[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 2, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63531-63532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24417]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7831-7]


Notice of Availability of Draft NPDES General Permits for 
Discharges From Groundwater Remediation and Miscellaneous Surface Water 
Discharge Activities in the States of Massachusetts and New Hampshire 
and Indian Country Lands in the State of Massachusetts

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft NPDES General Permits MAG910000 
and NHG910000.

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SUMMARY: The Director of the Office of Ecosystem Protection at the 
Environmental Protection Agency's New England Regional Office (EPA-NE), 
is proposing to issue National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 
(NPDES) general permits to cover the discharge of contaminated waters 
primarily related to groundwater remediation activities. The general 
permits also cover a number

[[Page 63532]]

of miscellaneous discharges, including from: Construction projects 
where chemical contamination is present; well development or 
rehabilitation and aquifer pump testing at formerly contaminated sites; 
clean-up of industrial sumps; pump-out of utility vaults and manholes; 
hydrostatic testing of pipelines and tanks; and short-term testing at 
dredging projects not covered by a permit issued by the Army Corps of 
Engineers.
    The proposed permits cover discharges to surface receiving waters 
(waters of the United States) in the State of New Hampshire (NH), the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts (MA), as well as in Indian Country lands 
located in Massachusetts. These general permits do not cover new 
sources as defined under 40 CFR 122.2. The purpose of this document is 
for soliciting public comment on the proposed general permits.

DATES: Interested persons may submit written comments on the draft 
general permits to EPA Region 1 at the address given in the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice. Written comments must be received by EPA or 
postmarked by midnight on December 17, 2004.
    Within the comment period, interested persons may also request in 
writing a public hearing pursuant to 40 CFR 124.12 concerning the draft 
general permits. Such requests shall state the nature of the issues 
proposed to be raised at the hearing. A public hearing may be held at 
least thirty days after public notice whenever the Regional 
Administrator finds that response to this notice indicates significant 
public interest. In reaching a final decision on this draft permit, the 
Regional Administrator will respond to all significant comments and 
make responses available to the public at EPA's Boston office. All 
public comments or requests for a public hearing must be submitted to 
the address below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments submitted in response to this public notice 
may be hand delivered or mailed to: Mr. Roger A. Janson, Director, 
NPDES Permits Unit, Office of Ecosystem Protection (mail code: CPE),US 
EPA-NE, 1 Congress St, Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02114-2023.
    EPA also requests that comments be sent via e-mail to 
[email protected]. However, no facsimiles (faxes) will be accepted.
    A copy of all comments and supporting materials should also be 
submitted to:

In MA: Mr. Paul Hogan, NPDES Permit Unit, MA Dept. of Env. Protection, 
627 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608.
In NH: Mr. George Berlandi, NH Dept. of Env. Services, Wastewater 
Engineering Bureau, P.O. Box 95, Concord, NH 03302-0095.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information concerning the 
final permit may be obtained between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from Steven Rapp, Office of 
Ecosystem Protection, EPA-NE, 1 Congress St., Suite 1100 (mail code: 
CPE), Boston, MA 02114-2023; telephone: 617-918-1551; e-mail: 
[email protected]. The draft permits are based on an administrative 
record. The record is available for public review at the EPA Region 1 
address listed above. Copies of information in the record are available 
upon request. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed general permits include 
administrative requirements, effluent limitations for freshwaters and 
marine waters, monitoring requirements, as well as other standards, 
conditions, prohibitions, and management practices. A Fact Sheet has 
also been prepared for the general permits. The Fact Sheet sets forth 
the principal factual, legal, and policy information considered in the 
development of the draft permits, as well as a description of the types 
of discharges eligible for permit coverage under the general permits.
    The draft general permit and Fact Sheet and suggested forms may be 
viewed and downloaded over the Internet via the EPA-Region 1 Web site. 
For dischargers in Massachusetts, see: http://www.epa.gov/ne/npdes/mass.html. For dischargers in New Hampshire, see: http://www.epa.gov/ne/npdes/newhampshire.html). To obtain a paper copy of the permits and 
Fact Sheet, including suggested notice forms, please contact EPA-NE 
using the contact information provided in the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice.
    When the general permits are issued, the notice of final issuance 
will be published in the Federal Register. The general permits shall be 
effective on the date specified in the notice of final issuance of the 
general permits published in the Federal Register and will expire five 
years from the effective date.

    Dated: October 20, 2004.
Robert W. Varney,
Regional Administrator, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 04-24417 Filed 11-1-04; 8:45 am]
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