Water pollution; discharge of pollutants (NPDES): Alaska; North Slope of Brooks Range; oil and gas extraction; general permit,

[Federal Register: February 12, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 29)]

[Notices]

[Page 7169-7170]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr12fe98-56]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5966-3]

Final Modified General NPDES Permit for Facilities Related to Oil and Gas Extraction on the North Slope of the Brooks Range, Alaska (Permit Number AKG-31-0000)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of a final modified general permit.

SUMMARY: The Director, Office of Water, EPA Region 10 is issuing a modified General NPDES permit for facilities related to Oil and Gas Extraction on the North Slope of the Brooks Range in Alaska. This general permit regulates activities related to the extraction of oil and gas on the North Slope of the Brooks Range in the North Slope Borough in the state of Alaska. The modified general permit includes a provision to extend the area of coverage to include facilities off- shore of the North Slope Borough. The extension would cover sanitary and/or domestic wastewater discharges, construction dewatering, and hydrostatic test water. The modified general permit also includes a new outfall designation for the discharge of hydrostatic test water. In addition, several sections of the permit have been changed to provide clarification on issues that have been confusing during the administration of the permit to date. This permit will be used to cover dischargers that have been previously unpermitted due to resource constraints. The permit establishes effluent limitations, standards, prohibitions and other conditions on discharges from covered facilities. These conditions are based on existing national effluent guidelines, the state of Alaska's Water Quality Standards and material contained in the administrative record. A description of the basis for the conditions and requirements of the modified general permit was given in the fact sheet and changes to the proposed general permit are documented in the Response to Comments.

DATES: The general permit will become effective on March 16, 1998 and will expire on April 10, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the final general NPDES permit, response to comments, and today's publication will be provided upon request by EPA Region 10, Public Information Office, at (800) 424- 4372 or (206) 553-1200 or upon request to Cindi Godsey at (907) 271- 6561. Requests may also be electronically mailed to: GODSEY.CINDI@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.

The state of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), has certified that the subject discharges comply with the applicable provisions of sections 208(e), 301, 302, 306 and 307 of the Clean Water Act. The State of Alaska, Office of Management and Budget, Division of Governmental Coordination (DGC), has certified that the general NPDES permit is consistent with the approved Alaska Coastal Management Program.

Comments were received which caused changes to the proposed permit. These are detailed in the Response to Comments. The following is a summary of some of the changes:

ADEC had authorized a mixing zone for chlorine for discharges of sanitary

[[Page 7170]]

wastewater to the tundra in the original general permit but the size was not included in the final issuance of the general permit. This has been included in the modified general permit. A condition has been added to the permit clarifying that hydrostatic test water may not be discharged from pipelines that have been previously used to transport crude oil.

Within 120 days following service of notice of EPA's final permit decision under 40 CFR 124.15, any interested person may appeal this general NPDES permit in the Federal Court of Appeal in accordance with section 509(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

After review of the facts presented in the notice printed above, I hereby certify pursuant to the provision of 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this general NPDES permit will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. Moreover, the permit reduces a significant administrative burden on regulated sources.

Dated: February 3, 1998. Roger K. Mochnick, Acting Director, Office of Water.

[FR Doc. 98-3579Filed2-11-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P