82 FR 6533 - Proposed Reissuance of the NPDES General Permit for Facilities Related to Oil and Gas Extraction in the Territorial Seas of Texas
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 12 (January 19, 2017)
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 12 (January 19, 2017)
| Page Range | 6533-6534 | |
| FR Document | 2017-01082 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 6533-6534] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-01082] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-R06-OW-2017-0017; FRL-9958-31-Region 6] Proposed Reissuance of the NPDES General Permit for Facilities Related to Oil and Gas Extraction in the Territorial Seas of Texas AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability for comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Director of the Water Division, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 today proposes to reissue the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for the Territorial Seas of Texas (No. TXG260000) for discharges from existing and new dischargers and New Sources in the Offshore Subcategory of the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category as authorized by section 402 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1342. The permit will supersede the previous general permit (TXG260000) issued on February 8, 2012 and published in the Federal Register at 77 FR 8855. This permit renewal authorizes discharges from exploration, development, and production facilities located in and discharging to the territorial seas off Texas. Comment: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R06- OW-2017-0017 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 Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn.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. DATES: Comments must be received by March 6, 2017. 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]. A complete draft permit and a fact sheet more fully explaining the proposal may be obtained 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. A copy of the proposed permit, fact sheet, and this Federal Register Notice may be found on the EPA Region 6 Web site at: https://www3.epa.gov/region6/water/npdes/genpermit/index.htm. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA intends to use the proposed reissued permit to regulate discharges from oil and gas extraction facilities located in the territorial seas off Texas. 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.2 of the permit. If you have questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above. The proposed permit contains limitations conforming to EPA's Oil and Gas Extraction, Offshore Subcategory Effluent Limitation Guidelines at 40 CFR part 435 and additional requirements assuring that regulated discharges will not cause unreasonable degradation of the marine environment, as required by section 403(c) of the Clean Water Act. Limitations and conditions are also included to ensure compliance with State Water Quality Standards. Specific information on the derivation of those limitations and conditions is contained in the fact sheet. Specifically, the draft permit proposes to prohibit the discharge of drilling fluids, drill cuttings and produced sand. Produced water discharges are limited for oil and grease, 7-day chronic toxicity, and 48-hour acute toxicity. In addition to limits on oil and grease, the proposed permit includes a prohibition of the discharge of priority pollutants except in trace amounts in well treatment, completion, and workover fluids. A limit of ``No Free Oil'' is proposed for miscellaneous discharges, such as non- contact cooling water and [[Page 6534]] ballast water, and on deck drainage discharges. Discharges of seawater and freshwater which have been used to pressure test existing pipelines and piping, to which treatment chemicals have been added, are proposed to be subject to limitations on free oil, concentration of treatment chemicals, and acute toxicity. New facilities withdrawing cooling water greater than 2 million gallons per day (MGD) are required to have the best technology available for minimizing fish/shellfish impingement mortality and entrainment caused by cooling water intake structures. Pursuant to the electronic reporting rule published in the Federal Register (80 FR 64063), a new electronic reporting requirement is added to the proposed permit. Other Legal Requirements State certification under section 401 of the CWA; consistency with the Texas 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 requirements are discussed in the fact sheet to the proposed permit. Dated: December 28, 2016. William K. Honker, Director, Water Division, EPA Region 6. [FR Doc. 2017-01082 Filed 1-18-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 2017 / Notices 6533
B. How and to whom do I submit ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DATES: Comments must be received by
comments? AGENCY March 6, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
You may submit comments as [EPA–R06–OW–2017–0017; FRL–9958–31- Evelyn Rosborough, Region 6, U.S.
provided in the ADDRESSES section. Region 6] Environmental Protection Agency, 1445
Please ensure that your comments are Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202–2733.
submitted within the specified comment Proposed Reissuance of the NPDES
Telephone: (214) 665–7515. Email:
period. Comments received after the General Permit for Facilities Related to
rosborough.evelyn@epa.gov.
close of the comment period will be Oil and Gas Extraction in the Territorial A complete draft permit and a fact
marked ‘‘late.’’ EPA is not required to Seas of Texas sheet more fully explaining the proposal
consider these late comments. AGENCY: Environmental Protection may be obtained from Ms. Rosborough.
