83_FR_44793 83 FR 44623 - Public Listening Session; Stakeholder Input on Peak Flows Management

83 FR 44623 - Public Listening Session; Stakeholder Input on Peak Flows Management

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 170 (August 31, 2018)

Page Range44623-44625
FR Document2018-19016

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is interested in the views of the public on possible approaches to updating the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations related to the management of peak wet weather flows at Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) treatment plants serving separate sanitary sewer collection systems. Consequently, EPA is inviting interested members of the public to three planned listening sessions on: October 16, 2018 at EPA Headquarters in Washington, DC, October 24, 2018 at EPA Region 7 in Lenexa, Kansas, and October 30, 2018 to be held online. EPA welcomes oral or written information at the listening sessions as well as any other information the public may wish to provide EPA through the docket (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2018-0420).

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 170 (Friday, August 31, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 170 (Friday, August 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44623-44625]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19016]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2018-0420; FRL-9983-12-OW]


Public Listening Session; Stakeholder Input on Peak Flows 
Management

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is interested in the 
views of the public on possible approaches to updating the National 
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations related to 
the management of peak wet weather flows at Publicly Owned Treatment 
Works (POTWs) treatment plants serving separate sanitary sewer 
collection systems. Consequently, EPA is inviting interested members of 
the public to three planned listening sessions on: October 16, 2018 at 
EPA Headquarters in Washington, DC, October 24, 2018 at EPA Region 7 in 
Lenexa, Kansas, and October 30, 2018 to be held online. EPA welcomes 
oral or written information at the listening sessions as well as any 
other information the public may wish to provide EPA through the docket 
(Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2018-0420).

DATES: The in-person listening sessions will be held at EPA 
Headquarters in Washington, DC on October 16, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 
2:00 p.m. EDT; and in EPA Region 7 in Lenexa, Kansas on October 24, 
2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. CDT. In addition to the in-person 
listening sessions, EPA will hold an online listening session on 
October 30, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT.
    For those who intend to submit written statements to the docket, 
EPA is asking that this information be provided before October 31, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: The in-person listening sessions will be held at the 
following locations:
     For the EPA Headquarters in Washington, DC listening 
session: US EPA Headquarters, William Jefferson Clinton East Building, 
Room 1153, 1201 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004;
     For the EPA Region 7 listening session: 11201 Renner 
Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219.
    The online listening session will be accessible though https://www.epa.gov/npdes/peak-flows-sewage-treatment-plants.
    To register for any of the listening sessions go to: https://www.epa.gov/npdes/peak-flows-sewage-treatment-plants.
    To submit written information to EPA: Submit any written statements 
or input, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2018-0420, 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/commentingepa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamie Piziali, Water Permits Division, 
Office of Water, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-1709; or 
email: peakflowsrule@epa.gov. Also see the following website for 
additional information regarding the rulemaking: https://www.epa.gov/npdes/municipal-wastewater.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 44624]]

I. General Information

A. Public Listening Session

    i. Public Listening Sessions: EPA will hold two public listening 
sessions to gather feedback from interested members of the public on 
the issues and concerns that the Agency should be aware of during this 
rulemaking. The public listening sessions will begin with EPA providing 
a brief background on peak flows management issues and EPA's goals for 
this rulemaking. This will then be followed by an opportunity for the 
public to provide input on these issues. EPA is asking that oral 
statements be limited to three minutes or less and is welcoming written 
statements at the sessions. Each listening session will begin at 9:00 
a.m. local time and continue until all those wishing to speak have had 
a chance to provide comments, or until 2:00 p.m., whichever comes 
first. A transcript of oral remarks made during the listening sessions 
will be at https://www.epa.gov/npdes/municipal-wastewater and included 
in the rulemaking docket.
    ii. Online Listening Session: In addition to the in-person 
listening sessions, EPA will also hold a ``virtual'' listening session 
via a webcast on October 30, 2018, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT. 
The same format will be followed as that for the in-person listening 
session. After a presentation from EPA, members of the public may call 
in and give brief (three-minute or less) statements. Audience members 
will be able to listen to the webcast and all public statements through 
their computer speakers. A transcript of oral remarks made during the 
listening sessions will be at https://www.epa.gov/npdes/peak-flows-sewage-treatment-plants and included in the rulemaking docket.

