[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 213 (Thursday, November 4, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 67963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27763]



[[Page 67963]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9220-2]


Availability of Draft NPDES General Permits MAG580000 and 
NHG580000 for Discharges From Publicly Owned Treatment Works Treatment 
Plants (POTW Treatment Plants) and Other Treatment Works Treating 
Domestic Sewage in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of 
New Hampshire

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Director of the Office of Ecosystem Protection, EPA-New 
England, is issuing a notice of availability for public comment of the 
draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general 
permits for certain Publicly Owned Treatment Works Treatment Plants 
(POTW treatment plants) and Other Treatment Works Treating Domestic 
Sewage (collectively, ``facilities'') in the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts (including both Commonwealth and Indian country lands) 
and the State of New Hampshire. Throughout this document, these two 
permits are collectively referred to as the ``Publicly Owned Treatment 
Works General Permit'' (``POTW GP'' or the ``General Permit''). The 
draft General Permits, upon final issuance, will replace the prior POTW 
GP which expired on September 23, 2010.
    The draft POTW GP establishes Notice of Intent (NOI) requirements 
as well as effluent limitations, standards, and prohibitions for 
facilities that discharge to fresh and marine waters. Coverage under 
these General Permits is available to facilities in Massachusetts 
classified as minor facilities and to facilities in New Hampshire 
classified as major or minor facilities. Owners and/or operators of 
these facilities, including those facilities authorized to discharge 
under the current General Permit, will be required to submit an NOI to 
be covered by the reissued POTW GP to both EPA-New England and the 
appropriate State agency, in accordance with the notification 
requirements of the General Permit. Following EPA and the State review 
of the NOI, the facility will receive a written notification from EPA 
of permit coverage and authorization to discharge under the General 
Permit. The eligibility requirements for permit coverage, including the 
requirement that a facility have a receiving water dilution factor 
equal to or greater than 50, are provided in the General Permit. The 
General Permit does not cover new sources as defined under 40 CFR 
122.2.
    The purpose of this document is to solicit public comments on the 
proposed General Permits.
    Public Comment Period: The public comment period is from November 
4, 2010 to December 6, 2010. Interested persons may submit written 
comments on the draft General Permit to the EPA-Region I at the address 
listed below. Within the comment period, interested persons may also 
request, in writing, that EPA hold a public hearing pursuant to 40 CFR 
Section 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 comments and requests for public hearings 
must be postmarked or delivered before midnight December 6, 2010, the 
close of the public comment period. All public comments or requests for 
a public hearing must be submitted to the address below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the draft General Permit may be hand 
delivered or mailed to Meridith Timony, EPA-Region 1, Office of 
Ecosystem Protection, OEP06-1, 5 Post Office Square-Suite 100, Boston, 
Massachusetts 02109-3912; or sent via e-mail to 
[email protected]. No facsimiles (faxes) will be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact 
Meridith Timony at 617-918-1533, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The draft General 
Permits are based on an administrative record available for public 
review at EPA-Region 1, Office of Ecosystem Protection, 5 Post Office 
Square-Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts 02109-3912, Monday through 
Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., excluding holidays. The draft General Permit 
and a Fact Sheet may also be viewed over the Internet via the EPA-
Region I Web site at http://www.epa.gov/region1/npdes/potw-gp.html. To 
obtain a paper copy of the documents, please contact Meridith Timony 
using the contact information provided above. A reasonable fee may be 
charged for copying requests.

    Dated: October 19, 2010.
Ira W. Leighton,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 2010-27763 Filed 11-3-10; 8:45 am]
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