[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 170 (Thursday, August 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 53008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22380]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6862-1]


Regulatory Reinvention (XL) Pilot Projects

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Project XL 
Phase I Draft Final Project Agreement.

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SUMMARY: EPA is requesting comments on the Phase I Draft Final Project 
Agreement (FPA) for Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS), Bremerton, 
Washington. The FPA is a voluntary agreement developed collaboratively 
by PSNS, the Washington State Department of Ecology (WDOE), and EPA. 
Project XL, announced in the Federal Register on May 23, 1995 (60 FR 
27872), is intended to provide regulated entities with the opportunity 
to develop alternative strategies that will replace or modify specific 
regulatory or procedural requirements on the condition that the 
alternative strategies produce greater environmental benefits. PSNS is 
participating in EPA's Project XL under the auspices of Environmental 
Investment (ENVVEST). ENVVEST is the Department of Defense's program to 
participate in EPA's Project XL.
    The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard proposes to carry out this project 
in two phases. The first phase is explained in this draft FPA. The 
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard proposes to study the Sinclair Inlet and its 
surrounding watershed to document its current health and the impacting 
sources. Research would be conducted through the use of sound 
ecological science and risk based management and employ techniques 
consistent with the Environmental Protection Agency Ecological Risk 
Assessment Guidelines. Key elements include development of a unified 
ambient monitoring program, comprehensive electronic database, risk 
based pollutant prioritization, and data to support the development of 
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs).
    Regulatory flexibility is not being sought nor granted pursuant to 
this Phase I FPA. Rather, upon completion of the research in Phase, I, 
PSNS and revelant stakeholders may propose pilot projects to support 
obtaining regulatory flexibility in Phase II of the XL/ENVVEST project. 
These proposals would require addenda to the FPA. Draft versions of 
proposed addenda would be announced in future Federal Register notices 
for public comment.
    The terms and conditions pertaining to this XL/ENVVEST pilot 
project are contained in the draft Phase I FPA, upon which EPA is 
requesting comment today. The draft FPA sets forth the intentions of 
EPA, PSNS, and the WDOE with regard to the implementation of the first 
phase of the project and the expected benefits. After review of the 
comments received during the public comment period and revision of the 
FPA, as appropriate, representatives of the EPA, the WDOE, and PSNS 
would sign the FPA.

DATES: The period for submission of public comments ends on September 
14, 2000.

ADDRESSES: All comments on the proposed Final Project Agreement should 
be sent to: Ms. Sherri Walker, US EPA, Ariel Rios Building, Mail Code 
1802, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Comments 
may also be faxed to Sherri Walker at (202) 260-3125. Comments will 
also be received via electronic mail sent to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain a copy of the Draft Final 
Project Agreement, contact: William Glasser, US EPA, Region 10, 1200 
Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101 , or Sherri Walker, US EPA, Mail Code 
1802, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 
20460. The Draft FPA is also available at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard by 
contacting Ms. Diane Manning, PSNS Code 1160, 1400 Farragut Avenue, 
Bremerton, WA 98314-5001; (360) 476-7111 or email: 
[email protected]. The FPA and related documents are also 
available via the Internet at the following location: http://www.epa.gov/ProjectXL. Additional information on Project XL, including 
documents referenced in this notice, other EPA policy documents related 
to Project XL, application information, and descriptions of existing XL 
projects and proposals, is available via the Internet at the website 
address listed above. Questions regarding any of these documents can be 
directed to William Glasser at (206) 553-7215 or Sherri Walker at (202) 
260-4295. If you wish to be included on the PSNS mailing list regarding 
future meetings contact Ms. Diane Manning as listed above.

    Dated: August 25, 2000.
Elizabeth A. Shaw,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy Innovation.
[FR Doc. 00-22380 Filed 8-30-00; 8:45 am]
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