[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 123 (Monday, June 27, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 41507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15134]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 122, 123, 124 and 125

[EPA-HQ-OW-2016-0145; FRL-9948-35-OW]
RIN 2040-AF25


Notice of Extension to Comment Period on the National Pollutant 
Discharge Elimination System: Applications and Program Updates Proposed 
Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Extension of Comment Period.

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SUMMARY: EPA is extending the comment period for the notice, ``National 
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): Applications and 
Program Updates.'' In response to stakeholder requests, EPA is 
extending the comment period for an additional 15 days, from July 18, 
2016 to August 2, 2016.

DATES: The comment period for the notice that was published on May 18, 
2016 (81 FR 31344), is extended. Comments must be received on or before 
August 2, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2016-0145, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from 
Regulations.gov. EPA may publish any comment received to its public 
docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, 
video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written 
comment is considered the official comment and should include 
discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will generally not 
consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary 
submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For 
additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment policy, 
information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance 
on making effective comments, please visit http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Flannery-Keith, Water Permits 
Division, Office of Wastewater Management, Mail Code 4203M, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; (202) 566-0689; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 18, 2016 EPA published in the Federal 
Register (81 FR 31344) a proposed rule that would make targeted 
revisions to the NPDES regulations. These revisions would make the 
regulations consistent with the 1987 CWA Amendments and with applicable 
judicial decisions. These revisions would delete certain regulatory 
provisions that are no longer in effect and clarify the level of 
documentation that permit writers must provide for permitting 
decisions. EPA is also asking for public comments on potential ways to 
enhance public notice and participation in the permitting process. CWA 
section 402 established the NPDES permitting program and gives EPA 
authority to write regulations to implement the NPDES program. 33 
U.S.C. 1342(a)(1), (2). The proposed rule, as initially published in 
the Federal Register, provided for written comments to be submitted to 
EPA on or before July 18, 2016 (a 60-day public comment period). Since 
publication, EPA has received a request for additional time to submit 
comments. EPA is extending the public comment period for 15 days until 
August 2, 2016.

    Dated: June 17, 2016.
Joel Beauvais,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2016-15134 Filed 6-24-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P