B. Additional Information and Public Meeting Registration

    Prior to each listening session, EPA will post any relevant 
materials to the following website: https://www.epa.gov/npdes/peak-flows-sewage-treatment-plants. Information posted to the website will 
include any handouts that may be provided at the meeting as well as a 
web link that participants may use to register for the public meeting 
in advance. Advanced registration is not required, but is requested so 
that EPA can ensure there is sufficient space and time allotted for 
those who wish to participate. The listening session will continue 
until all speakers in attendance have had a chance to provide comments, 
or the listed end time, whichever comes first. If you choose not to 
pre-register to speak, it is recommended that you arrive at the start 
of the listening session to register in person in order to ensure the 
opportunity to participate.

II. Background

    EPA is providing the following background information to assist the 
public in preparing for the listening sessions. Under the Clean Water 
Act (CWA), municipal sewage treatment plants or Publicly Owned 
Treatment Works (POTWs) treatment plants are required to comply with 
prescribed restrictions on their discharges to a water of the United 
States. Specifically, each POTW must obtain an NPDES permit that will 
require, at a minimum, that the treatment plant's discharge meet 
effluent limitations for secondary treatment. See CWA Sec.  
1311(b)(1)(B) and Sec.  1342(a), 40 CFR 133 and 40 CFR 122.44(a)(1). 
The permit will also require meeting any more stringent effluent 
limitations that are necessary to meet applicable water quality 
standards. See CWA Sec.  1311(b)(1)(C), Sec.  1342(a), and 40 CFR 
122.44(d). The permit will also require the POTW operator to comply 
with other terms and conditions based on the NPDES regulations at 40 
CFR 122. These include, for example, requirements regarding monitoring 
and reporting of discharges and proper operation and maintenance of 
POTW facilities and systems of treatment.
    Many sewage treatment processes may be used to comply with these 
effluent requirements. Most municipalities use a series of unit 
processes to treat wastewater prior to discharge including the 
following:
     Preliminary treatment or screening to remove large solids,
     primary clarification (or preliminary sedimentation) to 
remove floating and settleable solids,
     biological treatment (also referred to as secondary 
treatment) to remove biodegradable organic pollutants and suspended 
solids, and
     disinfection to deactivate pathogens.
    Some facilities also provide more advanced treatment, which is 
designed to reduce constituents, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, that 
are not removed in any significant quantity by traditional biological 
treatment processes.
    Sanitary sewer collection systems are designed to remove wastewater 
from homes and other buildings and convey it to a wastewater treatment 
plant. The collection system is a critical element in the successful 
performance of the POTW's wastewater treatment operation. Collection 
systems are designed in one of two ways. Combined sewer systems are 
designed to collect both stormwater and sanitary wastewater for 
delivery to the treatment plant. By contrast, separate sanitary sewers 
are designed to carry only sanitary wastewater (separate sanitary 
sewers typically are built with some allowance, however, for higher 
flows that occur during storm events in order to handle minor and non-
excessive amounts of stormwater or groundwater that enter the system 
through infiltration and inflow or ``I/I''). EPA notes that, at this 
time, it contemplates the scope of the rulemaking would be limited to 
peak flows at POTWs with separate sanitary sewer systems.
    Significant increases in flows at a treatment facility can create 
operational challenges and potentially adversely affect the treatment 
efficiencies. Biological treatment components at treatment plants are 
particularly vulnerable to high-volume peak flows. Where peak influent 
flows during periods of wet weather exceed the treatment capacity of 
existing biological or advanced treatment units, POTWs must consider 
ways in which to prevent damage to their treatment plant, while 
maintaining effective operation of the system to meet applicable NPDES 
permit limitations. Under these conditions, POTW operators use several 
different strategies which may include a combination of alternative 
treatment approaches, storage, and sewer maintenance and rehabilitation 
work to minimize the amount of stormwater that enters the collection 
system through I/I.
    Among the peak flow management approaches that have been used or 
considered are those involving the diversion of a portion of the peak 
flows around biological or advanced treatment units. The diverted flow 
is then recombined with flows from the biological treatment units. 
Other alternatives include the installation of various treatment 
processes at the POTW that supplement the plant's ability to process 
and treat peak flows. Refer to EPA's Draft Summary of Blending 
Practices and the Discharge of Pollutants for Different Blending 
Scenarios (EPA, June 2014) at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-10/documents/sso_lit_review_draft.pdf. These approaches have 
been the subject of previous EPA policymaking efforts that have not 
been adopted. See 68 FR 63042 (November 7, 2003), and 70 FR 76013 
(December 22, 2005). EPA has also looked at the potential public health 
implications of these different approaches. See Summary of June 19-20, 
2014, Experts Forum on Public Health Impacts of Blending (EPA, May 
2015) at https://

