[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 229 (Friday, November 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 66826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29691]



[[Page 66826]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7591-9]


Notice of Availability of Draft National Pollution Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Discharges at 
Hydroelectric Generating Facilities in the States of Massachusetts and 
New Hampshire and Indian Lands in the State of Massachusetts

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of Draft NPDES General Permits MAG360000 
and NHG360000.

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SUMMARY: The Director of the Office of Ecosystem Protection, 
Environmental Protection Agency-Region 1, is today providing notice of 
availability of the Draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
System (NPDES) general permit for specific discharges at Hydroelectric 
Generating Facilities to certain waters of the States of Massachusetts 
and New Hampshire and Indian Lands in the State of Massachusetts. This 
draft general permit establishes Notice of Intent (NOI) requirements, 
effluent limitations, standards, prohibitions, and best management 
practices for classes of discharges at hydroelectric generating 
facilities.
    Owners and/or operators of hydroelectric generating facilities with 
discharges, including those facilities currently authorized to 
discharge under individual NPDES permits, will be encouraged to submit 
an NOI to EPA-Region 1 to be covered by the general permit and will 
receive a written notification from EPA of permit coverage and 
authorization to discharge under one of the general permits. The 
eligibility requirements are discussed in detail in the fact sheet and 
in the general permit. This general permit does not cover new sources 
as defined under 40 CFR 122.2.

DATES: Comments must be received or postmarked by midnight on December 
29, 2003. Interested persons may submit comments on the draft general 
permit as part of the administrative record to the EPA-Region 1 at the 
address given below. Within the comment period, interested persons may 
also request in writing a public hearing pursuant to 40 CFR 124.12 
concerning the draft general permit. All public comments or requests 
for a public hearing must be submitted to the address below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be hand delivered or mailed to: EPA-
Region 1, Office of Ecosystem Protection (CPE), 1 Congress Street, 
Suite 1100, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2023 and also sent via e-mail 
to [email protected]. No facsimiles (faxes) will be accepted. The 
draft permit is based on an administrative record available for public 
review at EPA-Region 1, Office of Ecosystem Protection (CPE), 1 
Congress Street, Suite 1100, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2023. Copies 
of information in the record are available upon request. A reasonable 
fee may be charged for copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information concerning the 
draft permit may be obtained between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. 
Monday through Friday excluding holidays from: William Wandle, Office 
of Ecosystem Protection, Environmental Protection Agency, 1 Congress 
Street, Suite 1100 (CPE), Boston, MA 02114--2023, telephone: 617-918-
1605, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft general permit may be viewed over 
the Internet via the EPA-Region 1 web site for dischargers in 
Massachusetts at http://www.epa.gov/ne/npdes/mass.html and for 
dischargers in New Hampshire at http://www.epa.gov/ne/npdes/newhampshire.html. The draft general permit includes the standard 
permit conditions in Part II, the Best Management Practices Plan in 
Part III, and the fact sheet which sets forth principal facts and the 
significant factual, legal, and policy questions considered in the 
development of the draft permit. To obtain a paper copy of the 
documents, please contact William Wandle using the contact information 
provided above. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying requests.
    When the general permit is issued, the notice of final issuance 
will be published in the Federal Register. The general permit shall be 
effective on the date specified in the notice of final issuance of the 
general permit published in the Federal Register and it will expire 
five years from the effective date.

    Dated: November 17, 2003.
Ira W. Leighton,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 03-29691 Filed 11-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P