UMRA section 201, ``Each agency shall 
* * * assess the effects of Federal regulatory actions * * * (other 
than to the extent that such regulations incorporate requirements 
specifically set forth in law)'' (emphasis added)). UMRA section 102 
defines ``regulation'' by reference to section 658 of Title 2 of the 
U.S. Code, which in turn defines ``regulation'' and ``rule'' by 
reference to section 601(2) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). 
That section of the RFA defines ``rule'' as ``any rule for which the 
agency publishes a notice of proposed rulemaking pursuant to section 
553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA, or any other law * * 
*''
    NPDES general permits are not ``rules'' under the APA and thus not 
subject to the APA requirement to publish a notice of proposed 
rulemaking. NPDES general permits also are not subject to such a 
requirement under the CWA. While EPA publishes a notice to solicit 
public comments on draft general permits, it does so pursuant to the 
CWA section 402(a) requirement to provide an ``opportunity for a 
hearing.'' Thus, NPDES general permits are not ``rules'' for RFA or 
UMRA purposes.
    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, Public Law 
104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the 
effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and Tribal 
governments and the private sector. Under UMRA section 202, EPA 
generally must prepare a written statement, including a cost-benefit 
analysis, for proposed and final rules with ``Federal mandates'' that 
may result in expenditures to State, local, and Tribal governments, in 
the aggregate, or to the private sector, of $100 million or more in any 
one year. Before promulgating an EPA rule for which a written statement 
is needed, UMRA section 205 generally requires EPA to identify and 
consider a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives and adopt the 
least costly, most cost-effective or least burdensome alternative that 
achieves the objectives of the rule. The provisions of UMRA section 205 
do not apply when they are inconsistent with applicable law. Moreover, 
UMRA section 205 allows EPA to adopt an alternative other than the 
least costly, most cost-effective or least burdensome alternative if 
the Administrator publishes an explanation with the final rule why the 
alternative was not adopted.
    EPA has determined that the proposed permit modification would not 
contain a Federal requirement that may result in expenditures of $100 
million or more for State, local and tribal governments, in the 
aggregate, or the private sector in any one year.
    The Agency also believes that the permit would not significantly 
nor uniquely affect small governments. For UMRA purposes, ``small 
governments'' is defined by reference to the definition of ``small 
government jurisdiction'' under the RFA. (See UMRA section 102(1), 
referencing 2 U.S.C. 658, which references section 601(5) of the RFA.) 
``Small governmental jurisdiction'' means government of cities, 
counties, towns, etc. with a population of less than 50,000, unless the 
agency establishes an alternative definition.
    The permit modification, as proposed, also would not uniquely 
affect small governments because compliance with the proposed permit 
conditions affects small governments in the same manner as any other 
entities seeking coverage under the permit. Additionally, EPA does not 
expect small government to operate facilities authorized to discharge 
by this permit.

VII. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information collection required by these permits has been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., in 
submission made for the NPDES permit program and assigned OMB control 
numbers 2040-0086 (NPDES permit application) and 2040-0004 (discharge 
monitoring reports).
    EPA did not prepare an Information Collection Request (ICR) 
document for today's permit modification because the information 
collection requirements in this permit have already been approved by 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in submissions made for the 
NPDES permit program under the provisions of the CWA.

VIII. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), as Amended by the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), 5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.

    Today's proposed general permit is not subject to the RFA, which 
generally requires an agency to prepare a regulatory flexibility 
analysis for any rule that will have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. The RFA only applies to rules 
subject to notice and comment rulemaking requirements under the 
Administrative Procedures Act (APA) or any other statute. As previously 
stated, the permit modification proposed today is not a ``rule'' 
subject to the RFA. Although this proposed general permit is not 
subject to the RFA, EPA nonetheless has assessed the potential of this 
rule to adversely impact small entities subject to this general permit 
and, in light of the facts presented above, I hereby certify pursuant 
to the provisions of the RFA that these proposed general permit 
modifications will not have a significant impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. This determination is based on the fact that 
the vast majority of the parties regulated by this permit have greater 
than 500 employees and are not classified as small businesses under the 
Small Business Administration regulations established at 49 FR 5024 et 
seq. (February 9, 1984). For those operators having fewer than 500 
employees, this permit issuance will not have significant economic 
impact. These facilities are classified as Major Group 13--Oil and Gas 
Extraction SIC Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas.

    Authority: Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.

    Dated: June 30, 2000.
John H. Hankinson, Jr.,
Regional Administrator, Region 4.