[[Page 44625]]

www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-10/documents/
experts_forum_summary.pdf.
    POTWs with separate sanitary sewer systems can also lessen the 
impact of peak flows by implementing a variety of strategies to 
minimize the introduction of stormwater into the collection system. 
While virtually every separate sanitary sewer system has some 
groundwater infiltration and stormwater-derived I/I, it may be 
considered excessive when it is the cause of overflows or causes 
disruptions in the treatment system. POTWs with excessive I/I have a 
number of different methods for identifying the largest sources of I/I 
in their sewer system. These include system mapping, flow monitoring, 
conducting smoke or dye tests, sensor technology, and using optical 
devices to view sections of the system. Developing plans for correcting 
and rehabilitating the highest priority sources of I/I into the 
collection system may involve such strategies as repairing manholes, 
replacing and repairing private building lateral pipes, ensuring 
building downspouts are not connected to the sewer system, sealing 
sewer joints, inserting sewer liners, or even replacing sections of the 
sewer line. Other strategies may focus on maximizing existing 
collection system capacity through real-time controls to optimize flows 
within the system, or building additional storage within the collection 
system or treatment plant.
    EPA acknowledges the significant expertise that exists among 
states, tribes, POTWs and municipal officials, engineering firms, 
public health agencies, and the public related to these issues. These 
listening sessions are designed to take advantage of this information 
from a variety of perspectives to help provide a complete picture of 
the considerations that should go into any rulemaking to address 
permitting requirements for the management of peak flows at POTWs with 
separate sanitary sewer systems.

III. Areas of Feedback Requested for Public Listening Sessions

    Interested members of the public who plan to provide oral or 
written testimony at the listening sessions, or to submit written 
material to EPA separately as detailed in the instructions provided in 
the ADDRESSES section of this notice, are welcome to provide their 
input on any issue related to the topic of peak flow management at POTW 
treatment plants with separate sanitary sewer systems. But EPA 
particularly welcomes feedback from the public on the following 
specific questions.
     What strategies have you found to be successful in 
reducing peak flow volumes at the POTW treatment plant?
     What permitting or other regulatory approaches are you 
aware of that in your opinion provide a good basis for any rulemaking 
in this area?
     What treatment technologies have POTWs with separate 
sanitary sewer systems used successfully to manage peak excess flows 
during wet weather? How effective are these technologies at meeting 
effluent limitations? What are examples of technologies addressing 
other pollutants not typically subject to discharge requirements in 
NPDES permits (e.g., pathogens)? Related to these questions, do you 
have supporting treatment efficacy data that you would be willing to 
share with EPA for this rulemaking?
     What are your specific suggestions regarding conditions 
that could be included in NPDES permits to allow diversions of some 
peak flows around biological treatment units to protect the treatment 
plant? Considerations could include:

--What information might the NPDES permitting authority need in order 
to determine whether such diversions are necessary to protect the 
treatment plant?
--Should the number of times such diversions are permitted to occur be 
limited or reported?
--Are there any requirements that should be considered for ensuring 
that the treatment plant is operated and maintained in an effective 
manner to minimize the number of peak flow diversions that occur?
--What requirements would be appropriate for ensuring that maintenance 
of the collection system to minimize the introduction of stormwater 
into the sanitary system through inflow and infiltration is occurring?
--What monitoring and reporting requirements would be important to 
demonstrate that applicable effluent limits are still being met?
--How may the permit ensure that public and ecological health is 
protected?

    Authority: Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.

