80 FR 18326 - State of Tennessee Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program; Primacy Approval

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 65 (April 6, 2015)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve the State of Tennessee Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program for primacy to implement and enforce state regulations for all UIC injection wells located within the state, except for Class VI wells and all wells on Indian lands, as required by rule under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The Agency determined that the state's program is consistent with the provisions of the SDWA and is as stringent as all applicable federal regulations to prevent underground injection activities that endanger underground sources of drinking water. EPA requests public comment on this proposed rule and supporting documentation. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, the Agency published EPA's approval of the state's program as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If the Agency receives no adverse comment, EPA will not take further action on this proposed rule.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 65 (Monday, April 6, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 18326]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07745]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 147

[EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0520; FRL-9924-91-OW]


State of Tennessee Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program; 
Primacy Approval

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to 
approve the State of Tennessee Underground Injection Control (UIC) 
Program for primacy to implement and enforce state regulations for all 
UIC injection wells located within the state, except for Class VI wells 
and all wells on Indian lands, as required by rule under the Safe 
Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The Agency determined that the state's 
program is consistent with the provisions of the SDWA and is as 
stringent as all applicable federal regulations to prevent underground 
injection activities that endanger underground sources of drinking 
water. EPA requests public comment on this proposed rule and supporting 
documentation. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal 
Register, the Agency published EPA's approval of the state's program as 
a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If the Agency 
receives no adverse comment, EPA will not take further action on this 
proposed rule.

DATES: Written comments must be received by May 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2011-0520, by one of the following methods, by mail to Water Docket, 
State of Tennessee, Underground Injection Control (UIC) Primacy, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460. Comments may also be submitted 
electronically or through hand delivery/courier by following the 
detailed instructions in the ADDRESSES section of the direct final rule 
located in the rules section of this Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marilyn Ginsberg, Drinking Water 
Protection Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (4606M), 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-3881; fax number: 
(202) 564-3754; email address: [email protected] or Nancy H. 
Marsh, Safe Drinking Water Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303; 
telephone number (404) 562-9450; fax number: (404) 562-9439; email 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Why is EPA issuing this proposed rule?

    EPA proposes to approve the State of Tennessee's UIC Program 
primacy application for Class I, II, III, IV, and V injection wells 
located within the state (except all wells on Indian lands), as 
required by rule under the SDWA, to prevent underground injection 
activities that endanger underground sources of drinking water. 
Accordingly, the Agency proposes to codify the state's program in the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 40 CFR part 147. EPA will continue 
to administer the UIC Program for Class VI wells and wells on Indian 
lands, if any such lands exist in the state in the future. The Agency 
has published a direct final rule in the ``Rules and Regulations'' 
section of today's Federal Register, approving the state's program 
because EPA views these actions as noncontroversial and anticipates no 
adverse comment. The Agency has provided reasons for the approval and 
additional supplementary information in the preamble to the direct 
final rule. If EPA receives no adverse comment, the Agency will not 
take further action on this proposed rule. If EPA receives adverse 
comment, the Agency will withdraw the direct final rule and it will not 
take effect. The Agency would then address all public comments in any 
subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. The Agency does not 
intend to institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties 
interested in commenting must do so at this time. For further 
information, please contact the persons listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document.

    Dated: March 30, 2015.
Gina McCarthy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-07745 Filed 4-3-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P