82_FR_19121 82 FR 19043 - Draft NPDES General Permit for Discharges From the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category to Coastal Waters in Texas (TXG330000)

82 FR 19043 - Draft NPDES General Permit for Discharges From the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category to Coastal Waters in Texas (TXG330000)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 78 (April 25, 2017)

Page Range19043-19044
FR Document2017-08255

EPA Region 6 today proposes a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit regulating discharges from oil and gas wells in the Coastal Subcategory in Texas which discharge into coastal waters in Texas.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 78 (Tuesday, April 25, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19043-19044]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08255]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9960-17-Region 6]


Draft NPDES General Permit for Discharges From the Oil and Gas 
Extraction Point Source Category to Coastal Waters in Texas (TXG330000)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposal of NPDES general permit renewal.

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SUMMARY: EPA Region 6 today proposes a National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) general permit regulating discharges from 
oil and gas wells in the Coastal Subcategory in Texas which discharge 
into coastal waters in Texas.

DATES: Comments must be received by June 9, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Comment: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. 
EPA-R06-OW-2017-0160 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 Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn.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 https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Evelyn Rosborough, Region 6, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-
2733. Telephone: (214) 665-7515.
    A complete draft permit and a fact sheet more fully explaining the 
proposal may be obtained online from the Federal eRulemaking Portal 
accessing the Docket listed above or from Ms. Rosborough. In addition, 
the Agency's current administrative record on the proposal is available 
for examination at the Region's Dallas offices during normal working 
hours after providing Ms. Rosborough 24 hours advance notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The permit prohibits the discharge of 
drilling fluid, drill cuttings, produced sand and well treatment, 
completion and workover fluids. Discharges of dewatering effluents from 
reserve pits are also proposed to be prohibited. Produced water 
discharges are prohibited. The discharge of deck drainage, formation 
test fluids, sanitary waste, domestic waste and miscellaneous 
discharges is authorized. More stringent requirements are proposed to 
regulate discharges to water quality-impaired waterbodies. Pursuant to 
the section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act (CWA), monitoring 
requirements for cooling water intake structures for new facilities are 
also proposed in this permit. Proposed changes include clarification of 
miscellaneous discharges and electronic reporting requirements. 
Rationales for those changes are described in the fact sheet. To obtain 
discharge authorization, operators of such facilities must submit a new 
Notice of Intent (NOI). To determine whether your facility, company, 
business, organization, etc. is regulated by this action, you should 
carefully examine the applicability criteria in Part I, Section A.1 of 
this permit.
    If you have questions regarding the applicability of this action to 
a particular entity, consult the person listed in the preceding FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

Other Legal Requirements

    State certification under section 401 of the CWA; consistency with 
the Texas Coastal Management Program; and

[[Page 19044]]

compliance with National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species 
Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Historic 
Preservation Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, and Regulatory Flexibility 
Act requirements are discussed in the fact sheet to the proposed 
permit.

