[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 157 (Monday, August 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 49573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20606]



[[Page 49573]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6850-8]


Notice of Approval of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's 
Submission Pursuant to Section 118 of the Clean Water Act and the Water 
Quality Guidance for the Great Lakes System

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of approval of the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania's submission of criteria, methodologies, policies and 
procedures for the Great Lakes System pursuant to Section 118(c) of the 
Clean Water Act.

DATES: EPA's approval is effective on August 14, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Evelyn S. MacKnight, Chief, PA/DE 
Branch (3WP11), Office of Watersheds, Water Protection Division, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3, 1650 Arch Street, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, or telephone her at (215) 814-5717.
    Copies of a letter from EPA to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 
explaining EPA's decision are available upon request by contacting Ms. 
MacKnight. This letter and other related materials submitted by the 
Commonwealth in support of their submission and considered by EPA in 
its decision are available for review by appointment at: EPA, Region 3, 
1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (telephone 215-814-5452. 
To access the docket material, call Larry Merrill at telephone 215-814-
5452 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Eastern time) (Monday-Friday).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 23, 1995, EPA published the Final 
Water Quality Guidance for the Great Lakes System (Guidance) pursuant 
to section 118(c)(2) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1268(c)(2). 
(March 23, 1995, 60 FR 15366). The Guidance, which was codified at 40 
CFR part 132, requires the Great Lakes States to adopt and submit to 
EPA for approval water quality criteria, methodologies, policies and 
procedures that are consistent with the Guidance. 40 CFR part 132.4 & 
132.5. EPA is required to approve of the State's submission within 90 
days or notify the State that EPA has determined that all or part of 
the submission is inconsistent with the Clean Water Act or the Guidance 
and identify any necessary changes to obtain EPA approval. If the State 
fails to make the necessary changes within 90 days, EPA must publish a 
notice in the Federal Register identifying the approved and disapproved 
elements of the submission and a final rule identifying the provisions 
of part 132 that shall apply for discharges within the State.
    EPA received the submission from Pennsylvania and reviewed it for 
consistency with the Guidance in accordance with 40 CFR part 131 and 
132.5. On April 14, 1998, EPA published in the Federal Register a 
notice pursuant to 40 CFR 132.5(e) which solicited comment on the 
substantial National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 
program modification component of Pennsylvania's submission. (63 FR 
18195). On December 18, 1998, in a letter from EPA Region 3 to the 
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, EPA described in 
detail those provisions in Pennsylvania's submission determined to be 
inconsistent with the Guidance and subject to disapproval if not 
remedied by the Commonwealth. On January 14, 1999, EPA published in the 
Federal Register a Notice of Availability of the letter, and invited 
public comment on the findings in the letter. (64 FR 2490). In a letter 
dated March 17, 1999, and in subsequent submittals, Pennsylvania 
addressed all the inconsistencies identified in EPA's December 18, 1998 
letter and EPA has determined that the entirety of the Commonwealth's 
submission is consistent with 40 CFR part 132. Pennsylvania's 
submission consists of standards, methodologies, policies and 
procedures adopted in accordance with the following provisions of the 
Guidance: the definitions in 40 CFR 132.2; the water quality criteria 
for the protection of aquatic life, human health and wildlife in tables 
1-4 of part 132; the methodologies for development of aquatic life 
criteria and values, bioaccumulation factors, human health criteria and 
values and wildlife criteria in Appendices B-D of part 132; the 
antidegradation policy in Appendix E of part 132; and the 
implementation procedures in Appendix F of part 132. EPA approves these 
elements pursuant to 40 CFR 132.5.
    Today's final action only addresses the provisions adopted by 
Pennsylvania to comply with section 118(c)(2) of the Clean Water Act 
and 40 CFR part 132. EPA is taking no action at this time with respect 
to other revisions Pennsylvania may have made to its NPDES program or 
water quality standards in areas not addressed by the Guidance or 
applicable outside of the Great Lakes System.

Thomas C. Voltaggio,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. 00-20606 Filed 8-11-00; 8:45 am]
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