[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 215 (Monday, November 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 68749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28785]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Permit No. AKG-31-5000; FRL-9486-6]


Effluent Limits Under the NPDES General Permit for Oil and Gas 
Exploration, Development and Production Facilities Located in State and 
Federal Waters in Cook Inlet, AK

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: EPA Region 10 today issues a final action for six effluent 
limits for produced water under the National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Oil and Gas Exploration, 
Development and Production Facilities in State and Federal Waters in 
Cook Inlet, Permit No. AKG-31-5000 (Permit). The effluent limits 
subject to the final action are: mercury, copper, total aromatic 
hydrocarbons (TAH), total aqueous hydrocarbons (TAqH), silver, and 
whole effluent toxicity (WET), pursuant to the provisions of the Clean 
Water Act (CWA or ``the Act''), 33 U.S.C. 1251. The Permit continues to 
allow facilities to apply for permit coverage for exploration, 
development, and production facilities in Cook Inlet, Alaska that are 
included in the Coastal and Offshore Subcategories of the Oil and Gas 
Extraction Point Source Category.
    State Certification: Section 401 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1341, 
requires EPA to seek a certification from the State that the conditions 
of the Permit are stringent enough to comply with State water quality 
standards. EPA obtained a final CWA Section 401 Certification from the 
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) on o.

DATES: The final Permit action shall become effective on December 7, 
2011.
    Comments. On May 18, 2011, EPA re-proposed the six produced water 
effluent limits and ADEC's draft certification for public review in the 
Federal Register. The comment period ended on June 20, 2011. All 
comments received, and EPA's responses, are summarized in the Response 
to Comments document.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the final Permit action, Response to Comment 
document, and final 401 certification are available by contacting 
[email protected], (206) 553-0523 and posted on EPA's Web site 
at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/water.nsf/NPDES+Permits/Permits+Homepage.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hanh Shaw, Office of Water and 
Watersheds, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, 1200 6th 
Avenue, Suite 900, Mail Stop OWW-130, Seattle, WA 98101-3140, (206) 
553-0171, [email protected].
    Appeal of Final Permit Action: Any interested person may appeal the 
final Permit action in the Federal Court of Appeals in accordance with 
Section 509(b)(1) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1369(b)(1). This appeal must be 
filed within 120 days of the final Permit action effective date.

    Authority: This action is taken under the authority of Section 
402 of the Clean Water Act as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1342. I hereby 
provide public notice of the final Permit action in accordance with 
40 CFR 124.10.

    Dated: October 28, 2011.
Michael A. Bussell,
Director, Office of Water and Watersheds Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2011-28785 Filed 11-4-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P