    Dated: August 24, 2018.
Martha Shimkin,
Acting Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 2018-19016 Filed 8-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 170 / Friday, August 31, 2018 / Notices                                         44623

                                               displays a currently valid OMB control                    Respondent’s obligation to respond:                    For those who intend to submit
                                               number.                                                 Mandatory (40 CFR 169).                               written statements to the docket, EPA is
                                               DATES: Additional comments may be                         Estimated number of respondents:                    asking that this information be provided
                                               submitted on or before October 1, 2018.                 28,566 (total).                                       before October 31, 2018.
                                               ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
                                                                                                         Frequency of response: Annually.                    ADDRESSES: The in-person listening
                                                                                                         Total estimated burden: 57,132 hours                sessions will be held at the following
                                               referencing Docket ID Number EPA–
                                                                                                       (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR                locations:
                                               HQ–OECA–2017–0640 to (1) EPA online
                                                                                                       1320.3(b).                                               • For the EPA Headquarters in
                                               using www.regulations.gov (our                            Total estimated cost: $7,545,424 (per
                                               preferred method), by email to                                                                                Washington, DC listening session: US
                                                                                                       year), which includes no annualized                   EPA Headquarters, William Jefferson
                                               docket.oeca@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA                 capital or operation & maintenance
                                               Docket Center, Environmental                                                                                  Clinton East Building, Room 1153, 1201
                                                                                                       costs.                                                Constitution Avenue NW, Washington,
                                               Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T,                      Changes in the Estimates: There is an
                                               1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,                                                                                    DC 20004;
                                                                                                       increase of 28,238 hours in the total                    • For the EPA Region 7 listening
                                               Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB via                   estimated burden currently identified in
                                               email to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov.                                                                         session: 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS
                                                                                                       the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR                     66219.
                                               Address comments to OMB Desk Officer                    Burdens. This increase is due to an                      The online listening session will be
                                               for EPA.                                                adjustment in the estimates of the
                                                 EPA’s policy is that all comments                                                                           accessible though https://www.epa.gov/
                                                                                                       number of respondents.                                npdes/peak-flows-sewage-treatment-
                                               received will be included in the public
                                               docket without change including any                     Courtney Kerwin,                                      plants.
                                                                                                       Director, Regulatory Support Division.                   To register for any of the listening
                                               personal information provided, unless
                                                                                                                                                             sessions go to: https://www.epa.gov/
                                               the comment includes profanity, threats,                [FR Doc. 2018–18954 Filed 8–30–18; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                             npdes/peak-flows-sewage-treatment-
                                               information claimed to be Confidential                  BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                                                                                                                                             plants.
                                               Business Information (CBI) or other                                                                              To submit written information to EPA:
                                               information whose disclosure is                                                                               Submit any written statements or input,
                                               restricted by statute.                                  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                                                                                                                                             identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        AGENCY
                                                                                                                                                             OW–2018–0420, to the Federal
                                               Michelle Stevenson, Office of                           [EPA–HQ–OW–2018–0420; FRL–9983–12–                    eRulemaking Portal: http://
                                               Compliance, Monitoring, Assistance,                     OW]                                                   www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
                                               and Media Programs Division,                                                                                  instructions for submitting comments.
                                               Pesticides, Waste & Toxics Branch                       Public Listening Session; Stakeholder                 Once submitted, comments cannot be
                                               (2225A), Environmental Protection                       Input on Peak Flows Management
                                                                                                                                                             edited or withdrawn. EPA may publish
                                               Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,                      AGENCY: Environmental Protection                      any comment received to its public
                                               Washington, DC 20460; telephone                         Agency (EPA).                                         docket. Do not submit electronically any
                                               number: (202) 564–4203; fax number:                                                                           information you consider to be
                                                                                                       ACTION: Notice.
                                               (202) 564–0085; email:                                                                                        Confidential Business Information (CBI)
                                               stevenson.michelle@epa.gov.                             SUMMARY:   The Environmental Protection               or other information whose disclosure is
                                               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              Agency (EPA) is interested in the views               restricted by statute. Multimedia
                                               Supporting documents, which explain                     of the public on possible approaches to               submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
                                               in detail the information that the EPA                  updating the National Pollutant                       accompanied by a written comment.
                                               will be collecting, are available in the                Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)                  The written comment is considered the
                                               public docket for this ICR. The docket                  regulations related to the management                 official comment and should include
                                               can be viewed online at                                 of peak wet weather flows at Publicly                 discussion of all points you wish to
                                               www.regulations.gov or in person at the                 Owned Treatment Works (POTWs)                         make. EPA will generally not consider
                                               EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room                       treatment plants serving separate                     comments or comment contents located
                                               3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW,                        sanitary sewer collection systems.                    outside of the primary submission (i.e.,
                                               Washington, DC. The telephone number                    Consequently, EPA is inviting interested              on the web, cloud, or other file sharing
                                               for the Docket Center is 202–566–1744.                  members of the public to three planned                system). For additional submission
                                               For additional information about EPA’s                  listening sessions on: October 16, 2018               methods, the full EPA public comment
                                               public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/                at EPA Headquarters in Washington,                    policy, information about CBI or
                                               dockets.                                                DC, October 24, 2018 at EPA Region 7                  multimedia submissions, and general
                                                 Abstract: Producers of pesticides and                 in Lenexa, Kansas, and October 30, 2018               guidance on making effective
                                               pesticide devices must maintain certain                 to be held online. EPA welcomes oral or               comments, please visit http://
                                               records with respect to their operations                written information at the listening                  www2.epa.gov/dockets/commentingepa-
                                               and make such records available for                     sessions as well as any other                         dockets.
                                               inspection and copying as specified in                  information the public may wish to
                                                                                                       provide EPA through the docket (Docket                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                               Section 8 of the Federal Insecticide,
                                                                                                       ID No. EPA–HQ–OW–2018–0420).                          Jamie Piziali, Water Permits Division,
                                               Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
                                                                                                       DATES: The in-person listening sessions
                                                                                                                                                             Office of Water, Environmental
                                               and in regulations at 40 CFR part 169.
                                                                                                       will be held at EPA Headquarters in                   Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
                                               This information collection is
                                                                                                       Washington, DC on October 16, 2018                    Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460;
                                               mandatory under FIFRA Section 8. It is
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                       from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. EDT; and in               telephone number: 202–564–1709; or
                                               used by the Agency to determine
                                                                                                       EPA Region 7 in Lenexa, Kansas on                     email: peakflowsrule@epa.gov. Also see
                                               compliance with FIFRA.
                                                 Form Numbers: None.                                   October 24, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00               the following website for additional
                                                 Respondents/affected entities:                        p.m. CDT. In addition to the in-person                information regarding the rulemaking:
                                               Producers of pesticides and pesticide                   listening sessions, EPA will hold an                  https://www.epa.gov/npdes/municipal-
                                               devices for sale or distribution in or                  online listening session on October 30,               wastewater.
                                               exported to the United States.                          2018 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT.                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:



