[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 72 (Friday, April 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19959-19961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7578]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7900-8]
Water Pollution Control; Approval of Modification to Ohio's
Approved National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permitting
Program To Administer a State Sewage Sludge Management Program
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice; approval of application.
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SUMMARY: On March 16, 2005, pursuant to section 402(b) of the Clean
Water Act (CWA), the Acting Regional Administrator for EPA, Region 5,
approved the State of Ohio's modification of its existing National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program to include the
administration and enforcement of a state sewage sludge management
program where it has jurisdiction.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Colletti, at (312) 886-6106,
NPDES Programs Branch, (WN-16J), EPA, Region 5, 77 West Jackson
Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604-3590, or electronically at
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document ``we,'' ``us,'' or
``our'' means EPA.
Table of Contents
I Introduction
II Was notice provided seeking public comments on Ohio's program
submittal?
III Was a public hearing held?
IV Did EPA receive any public comments?
V Does EPA's approval affect Indian Country (18 U.S.C. 1151) in
Ohio?
VI Conclusion
VII Federal Register Notice of Approval of State NPDES Programs or
Modifications
VIII Administrative Requirements
A. Endangered Species Act
B. National Historic Preservation Act
C. Other Provisions
I. Introduction
Ohio's application to modify its existing NPDES program to
administer and enforce a state sewage sludge management program was
submitted on May 12, 2004. Specifically, the state sought approval of a
sludge management program which addresses the land application of
sewage sludge, surface disposal of sewage sludge, and the landfilling
of sewage sludge. The state's sludge management program does not extend
to ``Indian Country'' as defined in 18 U.S.C. 1151, and will not
include lands within the exterior boundaries of Indian reservations
within or abutting the State of Ohio. Ohio did not seek approval for
the incineration of sewage sludge or the land application of domestic
septage. The sewage sludge management program is administered by the
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA). Modifications were
made to the program submittal based on discussions between EPA and Ohio
EPA. These modifications are part of the record of the program
application and review process.
II. Was Notice Provided Seeking Public Comments on Ohio's Program
Submittal?
Ohio's application was described in the December 14, 2004 Federal
Register at 69 FR 74522-74525, in which EPA requested public comments
for a period of 45 days. Further notice was provided by way of
publication in the following newspaper on December 14, 2004: The Blade
(Toledo), and in the following newspapers on December 15, 2004: The
Columbus Dispatch; The Cincinnati Enquirer; The Marietta Times, and;
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) in a effort to get wide coverage
throughout the state. Additionally, notices were sent to all Ohio NPDES
permitted facilities that would be impacted by the program and to
people or organizations that Ohio EPA determined might have an interest
in the program application. Copies of Ohio EPA's application package
were available for public review at the EPA Region 5 Office and at Ohio
EPA's regional offices and on their website.
III. Was a Public Hearing Held?
A public hearing was not held. The above notice explained that a
hearing had not been scheduled and how a hearing could be requested.
EPA will hold a public hearing whenever the Regional Administrator
finds, on the basis of requests, a significant degree of public
interest. No request for a hearing was received during the public
comment period and therefore, no hearing was held.
IV. Did EPA Receive Any Public Comments?
Pursuant to the public notice, we accepted written comments from
the public postmarked on or before January 31, 2005. During the comment
period, we received two comments. These commenters fully support the
modification of the state's NPDES program to include the administration
and enforcement of a sewage sludge management program.
V. Does EPA's Approval Affect Indian Country (18 U.S.C. 1151) in Ohio?
Ohio EPA did not seek approval to administer and enforce the state
sewage sludge management program for activities occurring in Indian
Country. Our approval does not authorize Ohio EPA to carry out its
sewage sludge program in Indian Country. Therefore, our approval of the
state's sewage sludge management program will have no effect in Indian
Country where EPA continues to implement and administer the NPDES
program.
VI. Conclusion
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has demonstrated that it
adequately meets the requirements for program modification to include
sewage sludge management (specifically, the land application of sewage
sludge, surface disposal of sewage sludge, and the landfilling of
sewage sludge) as defined in the Clean Water Act and 40 CFR parts 123,
501, and 503.
At this time, EPA is withholding authorization to administer the
sewage sludge management program for the incineration of sewage sludge,
the land application of domestic septage, and activities occurring in
Indian Country, as mentioned above.
VII. Federal Register Notice of Approval of State NPDES Programs or
Modifications
EPA must provide Federal Register notice of any action by the
Agency approving or modifying a State NPDES program. The following
table will provide the public with an up-to-date list of the status of
NPDES permitting authority throughout the country. Today's Federal
Register notice is to announce the approval of Ohio's authority to
administer the sewage sludge management program.
[[Page 19960]]
State NPDES Program Status
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Approved Approved to Approved Approved Approved
State NPDES regulate State general sludge
State permit Federal pretreatment permits management
program facilities program program program
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Alabama....................................... 10/19/79 10/19/79 10/19/79 06/26/91 ...........
Arizona....................................... 12/05/02 12/05/02 12/05/02 12/05/02 03/31/04
Arkansas...................................... 11/01/86 11/01/86 11/01/86 11/01/86 ...........
California.................................... 05/14/73 05/05/78 09/22/89 09/22/89 ...........
Colorado...................................... 03/27/75 ........... ............ 03/04/83 ...........
Connecticut................................... 09/26/73 01/09/89 06/03/81 03/10/92 ...........
Delaware...................................... 04/01/74 ........... ............ 10/23/92 ...........
Florida \1\................................... 05/01/95 ........... 05/01/95 05/01/95 ...........
Georgia....................................... 06/28/74 12/08/80 03/12/81 01/28/91 ...........
