[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 118 (Monday, June 21, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34351-34352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13935]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7774-9]


Final Issuance of General NPDES Permits for Small Publicly Owned 
Treatment Works (POTWs) and Other Small Treatment Works Treating 
Domestic Sewage in Alaska (NPDES Permits Nos. AKG-57-0000, and AKG-57-
1000)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final Notice of issuance of two general NPDES permits.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On September 26, 2003, EPA proposed to issue general National 
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for small POTWs 
and other small treatment works treating domestic sewage in Alaska 
pursuant to the provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA) 33 U.S.C. 1251 
et seq. One general permit is applicable to those facilities 
discharging to marine waters

[[Page 34352]]

(NPDES Permit Number AKG-57-1000) while the second general permit is 
applicable to facilities discharging to fresh waters (AKG-57-0000). 
There was a forty-five day public notice period during which written 
comments on the draft permits were submitted to EPA. During the comment 
period, EPA received fifteen comment letters on the general permits.

DATES: The general permits will be effective July 21, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the general permits and Response to Comments are 
available upon request. Written requests may be submitted to EPA, 
Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue OW-130, Seattle, WA 98101. Electronic 
requests may be mailed to: [email protected] or 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the general permits, Fact 
Sheet and Response to Comments are available upon request. Requests may 
be made to Audrey Washington at (206) 553-0523 or to Michael Lidgard at 
(206) 553-1755. Requests may also be electronically mailed to: 
[email protected] or [email protected]. These documents 
may also be found on the EPA Region 10 Web site at www.epa.gov/r10earth/ then click on Water Quality, Permits (under NPDES) and then 
on recently issued 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. On May 24, 2004, The State of Alaska, Department of 
Environmental Conservation (ADEC), certified that the subject 
discharges comply with the applicable provisions of sections 208(e), 
301, 302, 306 and 307 of the Clean Water Act, and that the general 
permits are in compliance with the Standards of the Alaska Coastal 
Management Program.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., a 
Federal agency must prepare an initial regulatory flexibility analysis 
``for any proposed rule'' for which the agency ``is required by section 
553 of the 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, not rulemakings, under the APA and thus not 
subject to APA rulemaking requirements or the RFA.

    Dated: June 9, 2004.
Robert R. Robichaud,
Associate Director, Office of Water, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 04-13935 Filed 6-18-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P