[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 65 (Monday, April 5, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17654-17655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7649]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7643-1]


Proposed Reissuance of General NPDES Permit for Offshore Oil and 
Gas Exploration Facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf and 
Contiguous State Waters (NPDES Permit Number AKG280000)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of proposed reissuance of a general NPDES permit.

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SUMMARY: The Director, Office of Water, EPA Region 10, proposes to 
reissue a general National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 
(NPDES) permit for offshore oil and gas exploration facilities on the 
outer continental shelf and contiguous state waters pursuant to the 
provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA) 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. The 
proposed permit will authorize offshore oil and gas statigraphic test 
and exploration wells and associated discharges in the Federal and 
State of Alaska waters of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. The proposed 
permit establishes effluent limitations, prohibitions, and other 
conditions on discharges from covered facilities. These conditions are 
based on existing national effluent guidelines at 40 CFR part 435, the 
State of Alaska's water quality standards (18 AAC 70), and the State of 
Alaska's wastewater disposal requirements (18 AAC 72). The fact sheet 
describes the basis for the specific limitations, conditions, and 
requirements of the proposed permit.

DATES: Interested persons may submit comments on the proposed 
reissuance of the general permit to EPA, Region 10 at the addresses 
below. Comments must be postmarked by May 20, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed reissuance of the general permit 
must be sent to the attention of the Director, Office of Water, 1200 
Sixth Avenue, M/S 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 Kristine Koch at (206) 553-
6705. Requests may also be electronically mailed to: 
[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.htm, click on Water Quality, then click on NPDES permits under

[[Page 17655]]

Programs, and then click on draft permits under EPA Region 10 
Information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

    The Office of Management and Budget exempted this action from the 
review requirements of Executive Order 12866 pursuant to section 6 of 
that order.

Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    Under the RFA, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., a Federal agency must prepare 
an initial regulatory flexibility analysis ``for any Administrative 
Procedure Act (APA), or any other law, to publish general notice of 
proposed rulemaking.'' The RFA exempts from this requirement any rule 
that the issuing agency certifies ``will not, if promulgated, have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.'' EPA has concluded that NPDES general permits are permits 
under the APA and thus not subject to the APA rulemaking requirements 
or the RFA.

    Dated: March 29, 2004.
Christine Psyk,
Acting Director, Office of Water, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 04-7649 Filed 4-2-04; 8:45 am]
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