If you submit an electronic comment, Agency (EPA). In addition, the Agency’s current
EPA recommends that you include your ACTION: Notice of availability for
administrative record on the proposal is
name, mailing address, and an email comment. available for examination at the Region’s
address or other contact information in Dallas offices during normal working
SUMMARY: The Director of the Water hours after providing Ms. Rosborough
the body of your comment and with any
Division, Environmental Protection 24 hours advance notice. A copy of the
disk or CD ROM you submit. This
Agency (EPA) Region 6 today proposes proposed permit, fact sheet, and this
ensures that you can be identified as the
to reissue the National Pollutant Federal Register Notice may be found
submitter of the comment and allows on the EPA Region 6 Web site at:
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
EPA to contact you in case EPA cannot https://www3.epa.gov/region6/water/
general permit for the Territorial Seas of
read your comment due to technical npdes/genpermit/index.htm.
Texas (No. TXG260000) for discharges
difficulties or needs further information from existing and new dischargers and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA
on the substance of your comment. Any New Sources in the Offshore intends to use the proposed reissued
identifying or contact information Subcategory of the Oil and Gas permit to regulate discharges from oil
provided in the body of a comment will Extraction Point Source Category as and gas extraction facilities located in
be included as part of the comment that authorized by section 402 of the Clean the territorial seas off Texas. To obtain
is placed in the official public docket, Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1342. The permit discharge authorization, operators of
and made available in EPA’s electronic will supersede the previous general such facilities must submit a new Notice
public docket. If EPA cannot read your permit (TXG260000) issued on February of Intent (NOI). To determine whether
comment due to technical difficulties 8, 2012 and published in the Federal your (facility, company, business,
and cannot contact you for clarification, Register at 77 FR 8855. This permit organization, etc.) is regulated by this
EPA may not be able to consider your renewal authorizes discharges from action, you should carefully examine
comment. exploration, development, and the applicability criteria in Part I,
Use of the www.regulations.gov Web production facilities located in and Section A.2 of the permit. If you have
site to submit comments to EPA discharging to the territorial seas off questions regarding the applicability of
electronically is EPA’s preferred method Texas. this action to a particular entity, consult
for receiving comments. The electronic Comment: Submit your comments, the person listed in the FOR FURTHER
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R06– INFORMATION CONTACT section above. The
public docket system is an ‘‘anonymous
OW–2017–0017 to the Federal proposed permit contains limitations
access’’ system, which means EPA will
eRulemaking Portal: http:// conforming to EPA’s Oil and Gas
not know your identity, email address, www.regulations.gov. Follow the online Extraction, Offshore Subcategory
or other contact information unless you instructions for submitting comments. Effluent Limitation Guidelines at 40
provide it in the body of your comment. Once submitted, comments cannot be CFR part 435 and additional
In contrast to EPA’s electronic public edited or withdrawn. EPA may publish requirements assuring that regulated
docket, EPA’s electronic mail (email) any comment received to its public discharges will not cause unreasonable
system is not an ‘‘anonymous access’’ docket. Do not submit electronically any degradation of the marine environment,
system. If you send an email comment information you consider to be as required by section 403(c) of the
directly to the Docket without going Confidential Business Information (CBI) Clean Water Act. Limitations and
through www.regulations.gov, your or other information whose disclosure is conditions are also included to ensure
email address is automatically captured restricted by statute. Multimedia compliance with State Water Quality
and included as part of the comment submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be Standards. Specific information on the
that is placed in the official public accompanied by a written comment. derivation of those limitations and
docket, and made available in EPA’s The written comment is considered the conditions is contained in the fact sheet.
electronic public docket. official comment and should include Specifically, the draft permit proposes
discussion of all points you wish to to prohibit the discharge of drilling
Dated: January 11, 2017.
make. EPA will generally not consider fluids, drill cuttings and produced sand.
Lorie J. Schmidt, comments or comment contents located Produced water discharges are limited
Associate General Counsel. outside of the primary submission (i.e. for oil and grease, 7-day chronic
[FR Doc. 2017–01099 Filed 1–18–17; 8:45 am] on the web, cloud, or other file sharing toxicity, and 48-hour acute toxicity. In
system). For additional submission addition to limits on oil and grease, the
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
methods, the full EPA public comment proposed permit includes a prohibition
policy, information about CBI or of the discharge of priority pollutants
multimedia submissions, and general except in trace amounts in well
guidance on making effective treatment, completion, and workover
comments, please visit https:// fluids. A limit of ‘‘No Free Oil’’ is
www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa- proposed for miscellaneous discharges,
dockets. such as non-contact cooling water and
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![6534 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 2017 / Notices
ballast water, and on deck drainage ACTION: Notice of final permit issuance. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
discharges. Discharges of seawater and further information on the permit,
freshwater which have been used to SUMMARY: All ten EPA Regions today are contact the appropriate EPA Regional
pressure test existing pipelines and issuing the 2017 National Pollutant office listed in Section I.C of this notice,
piping, to which treatment chemicals Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) or Emily Halter, EPA Headquarters,
have been added, are proposed to be general permit for stormwater Office of Water, Office of Wastewater
subject to limitations on free oil, discharges from construction activities Management at tel.: 202–564–3324 or
concentration of treatment chemicals, to waters of the United States, also email: halter.emily@epa.gov.