[[Page 48510]]

Draft Modification of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
System (NPDES) General Permit for the Eastern Portion of the Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) of the Gulf of Mexico (GMG280000)

Draft Modification of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 
(NPDES) General Permit for the Eastern Portion of the Outer Continental 
Shelf (OCS) of the Gulf of Mexico (GMG280000)
    For reasons set forth in the preamble, the NPDES General Permit for 
the Eastern Portion of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) of the Gulf of 
Mexico (GMG280000) is proposed to be modified as described below. EPA 
is proposing to delete the existing appendix A from the general permit 
along with several other additional modifications and clarifications. 
These proposed modifications and additional requirements will become 
effective on the date of Federal Register publication of the 
modifications.

General Permit Number [Modification]

    (1) As of the effective date of the Federal Register publication of 
these modifications, the general permit number, originally identified 
as GMG280000, will be modified to read as GMG28AXXX, where the 6th 
significant figure will carry an alphabetic designation. The new 
numbering convention will be, e.g., GMG28A001-A999, GMG28B001-B999, 
GMG28C001-C999, etc.

Part I. Requirements for NPDES Permits

    (2) On page 55747, paragraph (4) is modified to add additional 
information requirements and corrected to update the technical 
references, as follows:
Section A. Permit Applicability and Coverage Conditions
4. Notification Requirements (Existing Sources and New Sources) 
[Modified and Corrected]
    Written notification of intent (NOI) to be covered in accordance 
with the general permit requirements shall state whether the permittee 
is requesting coverage under the existing source general permit or new 
source general permit, and shall contain the following information:
    (1) The legal name and address of the owner or operator;
    (2) The facility name and location, including the lease block 
assigned by the Department of the Interior, or if none, the name 
commonly assigned to the lease area;
    (3) The number and type of facilities and activity proposed within 
the lease block;
    (4) The waters into which the facility is or will be discharging; 
including a map with longitude and latitude of current or proposed 
outfall locations and expected discharges identified by the 
nomenclature used in part I., section B.1-10. Additional information 
may be requested by the Director regarding miscellaneous discharges.
* * * * *
    (10) Technical information on the characteristics of the sea bottom 
in accordance with MMS Notice To Lessees 98-20, Shallow Hazard 
Requirements, or the most current MMS guidelines for shallow hazard 
investigation and analysis.
    (11) MMS live bottom survey in accordance with MMS Notice To 
Lessees 99-G16 Live-Bottom Surveys and Reports, or the most current MMS 
guidelines for live-bottom surveys and reports, for facilities in less 
than 100 meters water depth in the Central Planning Area. (Exception: 
Current active discharging facilities on the effective date of the new 
general permit will be exempt from photo-documentation surveys for the 
life of that discharge: (Refer to Comment No. 69 for clarification)
* * * * *
    (3) On page 55747, paragraph 4, is corrected to clarify NOI 
notification requirements for a newly acquired lease as follows:
    For operating leases, the NOI shall be submitted within sixty (60) 
days after publication of the final determination on this action. Non-
operational facilities are not eligible for coverage under these new 
general permits. No NOI will be accepted from either a non-operational 
or newly acquired lease until such time as an exploration plan or 
development production plan has been prepared.
* * * * *
    (4) On page 55747, paragraph 4, is modified regarding NTD notice 
requirements and clarified to update the Agency address for submission 
of notices under the general permit follows:
    For drilling activity, the operator shall submit a Notice to Drill 
(NTD) sixty (60) days, or lesser notice as approved by the Director, 
prior to the actual move-on date. This NTD shall contain: (1) The 
assigned NPDES general permit number assigned to the facility, (2) the 
latitude and longitude of the proposed discharge point, (3) the water 
depth, and (4) the estimated length of time the drilling operation will 
last. This NTD shall be submitted to Region 4 at the address above, by 
certified mail to: Director, Water Management Division, NPDES and 
Biosolids Permit Section, U.S. EPA, Region 4, Atlanta Federal Center, 
61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303-8960.
* * * * *
    All NOIs, NTDs, NCOs, and any subsequent reports required under 
this permit shall be sent by certified mail to the following address: 
Director, Water Management Division, NPDES and Biosolids Permits 
Section, U.S. EPA, Region 4, Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street, 
S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303-8960.
* * * * *
    (5) On page 55747, paragraph 4, is modified to remove the reference 
to appendix A and corrected to remove two typographical errors as 
follows:
    In addition, a notice of commencement of operations (NCO) is 
required to be submitted for each of the following activities: placing 
a production platform in the general permit coverage area (within 30 
days after placement); and discharging produced water within the 
coverage area.
* * * * *
6. Intent To Be Covered by a Subsequent Permit [Corrected]
    (6) On page 55747, paragraph 6, is clarified to update the Agency 
address for submission of notices under the general permit follows:
    This permit shall expire on October 31, 2003. However, an expired 
general permit continues in force and effect until a new general permit 
is issued. Lease block operators authorized to discharge by this permit 
shall by certified mail notify the Director, Water Management Division, 
NPDES and Biosolids Permit Section, U.S. EPA, Region 4, Atlanta Federal 
Center, 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303-8960, on or before 
April 30, 2003, that they intend to be covered by a permit that will 
authorize discharge from these facilities after the termination date of 
this permit on October 31, 2003.
    Permittees must submit a new NOI in accordance with the 
requirements of this permit to remain covered under the continued 
general permit after the expiration of this permit. Therefore, 
facilities that have not submitted an NOI under the permit by the 
expiration date cannot become authorized to discharge under any 
continuation of this NPDES general permit. All NOI's from permittees 
requesting coverage under a

