[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25717-25718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10337]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9666-1]


Proposed Issuance of a General NPDES Permit for Small Suction 
Dredging

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed issuance of a general permit.

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SUMMARY: EPA is re-proposing to issue a National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit (IDG-37-0000) to placer 
mining operations in Idaho for small suction dredges (intake nozzle 
size of 5 inches in diameter or a diametric equivalent or less and with 
equipment rated at 15 horsepower or less). When issued, the permit will 
establish effluent limitations, standards, prohibitions and other 
conditions on discharges from covered facilities. These conditions are 
based on existing national effluent guidelines, the state of Idaho's 
Water Quality Standards and material contained in the administrative 
record. A description of the basis for the conditions and requirements 
of the proposed general permit is given in the Fact Sheet. This is also 
notice of the draft Sec.  401 Certification provided by the state of 
Idaho.

DATES: Interested persons may submit comments on the proposed issuance 
of the general permit to EPA, Region 10 at the address below. Comments 
must be postmarked by June 1, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed General Permit should be sent to 
Director, Office of Water and Watersheds; USEPA Region 10; 1200 Sixth 
Avenue, Suite 900, OWW-130;

[[Page 25718]]

Seattle, Washington 98101. Comments may also be submitted by fax to 
(206) 553-0165 or electronically to godsey.cindi@epa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the proposed general permit 
and Fact Sheet are available upon request. Requests may be made to 
Audrey Washington at (206) 553-0523 or to Cindi Godsey at (907) 271-
6561. Requests may also be electronically mailed to: 
washington.audrey@epa.gov or godsey.cindi@epa.gov.
    These documents may also be found on the EPA Region 10 Web site at 
http://1.usa.gov/dredgedocs.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 12866: The Office of 
Management and Budget has exempted this action from the review 
requirements of Executive Order 12866 pursuant to Section 6 of that 
order.
    Regulatory Flexibility Act: Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., a Federal agency must prepare an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis ``for any proposed rule'' for which the 
agency ``is required by section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act 
(APA), or any other law, to publish general notice of proposed 
rulemaking.'' The RFA exempts from this requirement any rule that the 
issuing agency certifies ``will not, if promulgated, have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.'' EPA has 
concluded that NPDES general permits are permits, not rulemakings, 
under the APA and thus not subject to APA rulemaking requirements or 
the RFA. Notwithstanding that general permits are not subject to the 
RFA, EPA has determined that this GP, as issued, will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

    Dated: April 20, 2012.
Michael A. Bussell,
Director, Office of Water & Watersheds, Region 10, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency.
[FR Doc. 2012-10337 Filed 4-30-12; 8:45 am]
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