81 FR 10620 - Request for Public Comment on the Draft EPA-USGS Technical Report: Protecting Aquatic Life From Effects of Hydrologic Alteration

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 40 (March 1, 2016)

Page Range		10620-10621
FR Document		2016-04448

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Geological Survey are releasing a draft technical report: Protecting Aquatic Life from Effects of Hydrologic Alteration, for a 60-day public comment period. This report was developed because hydrologic alteration can be a contributor of impairment for water bodies that are designated to support aquatic life. Stresses on aquatic life associated with hydrologic alteration may be further exacerbated through climate change. Recent climate trends have included the change in frequency and duration of extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, which can have an impact on flow and affect aquatic life. The report is a nonprescriptive framework with information to help states, tribes, territories, water resource managers, and other stakeholders responsible for the maintenance of hydrologic flow regime to quantify flow targets for the preservation of aquatic life and habitat. This report also provides information on the relationship between hydrologic condition and water quality and gives examples of what some states and authorized tribes have done to address flow concerns using the Clean Water Act. The framework can also be used to translate narrative criteria and develop flow targets to protect aquatic life and habitat.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10620-10621]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04448]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0335; FRL-9943-13-OW]


Request for Public Comment on the Draft EPA-USGS Technical 
Report: Protecting Aquatic Life From Effects of Hydrologic Alteration

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and United States 
Geological Survey (USGS).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United 
States Geological Survey are releasing a draft technical report: 
Protecting Aquatic Life from Effects of Hydrologic Alteration, for a 
60-day public comment period. This report was developed because 
hydrologic alteration can be a contributor of impairment for water 
bodies that are designated to support aquatic life. Stresses on aquatic 
life associated with hydrologic alteration may be further exacerbated 
through climate change. Recent climate trends have included the change 
in frequency and duration of extreme weather events, such as droughts 
and floods, which can have an impact on flow and affect aquatic life.
    The report is a nonprescriptive framework with information to help 
states, tribes, territories, water resource managers, and other 
stakeholders responsible for the maintenance of hydrologic flow regime 
to quantify flow targets for the preservation of aquatic life and 
habitat. This report also provides information on the relationship 
between hydrologic condition and water quality and gives examples of 
what some states and authorized tribes have done to address flow 
concerns using the Clean Water Act. The framework can also be used to 
translate narrative criteria and develop flow targets to protect 
aquatic life and habitat.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 2, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2015-0335, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. EPA 
may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be 
accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the 
official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish 
to make. EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents 
located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or 
other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full 
EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia 
submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please 
visit http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diana Eignor, Health and Ecological 
Criteria Division, Office of Water (Mail Code 4304T), Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: (202) 566-1143; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information

A. How can I Get Copies of This Document and Other Related Information?

    1. Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the 
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Water Docket, EPA/DC, EPA 
West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The Public 
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public 
Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Water 
Docket is (202) 566-2426. For additional information about EPA's public 
docket, visit EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.

II. How will this document be used?

    This draft report is a nonprescriptive framework that can be used 
to help quantify targets for flow regime components that are protective 
of aquatic life and their habitats. Flow targets can help states, 
tribes, and territories to prepare for changes in historic flow 
patterns. Maintaining flow targets may help increase a stream's 
resilience to climate change by reducing or avoiding intensification of 
existing stresses. This document, even after issued in final form, is 
not a rule, and it is therefore not mandatory for states and authorized 
tribes to adopt this framework into their water quality standards. Once 
the comment period has ended, EPA and the USGS will consider the 
comments, revise the document, as appropriate, and then publish a final 
document that will serve as a source of information for states, tribes, 
territories, and other stakeholders.

III. Solicitation of Scientific Views

    EPA and USGS are soliciting additional scientific views, data, and 
information regarding the science and technical approach used in the 
derivation of this draft technical document on hydrologic alteration.