                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:42 Aug 30, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00062   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\31AUN1.SGM   31AUN1


                                               44624                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 170 / Friday, August 31, 2018 / Notices

                                               I. General Information                                  recommended that you arrive at the start              both stormwater and sanitary
                                                                                                       of the listening session to register in               wastewater for delivery to the treatment
                                               A. Public Listening Session
                                                                                                       person in order to ensure the                         plant. By contrast, separate sanitary
                                                  i. Public Listening Sessions: EPA will               opportunity to participate.                           sewers are designed to carry only
                                               hold two public listening sessions to                                                                         sanitary wastewater (separate sanitary
                                               gather feedback from interested                         II. Background
                                                                                                                                                             sewers typically are built with some
                                               members of the public on the issues and                    EPA is providing the following                     allowance, however, for higher flows
                                               concerns that the Agency should be                      background information to assist the                  that occur during storm events in order
                                               aware of during this rulemaking. The                    public in preparing for the listening                 to handle minor and non-excessive
                                               public listening sessions will begin with               sessions. Under the Clean Water Act                   amounts of stormwater or groundwater
                                               EPA providing a brief background on                     (CWA), municipal sewage treatment                     that enter the system through
                                               peak flows management issues and                        plants or Publicly Owned Treatment                    infiltration and inflow or ‘‘I/I’’). EPA
                                               EPA’s goals for this rulemaking. This                   Works (POTWs) treatment plants are                    notes that, at this time, it contemplates
                                               will then be followed by an opportunity                 required to comply with prescribed                    the scope of the rulemaking would be
                                               for the public to provide input on these                restrictions on their discharges to a                 limited to peak flows at POTWs with
                                               issues. EPA is asking that oral                         water of the United States. Specifically,             separate sanitary sewer systems.
                                               statements be limited to three minutes                  each POTW must obtain an NPDES                           Significant increases in flows at a
                                               or less and is welcoming written                        permit that will require, at a minimum,               treatment facility can create operational
                                               statements at the sessions. Each                        that the treatment plant’s discharge                  challenges and potentially adversely
                                               listening session will begin at 9:00 a.m.               meet effluent limitations for secondary               affect the treatment efficiencies.
                                               local time and continue until all those                 treatment. See CWA § 1311(b)(1)(B) and                Biological treatment components at
                                               wishing to speak have had a chance to                   § 1342(a), 40 CFR 133 and 40 CFR                      treatment plants are particularly
                                               provide comments, or until 2:00 p.m.,                   122.44(a)(1). The permit will also                    vulnerable to high-volume peak flows.
                                               whichever comes first. A transcript of                  require meeting any more stringent                    Where peak influent flows during
                                               oral remarks made during the listening                  effluent limitations that are necessary to            periods of wet weather exceed the
                                               sessions will be at https://www.epa.gov/                meet applicable water quality standards.              treatment capacity of existing biological
                                               npdes/municipal-wastewater and                          See CWA § 1311(b)(1)(C), § 1342(a), and               or advanced treatment units, POTWs
                                               included in the rulemaking docket.                      40 CFR 122.44(d). The permit will also                must consider ways in which to prevent
                                                  ii. Online Listening Session: In                     require the POTW operator to comply                   damage to their treatment plant, while
                                               addition to the in-person listening                     with other terms and conditions based                 maintaining effective operation of the
                                               sessions, EPA will also hold a ‘‘virtual’’              on the NPDES regulations at 40 CFR                    system to meet applicable NPDES
                                               listening session via a webcast on                      122. These include, for example,                      permit limitations. Under these
                                               October 30, 2018, from 11:00 a.m. to                    requirements regarding monitoring and                 conditions, POTW operators use several
