[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61605-61606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24895]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9739-7]


Notice of Proposed NPDES General Permit; Final NPDES General 
Permit for New and Existing Sources and New Dischargers in the Offshore 
Subcategory of the Oil and Gas Extraction Category for the Western 
Portion of the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico 
(GMG290000)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Director of the Water Quality Protection Division, EPA 
Region 6 today provides notice that the National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit No. GMG290000 for existing 
and new sources and new dischargers in the Offshore Subcategory of the 
Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category, located in and 
discharging to the Outer Continental Shelf offshore of Louisiana and 
Texas was reissued on September 28, 2012, with an effective date of 
October 1, 2012. The discharge of produced water to that portion of the 
Outer Continental Shelf from Offshore Subcategory facilities located in 
the territorial seas of Louisiana and Texas is also authorized by this 
permit.

DATES: This permit was issued September 28, 2012, is effective on 
October 1, 2012, and expires September 30, 2017. This effective date is 
necessary to provide dischargers with the immediate opportunity to 
comply with Clean Water Act requirements in light of the expiration of 
the 2007 permit on September 30, 2012. In accordance with 40 CFR part 
23, this permit shall be considered issued for the purpose of judicial 
review on October 24, 2012. Under section 509(b) of the CWA, judicial 
review of this general permit can be held by filing a petition for 
review in the United States Court of Appeals within 120 days after the 
permit is considered issued for judicial review. Under section 
509(b)(2) of the CWA, the requirements in this permit may not be 
challenged later in civil or criminal proceedings to enforce these 
requirements. In addition, this permit may not be challenged in other 
agency proceedings. Deadlines for submittal of notices of intent are 
provided in Part I.A.2 of the permit.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Diane Smith, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-
2733.

[[Page 61606]]

Telephone: (214) 655-2145. Email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft permit was proposed in the Federal 
Register on March 7, 2012. EPA Region 6 has considered all comments 
received and makes several significant changes as listed below. A copy 
of the Region's responses to comments and the final permit may be 
obtained from the EPA Region 6 internet site: http://www.epa.gov/region6/water/npdes/genpermit/index.htm.
    1. Change the deadline to file eNOIs for continuous coverage from 
90 days from the effective date of the permit to January 31, 2013;
    2. Permit coverage and compliance start when an eNOI is filed;
    3. Add characterization study for water-based drilling mud;
    4. Allow discharges of hydrate control fluids without toxicity 
testing requirements for discharges containing methanol up to 20 bbl/
event and ethylene glycol up to 200 bbl/event;
    5. Change the toxicity re-testing criteria to include increase of 
critical dilution;
    6. Add chlorine and bromine to the exclusion list of toxicity test 
for chemically treated miscellaneous discharges;
    7. Delete the provision of ``Alternative to Visual or Remote 
Inspection'' but allow ``other monitoring device'' to be used for 
visual or remote inspection;
    8. Exclude routine biocide treatment of cooling water intake 
structure velocity monitoring system from conditions established for 
chemically treated seawater;
    9. Change the entrainment monitoring frequency from monthly to 
quarterly after the 24-month study period;
    10. Change the first NetDMR reporting period end date from October 
31, 2013, to December 31, 2013, and change the annual reporting period 
from October through September to January through December;
    11. Allow paper DMR to be submitted within 60 days after the 
reporting period, if paper DMRs are required;
    12. Allow electronic records to be used for inspection purposes; 
and
    13. Allow biocides to be added to sump/drain systems.

Other Legal Requirements

    Paperwork Reduction Act. The information collection required by 
this permit will reduce paperwork significantly by implementation of 
electronic reporting requirements. EPA is working on an electronic 
notice of intent (eNOI) system so applicants will file their NOIs 
online. EPA estimates that it takes 10 to 15 minutes to fill in all 
information required by the eNOI for each lease block. It also takes 
much less time to add, delete, or modify eNOI. EPA will also 
incorporate an electronic discharge monitoring report (NetDMR) 
requirement in the permit. The time for NetDMR preparation will be much 
less than that for paper DMR. The electronic filing systems will also 
significantly reduce the mailing costs.
    State certification under section 401 of the CWA; consistency with 
the Texas Coastal Management Program; and compliance with National 
Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Historic Preservation Act, and 
Regulatory Flexibility Act requirements are discussed in the Region's 
responses to comments.

    Dated: September 28, 2012.
Wren Stenger,
Acting Deputy Director, Water Quality Protection Division. EPA Region 
6.
[FR Doc. 2012-24895 Filed 10-9-12; 8:45 am]
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