Water pollution control: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System— North Dakota; authorized to administer and enforce pretreatment program; revision,

[Federal Register: September 16, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 179)]

[Notices]

[Page 54744-54746]

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

[DOCID:fr16se05-108]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7969-8]

State Program Requirements; Revision of the Approved National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program in North Dakota

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Public notice; final approval of the revision of the North Dakota NPDES Program.

SUMMARY: On September 9, 2005, the Regional Administrator for Region 8 of the United States Environmental Protection Agency approved a revision to the existing North Dakota Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program. With this revision, the State of North Dakota is now authorized to administer and enforce a pretreatment program where the State has jurisdiction. This program will be administered by the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDH), Division of Water Quality Department.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Curt McCormick (8P-W-P), U.S. EPA, Region 8, 999 18th Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colorado 80202-2466; telephone number (303) 312-6377; e-mail address mccormick.curt@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

   Under section 402 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C. 1342, the EPA may issue permits allowing discharges of pollutants from point sources into waters of the United States, subject to various requirements of the CWA. These permits are known as National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Section 402(b) of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. 1342(b), allows states to apply to the EPA for authorization to administer their own NPDES permit programs. In June of 1975, North Dakota's NPDES Program was approved by the EPA.

   Section 402(b) of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. 1345(c), authorizes any state desiring to administer its own industrial pretreatment program to do so in accordance with section 402(b)(8) and (9) of the CWA, following the

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   procedures and requirements set out in 40 CFR 403.10. On November 12, 2003, North Dakota submitted an application to EPA requesting that EPA consider a revision to the State's NPDES program to include the pretreatment program.

   The EPA, having found that North Dakota's application meets all pertinent requirements in the CWA and the EPA's regulations, particularly 40 CFR parts 123 and 403, has approved North Dakota's application for primary authority to administer a pretreatment program.

2. Public Comments

   EPA provided a 30-day public comment period in the Federal Register notice dated March 29, 2004, and in three major newspapers in the State of North Dakota for any interested member of the public to comment on this application. In addition, individual mailings were sent to persons who would be interested in this action. No comments were received. No public hearing was requested, and none was held.

3. Indian Country

   North Dakota is not authorized to carry out its industrial pretreatment program in Indian country, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 1151. This includes, but is not limited to:

   1. Lands within the exterior boundaries of the following Indian reservations located within the State of North Dakota:

      1. Fort Totten Indian Reservation,

      2. Standing Rock Indian Reservation,

      3. Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, and

      4. Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation,

   2. Land held in trust by the U.S. for an Indian Tribe, and

   3. Other land which is ``Indian country'' within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 1151.

4. Administrative Requirements

   The EPA has long considered a determination to approve or deny a state NPDES program submission to constitute an adjudication, not a rulemaking. This is because an ``approval,'' as that term is used in the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq., constitutes a ``license,'' which, in turn, is the product of an ``adjudication.'' Therefore, the requirements for rules that are established by the statutes and Executive Orders mentioned below would not apply to this action. Even if this action were considered a rulemaking, the statutes and Executive Orders discussed below would not apply for the following reasons.

   Paperwork Reduction Act

   The EPA has determined that there is no need for an Information Collection Request under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., because this action would not impose any new federal reporting or recordkeeping requirements. Because the State of North Dakota has adopted the EPA's Industrial Pretreatment Regulations at 40 CFR 403.10(f)(1), the matters subject to reporting and recordkeeping requirements will remain the same after the EPA's approval of North Dakota's program.

   Regulatory Flexibility Act

   The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., generally requires an agency to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to notice and comment rulemaking requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act or any other statute unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

   As Regional Administrator for EPA Region VIII, I hereby certify, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), that this action will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

   Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

   Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA), Public Law 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and tribal governments and the private sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA, the EPA is generally required to prepare a written statement, including a cost-benefit analysis, for proposed and final rules with ``Federal mandates'' that may result in expenditures to State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or to the private sector, of $100 million or more in any one year. The EPA's approval of North Dakota's program is not a ``Federal mandate,'' because there is no federal mandate for states to establish pretreatment programs.

   National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

   Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Public Law 104-113 section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note), directs the EPA to use voluntary consensus standards in its regulatory activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards, e.g., material specifications, test methods, sampling procedures, and business practices, that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies. This action does not involve the use of technical standards subject to the NTTAA.

   Executive Order 12866

   Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), the EPA must determine whether its regulatory actions are ``significant'' and therefore subject to review by the OMB. The EPA has determined that this approval action is not ``significant'' for purposes of Executive Order 12866 because, as mentioned above, North Dakota has adopted the EPA's pretreatment regulations.

   Executive Order 12898--Environmental Justice

   Executive Order 12898, entitled ``Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations,'' dated February 11, 1994, focuses federal attention on the environmental and human health conditions of minority populations and low-income populations with the goal of achieving environmental protection for all communities. Today's action will not diminish the health protection to minority and low-income populations because, as mentioned above, it will not impose any different requirements than those already in effect for industrial pretreatment facilities.

   Executive Order 13045--Protection of Children

   Executive Order 13045, dated April 23, 1997 (62 FR 19885), applies to any rule that (1) is determined to be ``economically significant'' as defined in Executive Order 12866, and (2) concerns an environmental health or safety risk that the EPA has reason to believe may have a disproportionate effect on children. This action is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because it is not economically significant as defined in Executive Order 12866.

   Executive Order 13175--Consultation With Tribes

   Under Executive Order 13175, no Federal agency may issue a regulation that has tribal implications, that imposes substantial direct compliance costs on Indian tribal governments, and that is not required by statute, unless the Federal Government provides the funds necessary to pay the direct

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   compliance costs incurred by the tribal governments or the agency consults with tribal officials early in the process of developing the proposed regulation. This action will not significantly affect any Indian tribe. As indicated above, North Dakota is not authorized to implement its pretreatment program in Indian country. The EPA will continue to administer the existing pretreatment program in Indian country in North Dakota.

   Executive Order 13132--Federalism

   Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism,'' dated August 10, 1999 (64 FR 43255), requires the EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the development of regulatory policies that have federalism implications.'' The phrase ``policies that have federalism implications'' is defined in the Executive Order to include regulations that have ``substantial direct effects on States, on the relationship between the National Government and States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.'' This action does not have federalism implications. It will not have any substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship between States and the National Government, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132. It will merely put in place a state regulatory program that is identical to the existing federal program.

   Executive Order 13211--Energy Effects

   Because it is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866, this action is not subject to Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations that Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use,'' 66 FR 28355 (May 22, 2001).

   Dated: September 9, 2005. Kerrigan G. Clough, Acting Regional Administrator, Region 8.

   [FR Doc. 05-18422 Filed 9-15-05; 8:45 am]

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