[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 6, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 39396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16936]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9429-8]


Availability of Final 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 of the final 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 General 
Permit replaces the prior POTW GP, which expired on September 23, 2010 
(the ``expired POTW GP'').
    The 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 whose authorization to 
discharge under the expired POTW GP was administratively continued in 
accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act (5 U.S.C. 558(c)) and 
40 CFR 122.6, will be required to submit an NOI to be covered by the 
final 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 State review of the NOI, the facility will receive 
written notification from EPA whether coverage and authorization to 
discharge under the General Permit has been granted. 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.

DATES: The POTW GP shall be effective on July 6, 2011 and will expire 
at midnight, July 6, 2016. In accordance with 40 CFR Part 23, these 
permits shall be considered issued for the purpose of judicial review 
two (2) weeks after the Federal Register Publication. Under Section 
509(b)(2) of the Clean Water Act, the requirements in this permit may 
not be challenged at a later date in civil or criminal proceedings to 
enforce these requirements. In addition, these permits may not be 
challenged in other agency proceedings.

ADDRESSES: The required notification information to obtain permit 
coverage is provided in the POTW GP. This information shall be 
submitted to both EPA and the appropriate state agency. Notification 
information may be sent via regular or overnight mail to EPA-Region 1, 
Office of Ecosystem Protection, OEP06-1, 5 Post Office Square-Suite 
100, Boston, Massachusetts 02109-3912; and to the appropriate state 
agency at the addresses provided in Attachment F to the POTW GP.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Additional information concerning the 
final POTW GP may be obtained by contacting Meridith Timony at 617-918-
1533, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
excluding holidays. The General Permit and the Response to Comments 
document may 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: May 26, 2011.
Ira W. Leighton,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 2011-16936 Filed 7-5-11; 8:45 am]
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