                                               4:00 p.m. EDT. The same format will be                  reporting of discharges and proper                    different strategies which may include a
                                               followed as that for the in-person                      operation and maintenance of POTW                     combination of alternative treatment
                                               listening session. After a presentation                 facilities and systems of treatment.                  approaches, storage, and sewer
                                               from EPA, members of the public may                        Many sewage treatment processes                    maintenance and rehabilitation work to
                                               call in and give brief (three-minute or                 may be used to comply with these                      minimize the amount of stormwater that
                                               less) statements. Audience members                      effluent requirements. Most                           enters the collection system
                                               will be able to listen to the webcast and               municipalities use a series of unit                   through I/I.
                                               all public statements through their                     processes to treat wastewater prior to                   Among the peak flow management
                                               computer speakers. A transcript of oral                 discharge including the following:                    approaches that have been used or
                                               remarks made during the listening                          • Preliminary treatment or screening               considered are those involving the
                                               sessions will be at https://www.epa.gov/                to remove large solids,                               diversion of a portion of the peak flows
                                               npdes/peak-flows-sewage-treatment-                         • primary clarification (or                        around biological or advanced treatment
                                               plants and included in the rulemaking                   preliminary sedimentation) to remove                  units. The diverted flow is then
                                               docket.                                                 floating and settleable solids,                       recombined with flows from the
                                               B. Additional Information and Public                       • biological treatment (also referred to           biological treatment units. Other
                                                                                                       as secondary treatment) to remove                     alternatives include the installation of
                                               Meeting Registration
                                                                                                       biodegradable organic pollutants and                  various treatment processes at the
                                                  Prior to each listening session, EPA                 suspended solids, and                                 POTW that supplement the plant’s
                                               will post any relevant materials to the                    • disinfection to deactivate                       ability to process and treat peak flows.
                                               following website: https://www.epa.gov/                 pathogens.                                            Refer to EPA’s Draft Summary of
                                               npdes/peak-flows-sewage-treatment-                         Some facilities also provide more                  Blending Practices and the Discharge of
                                               plants. Information posted to the                       advanced treatment, which is designed                 Pollutants for Different Blending
                                               website will include any handouts that                  to reduce constituents, such as nitrogen              Scenarios (EPA, June 2014) at https://
                                               may be provided at the meeting as well                  and phosphorus, that are not removed                  www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/
                                               as a web link that participants may use                 in any significant quantity by traditional            2015-10/documents/sso_lit_review_
                                               to register for the public meeting in                   biological treatment processes.                       draft.pdf. These approaches have been
                                               advance. Advanced registration is not                      Sanitary sewer collection systems are              the subject of previous EPA
                                               required, but is requested so that EPA                  designed to remove wastewater from                    policymaking efforts that have not been
                                               can ensure there is sufficient space and                homes and other buildings and convey                  adopted. See 68 FR 63042 (November 7,
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                                               time allotted for those who wish to                     it to a wastewater treatment plant. The               2003), and 70 FR 76013 (December 22,
                                               participate. The listening session will                 collection system is a critical element in            2005). EPA has also looked at the
                                               continue until all speakers in                          the successful performance of the                     potential public health implications of
                                               attendance have had a chance to                         POTW’s wastewater treatment                           these different approaches. See
                                               provide comments, or the listed end                     operation. Collection systems are                     Summary of June 19–20, 2014, Experts
                                               time, whichever comes first. If you                     designed in one of two ways. Combined                 Forum on Public Health Impacts of
                                               choose not to pre-register to speak, it is              sewer systems are designed to collect                 Blending (EPA, May 2015) at https://


