[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 98 (Wednesday, May 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27806-27807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12764]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7501-6]


Proposed Reissuance of a General NPDES Permit for Facilities 
Related to Oil and Gas Extraction on the North Slope of the Brooks 
Range, AK (Permit Number AKG-33-0000 Formerly AKG-31-0000)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of proposed reissuance of a general permit.

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SUMMARY: On April 10, 2002, the general permit regulating activities 
related to the extraction of oil and gas on the North Slope of the 
Brooks Range in the state of Alaska expired. This proposed reissuance 
of a general permit is intended to regulate activities related to the 
extraction of oil and gas on the North Slope of the Brooks Range in the 
state of Alaska. The proposed general permit would cover the same 
discharges as the previous general permit: domestic wastewater 
discharges, gravel pit dewatering, construction dewatering, and 
hydrostatic test water. The proposed reissuance also includes two new 
outfall designations for the discharge of storm water from industrial 
activities and discharges of treated effluent from mobile spill 
response units. When issued, the proposed permit will establish 
effluent limitations, standards, prohibitions and other conditions on 
discharges from covered facilities. These conditions are based on 
existing national effluent guidelines, the state of Alaska's Water 
Quality Standards and material contained in the administrative record. 
A description of the basis for the conditions and requirements of the 
proposed general permit is given in the fact sheet. This is also notice 
of EPA's issuance of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) coverage 
under this GP for the new source facility, BP Exploration (Alaska), 
Inc.'s Badami facility covered by NPDES permit AKG-31-0001 which will 
be reauthorized with the number AKG-33-0001.

DATES: Interested persons may submit comments on the proposed 
reissuance of the general permit to EPA, Region 10 at the address 
below. Comments must be postmarked by July 7, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed general permit reissuance should be 
sent to the attention of the Director, Office of Water, 1200 Sixth 
Avenue OW-130, Seattle, Washington 98101. Comments may also be 
submitted electronically to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the proposed general permit 
and Fact Sheet are available upon request. Requests may be made to 
Audrey Washington at (206) 553-0523 or to Cindi Godsey at (907) 271-
6561. Requests may also be electronically mailed to: 
[email protected] or [email protected].
    The proposed general permit and Fact Sheet may also be found on the 
EPA Region 10 Web site at www.epa.gov/r10earth/water.htm then click on 
NPDES permits under Programs and draft permits under EPA Region 10 
Information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 12866: The Office of 
Management and Budget has exempted this action from the review 
requirements of Executive Order 12866 pursuant to section 6 of that 
order.
    Regulatory Flexibility Act: After review of the facts presented in 
the notice printed above, I hereby certify pursuant to the provision of 
5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposed general NPDES permit will not have a 
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. Moreover, 
the permit reduces a significant administrative burden on regulated 
sources.


[[Page 27807]]


    Dated: May 12, 2003.
Randall F. Smith,
Director, Office of Water, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 03-12764 Filed 5-20-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P