and acute toxicity. New facilities referred to as the ‘‘2017 Construction
withdrawing cooling water greater than General Permit (CGP).’’ The 2017 CGP SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
2 million gallons per day (MGD) are replaces the existing general permit (the section is organized as follows:
required to have the best technology ‘‘2012 CGP’’) covering stormwater Table of Contents
available for minimizing fish/shellfish discharges from construction activities
impingement mortality and entrainment that expires on February 16, 2017. EPA I. General Information
caused by cooling water intake is issuing this permit for five (5) years, A. Does this action apply to me?
structures. Pursuant to the electronic during which time the permit will make B. How can I get copies of these documents
reporting rule published in the Federal available coverage to eligible operators and other related information?
Register (80 FR 64063), a new electronic in all areas of the country where EPA is C. Who are the EPA regional contacts for
reporting requirement is added to the the NPDES permitting authority. This this permit?
proposed permit. Federal Register notice describes the II. Background of Permit
2017 CGP in general and provides a III. Summary of the Final 2017 CGP
Other Legal Requirements
summary of the significant changes from A. Technology-Based Effluent Limits
State certification under section 401 the 2012 CGP. B. Water Quality-Based Effluent Limits
of the CWA; consistency with the Texas (WQBELs)
Coastal Management Program; and DATES: The 2017 CGP will become C. Summary of Significant Permit Changes
compliance with National effective on February 16, 2017. This from the 2012 CGP
Environmental Policy Act, Endangered effective date will provide dischargers IV. Implementation Assistance
Species Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery with the immediate opportunity to V. Analysis of Economic Impacts
Conservation and Management Act, comply with Clean Water Act VI. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Historic Preservation Act, Paperwork requirements in light of the expiration Planning and Review and Executive
Reduction Act, and Regulatory of the 2012 CGP at midnight on Order 13563: Improving Regulation and
Flexibility Act requirements are February 16, 2017. In accordance with Regulatory Review
discussed in the fact sheet to the 40 CFR part 23, specifically 23.2, this VII. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions
proposed permit. permit shall be considered issued for To Address Environmental Justice in
Dated: December 28, 2016. the purpose of judicial review on Minority Populations and Low-Income
William K. Honker, January 25, 2017. Under section 509(b) Populations
of the Clean Water Act, judicial review VIII. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
Director, Water Division, EPA Region 6.
of this general permit can be requested and Coordination With Indian Tribal
[FR Doc. 2017–01082 Filed 1–18–17; 8:45 am]
by filing a petition for review in the Governments
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
United States Court of Appeals within
I. General Information
120 days after the permit is considered
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION issued. Under section 509(b)(2) of the A. Does this action apply to me?
AGENCY Clean Water Act, this permit may not be
challenged later in civil or criminal 1. Entities Covered by This Permit
[EPA–HQ–OW–2015–0828; FRL–9958–68– proceedings to enforce this permit. In
OW] This permit covers the following
addition, this permit may not be entities, as categorized in the North
challenged in any other agency American Industry Classification
Final National Pollutant Discharge
proceedings. Deadlines for submittal of
Elimination System (NPDES) General System (NAICS):
notices of intent are provided in Part
Permit for Stormwater Discharges
1.4.3 of the permit. The permit also
From Construction Activities
provides additional dates for
AGENCY: Environmental Protection compliance with the terms of the
Agency (EPA). permit.
TABLE 1—ENTITIES COVERED BY THIS PERMIT
North American
Industry
Category Examples of affected entities Classification System
(NAICS) code
Industry ......................... Construction site operators disturbing one (1) or more acres of land, or less than one (1) acre but part of a larger
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
common plan of development or sale if the larger common plan will ultimately disturb one (1) acre or more, and
performing the following activities:
Construction of Buildings ............................................................................................................. 236
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction .................................................................................. 237
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Document Created: 2018-02-01 15:16:20
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 15:16:20
| 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 for comment. | |
| Dates | Comments must be received by March 6, 2017. | |
| 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] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 6533 |
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