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 170 / Friday, August 31, 2018 / Notices                                         44625

                                               www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/                        • What strategies have you found to                ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                               2015-10/documents/experts_forum_                        be successful in reducing peak flow                   AGENCY
                                               summary.pdf.                                            volumes at the POTW treatment plant?
                                                                                                                                                             [ER–FRL–9041–1]
                                                  POTWs with separate sanitary sewer                      • What permitting or other regulatory
                                               systems can also lessen the impact of                   approaches are you aware of that in                   Environmental Impact Statements;
                                               peak flows by implementing a variety of                 your opinion provide a good basis for                 Notice of Availability
                                               strategies to minimize the introduction                 any rulemaking in this area?
                                               of stormwater into the collection                                                                             AGENCY:  Office of Federal Activities,
                                                                                                          • What treatment technologies have                 EPA.
                                               system. While virtually every separate
                                                                                                       POTWs with separate sanitary sewer
                                               sanitary sewer system has some                                                                                General Information (202) 564–7156 or
                                                                                                       systems used successfully to manage
                                               groundwater infiltration and                                                                                    https://www2.epa.gov/nepa/
                                                                                                       peak excess flows during wet weather?
                                               stormwater-derived I/I, it may be                                                                             Weekly receipt of Environmental Impact
                                                                                                       How effective are these technologies at
                                               considered excessive when it is the                                                                             Statements
                                                                                                       meeting effluent limitations? What are
                                               cause of overflows or causes disruptions                                                                      Filed 08/20/2018 Through 08/24/2018
                                                                                                       examples of technologies addressing
                                               in the treatment system. POTWs with                                                                           Pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.9.
                                                                                                       other pollutants not typically subject to
                                               excessive I/I have a number of different
                                                                                                       discharge requirements in NPDES                       Notice
                                               methods for identifying the largest
                                                                                                       permits (e.g., pathogens)? Related to                   Section 309(a) of the Clean Air Act
                                               sources of I/I in their sewer system.
                                                                                                       these questions, do you have supporting               requires that EPA make public its
                                               These include system mapping, flow
                                                                                                       treatment efficacy data that you would                comments on EISs issued by other
                                               monitoring, conducting smoke or dye
                                                                                                       be willing to share with EPA for this                 Federal agencies. EPA’s comment letters
                                               tests, sensor technology, and using
                                                                                                       rulemaking?                                           on EISs are available at: https://
                                               optical devices to view sections of the
                                               system. Developing plans for correcting                    • What are your specific suggestions               cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-public/
                                               and rehabilitating the highest priority                 regarding conditions that could be                    action/eis/search.
                                               sources of I/I into the collection system               included in NPDES permits to allow                    EIS No. 20180192, Draft, BLM, AZ, Ten
                                               may involve such strategies as repairing                diversions of some peak flows around                    West Link 500kV Transmission Line
                                               manholes, replacing and repairing                       biological treatment units to protect the               Project Draft Environmental Impact
                                               private building lateral pipes, ensuring                treatment plant? Considerations could                   Statement and Draft Resource
                                               building downspouts are not connected                   include:                                                Management Plan Amendments,
                                               to the sewer system, sealing sewer                      —What information might the NPDES                       Comment Period Ends: 11/29/2018,
                                               joints, inserting sewer liners, or even                  permitting authority need in order to                  Contact: Joseph Incardine 801–560–
                                               replacing sections of the sewer line.                    determine whether such diversions                      7135.
                                               Other strategies may focus on                            are necessary to protect the treatment               EIS No. 20180193, Final, DOI, AK,
