[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 2646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1115]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 440
[WH-FRL-5937-6]
Withdrawal of Amendment to Ore Mining and Dressing Point Source
Category; Effluent Limitations Guidelines and New Source Performance
Standards
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.
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SUMMARY: EPA is withdrawing a proposed rule published in the Federal
Register on February 12, 1996 (61 FR 5364). The proposed rule would
have amended the applicability of certain effluent limitations
guidelines and new source performance standards governing mines with
froth-flotation mills to the Alaska-Juneau (A-J) gold mine project near
Juneau, Alaska. Specifically, EPA proposed to exempt dewatered tailings
produced by the proposed A-J mine and mill from effluent guidelines
based on best practicable control technology (BPT) and best available
control technology economically achievable (BAT), and from new source
performance standards (NSPS) that appear at 40 CFR part 440, subpart J.
EPA also proposed that a definition of ``dewatered tailings'' be added
to 40 CFR part 440, subpart L.
DATES: This proposed rule is withdrawn as of January 16, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Supporting information used in developing the proposed rule,
including studies prepared as part of a supplemental environmental
impact statement prepared on the A-J project and comments received
during the period for public comment on the proposed rule, are
available for public inspection and copying at the EPA Water Docket at
Headquarters, Waterside Mall, Room M2616, 401 M Street, SW., Washington
DC 20460. For access to the Docket materials, call (202) 260-3027
between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. for an appointment. A reasonable fee
may be charged for copying.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For information concerning the proposed rule that is being withdrawn,
you may contact Ronald G. Kirby, Address: Engineering and Analysis
Division (Mail Code 4303), 401 M Street SW., Washington, DC 20460;
Telephone Number: (202) 260-7168; Facsimile Number: (202) 260-7185 or
by e-mail at [email protected],epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed rule would have excluded mill
tailings from the definition of process wastewater, thereby exempting
dewatered tailings from the no discharge requirement and in turn allow
consideration of other disposal technologies. Process wastewaters
separated from the dewatered tailings and mine drainage wastewater
would have continued to be covered by the Subpart. In addition, EPA
solicited comments on whether other mine sites exhibit extreme
environmental conditions such as those at the A-J mine site. This
information was requested because the A-J mine site was the only site
known to EPA that might warrant an exemption from the current Subpart J
regulations as a result of extreme environmental conditions. In
addition, EPA solicited information on the types of criteria that could
be used to establish a more general exemption from the requirements of
subpart J than that proposed for the A-J site, in the event that
additional, potentially eligible sites were identified. However, very
little information was submitted during the comment period that
warrants further EPA review regarding any other site or criteria.
On January 14, 1997, Echo Bay Mines announced that it would
terminate its development plans for the A-J mine project. EPA has
concluded, in light of the closure of the A-J mine project and the lack
of information about other mine sites exhibiting similarly extreme
environmental conditions, that it is unnecessary to continue this
rulemakig. Therefore, EPA withdraws the proposed rule.
Dated: December 15, 1997.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-1115 Filed 1-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M
