[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 215 (Monday, November 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 68749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28785]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[Permit No. AKG-31-5000; FRL-9486-6]
Effluent Limits Under the NPDES General Permit for Oil and Gas
Exploration, Development and Production Facilities Located in State and
Federal Waters in Cook Inlet, AK
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: EPA Region 10 today issues a final action for six effluent
limits for produced water under the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Oil and Gas Exploration,
Development and Production Facilities in State and Federal Waters in
Cook Inlet, Permit No. AKG-31-5000 (Permit). The effluent limits
subject to the final action are: mercury, copper, total aromatic
hydrocarbons (TAH), total aqueous hydrocarbons (TAqH), silver, and
whole effluent toxicity (WET), pursuant to the provisions of the Clean
Water Act (CWA or ``the Act''), 33 U.S.C. 1251. The Permit continues to
allow facilities to apply for permit coverage for exploration,
development, and production facilities in Cook Inlet, Alaska that are
included in the Coastal and Offshore Subcategories of the Oil and Gas
Extraction Point Source Category.
State Certification: Section 401 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1341,
requires EPA to seek a certification from the State that the conditions
of the Permit are stringent enough to comply with State water quality
standards. EPA obtained a final CWA Section 401 Certification from the
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) on o.
DATES: The final Permit action shall become effective on December 7,
2011.
Comments. On May 18, 2011, EPA re-proposed the six produced water
effluent limits and ADEC's draft certification for public review in the
Federal Register. The comment period ended on June 20, 2011. All
comments received, and EPA's responses, are summarized in the Response
to Comments document.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the final Permit action, Response to Comment
document, and final 401 certification are available by contacting
[email protected], (206) 553-0523 and posted on EPA's Web site
at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/water.nsf/NPDES+Permits/Permits+Homepage.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hanh Shaw, Office of Water and
Watersheds, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, 1200 6th
Avenue, Suite 900, Mail Stop OWW-130, Seattle, WA 98101-3140, (206)
553-0171, [email protected].
Appeal of Final Permit Action: Any interested person may appeal the
final Permit action in the Federal Court of Appeals in accordance with
Section 509(b)(1) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1369(b)(1). This appeal must be
filed within 120 days of the final Permit action effective date.
Authority: This action is taken under the authority of Section
402 of the Clean Water Act as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1342. I hereby
provide public notice of the final Permit action in accordance with
40 CFR 124.10.
Dated: October 28, 2011.
Michael A. Bussell,
Director, Office of Water and Watersheds Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2011-28785 Filed 11-4-11; 8:45 am]
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