[[Page 48511]]

continued permit should be sent by certified mail to: Director, Water 
Management Division, NPDES and Biosolids Permits Section, U.S. EPA, 
Region 4, Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Atlanta, GA 
30303-8960.
* * * * *
7. Section 403(c) Reopener [New]
    (7) On page 55747, a new paragraph 7, is added to address the 
mandatory Section 403(c) reopener clause, as follows:
7. Section 403(c) Reopener
    In addition to any other grounds specified herein, this permit may 
be modified or revoked at any time if, on the basis of any new data or 
requirements, EPA determines that continued or increased discharges may 
cause unreasonable degradation of the marine environment or if EPA 
determines that additional conditions are necessary to protect the 
marine environment or special aquatic sites. Also, coverage under this 
permit may be denied or revoked and an individual NPDES permit 
application required such that any concerns, as stated, may be included 
in an individual NPDES permit.
* * * * *

Part I. Requirements for NPDES Permits

    (8) On page 55749, Section B, paragraph (3) is modified to remove 
the reference to Appendix A, correct the arithmetic formula regarding 
limiting permissible concentrations, correct the reporting requirement 
for oil and grease limitation, and referencing the new produced water 
critical dilution tables, as follows:
Section B. Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements
3. Produced Water [Modified]
    (b) Limitations. Oil and Grease. Produced water discharges must 
meet both a daily maximum limitation of 42 mg/l and a monthly average 
limitation of 29 mg/l for oil and grease. A grab sample must be taken 
at least once per month. The daily maximum samples may be based on the 
average concentration of four grab samples taken within the 24-hour 
period. If only one sample is taken for any one month, it must meet 
both the daily and monthly limits. If more samples are taken, they may 
exceed the monthly average for any one day, provided that the average 
of all samples taken meets the monthly limitation. The gravimetric 
method is specified at 40 CFR part 136. The highest daily maximum oil 
and grease concentration and the monthly average concentration shall be 
reported on the monthly DMR.
    Toxicity. Produced water discharges must meet a toxicity limitation 
projected to be the limiting permissible concentration (0.1  x  LC50) 
at the edge of a 100-meter mixing zone. The toxicity limitation will be 
determined by the using the produced water critical dilutions in Tables 
4- or 4-A.
* * * * *
    (9) On page 55749, paragraph (7) is modified to further define the 
exemption for sanitary waste discharges, as follows:
7. Sanitary Waste (Facilities Continuously Manned by 10 or More 
Persons)
    (b) Limitations. Residual Chlorine. Total residual chlorine is a 
surrogate parameter for fecal coliform. Discharges of sanitary waste 
must contain a minimum of 1 mg residual chlorine/l and shall be 
maintained as close to this concentration as possible. The approved 
analytical method is Hach CN-66-DPD. A grab sample must be taken once 
per month and the concentration reported.
    (Exception) Any facility which properly operates and maintains a 
marine sanitation device (MSD) that complies with pollution control 
standards and regulations under section 312 of the Act shall be deemed 
in compliance with permit limitations for sanitary waste. The MSD shall 
be tested annually for proper operation and the test results maintained 
at the facility. The operator shall indicate use of an MSD on the 
monthly DMR.
* * * * *
    (10) On page 55750, paragraph (8) is modified to further define the 
exemption for sanitary waste discharges, as follows:
8. Sanitary Waste (Facilities Continuously Manned by 9 or Fewer Persons 
or Intermittently by Any Number)
    (a) Prohibitions. Solids. No floating solids may be discharged to 
the receiving waters. An observation must be made once per day when the 
facility is manned, during daylight in the vicinity of sanitary waste 
outfalls, following either the morning or midday meal and at a time 
during maximum estimated discharge. The number of days solids are 
observed shall be recorded.
    (Exception) Any facility which properly operates and maintains a 
marine sanitation device (MSD) that complies with pollution control 
standards and regulations under section 312 of the Act shall be deemed 
in compliance with permit limitations for sanitary waste. The MSD shall 
be tested annually for proper operation and the test results maintained 
at the facility. The operator shall indicate use of an MSD on the 
monthly DMR.
* * * * *
    (11) On page 55750, paragraph (10) is modified to include 
additional defined ``miscellaneous discharges.'' as follows:
    10. Miscellaneous Discharges. Desalination Unit Discharge; Blowout 
Preventer Fluid; Uncontaminated Ballast Water; Uncontaminated Bilge 
Water; Mud, Cuttings, and Cement at the Seafloor; Uncontaminated 
Seawater; Boiler Blowdown; Source Water and Sand; Uncontaminated 
Freshwater; Excess Cement Slurry; Diatomaceous Earth Filter Media; 
chemically treated freshwater and seawater used for the hydrostatic 
testing of new piping and pipelines; and waters resulting from 
condensation.
* * * * *
    (12) On page 55750, paragraph (10) is modified to include 
additional effluent limitations and monitoring requirements for 
chemically treated freshwater and seawater used for the hydrostatic 
testing of new piping and pipelines, as follows:
    The discharge of miscellaneous discharges shall be limited and 
monitored by the permittee as specified in tables 2 and 3 and as below.
    (a) Free Oil. No free oil shall be discharged. Monitoring shall be 
performed using the visual sheen test method once per day when 
discharging on the surface of the receiving water or by use of the 
static sheen method at the operator's option. Both tests shall be 
conducted in accordance with the methods presented at IV.A.3 and 
IV.A.4. Discharge is limited to those times that a visual sheen 
observation is possible. The number of days a sheen is observed must be 
recorded.
    (Exception): Miscellaneous discharges may be discharged from 
platforms that are on automatic purge systems without monitoring for 
free oil when the facility is not manned. Discharge is not restricted 
to periods when observation is possible; however, the static 
(laboratory) sheen test method must be used during periods when 
observation of a sheen is not possible, such as at night or during 
inclement conditions. Static sheen testing is not required for 
miscellaneous discharges occurring at the sea floor.
    (b) Treatment Chemicals. The concentration of treatment chemicals 
in discharged chemically treated freshwater and seawater shall not

