82_FR_46034 82 FR 45845 - Notice of Final NPDES General Permit; Final NPDES General Permit for New and Existing Sources and New Dischargers in the Offshore Subcategory of the Oil and Gas Extraction Category for the Western Portion of the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico (GMG290000)

82 FR 45845 - Notice of Final NPDES General Permit; Final NPDES General Permit for New and Existing Sources and New Dischargers in the Offshore Subcategory of the Oil and Gas Extraction Category for the Western Portion of the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico (GMG290000)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 189 (October 2, 2017)

Page Range45845-45846
FR Document2017-21108

The Director of the Water Division, EPA Region 6 today provides notice that the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit No. GMG290000 for existing and new sources and new dischargers in the Offshore Subcategory of the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category, located in and discharging to the Outer Continental Shelf offshore of Louisiana and Texas was reissued on September 19, 2017, with an effective date of October 1, 2017. The discharge of produced water to that portion of the Outer Continental Shelf from Offshore Subcategory facilities located in the territorial seas of Louisiana and Texas is also authorized by this permit.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 189 (Monday, October 2, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 189 (Monday, October 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45845-45846]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21108]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9968-52-Region 6]


Notice of Final NPDES General Permit; Final NPDES General Permit 
for New and Existing Sources and New Dischargers in the Offshore 
Subcategory of the Oil and Gas Extraction Category for the Western 
Portion of the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico 
(GMG290000)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Final NPDES General Permit.

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

SUMMARY: The Director of the Water Division, EPA Region 6 today 
provides notice that the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
System (NPDES) General Permit No. GMG290000 for existing and new 
sources and new dischargers in the Offshore Subcategory of the Oil and 
Gas Extraction Point Source Category, located in and discharging to the 
Outer Continental Shelf offshore of Louisiana and Texas was reissued on 
September 19, 2017, with an effective date of October 1, 2017. The 
discharge of produced water to that portion of the Outer Continental 
Shelf from Offshore Subcategory facilities located in the territorial 
seas of Louisiana and Texas is also authorized by this permit.

DATES: This permit was issued September 19, 2017, is effective on 
October 1, 2017, and expires September 30, 2022. This effective date is 
necessary to provide dischargers with the immediate opportunity to 
comply with Clean Water Act requirements in light of the expiration of 
the 2012 permit on September 30, 2017. In accordance with 40 CFR 23, 
this permit shall be considered issued for the purpose of judicial 
review on October 16, 2017. Under section 509(b) of the CWA, judicial 
review of this general permit can be held by filing a petition for 
review in the United States Court of Appeals within 120 days after the 
permit is considered issued for judicial review. Under section 
509(b)(2) of the CWA, the requirements in this permit may not be 
challenged later in civil or criminal proceedings to enforce these 
requirements. In addition, this permit may not be challenged in other 
agency proceedings. Deadlines for submittal of notices of intent are 
provided in Part I.A.2 of the permit.

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. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of the proposal of the draft permit 
was published in the Federal Register on May 11, 2017. EPA Region 6 has 
considered all comments received and makes several significant changes 
as listed below. A copy of the Region's responses to comments and the 
final permit may be found online from the Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
http://www.regulations.gov with Docket ID No EPA-R6-OW-2017-0217. 
Significant changes include:
    1. An operator is not required to file eNOI 24-hour in advance to 
obtain permit coverage;
    2. An operator has up to one year after termination of lease 
ownership to file a Notice of Termination (NOT);
    3. In a case-by-case circumstance, the primary operator may require 
day-to-day or vessel operators to file their own eNOIs for dual 
coverages;
    4. Drilling vessels performing jobs within the same lease block may 
file one NOI for coverage;
    5. Bridged facilities may file one eNOI;
    6. In the event the eNOI system is temporarily unavailable, a 
written temporary NOI filed with certification and signature is good 
for seven days from the day of filing, but must be followed up with an 
eNOI;
    7. Existing permittees covered under the 2012 permit will be 
covered by this permit until April 1, 2018, with eNOIs to continue 
coverage due on or before that date;
    8. An oil and grease confirmation sample shall be taken within two 
hours after sheen is observed from produced water discharge;
    9. Toxicity testing frequency for produced water discharges remains 
the same as in the previous permit;
    10. Existing dischargers under the 2012 permit shall commence 
testing schedules in the 2017 permit as of the effective day of this 
permit;
    11. Additional toxicity testing for produced water after an 
application of well treatment, completion or workover fluids is not 
required; information on these discharges will be collected as part of 
the well treatment, completion, and workover fluids (TCW) Studies;
    12. The deadlines for operators to submit the Industry-wide Study 
Plan and the final report for well treatment, completion, and workover 
fluids are changed;
    13. A condition which requires operators to flush and capture 
hydrate control fluids or pipeline brine contained in pipelines, 
umbilical, or

[[Page 45846]]

jumpers before or at the time of abandonment is removed from the final 
permit;
    14. Fixed monitoring frequency is replaced with tier-approach 
monitoring frequency for intake velocity through the cooling water 
intake structure; and
    15. An exception to allow operators to submit SEAMAP data instead 
of entrainment monitoring is added.
    16. Monitoring exception for sanitary and domestic waste discharges 
using approved Marine Sanitation Devices (MSDs) from previous permit 
was reinstated.

