[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 150 (Wednesday, August 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 46575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19255]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[9931-85-Region 10]


Final Reissuance of a General NPDES Permit (GP) for Oil and Gas 
Exploration Facilities in the Federal Waters of Cook Inlet, Alaska

AGENCY: Region 10, Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Final notice of reissuance of a general permit.

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SUMMARY: EPA is reissuing a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
System (NPDES) GP (AKG-28-5100) to cover Oil and Gas Exploration 
Facilities in the Federal Waters of Cook Inlet. EPA proposed the GP on 
March 22, 2013 for a 60 day comment period. Public Hearings were held 
the week of April 29, 2013, in Kenai (April 29), Homer (April 30), and 
Anchorage (May 2).

DATES: The effective date of this GP will be September 1, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the GP and Response to Comments are available 
through written requests submitted to EPA, Region 10, 1200 Sixth 
Avenue, Suite 900, OWW-191, Seattle, WA 98101. Electronic requests may 
be sent to: [email protected] or [email protected]. For 
requests by phone, call Audrey Washington at (206) 553-0523 or Cindi 
Godsey at (206) 553-1676.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The GP, Fact Sheet, Response to 
Comments and Ocean Discharge Criteria Evaluation may be found on the 
Region 10 Web site at http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/water.nsf/NPDES+Permits/General+NPDES+Permits/#oilgas.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA prepared a Biological Evaluation for 
consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National 
Marine Fisheries Service. EPA received concurrence from both Services 
on a Not Likely to Adversely Affect determination.
    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: July 29, 2015.
Daniel D. Opalski,
Director, Office of Water & Watersheds, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2015-19255 Filed 8-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P