[[Page 48512]]

exceed the most stringent of the following three constraints:
    (1) The maximum concentrations and any other conditions specified 
in the EPA product registration labeling if the chemical is an EPA 
registered product, or
    (2) The maximum manufacturer's recommended concentration, or
    (3) 500 mg/l.
    (c) Toxicity. The toxicity of discharged chemically treated 
freshwater and seawater shall be limited as follows: the 48-hour 
minimum and monthly average minimum No Observable Effect Concentration 
(NOEC), or if specified the 7-day average minimum and monthly average 
minimum NOEC, must be equal to or greater than the critical dilution 
concentration specified in this permit in Table 5-A for seawater 
discharges and 5-B for freshwater discharges. Critical dilution shall 
be determined using Table 5 of this permit and is based on the 
discharge rate, discharge pipe diameter, and water depth between the 
discharge pipe and the bottom. The monthly average minimum NOEC value 
is defined as the arithmetic average of all 48-hour average NOEC (or 7-
day average minimum NOEC) values determined during the month.
    (d) Monitoring Requirements for discharged chemically treated 
freshwater and seawater:
    Flow. Once per month, an estimate of the flow (MGD) must be 
recorded.
    Toxicity. The required frequency of testing for continuous 
discharges shall be determined as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Discharge rate                 Toxicity testing frequency
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0-499 bbl/day..........................  Once per year.
500-4,599 bbl/day......................  Once per quarter.
4,600 bbl/day and above................  Once per month.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Intermittent or batch discharges shall be monitored once per 
discharge but are required to be monitored no more frequently than the 
corresponding frequencies shown above for continuous discharges.
    Samples shall be collected after addition of any added substances, 
including seawater that is added prior to discharge, and before the 
flow is split for multiple discharge ports. Samples also shall be 
representative of the discharge. Methods to increase dilution also 
apply to seawater and freshwater discharges which have been chemically 
treated.
    If the permittee has been compliant with this toxicity limit for 
one full year (12 consecutive months) for a continuous discharge of 
chemically treated seawater or freshwater, the required testing 
frequency shall be reduced to once per year for that discharge.
* * * * *

Part III. Monitoring Reports and Permit Modification

    (13) On page 55754, Section A is corrected to recognize that 
monitoring reports are to be submitted by the facility operator, as 
follows:
Section A. Monitoring Reports
    The operator of each facility shall be responsible for submitting 
monitoring results for each facility within each lease block.
* * * * *

Appendix A [Modification]

    (14) On page 55761, EPA is proposing to delete appendix A and 
replace it with two new Tables--Critical Dilution Tables 4 and 4-A, 
as follows.

