[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 117 (Monday, June 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35269-35270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9575]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8185-3]


Proposed Reissuance of General NPDES Permits (GPs) for 
Aquaculture Facilities in Idaho Subject to Wasteload Allocations Under 
Selected Total Maximum Daily Loads (Permit Number IDG-13-0000), Cold 
Water Aquaculture Facilities in Idaho (Not Subject to Wasteload 
Allocations) (Permit Number IDG-13-1000), and Fish Processors 
Associated With Aquaculture Facilities in Idaho (Permit Number IDG-13-
2000)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Availability of three draft general NPDES permits.

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SUMMARY: On September 27, 2004, a general permit regulating the 
activities of aquaculture facilities in Idaho and associated on-site 
fish processors expired. The Director, Office of Water and Watersheds, 
EPA Region 10, proposes to reissue three general permits to cover 
facilities covered under

[[Page 35270]]

the previous permit. These general permits also will cover facilities 
currently operating under individual permits, thereby terminating the 
authorization to discharge under the individual permits.

DATES: Comments must be received or postmarked by August 3, 2006. A 
fact sheet has been prepared which sets forth the principal factual, 
legal, policy, and scientific information considered in the development 
of the draft general permits. The general permits and fact sheet may be 
downloaded at http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/WATER.NSF/NPDES+Permits/General+NPDES+Permits#Aquaculture. Copies of the draft general permits 
and fact sheet are available upon request from Audrey Washington at 
206-553-0523 or at [email protected]. In addition, they will be 
available at:

U.S. EPA Region 10, NPDES Permits Unit, 1200 Sixth Avenue, OWW-130. 
Seattle, Washington 98101.
U.S. EPA Region 10, Idaho Operations Office, 1435 North Orchard Street, 
Boise, Idaho 83706. (208) 378-5746.
Idaho DEQ, Twin Falls Regional Office, 1363 Fillmore Avenue, Twin 
Falls, Idaho 83301. 208-736-2190.
Idaho DEQ, Pocatello Regional Office, 444 Hospital Way, Suite 300, 
Pocatello, Idaho 83204. 208-236-6160.
Idaho DEQ, Coeur d'Alene Regional Office, 2110 Ironwood Pkwy, Coeur 
d'Alene, Idaho 83814. 208-769-1422.
Twin Falls Public Library, 201 4th Ave East, Twin Falls, ID 83301. 208-
733-2964.
Buhl Public Library, 215 Broadway North, Buhl, ID 83316. 208-543-6500.
Boise Public Library, 715 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise, ID 83702. 208-384-
4076.

    Public Comment: Interested persons may submit written comments on 
the draft permits to the attention of Sharon Wilson at the address 
below. All comments should include the name, address, and telephone 
number of the commenter and a concise statement of comment and the 
relevant facts upon which it is based. Comments of either support or 
concern which are directed at specific, cited permit requirements are 
appreciated.
    After the expiration date of the Public Notice on August 3, 2006, 
the Director, Office of Water and Watersheds, EPA Region 10, will make 
a final determination with respect to issuance of the general permits. 
The proposed requirements contained in the draft general permits will 
become final upon issuance if no significant comments are received 
during the public comment period.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed General Permits should be sent to 
Sharon Wilson, Office of Water and Watersheds; USEPA Region 10; 1200 
Sixth Avenue, OWW-130; Seattle, Washington 98101 or by e-mail to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Carla Fromm, 208-378-5755, 
[email protected] or Sharon Wilson, 206-553-0325, 
[email protected]. Copies of the draft general permit and fact 
sheet may be downloaded from the EPA Region 10 Web site at http://
yosemite.epa.gov/R10/WATER.NSF/NPDES+Permits/
General+NPDES+Permits#Aquaculture. They are also available upon request 
from Audrey Washington at (206) 553-0523, or e-mailed to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Meeting

    EPA will hold an open house and public meeting to provide an 
overview of the permits and to answer questions in Twin Falls, Idaho on 
June 29, 2006.
    Location: Idaho Department of Health & Welfare Conference Room.
    Address: 601 Pole Line Road, Twin Falls, Idaho.
    Date: June 29, 2006
    Open House: 6-6:45 p.m.
    Permits Overview: 7-7:30 p.m.
    Questions & Answers: 7:30 to 9 p.m. or until done.

Public Hearing

    Written comments receive as much consideration as oral comments at 
a public hearing. Persons wishing to request a public hearing should 
submit their written request by August 3, 2006 stating the nature of 
the issues to be raised as well as the requester's name, address and 
telephone number to Sharon Wilson at the address above. If a public 
hearing is scheduled, notice will be published in the Federal Register. 
Notice will also be posted on the Region 10 Web site and will be mailed 
to all interested persons receiving notice of availability of the draft 
permit.

Administrative Record

    The complete administrative record for the draft permit is 
available for public review at the EPA Region 10 office at the address 
listed above.

Other Legal Requirements

A. Endangered Species Act

    EPA has determined that issuance of the General Permits is not 
likely to adversely affect threatened or endangered salmonids, 
designated critical habitat, or essential fish habitat. Issuance of the 
General Permits to cold water aquaculture facilities and fish 
processors is not likely to adversely affect threatened or endangered 
snail species or their designated critical habitat, but issuance of the 
Wasteload Allocation Permit to four warm water facilities in Idaho is 
likely to affect the three listed snail species because of the increase 
in temperature of the receiving streams in the immediate vicinity of 
these facilities. EPA has determined that issuance of the General 
Permits will have no affect on any terrestrial threatened or endangered 
species or their designated critical habitat.

B. Executive Order 12866

    EPA has determined that this general permit is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under the terms of Executive Order 12866 and is 
therefore not subject to OMB review.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information collection requirements of this permit were 
previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., 
and assigned OMB control numbers 2040-0086 (NPDES permit application) 
and 2040-0004 (discharge monitoring reports).

D. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., 
requires that EPA prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis for rules 
subject to the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553(b) that have a significant 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. However, general 
NPDES permits are not ``rules'' subject to the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 
553(b) and are therefore not subject to the RFA.

E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Section 201 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA), Public Law 
104-4, generally requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of 
their ``regulatory actions'' (defined to be the same as ``rules'' 
subject to the RFA) on tribal, state, and local governments and the 
private sector. However, general NPDES permits are not ``rules'' 
subject to the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553(b) and are therefore not 
subject to the RFA or the UMRA.

    Dated: June 12, 2006.
Michael F. Gearheard,
Director, Office of Water & Watersheds, Region 10.
 [FR Doc. E6-9575 Filed 6-16-06; 8:45 am]
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