Other Legal Requirements

Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive 
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

    Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this 
action is a ``significant regulatory action.'' Accordingly, EPA 
submitted this action to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 
2011) and any changes made in response to OMB recommendations have been 
documented in the docket for this action.
    Consideration of Other Federal or State Laws. State certification 
under section 401 of the CWA; consistency with the State Coastal 
Management Program; and 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 are discussed in the Region's Final Permit 
Fact Sheet.

    Dated: September 19, 2017.
William B. Honker,
Director, Water Division, EPA Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2017-21108 Filed 9-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Notices 45845 instructions; to develop, acquire, install, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Telephone: (214) 665–7515. Email: and utilize technology and systems for AGENCY rosborough.evelyn@epa.gov. the purposes of collecting, validating, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of [FRL–9968–52–Region 6] and verifying information, processing the proposal of the draft permit was and maintaining information, and Notice of Final NPDES General Permit; published in the Federal Register on disclosing and providing information; to Final NPDES General Permit for New May 11, 2017. EPA Region 6 has adjust the existing ways to comply with and Existing Sources and New considered all comments received and any previously applicable instructions Dischargers in the Offshore makes several significant changes as and requirements which have Subcategory of the Oil and Gas listed below. A copy of the Region’s subsequently changed; to train Extraction Category for the Western responses to comments and the final personnel to be able to respond to a Portion of the Outer Continental Shelf permit may be found online from the collection of information; to search data of the Gulf of Mexico (GMG290000) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// sources; to complete and review the www.regulations.gov with Docket ID No collection of information; and, to AGENCY: Environmental Protection EPA–R6–OW–2017–0217. Significant transmit or otherwise disclose the Agency (EPA). changes include: information. ACTION: Notice of Final NPDES General 1. An operator is not required to file The ICR provides a detailed Permit. eNOI 24-hour in advance to obtain explanation of the agency’s estimate, permit coverage; SUMMARY: The Director of the Water which is only briefly summarized here: 2. An operator has up to one year after Division, EPA Region 6 today provides Respondents/affected entities: State termination of lease ownership to file a notice that the National Pollutant and local governments. Notice of Termination (NOT); Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 3. In a case-by-case circumstance, the Estimated total number of affected General Permit No. GMG290000 for primary operator may require day-to- respondents: 17. existing and new sources and new day or vessel operators to file their own dischargers in the Offshore Subcategory Frequency of response: Annual. eNOIs for dual coverages; of the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Estimated total additional annual 4. Drilling vessels performing jobs Source Category, located in and burden hours: 20,667 hours. within the same lease block may file one discharging to the Outer Continental NOI for coverage; Estimated total additional annual Shelf offshore of Louisiana and Texas 5. Bridged facilities may file one cost: $1,404,757. This includes an was reissued on September 19, 2017, eNOI; estimated burden cost of $0 for capital with an effective date of October 1, 6. In the event the eNOI system is investment or maintenance and 2017. The discharge of produced water temporarily unavailable, a written operational costs. to that portion of the Outer Continental temporary NOI filed with certification Shelf from Offshore Subcategory and signature is good for seven days Are there changes in the estimates from facilities located in the territorial seas of the last approval? from the day of filing, but must be Louisiana and Texas is also authorized followed up with an eNOI; The total estimated respondent by this permit. 7. Existing permittees covered under burden during the 3-year period of this DATES: This permit was issued the 2012 permit will be covered by this ICR renewal is 62,000 hours, compared September 19, 2017, is effective on permit until April 1, 2018, with eNOIs with a total estimated respondent October 1, 2017, and expires September to continue coverage due on or before burden of 120,000 hours identified for 30, 2022. This effective date is necessary that date; the 3-year period covered by the original to provide dischargers with the 8. An oil and grease confirmation ICR approved by OMB. immediate opportunity to comply with sample shall be taken within two hours Clean Water Act requirements in light of after sheen is observed from produced What is the next step in the process for the expiration of the 2012 permit on water discharge; this ICR? September 30, 2017. In accordance with 9. Toxicity testing frequency for The EPA will consider the comments 40 CFR 23, this permit shall be produced water discharges remains the received on this proposal and will considered issued for the purpose of same as in the previous permit; amend the ICR as appropriate. The final judicial review on October 16, 2017. 10. Existing dischargers under the ICR package will then be submitted to Under section 509(b) of the CWA, 2012 permit shall commence testing OMB for review and approval pursuant judicial review of this general permit schedules in the 2017 permit as of the to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, the EPA can be held by filing a petition for effective day of this permit; will issue another Federal Register review in the United States Court of 11. Additional toxicity testing for notice pursuant to 5 CFR Appeals within 120 days after the produced water after an application of 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the permit is considered issued for judicial well treatment, completion or workover submission of the ICR to OMB and the review. Under section 509(b)(2) of the fluids is not required; information on opportunity to submit additional CWA, the requirements in this permit these discharges will be collected as comments to OMB. If you have any may not be challenged later in civil or part of the well treatment, completion, questions about this ICR or the approval criminal proceedings to enforce these and workover fluids (TCW) Studies; process, please contact the technical requirements. In addition, this permit 12. The deadlines for operators to may not be challenged in other agency submit the Industry-wide Study Plan sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. proceedings. Deadlines for submittal of and the final report for well treatment, notices of intent are provided in Part completion, and workover fluids are Dated: July 10, 2017. I.A.2 of the permit. changed; Anna Marie Wood, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 13. A condition which requires Director, Air Quality Policy Division. Evelyn Rosborough, Region 6, U.S. operators to flush and capture hydrate [FR Doc. 2017–21117 Filed 9–29–17; 8:45 am] Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 control fluids or pipeline brine BILLING CODE 6560–50–P Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202–2733. contained in pipelines, umbilical, or VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:01 Sep 29, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\02OCN1.SGM 02OCN1