     Table 4.--Produced Water Critical Dilutions (Percent Effluent) for Water Depths of Less Than 200 Meters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Pipe diameter
                    Discharge rate  (bbl/day)                    -----------------------------------------------
                                                                     >0" to 5"       >5" to 7"       >7" to 9"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>0 to 500.......................................................            0.11            0.11            0.11
501 to 1000.....................................................            0.22            0.22            0.22
1001 to 2000....................................................            0.37            0.37            0.37
2001 to 3000....................................................            0.48            0.48            0.48
3001 to 4000....................................................            0.56            0.56            0.56
4001 to 5000....................................................            0.65            0.66            0.66
5001 to 6000....................................................            0.73            0.78            0.78
6001 to 7000....................................................            0.77            0.78            0.78
001 to 8000.....................................................            0.84            0.86            0.86
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  Table 4-A.--Produced Water Critical Dilutions (Percent Effluent) for Water Depths of Greater Than 200 Meters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Pipe diameter
                    Discharge rate  (bbl/day)                    -----------------------------------------------
                                                                     >0" to 5"       >5" to 7"       >7" to 9"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>0 to 500.......................................................            0.08            0.08            0.08
501 to 1000.....................................................            0.12            0.12            0.12
1001 to 2000....................................................            0.18            0.18            0.18
2001 to 3000....................................................            0.22            0.22            0.22
3001 to 4000....................................................            0.24            0.25            0.25
4001 to 5000....................................................            0.28            0.28            0.28
5001 to 6000....................................................            0.30            0.30            0.31
6001 to 7000....................................................            0.32            0.32            0.32
7001 to 8000....................................................            0.35            0.35            0.35
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (15) On pages 55757-55758, on Table 2 ``Existing Sources-
Effluent Limitations, Prohibitions, and Monitoring Requirements for 
the Eastern Gulf of Mexico NPDES General Permit'' and Table 3 ``New 
Sources-Effluent Limitations, Prohibitions, and Monitoring 
Requirements for the Eastern Gulf of Mexico NPDES General Permit'' a 
correction is made to the Sanitary Flow

[[Page 48513]]

Measurement reporting requirements to add a ``Recorded/Reported 
Value'' for ``Estimated Flow'', as follows:

