[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 15, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 20909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07818]



[[Page 20909]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 147

[EPA-R05-OW-2019-0705; FRL-10007-93-Region 5]


Request for Comments on Michigan Underground Injection Control 
Class II Program Application

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public comment period and public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives public 
notice that the EPA has received a complete application from the State 
of Michigan requesting federal authorization for its Underground 
Injection Control (UIC) Program for wells that are used only to inject 
fluids associated with oil and natural gas production, known as Class 
II injection wells. EPA has determined the application contains all the 
required elements. EPA approval of this application would allow the 
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to regulate 
all Class II injection wells in Michigan except for those on ``Indian 
lands.'' See the ADDRESSES section for information on how to access the 
application documents. Public comments are requested, and a public 
hearing is scheduled.

DATES: Comments will be accepted on or before June 5, 2020. A public 
hearing will be held before that date. For additional information 
regarding the public hearing, please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section or contact Anna Miller, UIC Section, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois; 
telephone number: (312) 886-7060; email address: [email protected].

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by Agency Docket ID No. 
EPA-R05-OW-2019-0705, by any of the following methods:
     Federal Portal (our preferred method): https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EPA-R05-OW-2019-0705. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5, UIC 
Section, WP-16J, ATTN: Michigan Class II Application Docket, 77 West 
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID 
Number, EPA-R05-OW-2019-0705. Comments received may be posted without 
change to https://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal or 
confidential business information provided. For detailed instructions 
on sending comments and additional information on the rulemaking 
process, see the ``Public Participation'' heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Miller, UIC Section, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, 
Illinois; telephone number: (312) 886-7060; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Summary

    The State of Michigan has submitted an application pursuant to 
section 1425 of the Safe Drinking Water Act and 40 CFR part 147 to 
regulate Class II injection wells in the State. EPA approval of this 
application would allow the Michigan Department of Environment, Great 
Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to regulate all Class II injection wells in 
Michigan except for those on ``Indian lands.''
    EPA has determined that the application is complete because it 
contains all of the requirements including: A letter from the Governor 
requesting program approval; a complete description of the State 
Underground Injection Control program; a statement of legal authority; 
a memorandum of agreement between the State of Michigan and the EPA, 
Region 5; and copies of all applicable rules and forms. This notice is 
not an EPA decision or action to approve or disapprove the application; 
EPA is requesting comments on the application prior to making a 
decision to approve or disapprove the application.

II. Documents for Review

    Publicly available docket materials are available electronically in 
www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EPA-R05-OW-2019-0705. Materials are also 
available in hard copy at the following location: EGLE Lansing office 
at Constitution Hall, 525 West Allegan Street, Lansing, Michigan 48909, 
during business hours and subject to any office closures. Contact Mark 
Snow at (517) 230-8233 or at [email protected] for more information.

III. Public Participation

A. Written comments

    Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R05-OW-2019-
0705, at https://www.regulations.gov or the other methods identified in 
the ADDRESSES section. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or 
withdrawn. 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 
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.

B. Public Hearing

    A public hearing has been scheduled for those who wish to deliver 
comments orally. The hearing is scheduled for May 27, 2020 at the 
Kirtland Community College Event Center, 4800 W Four Mile Road, 
Grayling, MI 49738, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time.

    Note:  EPA may change the format and time for the May 27 hearing 
to virtual and regular business hours if appropriate to protect 
public health in the face of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID 19) 
risks. EPA will publish notice of any such change on or before May 
20, 2020 exclusively at: https://www.epa.gov/uic/underground-injection-control-epa-region-5-il-mi-mn-oh-and-wi#public-notices.

    EPA will make every effort to accommodate all speakers who register 
to speak. The EPA will not respond to the oral comments at that time. 
Written statements and supporting information submitted during the 
comment period will be considered with the same weight as oral comments 
and supporting information presented at the public hearing. EPA 
encourages commenters to provide EPA with a copy of their oral 
testimony electronically or in hard copy form.

    Dated: April 8, 2020.
Kurt Thiede,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 2020-07818 Filed 4-14-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P