    Dated: March 2, 2017.
William K. Honker,
Director, Water Division, EPA Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2017-08255 Filed 4-24-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 78 / Tuesday, April 25, 2017 / Notices 19043 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: During the on the web, cloud, or other file sharing AGENCY meeting, the Subcommittee may also system). For additional submission hear progress reports from some of its methods, the full EPA public comment [FRL–9961–64–OAR] workgroups as well as updates and policy, information about CBI or announcements on activities of general multimedia submissions, and general Meeting of the Mobile Sources interest to attendees. guidance on making effective Technical Review Subcommittee For Individuals With Disabilities: For comments, please visit https:// information on access or services for www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa- AGENCY: Environmental Protection dockets. individuals with disabilities, please Agency (EPA). contact Ms. McCubbin (see above). To FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. ACTION: Notice of meeting. request accommodation of a disability, Evelyn Rosborough, Region 6, U.S. please contact Ms. McCubbin, Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal preferably at least 10 days prior to the Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202–2733. Advisory Committee Act notice is meeting, to give EPA as much time as Telephone: (214) 665–7515. hereby given that the Mobile Sources possible to process your request. A complete draft permit and a fact Technical Review Subcommittee (MSTRS) will meet on May 31, 2017. Dated: April 5, 2017. sheet more fully explaining the proposal The MSTRS is a subcommittee under Christopher Grundler, may be obtained online from the Federal the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee. Office Director, Office of Transportation and eRulemaking Portal accessing the This is an open meeting. The meeting Air Quality. Docket listed above or from Ms. will include discussion of current topics [FR Doc. 2017–08254 Filed 4–24–17; 8:45 am] Rosborough. In addition, the Agency’s and presentations about activities being BILLING CODE 6560–50–P current administrative record on the conducted by EPA’s Office of proposal is available for examination at Transportation and Air Quality. The the Region’s Dallas offices during preliminary agenda for the meeting and ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION normal working hours after providing any notices about change in venue will AGENCY Ms. Rosborough 24 hours advance be posted on the Subcommittee’s Web notice. [FRL–9960–17–Region 6] site: http://www2.epa.gov/caaac/mobile- SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The sources-technical-review-subcommittee- Draft NPDES General Permit for permit prohibits the discharge of mstrs-caaac. MSTRS listserv subscribers Discharges From the Oil and Gas drilling fluid, drill cuttings, produced will receive notification when the Extraction Point Source Category to sand and well treatment, completion agenda is available on the Coastal Waters in Texas (TXG330000) and workover fluids. Discharges of Subcommittee Web site. To subscribe to dewatering effluents from reserve pits the MSTRS listserv, send an email to AGENCY: Environmental Protection are also proposed to be prohibited. mccubbin.courtney@epa.gov. Agency (EPA). Produced water discharges are DATES: Wednesday, May 31, 2017 from ACTION: Proposal of NPDES general prohibited. The discharge of deck 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration permit renewal. drainage, formation test fluids, sanitary begins at 8:30 a.m. SUMMARY: EPA Region 6 today proposes waste, domestic waste and ADDRESSES: The meeting is currently a National Pollutant Discharge miscellaneous discharges is authorized. scheduled to be held at Washington Elimination System (NPDES) general More stringent requirements are Marriott Metro Center, 775 12th Street permit regulating discharges from oil proposed to regulate discharges to water NW., Washington, DC 20005. However, and gas wells in the Coastal Subcategory quality-impaired waterbodies. Pursuant this date and location are subject to in Texas which discharge into coastal to the section 316(b) of the Clean Water change and interested parties should waters in Texas. Act (CWA), monitoring requirements for monitor the Subcommittee Web site cooling water intake structures for new DATES: Comments must be received by (above) for the latest logistical facilities are also proposed in this June 9, 2017. permit. Proposed changes include information. ADDRESSES: Comment: Submit your clarification of miscellaneous discharges FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: comments, identified by Docket ID No. and electronic reporting requirements. Courtney McCubbin, Designated Federal EPA–R06–OW–2017–0160 to the Rationales for those changes are Officer, Transportation and Climate Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// described in the fact sheet. To obtain Division, Mailcode 6406A, U.S. EPA, www.regulations.gov. Follow the online discharge authorization, operators of 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., instructions for submitting comments. such facilities must submit a new Notice Washington, DC 20460; Ph: 202–564– Once submitted, comments cannot be of Intent (NOI). To determine whether 2436; email: mccubbin.courtney@ edited or withdrawn. EPA may publish your facility, company, business, epa.gov. any comment received to its public organization, etc. is regulated by this Background on the work of the docket. Do not submit electronically any action, you should carefully examine Subcommittee is available at: https:// information you consider to be the applicability criteria in Part I, www.epa.gov/caaac/mobile-sources- Confidential Business Information (CBI) Section A.1 of this permit. technical-review-subcommittee-mstrs- or other information whose disclosure is If you have questions regarding the caaac Individuals or organizations restricted by statute. Multimedia asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES applicability of this action to a wishing to provide comments to the submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be particular entity, consult the person Subcommittee should submit them to accompanied by a written comment. listed in the preceding FOR FURTHER Ms. McCubbin at the address above by The written comment is considered the INFORMATION CONTACT section. May 17, 2017. The Subcommittee official comment and should include expects that public statements presented discussion of all points you wish to Other Legal Requirements at its meetings will not be repetitive of make. EPA will generally not consider State certification under section 401 previously submitted oral or written comments or comment contents located of the CWA; consistency with the Texas statements. outside of the primary submission (i.e. Coastal Management Program; and VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:42 Apr 24, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\25APN1.SGM 25APN1