IV. Additional Information

    EPA and USGS each conducted internal peer reviews of the report, 
and EPA managed a contractor-led independent external peer review of 
the Draft EPA-USGS Technical Report: Protecting Aquatic Life from 
Effects of Hydrologic Alteration. EPA will make the external peer 
review comments and Agency responses to these comments available in the 
docket with the revised draft technical document at http://www.regulations.gov.


[[Page 10621]]


    Dated: February 22, 2016.
Joel Beauvais,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2016-04448 Filed 2-29-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

10620 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2016 / Notices

to the DFO at the contact information responsible for the maintenance of restricted by statute. Certain other
above via email (preferred) or in hard hydrologic flow regime to quantify flow material, such as copyrighted material,
copy with original signature. Submitters targets for the preservation of aquatic will be publicly available only in hard
are requested to provide a signed and life and habitat. This report also copy. Publicly available docket
unsigned version of each document provides information on the materials are available either
because the SAB Staff Office does not relationship between hydrologic electronically in www.regulations.gov or
publish documents with signatures on condition and water quality and gives in hard copy at the Water Docket, EPA/
its Web sites. Members of the public examples of what some states and DC, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301
should be aware that their personal authorized tribes have done to address Constitution Ave. NW., Washington,
contact information, if included in any flow concerns using the Clean Water DC. The Public Reading Room is open
written comments, may be posted to the Act. The framework can also be used to from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
SAB Web site. Copyrighted material will translate narrative criteria and develop through Friday, excluding legal
not be posted without explicit flow targets to protect aquatic life and holidays. The telephone number for the
permission of the copyright holder. habitat. Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,
Accessibility: For information on DATES: Comments must be received on and the telephone number for the Water
access or services for individuals with or before May 2, 2016. Docket is (202) 566–2426. For additional
disabilities, please contact Mr. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
information about EPA’s public docket,
Carpenter at the phone number or email identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– visit EPA Docket Center homepage at
address noted above, preferably at least OW–2015–0335, to the Federal http://www.epa.gov/epahome/
ten days prior to the meeting, to give the eRulemaking Portal: http:// dockets.htm.
EPA as much time as possible to process www.regulations.gov. Follow the online II. How will this document be used?
your request. instructions for submitting comments.
Dated: February 22, 2016. Once submitted, comments cannot be This draft report is a nonprescriptive
Christopher Zarba, edited or withdrawn. EPA may publish framework that can be used to help
Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff any comment received to its public quantify targets for flow regime
Office. docket. Do not submit electronically any components that are protective of
[FR Doc. 2016–04451 Filed 2–29–16; 8:45 am] information you consider to be aquatic life and their habitats. Flow
Confidential Business Information (CBI) targets can help states, tribes, and
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
or other information whose disclosure is territories to prepare for changes in
restricted by statute. Multimedia historic flow patterns. Maintaining flow
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be targets may help increase a stream’s
AGENCY accompanied by a written comment. resilience to climate change by reducing
The written comment is considered the or avoiding intensification of existing
[EPA–HQ–OW–2015–0335; FRL–9943–13– stresses. This document, even after
official comment and should include
OW] issued in final form, is not a rule, and
discussion of all points you wish to
make. EPA will generally not consider it is therefore not mandatory for states
Request for Public Comment on the and authorized tribes to adopt this
Draft EPA–USGS Technical Report: comments or comment contents located
outside of the primary submission (i.e., framework into their water quality
Protecting Aquatic Life From Effects of standards. Once the comment period
Hydrologic Alteration on the web, cloud, or other file sharing
system). For additional submission has ended, EPA and the USGS will
AGENCY: Environmental Protection methods, the full EPA public comment consider the comments, revise the
Agency (EPA) and United States policy, information about CBI or document, as appropriate, and then
Geological Survey (USGS). multimedia submissions, and general publish a final document that will serve
ACTION: Notice of availability. guidance on making effective as a source of information for states,
comments, please visit http:// tribes, territories, and other
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting- stakeholders.
Agency (EPA) and the United States epa-dockets. III. Solicitation of Scientific Views
Geological Survey are releasing a draft FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
technical report: Protecting Aquatic Life EPA and USGS are soliciting
Diana Eignor, Health and Ecological
from Effects of Hydrologic Alteration, additional scientific views, data, and
Criteria Division, Office of Water (Mail
for a 60-day public comment period. information regarding the science and
Code 4304T), Environmental Protection
This report was developed because technical approach used in the
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue
hydrologic alteration can be a derivation of this draft technical
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone
contributor of impairment for water document on hydrologic alteration.
number: (202) 566–1143; email address:
bodies that are designated to support eignor.diana@epa.gov. IV. Additional Information
aquatic life. Stresses on aquatic life
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
associated with hydrologic alteration EPA and USGS each conducted
may be further exacerbated through I. General Information internal peer reviews of the report, and
climate change. Recent climate trends EPA managed a contractor-led
have included the change in frequency A. How can I Get Copies of This independent external peer review of the
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

