[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52851-52852]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19028]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9950-56-Region 1]


Notice of Availability of Draft NPDES General Permits for 
Discharges From Potable Water Treatment Facilities in Massachusetts and 
New Hampshire: The Potable Water Treatment Facility General Permit

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft NPDES general permits MAG640000 
and NHG640000.

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SUMMARY: The Director of the Office of Ecosystem Protection, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency--Region 1 (EPA), is providing a notice 
of availability of the draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
System (NPDES) General Permits (GP) for discharges from potable water 
treatment facilities (PWTF) to certain waters of the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts and the State of New Hampshire. The draft General Permits 
establish Notice of Intent (NOI) requirements, effluent limitations, 
standard and special conditions, prohibitions, and best management 
practices (BMPs) for sites with discharges from potable water treatment 
facilities. These General Permits replace the previous PWTF GP that 
expired on October 2, 2014.

DATES: Comments on the draft General Permits must be received on or 
before September 9, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the draft General Permits may be mailed 
to U.S. EPA Region 1, Office of Ecosystem Protection, Attn: Glenda 
Velez, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, Mail Code: OEP06-1, Boston, 
Massachusetts 02109-3912, or sent via email to [email protected]. No 
facsimiles (faxes) will be accepted.
    The draft PWTF GP is based on an administrative record available 
for public review at EPA-Region 1, Office of Ecosystem Protection, 5 
Post Office Square, Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts 02109-3912. A 
reasonable fee may be charged for copying requests. The fact sheet for 
the draft PWTF GP sets forth principal facts and the significant 
factual, legal, methodological and policy questions considered in the 
development of the draft General Permit and is available upon request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information concerning the 
draft General Permits may be obtained between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from Glenda Velez, U.S. 
EPA Region 1, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, Mail Code OEP06-1, 
Boston, MA 02109-3912; telephone: 617-918-1677; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Public Comment Information: Interested persons may submit written 
comments on the draft General Permits to the EPA-Region I at the 
address listed above. Within the comment period, interested persons may 
also request, in writing, that EPA hold a public hearing pursuant to 40 
CFR 124.12, concerning the draft General Permits. Such requests shall 
state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised at the hearing. A 
public hearing may be held at least thirty days after public notice 
whenever the Regional Administrator finds that response to this notice 
indicates significant public interest. In reaching a final decision on 
this draft permit, the Regional Administrator will respond to all 
significant comments and make responses available to the public at 
EPA's Boston office. All comments and requests for public hearings must 
be postmarked or delivered by the close of the public comment period.
    General Information: EPA is proposing to reissue two general 
permits for wastewater discharges from potable water treatment 
facilities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, that are generally less 
than or equal to 1.0 million gallons per day (MGD) and that use one or 
more of the following treatment processes: Clarification, Coagulation, 
Media Filtration, Membrane filtration (not including reverse osmosis), 
and Disinfection. While the draft General Permits are two distinct 
permits, for convenience, EPA has grouped them together in a single 
document and has provided a single fact sheet. This document refers to 
the draft General ``Permit'' in the singular. The draft General Permit, 
fact sheet, and

[[Page 52852]]

appendices are available at: http://www.epa.gov/region1/npdes/pwtfgp.html.
    The draft general permit includes effluent limitations and 
requirements based on technology-based considerations, best 
professional judgment (BPJ), and water quality considerations. The 
effluent limits established in the draft General Permit assure that the 
surface water quality standards of the receiving water(s) are attained 
and/or maintained. The permit also contains BMP requirements in order 
to ensure EPA has the information necessary to ensure compliance and to 
ensure discharges meet water quality standards.
    Obtaining Authorization: In order to obtain authorization to 
discharge, operators must submit a complete and accurate NOI containing 
the information in Appendix IV of the draft General Permit. Facilities 
currently authorized to discharge under the Expired PWTF GP must submit 
a NOI within 90 days of the effective date of the final General Permit. 
Operators with new discharges must submit a NOI at least 60 days prior 
to initiating discharges and following the effective date of the final 
General Permit. Facilities with existing discharges that were not 
authorized under the Expired PWTF GP and which use aluminum in their 
treatment process must conduct more extensive water quality sampling 
data and submit this information with the NOI within 6 months of the 
effective date of the final General Permit.
    Operators must meet the eligibility requirements of the General 
Permit prior to submission of a NOI. An operator will be authorized to 
discharge under the General Permit upon receipt of written notice from 
EPA following EPA's web posting of the submitted NOI. EPA will 
authorize the discharge, request additional information, or require the 
operator to apply for an alternative permit or an individual permit. 
The effective date of the final General Permit will be specified in the 
Federal Register publication of the Notice of Availability of the final 
permit.
    Other Legal Requirements: Endangered Species Act (ESA): EPA has 
updated the provisions and necessary actions and documentation related 
to potential impacts to endangered species from facilities seeking 
coverage under the PWTF GP. EPA has requested concurrence from the 
appropriate federal services (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 
National Marine Fisheries Service) in connection with this draft 
General Permit.
    National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA): In accordance with NHPA, 
EPA has established provisions and documentation requirements for sites 
seeking coverage under the PWTF GP to ensure that discharges or actions 
taken under this General Permit will not adversely affect historic 
properties and places.

    Authority:  This action is being taken under the Clean Water 
Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.

    Dated: August 1, 2016.
H. Curtis Spalding,
Regional Administrator, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 2016-19028 Filed 8-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P