[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 14 (Friday, January 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 3731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-830]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9104-3]


Proposed Issuance of a General NPDES Permit for Small Suction 
Dredging--Permit Number IDG-37-0000

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed issuance of a general permit.

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SUMMARY: EPA proposes to issue a National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) general permit to placer mining operations 
in Idaho for small suction dredges (intake nozzle size of 5 inches in 
diameter or less and with equipment rated at 15 horsepower or less). 
When issued, the permit will establish effluent limitations, standards, 
prohibitions and other conditions on discharges from covered 
facilities. These conditions are based on existing national effluent 
guidelines, the State of Idaho's Water Quality Standards and material 
contained in the administrative record. A description of the basis for 
the conditions and requirements of the proposed general permit is given 
in the Fact Sheet. This is also notice of the draft section 401 
Certification provided by the State of Idaho.

DATES: Interested persons may submit comments on the proposed issuance 
of the general permit to EPA, Region 10 at the address below. Comments 
must be postmarked by March 8, 2010. Public Informational Workshops are 
scheduled in Grangeville, Boise, Salmon and Idaho Falls. The 
Grangeville workshop will be held on February 22, 2010, from 4 pm until 
7 pm. The Boise workshop will be held on February 23, 2010, from 2 pm 
until 5 pm. The Salmon workshop will be held February 24, 2010, from 4 
pm until 7 pm. The Idaho Falls workshop will be held February 25 from 3 
pm until 6 pm.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed general permit should be sent to 
Director, Office of Water and Watersheds; USEPA Region 10; 1200 Sixth 
Avenue Suite 900, OWW-130; Seattle, Washington 98101. Comments may also 
be submitted by fax to (206) 553-0165 or electronically to 
[email protected]. The Grangeville workshop will be held at the Nez 
Perce National Forest Service Office, 104 Airport Road. The Boise 
workshop will be held at Idaho Department of Environmental Quality 
Officer, Conference Room C, 1410 N. Hilton. The Salmon workshop will be 
held at the Salmon-Challis National Forest Service Office, 1206 S. 
Challis Street. The Idaho Falls workshop will be held at the Idaho 
Department of Fish and Game, 4279 Commerce Circle.

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 Cindi Godsey at (907) 271-
6561. 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 http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/water.nsf/NPDES+Permits/Permits+Homepage then click on ``Current 
public comment opportunities.''

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.
    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. Notwithstanding that general permits are not subject to the 
RFA, EPA has determined that this general permit, as issued, will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.

    Dated: January 11, 2010.
Christine Psyk,
Associate Director, Office of Water & Watersheds, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2010-830 Filed 1-21-10; 8:45 am]
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