[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 157 (Monday, August 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 49573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20606]
[[Page 49573]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6850-8]
Notice of Approval of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's
Submission Pursuant to Section 118 of the Clean Water Act and the Water
Quality Guidance for the Great Lakes System
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of approval of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania's submission of criteria, methodologies, policies and
procedures for the Great Lakes System pursuant to Section 118(c) of the
Clean Water Act.
DATES: EPA's approval is effective on August 14, 2000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Evelyn S. MacKnight, Chief, PA/DE
Branch (3WP11), Office of Watersheds, Water Protection Division, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3, 1650 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, or telephone her at (215) 814-5717.
Copies of a letter from EPA to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
explaining EPA's decision are available upon request by contacting Ms.
MacKnight. This letter and other related materials submitted by the
Commonwealth in support of their submission and considered by EPA in
its decision are available for review by appointment at: EPA, Region 3,
1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (telephone 215-814-5452.
To access the docket material, call Larry Merrill at telephone 215-814-
5452 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Eastern time) (Monday-Friday).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 23, 1995, EPA published the Final
Water Quality Guidance for the Great Lakes System (Guidance) pursuant
to section 118(c)(2) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1268(c)(2).
(March 23, 1995, 60 FR 15366). The Guidance, which was codified at 40
CFR part 132, requires the Great Lakes States to adopt and submit to
EPA for approval water quality criteria, methodologies, policies and
procedures that are consistent with the Guidance. 40 CFR part 132.4 &
132.5. EPA is required to approve of the State's submission within 90
days or notify the State that EPA has determined that all or part of
the submission is inconsistent with the Clean Water Act or the Guidance
and identify any necessary changes to obtain EPA approval. If the State
fails to make the necessary changes within 90 days, EPA must publish a
notice in the Federal Register identifying the approved and disapproved
elements of the submission and a final rule identifying the provisions
of part 132 that shall apply for discharges within the State.
EPA received the submission from Pennsylvania and reviewed it for
consistency with the Guidance in accordance with 40 CFR part 131 and
132.5. On April 14, 1998, EPA published in the Federal Register a
notice pursuant to 40 CFR 132.5(e) which solicited comment on the
substantial National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
program modification component of Pennsylvania's submission. (63 FR
18195). On December 18, 1998, in a letter from EPA Region 3 to the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, EPA described in
detail those provisions in Pennsylvania's submission determined to be
inconsistent with the Guidance and subject to disapproval if not
remedied by the Commonwealth. On January 14, 1999, EPA published in the
Federal Register a Notice of Availability of the letter, and invited
public comment on the findings in the letter. (64 FR 2490). In a letter
dated March 17, 1999, and in subsequent submittals, Pennsylvania
addressed all the inconsistencies identified in EPA's December 18, 1998
letter and EPA has determined that the entirety of the Commonwealth's
submission is consistent with 40 CFR part 132. Pennsylvania's
submission consists of standards, methodologies, policies and
procedures adopted in accordance with the following provisions of the
Guidance: the definitions in 40 CFR 132.2; the water quality criteria
for the protection of aquatic life, human health and wildlife in tables
1-4 of part 132; the methodologies for development of aquatic life
criteria and values, bioaccumulation factors, human health criteria and
values and wildlife criteria in Appendices B-D of part 132; the
antidegradation policy in Appendix E of part 132; and the
implementation procedures in Appendix F of part 132. EPA approves these
elements pursuant to 40 CFR 132.5.
Today's final action only addresses the provisions adopted by
Pennsylvania to comply with section 118(c)(2) of the Clean Water Act
and 40 CFR part 132. EPA is taking no action at this time with respect
to other revisions Pennsylvania may have made to its NPDES program or
water quality standards in areas not addressed by the Guidance or
applicable outside of the Great Lakes System.
Thomas C. Voltaggio,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. 00-20606 Filed 8-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P