              Table 2.--Effluent Limitations, Prohibitions, and Monitoring Requirements for the Eastern Gulf of Mexico NPDES General Permit
                                                                   [Existing sources]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            Monitoring requirement
                                          Regulated and       Discharge limitation/ --------------------------------------------------------------------
             Discharge                 monitored discharge         prohibition            Measurement                                Recorded/reported
                                            parameter                                      frequency          Sample type/method           value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Drilling Fluids..................  Oil-based Drilling      No discharge..........
                                      Fluids.
                                     Oil-contaminated        No discharge..........
                                      Drilling Fluids.
                                     Drilling Fluids to      No discharge..........
                                      Which Diesel Oil has
                                      been Added.
                                     Mercury and Cadmium in  No discharge of         Once per new source    Flame and flameless    mg Hg and mg Cd/kg in
                                      Barite.                 drilling fluids if      of barite used.        AAS.                   stock barite.
                                                              added barite contains
                                                              Hg in excess of 1.0
                                                              mg/kg or Cd in excess
                                                              of 3.0 mg/kg (dry wt).
                                     Toxicity \a\..........  30,000 ppm daily        Once/month...........  Grab/96-hr LC50 using  Minimum LC50 of tests
                                                              minimum.               Once/end of well \b\.   Mysidopsis bahia;      performed and
                                                                                                             Method at 58 FR        monthly average
                                                                                                             12507.                 LC50.
                                                             30,000 ppm monthly      Once/month...........
                                                              average minimum.
                                     Free Oil..............  No free oil...........  Once/day prior to      Static sheen; Method   Number of days sheen
                                                                                      discharge.             at 58 FR 12506.        observed.
                                     Maximum Discharge Rate  1,000 barrels/hr......  Once/hour............  Estimate.............  Max. hourly rate in
                                                                                                                                    bbl/hr.
                                     Mineral Oil...........  Mineral oil may be
                                                              used only as a
                                                              carrier fluid,
                                                              lubricity additive,
                                                              or pill.
                                     Drilling Fluids         Record................  Once/well............  Inventory............  Chemical
                                      Inventory.                                                                                    constituents.
                                     Volume................  Report................  Once/month...........  Estimate.............  Monthly total in bbl/
                                                                                                                                    month.
                                     Within 1000 Meters of   No discharge..........
                                      an Areas of
                                      Biological Concern
                                      (ABC).
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drill Cuttings.....................   Note: Drill cuttings are subject to the same limitations/prohibitions as drilling fluids except Maximum Discharge
                                                                                             Rate.
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Free Oil..............  No free oil...........  Once/day prior to      Static sheen; Method   Number of days sheen
                                                                                      discharge.             at 58 FR 12506.        observed.
                                     Volume................  Report................  Once/month...........  Estimate.............  Monthly total in bbl/
                                                                                                                                    month.
Produced Water.....................  Oil and Grease........  42 mg/l daily maximum   Once/month \c\.......  Grab/Gravimetric.....  Daily max. and
                                                              and 29 mg/l monthly                                                   monthly avg.
                                                              average.
                                     Toxicity..............  Acute toxicity (LC50);  Once/2 months........  Grab/96-hour LC50      Minimum LC50 for both
                                                              critical dilution as                           using Mysidopsis       species and full
                                                              specified by the                               bahia and inland       laboratory report.
                                                              requirements at Part                           silverside minnow
                                                              I.B.3(b) and Appendix                          (Method in EPA/600/4-
                                                              A of this permit.                              90/027F).
                                     Flow (bbl/month)......  ......................  Once/month...........  Estimate.............  Monthly rate.
                                     Within 1000 meters of   No discharge..........
                                      an Area of Biological
                                      Concern (ABC).
Deck Drainage......................  Free Oil..............  No free oil...........  Once/day when          Visual sheen.........  Number of days sheen
                                                                                      discharging \d\.                              observed.
                                     Volume (bbl/month)....  ......................  Once/month...........  Estimate.............  Monthly total.
Produced Sand......................  No Discharge..........
Well Treatment, Completion, and      Free Oil..............  No free oil...........  Once/day when          Static sheen.........  Number of days sheen
 Workover Fluids (includes packer                                                     discharging.                                  observed.
 fluids) \e\.

[[Page 48514]]

 
                                     Oil and Grease........  42 mg/l daily maximum   Once/month...........  Grab/Gravimetric.....  Daily max. and
                                                              and 29 mg/l monthly                                                   monthly avg.
                                                              average.
                                     Priority Pollutants...  No priority pollutants  .....................  Monitor added
                                                                                                             materials.
                                     Volume (bbl/month)....  ......................  Once/month...........  Estimate.............  Monthly total.
Sanitary Waste (Continuously manned  Solids................  No floating solids....  Once/day, in daylight  Observation..........  Number of days solids
 by 10 or more persons) \f\.                                                                                                        observed.
                                     Residual Chlorine.....  At least (but as close  Once/month...........  Grab/Hach CN-66-DPD..  Concentration.
                                                              to) 1 mg/l.
                                     Flow (MGD)............  ......................  Once/month...........  Estimate.............  Monthly ave.
Sanitary Waste (Continuously manned  Solids................  No floating solids....  Once/day, in daylight  Observation..........  Number of days solids
 by 9 or fewer persons or                                                                                                           observed.
 intermittently by any) \f\.
Domestic Waste.....................  Solids................  No floating solids; no  Once/day following     Observation..........  Number of days solids
                                                              food waste within 12    morning or midday                             observed.
                                                              miles of land;          meal at time of
                                                              comminuted food waste   maximum expected
                                                              smaller than 25-mm      discharge.
                                                              beyond 12 miles.
Miscellaneous Discharges--           Free Oil..............  No free oil...........  Once/day when          Visual sheen.........  Number of days sheen
 Desalination Unit; Blowout                                                           discharging.                                  observed.
 Preventer Fluid; Uncontaminated
 Ballast/Bilge Water; Mud,
 Cuttings, and Cement at the
 Seafloor; Uncontaminated Seawater;
 Boiler Blowdown; Source Water and
 Sand; Uncontaminated Fresh Water;
 Excess Cement Slurry; Diatomaceous
 Earth; Filter Media; Condensation
 water.
Miscellaneous discharges of          Treatment Chemicals...  Most Stringent of: EPA
 seawater and freshwater to which                             label registration,
 treatment chemicals have been                                maximum
 added.                                                       manufacturer's
                                                              recommended dose, or
                                                              500 mg/l.
                                     Free Oil..............  No Free Oil...........  1/week...............  Visual Sheen.........  Number of days sheen
                                                                                                                                    observed.
                                     Toxicity..............  48-hour ave. minimum    Rate Dependent.......  Grab.................  Lowest NOEC observed
                                                              NOEC and monthly ave.                                                 for either of the
                                                              minimum NOEC.                                                         two species.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Toxicity test to be conducted using suspended particulate phase (SPP) of a 9:1 seawater:mud dilution. The sample shall be taken beneath the shale
  shaker, or if there are no returns across the shaker, the sample must be taken from a location that is characteristic of the overall mud system to be
  discharged.
\b\ Sample shall be taken after the final log run is completed and prior to bulk discharge.
\c\ The daily maximum concentration may be based on the average of up to four grab sample results in the 24 hour period.
\d\ When discharging and facility is manned. Monitoring shall be accomplished during times when observation of a visual sheen on the surface of the
  receiving water is possible in the vicinity of the discharge.
\e\ No discharge of priority pollutants except in trace amounts. Information on the specific chemical composition shall be recorded but not reported
  unless requested by EPA.