and duration of extreme weather events, Document and Other Related Draft EPA–USGS Technical Report:
such as droughts and floods, which can Information? Protecting Aquatic Life from Effects of
have an impact on flow and affect 1. Docket: All documents in the Hydrologic Alteration. EPA will make
aquatic life. docket are listed in the the external peer review comments and
The report is a nonprescriptive www.regulations.gov index. Although Agency responses to these comments
framework with information to help listed in the index, some information is available in the docket with the revised
states, tribes, territories, water resource not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other draft technical document at http://
managers, and other stakeholders information whose disclosure is www.regulations.gov.

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2016 / Notices 10621

Dated: February 22, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary definition of regulatory capital, a new
Joel Beauvais, A. Kuiper or Manuel E. Cabeza, at the common equity tier 1 minimum capital
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of FDIC address above. requirement, a higher minimum tier 1
Water. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposal capital requirement, and, for banking
[FR Doc. 2016–04448 Filed 2–29–16; 8:45 am] to renew the following currently- organizations subject to the Advanced
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P approved collection of information: Approaches capital rules, a
1. Title: Annual Stress Test Reporting; supplementary leverage ratio that
Over $50 Billion Templates. incorporates a broader set of exposures
OMB Number: 3064–0189. in the denominator measure. In
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE Affected Public: Insured state addition, the rule will amend the
CORPORATION nonmember banks. methodologies for determining risk
Agency Information Collection Frequency of Response: Annually. weighted assets. All banking
Estimated Number of Respondents: 4. organizations that are not subject to the
Activities: Submission for OMB Estimated Number of Responses: 1.
Review; Comment Request (3064– Advanced Approaches Rule were
Estimated Time per Response: 1,114 required to comply with the Revised
0189) hours. Capital Framework, as of January 1,
AGENCY: Federal Deposit Insurance Total Annual Burden: 4,456 hours. 2015.
Corporation (FDIC). General Description: Section 165(i)(2) The proposed changes would (1)
of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform increase consistency between the
ACTION: Notice and request for comment.
and Consumer Protection Act (‘‘Dodd- DFAST–14A with the FR Y–14A, CALL
SUMMARY: The FDIC, as part of its Frank Act’’) requires certain financial Report, FFIEC 101, and FFIEC 102; (2)
continuing effort to reduce paperwork companies, including state nonmember remove the requirement to calculate tier
and respondent burden, invites the banks and state savings associations, to 1 common capital and the tier 1
general public and other Federal conduct annual stress tests and requires common ratio; and (3) shift the as-of
agencies to take this opportunity to the primary financial regulatory agency dates by one quarter in accordance with
comment on the renewal of an existing of those financial companies to issue the modifications to the stress test rules.
information collection, as required by regulations implementing the stress test Furthermore, the FDIC understands that
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. requirements. A state nonmember bank the Board is currently collecting
On December 15, 2015, (80 FR 77631), or state savings association is a ‘‘covered information for the Summary Schedule
the FDIC requested comment for 60 days bank’’ and therefore subject to the stress via XML technology, and the FDIC
on a proposal to renew the information test requirements if its total would use a similar format to enhance
collection described below. No consolidated assets are more than $10 consistency and reduce regulatory
comments were received. The FDIC billion. Under section 165(i)(2), a burden. Technical details on these