45846 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Notices jumpers before or at the time of Resource Conservation and Recovery Site Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/ abandonment is removed from the final Act (RCRA), the Environmental region09/casmalia or by calling Russell permit; Protection Agency (EPA) is hereby Mechem at (415) 972–3192. 14. Fixed monitoring frequency is providing notice of a proposed SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section replaced with tier-approach monitoring administrative de minimis settlement 122(g) of CERCLA gives EPA authority frequency for intake velocity through concerning the Casmalia Resources to enter into administrative de minimis the cooling water intake structure; and Superfund Site in Santa Barbara County, settlements. Section 122(i) of CERCLA 15. An exception to allow operators to California (the Casmalia Resources Site). and section 7003 of RCRA require that submit SEAMAP data instead of CERCLA provides EPA with the EPA publish notice of a proposed entrainment monitoring is added. authority to enter into administrative de administrative de minimis settlement. 16. Monitoring exception for sanitary minimis settlements. This settlement is This settlement is intended to resolve and domestic waste discharges using intended to resolve the liabilities of the the liabilities of the settling parties approved Marine Sanitation Devices 57 settling parties identified below for under sections 106 and 107 of CERCLA (MSDs) from previous permit was the Casmalia Resources Site. These and section 7003 of RCRA for the reinstated. parties have also elected to resolve their Casmalia Resources Site. Other Legal Requirements liability for response costs and potential The parties that have elected to settle natural resource damage claims by the their liability with EPA at this time are Executive Order 12866: Regulatory United States Fish and Wildlife Service as follows: ABB Group, Inc.; Advanced Planning and Review and Executive (USFWS) and the National Oceanic and Structures Corporation; Alameda Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). County Fire Department; Alisal Guest Regulatory Review These 57 parties sent 6,517,494 lbs. of Ranch and Golf Resort; ALSCO, Inc.; Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR waste to the Casmalia Resources Site, American Forest Products Co.; Angell 51735, October 4, 1993), this action is a which represents 0.00114 (0.114%) of and Giroux, Inc.; ASV Wines, Inc.; ‘‘significant regulatory action.’’ the total Site waste of 5.6 billion Cadet Uniform; Cambro Manufacturing; Accordingly, EPA submitted this action pounds. This settlement requires these Coating Resources Corporation; Colfax to the Office of Management and Budget parties to pay $590,772 to EPA. Corporation; Conejo Recreation & Park (OMB) for review under Executive DATES: EPA will receive written District; County of Alameda; Custom Orders 12866 and 13563 (76 FR 3821, comments relating to the settlement Building Products, Inc.; Data Products January 21, 2011) and any changes made until November 1, 2017. EPA will Corporation; Denso Products and in response to OMB recommendations consider all comments it receives during Services Americas, Inc. (on behalf of have been documented in the docket for this period, and may modify or American Industrial Manufacturing this action. withdraw consent to the settlement if Services); Electronic Precision Consideration of Other Federal or any comments disclose facts or Specialties, Inc.; Federal Cartridge State Laws. State certification under considerations indicating that the Company on behalf of Omark Industries; section 401 of the CWA; consistency settlement is inappropriate, improper, Fuentes-Ford Enterprises; H–H Heat with the State Coastal Management or inadequate. Treating, aka Bodycote Thermal Program; and compliance with National Public Meeting: In accordance with Processing, Inc.; Hearst Corporation; Environmental Policy Act, Endangered section 7003(d) of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. Hendry Mechanical Works/Hendry Species Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 6973(d), commenters may request an Telephone Products; Holz Rubber Conservation and Management Act, opportunity for a public meeting in the Company, Inc.; Homer