[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 19, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 63876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25060]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2019-0415; FRL-10002-36-OW]
Water Quality Trading Under the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System Program; Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notification, request for comment; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a document in
the Federal Register of September 19, 2019, requesting comments on
policy approaches for addressing ``baseline'' issues in the watersheds
with EPA-approved Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) where policy makers
would like to pursue water quality trading as a regulatory option for
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit
compliance. These policy approaches may also be of interest to
stakeholders pursuing market-based water quality improvement programs
outside of the NPDES permit program. This document extends the comment
period for an additional 30 days, from November 18, 2019 to December
18, 2019 in response to a stakeholder request.
DATES: The comment period for the document published on September 19,
2019 (84 FR 49293), is extended. Comments, identified by docket
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OW-2019-0415, must be received on or
before December 18, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OW-2019-0415, at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot
be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. The 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. The 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: Amelia Letnes, Office of Wastewater
Management, Water Permits Division, Mail Code 4203M, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: (202) 564-5627; email address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 19, 2019, EPA published in the
Federal Register (84 FR 49293) proposed changes and clarifications to
its Water Quality Trading Policy of 2003. These policy changes and
clarifications are intended to increase flexibility and efficiency in
state water quality trading programs, specifically in the area of
establishing baselines for nonpoint sources subject to a Total Maximum
Daily Load (TMDL).
The document, as initially published in the Federal Register,
provided for written comments to be submitted to EPA on or before
November 18, 2019 (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 30 days until December 18,
2019.
Dated: November 14, 2019.
Andrew D. Sawyers,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2019-25060 Filed 11-14-19; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P