hereby gives notice of its plan to submit covered bank is required to submit to forms would be provided separately.
to OMB a request to approve the the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System (‘‘Board’’) and to its Schedule A (Summary)—A.1.c.1
renewal of this collection, and again
primary financial regulatory agency a (General RWA)
invites comment on this renewal.
report at such time, in such form, and This schedule would be removed in
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
containing such information as the accordance with the proposed revisions
or before March 31, 2016.
primary financial regulatory agency to eliminate use of the tier 1 common
ADDRESSES: Interested parties are shall require. ratio, effective for the 2016 DFAST
invited to submit written comments to The revisions to the DFAST–14A submission.
the FDIC by any of the following reporting templates consist of clarifying
methods: instructions, adding data items, deleting Schedule A (Summary)—Revisions to
• http://www.FDIC.gov/regulations/ data items, and redefining existing data Schedule A.1.c.2 (Standardized RWA)
laws/federal/. items. The proposed revisions also This schedule would be modified to
• Email: comments@fdic.gov Include include a shift of the as-of date in increase consistency with the FFIEC
OMB control number ‘‘3064–0189’’ in accordance with modifications to the 102. Specifically, the items of the
the subject line of the message. FDIC’s stress testing rule.1 These existing market risk-weighted asset
• Mail: Gary A. Kuiper revisions also reflect the portion would be replaced with the
(202.898.3877), Counsel, Room MB– implementation of the final Basel III appropriate items from the FFIEC 102.
3016, or Manuel E. Cabeza, regulatory capital rule. On July 9, 2013,
(202.898.3767), Counsel, Room MB– Schedule A (Summary)—Revisions to
the FDIC approved an interim final rule Schedule A.1.d (Capital)
3105, Federal Deposit Insurance that will revise and replace the FDIC’s
Corporation, 550 17th Street NW., risk-based and leverage capital The FDIC removed certain items
Washington, DC 20429. requirements to be consistent with related to tier 1 common capital,
• Hand Delivery: Comments may be agreements reached by the Basel effective for the 2016 DFAST
hand-delivered to the guard station at Committee on Banking Supervision in submission. Additionally, the FDIC
the rear of the 17th Street Building ‘‘Basel III: A Global Regulatory added one item that captures the
(located on F Street), on business days Framework for More Resilient Banks aggregate non-significant investments in
between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. the capital of unconsolidated financial
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

and Banking Systems’’ (Basel III).2 The
All comments should refer to OMB final rule was published in the Federal institutions in the form of common
control number ‘‘3064–0189.’’ A copy of Register on April 14, 2014 (‘‘Revised stock and breaking out two items related
the comments may also be submitted to Capital Framework’’).3 The revisions to deferred tax assets into the amount
the OMB desk officer for the FDIC: include implementation of a new before valuation allowances and the
Office of Information and Regulatory associated valuation allowance. The
Affairs, Office of Management and 1 See 79 FR 69365 (November 21, 2014). additional information from these
Budget, New Executive Office Building, 2 78 FR 55340 (September 10, 2013). changes would result in two existing
Washington, DC 20503. 3 79 FR 20754 (April 14, 2014). items converting to derived items based

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Document Created: 2018-02-02 15:00:21
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 15:00:21

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of availability.
Dates		Comments must be received on or before May 2, 2016.
Contact		Diana Eignor, Health and Ecological Criteria Division, Office of Water (Mail Code 4304T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460;
FR Citation		81 FR 10620