[[Page 48515]]

 
\f\ Any facility that properly operates and maintains a marine sanitation device (MSD) that complies with pollution control standards and regulations
  under Section 312 of the Act shall be deemed to be in compliance with permit limitations for sanitary waste. The MSD shall be tested yearly for proper
  operation and test results maintained at the facility.


              Table 3.--Effluent Limitations, Prohibitions, and Monitoring Requirements for the Eastern Gulf of Mexico NPDES General Permit
                                                                      [New sources]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            Monitoring requirement
                                          Regulated and       Discharge limitation/ --------------------------------------------------------------------
             Discharge                 monitored discharge         prohibition            Measurement                                Recorded/reported
                                            parameter                                      frequency          Sample type/method           value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drilling Fluids....................  Oil-based Drilling      No discharge..........
                                      Fluids.
                                     Oil-contaminated        No discharge..........
                                      Drilling Fluids.
                                     Drilling Fluids to      No discharge..........
                                      Which Diesel Oil has
                                      been Added.
                                     Mercury and Cadmium in  No discharge of         Once per new source    Flame and flameless    mg Hg and mg Cd/kg in
                                      Barite.                 drilling fluids if      of barite used.        AAS.                   stock barite.
                                                              added barite contains
                                                              Hg in excess of 1.0
                                                              mg/kg or Cd in excess
                                                              of 3.0 mg/kg (dry wt).
                                     Toxicity\a\...........  30,000 ppm daily        Once/month...........  Grab/96-hr LC50 using  Minimum LC50 of tests
                                                              minimum.               Once/end of well\b\..   Mysidopsis bahia;      performed and
                                                                                                             Method at 58 FR        monthly average
                                                                                                             12507.                 LC50.
                                                             30,000 ppm monthly      Once/month...........
                                                              average minimum.
                                     Free Oil..............  No free oil...........  Once/day prior to      Static sheen; Method   Number of days sheen
                                                                                      discharge.             at 58 FR 12506.        observed.
                                     Maximum Discharge Rate  1,000 barrels/hr......  Once/hour............  Estimate.............  Max. hourly rate in
                                                                                                                                    bbl/hr.
                                     Mineral Oil...........  Mineral oil may be
                                                              used only as a
                                                              carrier fluid,
                                                              lubricity additive,
                                                              or pill..
                                      Drilling Fluids        Record................  Once/well............  Inventory............  Chemical
                                      Inventory.                                                                                    constituents.
                                     Volume................  Report................  Once/month...........  Estimate.............  Monthly total in bbl/
                                                                                                                                    month.
                                     Within 1000 Meters of   No discharge..........
                                      an Areas of
                                      Biological Concern
                                      (ABC).
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drill Cuttings.....................      (4) Note: Drill cuttings are subject to the same limitations/prohibitions as drilling fluids except Maximum
                                                                                        Discharge Rate.
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Free Oil..............  No free oil...........  Once/day prior to      Static sheen; Method   Number of days sheen
                                                                                      discharge.             at 58 FR 12506.        observed.
                                     Volume................  Report................  Once/month...........  Estimate.............  Monthly total in bbl/
                                                                                                                                    month.
Produced Water.....................  Oil and Grease........  42 mg/l daily maximum   Once/month\c\........  Grab/Gravimetric.....  Daily max. and
                                                              and 29 mg/l monthly                                                   monthly avg.
                                                              average.
                                     Toxicity..............  Acute toxicity (LC50);  Once/2 months........  Grab/96-hour LC50      Minimum LC50 for both
                                                              critical dilution as                           using Mysidopsis       species and full
                                                              specified by the                               bahia and inland       laboratory report.
                                                              requirements at Part                           silverside minnow
                                                              I.B.3(b) and Appendix                          (Method in EPA/600/4-
                                                              A of this permit.                              90/027F).
                                     Flow (bbl/month)......  ......................  Once/month...........  Estimate.............  Monthly rate.
                                     Within 1000 meters of   No discharge..........
                                      an Area of Biological
                                      Concern (ABC).
Deck Drainage......................  Free Oil..............  No free oil...........  Once/day when          Visual sheen.........  Number of days sheen
                                                                                      discharging\d\.                               observed.
                                     Volume (bbl/month)....  ......................  Once/month...........  Estimate.............  Monthly total.
Produced Sand......................  No Discharge..........
Well Treatment, Completion, and      Free Oil..............  No free oil...........  Once/day when          Static sheen.........  Number of days sheen
 Workover Fluids (includes packer                                                     discharging.                                  observed.
 fluids)\e\.