Hawaii........................................ 11/28/74 06/01/79 08/12/83 09/30/91 ...........
Illinois...................................... 10/23/77 09/20/79 ............ 01/04/84 ...........
Indiana....................................... 01/01/75 12/09/78 ............ 04/02/91 ...........
Iowa.......................................... 08/10/78 08/10/78 06/03/81 08/12/92 ...........
Kansas........................................ 06/28/74 08/28/85 ............ 11/24/93 ...........
Kentucky...................................... 09/30/83 09/30/83 09/30/83 09/30/83 ...........
Louisiana..................................... 09/11/96 09/11/96 09/11/96 09/11/96 ...........
Maine......................................... 01/12/01 01/12/01 01/12/01 01/12/01 ...........
Maryland...................................... 09/05/74 11/10/87 09/30/85 09/30/91 ...........
Michigan...................................... 10/17/73 12/09/78 04/16/85 11/29/93 ...........
Minnesota..................................... 06/30/74 12/09/78 07/16/79 12/15/87 ...........
Mississippi................................... 05/01/74 01/28/83 05/13/82 09/27/91 ...........
Missouri...................................... 10/30/74 06/26/79 06/03/81 12/12/85 ...........
Montana....................................... 06/10/74 06/23/81 ............ 04/29/83 ...........
Nebraska...................................... 06/12/74 11/02/79 09/07/84 07/20/89 ...........
Nevada........................................ 09/19/75 08/31/78 ............ 07/27/92 ...........
New Jersey.................................... 04/13/82 04/13/82 04/13/82 04/13/82 ...........
New York...................................... 10/28/75 06/13/80 ............ 10/15/92 ...........
North Carolina................................ 10/19/75 09/28/84 06/14/82 09/06/91 ...........
North Dakota.................................. 06/13/75 01/22/90 ............ 01/22/90 ...........
Ohio.......................................... 03/11/74 01/28/83 07/27/83 08/17/92 03/16/05
Oklahoma...................................... 11/19/96 11/19/96 11/19/96 09/11/97 11/19/96
Oregon........................................ 09/26/73 03/02/79 03/12/81 02/23/82 ...........
Pennsylvania.................................. 06/30/78 06/30/78 ............ 08/02/91 ...........
Rhode Island.................................. 09/17/84 09/17/84 09/17/84 09/17/84 ...........
South Carolina................................ 06/10/75 09/26/80 04/09/82 09/03/92 10/22/01
South Dakota.................................. 12/30/93 12/30/93 12/30/93 12/30/93 ...........
Tennessee..................................... 12/28/77 09/30/86 08/10/83 04/18/91 ...........
Texas......................................... 09/24/98 09/24/98 09/24/98 09/24/98 09/24/98
Utah.......................................... 07/07/87 07/07/87 07/07/87 07/07/87 06/14/96
Vermont....................................... 03/11/74 ........... 03/16/82 08/26/93 ...........
Virgin Islands................................ 06/30/76 ........... ............ ........... ...........
Virginia...................................... 03/31/75 02/09/82 04/14/89 04/20/91 ...........
Washington.................................... 11/14/73 ........... 09/30/86 09/26/89 ...........
West Virginia................................. 05/10/82 05/10/82 05/10/82 05/10/82 ...........
Wisconsin..................................... 02/04/74 11/26/79 12/24/80 12/19/86 07/28/00
Wyoming....................................... 01/30/75 05/18/81 ............ 09/24/91 ...........
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Totals.................................... 46 40 34 44 07
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Number of Fully Authorized Programs (Federal Facilities, Pretreatment, General Permits) = 31.
Number of authorized Sludge Management Programs = 7.
\1\ The Florida authorizations of 05/01/95 represents a phased NPDES program authorization to be completed by
the year 2000.
VIII. Administrative Requirements
A. Endangered Species Act
Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), 16 U.S.C.
1536(a)(2), requires that federal agencies insure, in consultation with
the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), that actions they
authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the
continued existence of Federally-listed threatened or endangered
species (listed species) or result in the destruction or adverse
modification of critical habitat designated for such listed species.
By letter dated November 24, 2004, we requested concurrence from
the Reynoldsburg Ecological Services Field Office of the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (FWS) that approval of Ohio EPA to implement a sewage
sludge management program would not have any direct effects on
federally-listed species or critical habitat as the proposed action is
an administrative shift of authority that is not associated with any
physical action that will alter habitat or affect biota. We received
concurrence on February 7, 2005.
B. National Historic Preservation Act
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 16
U.S.C. 470(f), requires Federal agencies to take into account the
effects of their undertakings on historic properties and to provide the
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) an opportunity to
comment on such undertakings. Under the ACHP's regulations (36 CFR part
800), agencies
[[Page 19961]]
consult with the appropriate State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO)
on federal undertakings that have the potential to affect historic
properties listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of
Historic Places.
By letter dated November 24, 2004, we requested concurrence from
the State Historic Preservation Officer that approval of Ohio EPA to
implement a sewage sludge management program would not have an adverse
impact on historical and archeological resources. We received
concurrence on January 4, 2005.
C. Other Provisions
Based on General Counsel Opinion 78-7 (April 18, 1978), EPA has
long considered a determination to approve or deny a State Clean Water
Act (CWA) program submission to constitute an adjudication because an
``approval,'' within the meaning of the Administrative Procedure Act
(APA), constitutes a ``licence,'' which, in turn, is the product of an
``adjudication.'' For this reason, the statutes and Executive Orders
that apply to rulemaking action are not applicable here.
Authority for parts 123 and 501: Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251
et seq.
Dated: March 31, 2005.
Norman Niedergang,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 05-7578 Filed 4-14-05; 8:45 am]
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