19044 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 78 / Tuesday, April 25, 2017 / Notices compliance with National comments, please visit https:// Other Legal Requirements Environmental Policy Act, Endangered www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa- State certification under section 401 Species Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery dockets. of the CWA; compliance with Conservation and Management Act, Endangered Species Act, Historic Historic Preservation Act, Paperwork FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Preservation Act, Paperwork Reduction Reduction Act, and Regulatory Evelyn Rosborough, Region 6, U.S. Act, and Regulatory Flexibility Act Flexibility Act requirements are Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 requirements are discussed in the fact discussed in the fact sheet to the Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202–2733. sheet to the proposed permit. proposed permit. Telephone: (214) 665–7515. Dated: March 2, 2017. Dated: March 2, 2017. A complete draft permit and a fact William K. Honker, William K. Honker, sheet more fully explaining the proposal Director, Water Division, EPA Region 6. Director, Water Division, EPA Region 6. may be obtained online from the Federal [FR Doc. 2017–08256 Filed 4–24–17; 8:45 am] [FR Doc. 2017–08255 Filed 4–24–17; 8:45 am] eRulemaking Portal accessing the BILLING CODE 6560–50–P BILLING CODE 6560–50–P Docket listed above or from Ms. Rosborough. In addition, the Agency’s current administrative record on the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION proposal is available for examination at AGENCY AGENCY the Region’s Dallas offices during normal working hours after providing [EPA–HQ–OPPT–2016–0511; FRL–9959–33] [FRL–9960–18–Region 6] Ms. Rosborough 24 hours advance Certain New Chemicals or Significant Proposed Issuance of the NPDES notice. New Uses; Statements of Findings for General Permit for Discharges From December 2016 the Oil and Gas Extraction Point SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Source Category—Stripper current permit authorizes discharges of AGENCY: Environmental Protection Subcategory in Texas (TXG350000) produced water from wells in the Agency (EPA). Stripper Subcategory located east of the ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Environmental Protection 98th meridian whose produced water Agency (EPA). comes from the Carrizo/Wilcox, Reklaw SUMMARY: Section 5(g) of the Toxic ACTION: Proposal of NPDES General or Bartosh formations in Texas as Substances Control Act (TSCA) requires Permit Renewal. authorized by the expiring permit. EPA EPA to publish in the Federal Register is soliciting comments whether to a statement of its findings after its SUMMARY: EPA Region 6 today proposes expand the permit coverage to include review of TSCA section 5(a) notices a National Pollutant Discharge all stripper wells in Texas. The permit when EPA makes a finding that a new Elimination System (NPDES) general proposes to authorize discharges of chemical substance or significant new permit regulating discharges from oil produced water, well field drainage, and use is not likely to present an and gas wells in the Stripper chemical-free miscellaneous discharges. unreasonable risk of injury to health or Subcategory which discharge into More stringent requirements are the environment. Such statements apply waters in Texas. proposed to regulate discharges to water to premanufacture notices (PMNs), DATES: Comments must be received by microbial commercial activity notices June 9, 2017. quality-impaired waterbodies. Proposed changes include (1) removal of (MCANs), and significant new use ADDRESSES: Comment: Submit your notices (SNUNs) submitted to EPA authorization for sanitary waste, comments, identified by Docket ID No. under TSCA section 5. This document domestic waste, and miscellaneous EPA–R06–OW–2017–0161 to the presents statements of findings made by discharges which are unrelated to Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// EPA on TSCA section 5(a) notices stripper well operations; (2) removal of www.regulations.gov. Follow the online during the period from December 1, instructions for submitting comments. authorization of direct discharge to coastal waters; (3) revision of the 2016 to December 31, 2016. Once submitted, comments cannot be FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For edited or withdrawn. EPA may publish toxicity monitoring requirement and removal of the ion-imbalance technical information contact: Greg any comment received to its public Schweer, Chemical Control Divison docket. Do not submit electronically any exemption; (4) the addition of electronic filing requirements for Notices of Intent (7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention information you consider to be and Toxics, Environmental Protection Confidential Business Information (CBI) (NOIs); and (5) the addition of a ‘‘sufficiently sensitive method’’ Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., or other information whose disclosure is Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone restricted by statute. Multimedia requirement for analysis. Rationales for those changes are described in the Fact number: 202–564–8469; email address: submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be schweer.greg@epa.gov. accompanied by a written comment. Sheet. To obtain discharge For general information contact: The The written comment is considered the authorization, operators of such TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 422 official comment and should include facilities must submit a new NOI. To South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY discussion of all points you wish to determine whether your facility, 14620; telephone number: (202) 554– make. EPA will generally not consider company, business, organization, etc. is asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 1404; email address: TSCA-Hotline@ comments or comment contents located regulated by this action, you should epa.gov. outside of the primary submission (i.e., carefully examine the applicability on the web, cloud, or other file sharing criteria in Part I, Section A.1 of this SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: system). For additional submission permit. If you have questions regarding I. General Information methods, the full EPA public comment the applicability of this action to a policy, information about CBI or particular entity, consult the person A. Does this action apply to me? multimedia submissions, and general listed in the preceding FOR FURTHER This action is directed to the public guidance on making effective INFORMATION CONTACT section. in general. As such, the Agency has not VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:42 Apr 24, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\25APN1.SGM 25APN1


Document Created: 2017-04-25 02:18:45
Document Modified: 2017-04-25 02:18:45
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionProposal of NPDES general permit renewal.
DatesComments must be received by June 9, 2017.
ContactMs. Evelyn Rosborough, Region 6, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202- 2733. Telephone: (214) 665-7515.
FR Citation82 FR 19043 
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