T. Hayward Historic Preservation Act, Paperwork affected area. The deadline for Lumber Co., successor-in-interest to Reduction Act, and Regulatory requesting a public meeting is October County Lumber Company; Hubbell, Inc.; Flexibility Act are discussed in the 16, 2017. Requests for a public meeting J Buchbinder Industrial; Jervis B. Webb Region’s Final Permit Fact Sheet. may be made by contacting Russell Company, as former shareholder of Dated: September 19, 2017. Mechem by email at Mechem.russell@ Jervis B. Webb Company of California; epa.gov. If a public meeting is KEC Company; Kelly Moore Paint William B. Honker, requested, information about the date Company, Inc.; Kem-Mil Company; Director, Water Division, EPA Region 6. and time of the meeting will be Kirby Automotive; Leidos, Inc.; Liquid [FR Doc. 2017–21108 Filed 9–29–17; 8:45 am] published in the local newspaper, The Carbonic Corp.; Liquid Waste Test BILLING CODE 6560–50–P Santa Maria Times, and will be sent to Facility; McCann’s Engineering & Mfg, persons on the EPA’s Casmalia Co.; Moldex-Metric, Inc.; Monterey Resources Site mailing list. To be added Regional Waste Management District; ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION to the mailing list, please contact: AGENCY Munroe & Sons Manufacturing; Nestle Alejandro Diaz at (415)972–3242 or by S.A.; Oscar E. Erickson, Inc.; PCL [FRL–9968–39–Region 9] email at diaz.alejandro@epa.gov. Construction Company; Plasticolor ADDRESSES: Written comments should Molded Products; Prime Healthcare; Casmalia Resources Superfund Site; be addressed to Casmalia Case Team, Princeton Packaging, Inc.; Reynolds & Notice of Proposed CERCLA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Taylor; Richards Surgical Mfg. Co.; Administrative De Minimis Settlement Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street (mail Roofing Wholesale Company; Sage AGENCY: Environmental Protection code SFD–7–1), San Francisco, Mitsubishi; Siemens Healthcare California 94105–3901, or may be sent Diagnostics, Inc., settles on behalf of sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice; request for public by email to Mechem.russell@epa.gov. Syva Diagnostics Holding Company and comment. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A entity Behring Diagnostics acquired copy of the settlement document and through Dade-Behring; Specialty SUMMARY: In accordance with the additional information about the Extrusion Ltd.; Successor Agency to Comprehensive Environmental Casmalia Resources Site and the Culver City Redevelopment Agency; Response, Compensation, and Liability proposed settlement may be obtained on Tenet Healthcare; Terminal Data Act, as amended (CERCLA) and the the EPA-maintained Casmalia Resources Corporation; Thomsen Equipment VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:01 Sep 29, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\02OCN1.SGM 02OCN1


Document Created: 2017-09-30 04:41:32
Document Modified: 2017-09-30 04:41:32
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
ActionNotice of Final NPDES General Permit.
DatesThis permit was issued September 19, 2017, is effective on October 1, 2017, and expires September 30, 2022. This effective date is necessary to provide dischargers with the immediate opportunity to comply with Clean Water Act requirements in light of the expiration of the 2012 permit on September 30, 2017. In accordance with 40 CFR 23, this permit shall be considered issued for the purpose of judicial review on October 16, 2017. Under section 509(b) of the CWA, judicial review of this general permit can be held by filing a petition for review in the United States Court of Appeals within 120 days after the permit is considered issued for judicial review. Under section 509(b)(2) of the CWA, the requirements in this permit may not be challenged later in civil or criminal proceedings to enforce these requirements. In addition, this permit may not be challenged in other agency proceedings. Deadlines for submittal of notices of intent are provided in Part I.A.2 of the permit.
ContactMs. Evelyn Rosborough, Region 6, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202- 2733. Telephone: (214) 665-7515. Email: [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 45845 
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR