Proposed Revisions to the Water Quality Planning and Management Regulation, and Revisions to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program and Federal Antidegradation Policy in Support of Proposed Revisions to the Water Quality Planning and Management Regulation

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 122, 123, 124, 130, and 131

[FRL-6446-8]

Proposed Revisions to the Water Quality Planning and Management

Regulation, and Revisions to the National Pollutant Discharge

Elimination System Program and Federal Antidegradation Policy in

Support of Proposed Revisions to the Water Quality Planning and

Management Regulation

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On August 23, 1999, EPA issued two proposed rules to revise,

clarify and strengthen the current regulatory requirements for

identifying impaired waters and establishing Total Maximum Daily Loads

(TMDLs) under the Clean Water Act: revisions to the Water Quality

Planning and Management Regulation (64 FR 46012); and revisions to the

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program and

Federal Antidegradation Policy (64 FR 46058) in support of the

revisions at (64 FR 46012). These proposed regulatory revisions address

issues of fundamental importance to cleaning up our Nation's polluted

waters. Listing impaired and threatened waters and establishing TMDLs

are fundamental tools for identifying remaining sources of water

pollution and achieving water quality goals. Clean-up plans developed

consistent with these regulatory proposals will help to restore the

health of thousands of miles of river and shoreline and make millions

of lake acres safe for their designated uses.

EPA sought comment on both sets of proposed rules by October 22,

1999. It is EPA's intent to provide the public and all stakeholders an

adequate period of time to fully analyze the issues and prepare

comprehensive comments. Therefore, we are extending the comment period

an additional 60 days for a total comment period of 120 days.

DATES: Comments on these proposals must be submitted on or before

December 22, 1999. Comments provided electronically will be considered

timely if they are submitted by 11:59 P.M. (Eastern time) December 22,

1999.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on the Proposed Revisions to the Water

Quality Planning and Management Regulation to the Comment Clerk for the

TMDL Program Rule, Water Docket (W-98-31), Environmental Protection

Agency, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460.

Send written comments on the Revisions to the NPDES Program and

Federal Antidegradation Policy in Support of Proposed Revisions to the

Water Quality Planning and Management Regulation to the Comment Clerk,

Water Docket (W-99-04), Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street,

S.W., Washington, DC 20460.

EPA requests that commenters submit any references cited in their

comments. EPA also requests that commenters submit an original and 3

copies of their written comments and enclosures. Commenters that want

receipt of their comments acknowledged should include a self-addressed,

stamped envelope. All comments must be postmarked or delivered by hand.

No facsimiles (faxes) will be accepted.

EPA will also accept comments electronically. Comments should be

addressed to the following Internet address: [email protected].

Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII or WordPerfect file

avoiding the use of special characters and any form on encryption.

Electronic comments must be identified by the appropriate docket number

(W-98-31 for the TMDL rule and W-99-04 for the NPDES Program/Federal

Antidegradation Policy rule), and may be filed online at many Federal

Depository Libraries. No confidential business information (CBI) should

be sent via e-mail.

A copy of the supporting documents cited in the proposals are

available for review at EPA's Water Docket; Room EB-57 (East Tower

Basement), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. For access to docket

materials, call (202) 260-3027 between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. for an

appointment. An electronic version of the TMDL proposal is available

via the Internet at: http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/tmdl/index.html>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hazel Groman, US EPA, Office of

Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (4503F), 401 M. St., SW, Washington, DC

20640, (202) 260-4078 for the TMDL rule. Kim Kramer, Office of

Wastewater Management, 401 M. St., SW, Washington, DC 20640, Mail Code

4203, e-mail: Kramer.K[email protected], telephone: (202) 260-8541 for

information regarding the NPDES provisions, or Susan Gilbertson, Office

of Science and Technology, 401 M. St., SW, Washington, DC 20640, Mail

Code 4305, e-mail: Gilbertson.S[email protected], telephone (202) 260-7301 for

information regarding the water quality standards provisions.

Dated: September 24, 1999.

Dana D. Minerva,

Acting Assistant Administrator for Water.

[FR Doc. 99-25307 Filed 9-28-99; 2:26 pm]

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