[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 77122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30425]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9904-37-Region-10]


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

AGENCY: Region 10, Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed modification of a general permit.

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SUMMARY: EPA proposes to modify a National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for placer mining operations 
in Idaho using small suction dredges (intake nozzle size of 5 inches in 
diameter or less and with equipment rated at 15 horsepower or less). 
When the 2013 GP was issued, the language of the GP contained a 
discrepancy with the total maximum daily load (TMDL) that was issued 
for Mores Creek. The GP did not include any reference to the 
tributaries of Mores, Elk or Grimes creeks that were included in the 
loading allocations of the TMDL. This modification proposes to rectify 
that discrepancy by including a reference to the tributaries within the 
GP requirements for Mores, Grimes and Elk creeks and listing the 
tributaries in Appendix F to the GP. Other parts of the GP are not open 
for public comment at this time.

DATES: Interested persons may submit comments on the proposed 
modification of the general permit to EPA, Region 10 at the address 
below. Comments must be postmarked by February 3, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed modified 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].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the proposed modified 
general permit and Statement of Basis 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 ``Draft Permits'' then ``Draft Permits for Idaho 
Dischargers.''

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 GP, as issued, will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

    Dated: December 12, 2013.
Christine Psyk,
Associate Director, Office of Water & Watersheds, Region 10, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency.
[FR Doc. 2013-30425 Filed 12-19-13; 8:45 am]
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