                                               maximizing existing collection system                    plant?                                                 Liberty Development and Production
                                               capacity through real-time controls to                                                                          Plan Beaufort Sea, Alaska Final
                                               optimize flows within the system, or                    —Should the number of times such                        Environmental Impact Statement,
                                               building additional storage within the                   diversions are permitted to occur be                   Review Period Ends: 10/01/2018,
                                               collection system or treatment plant.                    limited or reported?                                   Contact: Lauren Boldrick 907–334–
                                                  EPA acknowledges the significant                     —Are there any requirements that                        5200.
                                               expertise that exists among states, tribes,              should be considered for ensuring                    EIS No. 20180194, Draft, FERC, OR,
                                               POTWs and municipal officials,                           that the treatment plant is operated                   Swan Lake North Pumped Storage
                                               engineering firms, public health                         and maintained in an effective                         Project, Comment Period Ends: 10/15/
                                               agencies, and the public related to these                manner to minimize the number of                       2018, Contact: Dianne Rodman 202–
                                               issues. These listening sessions are                     peak flow diversions that occur?                       502–6077.
                                               designed to take advantage of this                      —What requirements would be                           EIS No. 20180195, Draft, BLM, WY,
                                               information from a variety of                            appropriate for ensuring that                          Leavitt Reservoir Expansion Project,
                                               perspectives to help provide a complete                  maintenance of the collection system                   Comment Period Ends: 10/15/2018,
                                               picture of the considerations that should                to minimize the introduction of                        Contact: Holly Elliott 307–347–5100.
                                               go into any rulemaking to address                        stormwater into the sanitary system                  EIS No. 20180196, Final, BLM, AK,
                                               permitting requirements for the                          through inflow and infiltration is                     Alpine Satellite Development Plan for
                                               management of peak flows at POTWs                        occurring?                                             the Proposed Greater Mooses Tooth 2
                                               with separate sanitary sewer systems.                                                                           Development Project, Review Period
                                                                                                       —What monitoring and reporting                          Ends: 10/01/2018, Contact: Stephanie
                                               III. Areas of Feedback Requested for                     requirements would be important to                     Rice 907–271–3202.
                                               Public Listening Sessions                                demonstrate that applicable effluent                 EIS No. 20180197, Draft, BLM, WY, Lost
                                                  Interested members of the public who                  limits are still being met?                            Creek Uranium In-Situ Recovery
                                               plan to provide oral or written                         —How may the permit ensure that                         Project Modifications, Comment
                                               testimony at the listening sessions, or to               public and ecological health is                        Period Ends: 10/15/2018, Contact:
                                               submit written material to EPA                           protected?                                             Annette Treat 307–328–4314.
                                               separately as detailed in the instructions                 Authority: Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251         EIS No. 20180199, Draft, USFWS, IA,
                                               provided in the ADDRESSES section of                    et seq.                                                 Draft Environmental Impact
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                                               this notice, are welcome to provide their                                                                       Statement for Proposed Habitat
                                                                                                        Dated: August 24, 2018.
                                               input on any issue related to the topic                                                                         Conservation Plan and Incidental
                                               of peak flow management at POTW                         Martha Shimkin,                                         Take Permit, Comment Period Ends:
                                               treatment plants with separate sanitary                 Acting Director, Office of Wastewater                   10/15/2018, Contact: Kraig McPeek
                                               sewer systems. But EPA particularly                     Management.                                             309–757–5800.
                                               welcomes feedback from the public on                    [FR Doc. 2018–19016 Filed 8–30–18; 8:45 am]           EIS No. 20180199, Final Supplement,
                                               the following specific questions.                       BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                  TVA, KY, Shawnee Fossil Plant Coal


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Document Created: 2018-08-31 00:53:04
Document Modified: 2018-08-31 00:53:04
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.
DatesThe in-person listening sessions will be held at EPA Headquarters in Washington, DC on October 16, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. EDT; and in EPA Region 7 in Lenexa, Kansas on October 24, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. CDT. In addition to the in-person listening sessions, EPA will hold an online listening session on October 30, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT.
ContactJamie Piziali, Water Permits Division, Office of Water, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-1709; or email: [email protected] Also see the following website for additional information regarding the rulemaking: https://www.epa.gov/ npdes/municipal-wastewater.
FR Citation83 FR 44623 

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