[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 231 (Monday, December 2, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 71523-71524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30466]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 451

[FRL-7415-6]
RIN 2040-AD55


Extension of Comment Period for Effluent Limitations Guidelines 
and New Source Performance Standards for the Concentrated Aquatic 
Animal Production Point Source Category; Proposed Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: EPA proposed effluent limitations guidelines and standards for 
the Concentrated Aquatic Animals Production (CAAP) Category on 
September 12, 2002. The proposed regulations would apply to discharges 
from certain facilities in the CAAP Category that grow, contain or 
produce aquatic animals above 100,000 pounds. EPA is extending the 
comment period by approximately six weeks. The comment period will now 
close on January 27, 2003. EPA has carefully considered the court-
ordered promulgation date in making the decision to extend the comment 
period for this rulemaking.

DATES: Comments regarding the proposed rule will be accepted on or 
before January 27, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to W-02-01, Ms. Marta E. Jordan, 
Engineering and Analysis Division (4303T), U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. For hand-deliveries or Federal 
Express, please send comments to Ms. Marta E. Jordan, Office of Water, 
Engineering and Analysis Division, Room 6233M, 1301 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., 6th Floor, Connecting Wing, Washington, DC 20460. EPA 
requests an original and three copies of your written comments and 
enclosures (including copies of references). Comments may be sent by 
email to the following e-mail address: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marta E. Jordan, Engineering and 
Analysis Division (4303T), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Telephone (202) 566-1049, 
fax (202) 566-1053 or E-Mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA proposed effluent limitations guidelines 
and standards for the CAAP Category on September 12, 2002, see 67 FR 
57871. The proposed regulation would apply to producers of aquatic 
animals which produce at least 100,000 pounds of animals per year in 
one of three specific production systems. EPA proposed to establish 
requirements for the production of aquatic animals in flow through, 
recirculating, and net pen systems. EPA proposes to establish numeric 
limitations for Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in the wastewater 
discharged from flow through and recirculating systems. EPA also 
proposes to require the development and implementation of Best 
Management Practices (BMPs) to

[[Page 71524]]

control the discharge of pollutants from flow through, recirculating 
and net pens systems. EPA described the bases for these requirements in 
section VIII of the preamble to the proposed regulation (67 FR 57895).
    EPA held three public meetings to provide an overview of the 
proposed rule and opportunities for the regulated community and other 
interested parties to ask questions on issues pertaining to the 
proposed rule.
    EPA received several requests to extend the comment period to allow 
more time to address the issues on which EPA solicited public comment. 
The requests for an extension pointed out that this is a very busy 
season for a large portion of this industry. Many sectors are involved 
in harvest through the fall months. EPA agrees that many producers may 
need more time to develop comments to the proposal. The comment period 
for the proposed rule is extended until January 27, 2003.
    EPA is scheduled to take final action on effluent limitations 
guidelines and new source performance standards for this industry by 
June 2004. EPA is using its best efforts to comply with this deadline 
and expects to meet the schedule even with this extension of the 
comment period.

    Dated: November 25, 2002.
G. Tracy Mehan, III,
Assistant Administrator for Water.
[FR Doc. 02-30466 Filed 11-29-02; 8:45 am]
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