[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 63185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24841]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9901-74-Region 5]
Public Hearing and Request for Comments on Proposed Revisions to
Michigan's Clean Water Act (CWA) Program
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of proposed revisions to Michigan's CWA Section 404
program, public hearing and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: EPA requests comments on proposed revisions to Michigan's CWA
Section 404 permitting program resulting from the recent enactment of
Michigan Public Act 98 (PA 98). EPA will hold a public hearing in
Lansing, Michigan, on December 11, 2013, to take comments on the
proposed program revisions. Under Section 404 of the CWA, permits are
required for activities involving discharges of dredged or fill
material to waters of the United States, including wetlands, lakes and
streams. In 1984, Michigan assumed Section 404 permitting authority for
its inland waters and wetlands. PA 98 amended the wetlands and the
inland lakes and streams provisions of the Michigan's Natural Resources
and Environmental Protection Act to address areas, as identified by EPA
in a 2008 program review, where the state's Section 404 program did not
comply with CWA requirements. In addition to changes to address issues
identified in EPA's program review, PA 98 included: (1) Changes to the
definition of contiguous wetlands regulated by Michigan's Section 404
program; (2) the addition of new exemptions from permitting; and (3)
changes to the requirements for mitigating the effects of filling
wetlands and other waters of the United States. Under federal
regulations, substantial changes to state CWA Section 404 programs do
not become effective until program revisions are approved by EPA.
Information about PA 98, the resulting proposed revisions to Michigan's
Section 404 program, the public hearing, and procedures for submitting
comments is available at: www.regulations.gov/ (insert: EPA-HQ-OW-2013-
0710 in the search field).
DATES and LOCATION: On December 11, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. EST, EPA will
hold a public hearing to take oral and written comments at the Crowne
Plaza Lansing West (formerly known as the Lexington Lansing Hotel), 925
South Creyts Road, Lansing, Michigan 48917. The formal hearing will be
preceded by an informational session at 6:00 p.m. EST. Written comments
will also be accepted until December 18, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2013-
0710, online using www.regulations.gov (the preferred method); by email
to [email protected]; or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental
Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20460. All comments received will be included in the
public docket without change, including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information
claimed to be Confidential Business Information, or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, call toll-
free, 800-621-8431, weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., central time, or
contact Sue Elston, at the EPA Docket Center address noted above.
Dated: September 27, 2013.
Timothy C. Henry,
Acting Director, Water Division, EPA Region 5.
[FR Doc. 2013-24841 Filed 10-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P