[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23520-23521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08396]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8140-01-R10]


Reissuance of NPDES General Permit for Tribal Enhancement and 
Federal Research Marine Net Pen Facilities Within Puget Sound 
(WAG132000)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Reissuance of NPDES general permit.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 10, is 
reissuing the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 
General Permit for Tribal Enhancement and Federal Research Marine Net 
Pen Facilities Within Puget Sound (WAG132000). Eligible facilities 
include tribal enhancement net pens, which are permitted to raise up to 
200,000 pounds of native salmonids over a four-month

[[Page 23521]]

growing period each year, and Federal research net pen facilities, 
which are permitted to raise up to 100,000 pounds annually of native 
finfish. Currently, there are five tribal enhancement facilities and 
one Federal research facility eligible for coverage under the general 
permit. Existing enhancement and research facilities may request 
authorization to discharge under the general permit by submitting a 
Notice of Intent (NOI) no more than ninety (90) days following the 
effective date of the permit. New enhancement or research facilities 
that begin operations after the effective date of the general permit 
must submit a NOI at least 180 days prior to initiation of operations. 
Upon receipt, EPA will review the NOI to ensure that all permit 
requirements are met. If determined appropriate by EPA, a discharger 
will be granted coverage under the general permit upon the date that 
EPA provides written notification.

DATES: The issuance date of the general permit is April 20, 2022. The 
general permit will be effective May 20, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the general permit, Fact Sheet, and Response to 
Comments are available upon request. Electronic requests may be sent 
to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For requests by phone, call Audrey 
Washington at (206) 553-0523. These documents can also be accessed 
online on the EPA Region 10 website at: https://www.epa.gov/npdes-permits/npdes-general-permit-tribal-enhancement-and-federal-research-marine-net-pen.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

    Please see the general permit and Fact Sheet for detailed 
information on permit conditions.
    EPA received two comments from one entity during the public comment 
period, published in the Federal Register on February 9, 2021 (86 FR 
8779), comments due by March 26, 2021. EPA also received tribal and 
state CWA 401 certifications, which can be found in Appendix D of the 
Fact Sheet. Consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service and 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under Section 7 of the Endangered 
Species Act has been completed. A Response to Comments document was 
prepared, which explains any changes made to the general permit between 
proposal and final issuance.

II. Other Legal Requirements

    This action is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, 
was not submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review.
    Compliance with Endangered Species Act, Essential Fish Habitat, 
Paperwork Reduction Act, and other requirements are discussed in the 
Fact Sheet to the general permit.
    Appeal of Permit: Any interested person may appeal the final permit 
action within 120 days of April 20, 2022 (i.e., the issuance date of 
this permit) in the Federal Court of Appeals in accordance with Section 
509(b)(1) of the CWA, 33 U.S.C 1369(b)(1).

Daniel D. Opalski,
Director, Water Division, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2022-08396 Filed 4-19-22; 8:45 am]
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