[[Page 48516]]

 
 
                                     Oil and Grease........  42 mg/l daily maximum   Once/month...........  Grab/Gravimetric.....  Daily max. and
                                                              and 29 mg/l monthly                                                   monthly avg.
                                                              average.
                                     Priority Pollutants...  No priority pollutants  .....................  Monitor added
                                                                                                             materials.
                                     Volume (bbl/month)....  ......................  Once/month...........  Estimate.............  Monthly total.
Sanitary Waste (Continuously manned  Solids................  No floating solids....  Once/day, in daylight  Observation..........  Number of days solids
 by 10 or more persons)\f\.                                                                                                         observed.
                                     Residual Chlorine.....  At least (but as close  Once/month...........  Grab/Hach CN-66-DPD..  Concentration.
                                                              to) 1 mg/l.
                                     Flow (MGD)............  ......................  Once/month...........  Estimate.............  Monthly ave.
Sanitary Waste (Continuously manned  Solids................  No floating solids....  Once/day, in daylight  Observation..........  Number of days solids
 by 9 or fewer persons or                                                                                                           observed.
 intermittently by any)\f\.
Domestic Waste.....................  Solids................  No floating solids; no  Once/day following     Observation..........  Number of days solids
                                                              food waste within 12    morning or midday                             observed.
                                                              miles of land;          meal at time of
                                                              comminuted food waste   maximum expected
                                                              smaller than 25-mm      discharge.
                                                              beyond 12 miles.
Miscellaneous Discharges--           Free Oil..............  No free oil...........  Once/day when          Visual sheen.........  Number of days sheen
 Desalination Unit; Blowout                                                           discharging.                                  observed.
 Preventer Fluid; Uncontaminated
 Ballast/Bilge Water; Mud,
 Cuttings, and Cement at the
 Seafloor; Uncontaminated Seawater;
 Boiler Blowdown; Source Water and
 Sand; Uncontaminated Freshwater;
 Excess Cement Slurry; Diatomaceous
 Earth Filter Media; Condensation
 water.
Miscellaneous discharges of          Treatment Chemicals...  Most Stringent of: EPA
 seawater and freshwater to which                             label registration,
 treatment chemicals have been                                maximum
 added..                                                      manufacturer's
                                                              recommended dose, or
                                                              500 mg/l.
                                     Free Oil..............  No Free Oil...........  1/week...............  Visual Sheen.........  Number of days sheen
                                                                                                                                    observed.
                                     Toxicity..............  48-hour ave. minimum    Rate Dependent.......  Grab.................  Lowest NOEC observed
                                                              NOEC and monthly ave.                                                 for either of the
                                                              minimum NOEC..                                                        two species.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Toxicity test to be conducted using suspended particulate phase (SPP) of a 9:1 seawater:mud dilution. The sample shall be taken beneath the shale
  shaker, or if there are no returns across the shaker, the sample must be taken from a location that is characteristic of the overall mud system to be
  discharged.
\b\ Sample shall be taken after the final log run is completed and prior to bulk discharge.
\c\ The daily maximum concentration may be based on the average of up to four grab sample results in the 24 hour period.
\d\ When discharging and facility is manned. Monitoring shall be accomplished during times when observation of a visual sheen on the surface of the
  receiving water is possible in the vicinity of the discharge.
\e\ No discharge of priority pollutants except in trace amounts. Information on the specific chemical composition shall be recorded but not reported
  unless requested by EPA.

[[Page 48517]]

 
f Any facility that properly operates and maintains a marine sanitation device (MSD) that complies with pollution control standards and regulations
  under Section 312 of the Act shall be deemed to be in compliance with permit limitations for sanitary waste. The MSD shall be tested yearly for proper
  operation and test results maintained at the facility.

[FR Doc. 00-19913 Filed 8-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P