04-1544. National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan; National Priorities List

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION:

Notice of intent of partial deletion of the Hubbell/Tamarack City parcel of the Torch Lake Superfund Site from the National Priorities List.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) Region V is issuing a notice of partial deletion of the Hubbell/Tamarack City parcel of Operable Unit (OUI) of the Torch Lake Superfund Site (Site) located in Houghton County, Michigan, from the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this notice of intent to delete. The Hubbell/Tamarack City parcel of OUI includes, tailing and slag piles associated with the Torch Lake Superfund Site. The NPL, promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is found at appendix B of 40 CFR part 300 which is the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The EPA and the State of Michigan, through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), have determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA have been completed. However, this partial deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund. In the “Rules and Regulations” section of today's Federal Register, we are publishing a direct final notice of partial deletion of the Hubbell/Tamarack City parcel of the Torch Lake Superfund Site without prior notice of intent to delete because we view this as a non-controversial revision and anticipate no adverse comment. We have explained our reasons for this deletion in the preamble to the direct final notice of deletion. If we receive no adverse comment(s) on the direct final notice of deletion, we will not take further action. If we receive timely adverse comment(s), we will withdraw the direct final notice of deletion and it will not take effect. We will, as appropriate, address all public comments in a subsequent final deletion notice based on adverse comments received on this notice of intent to delete. We will not institute a second comment period on this notice of intent to delete. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time. For additional information, see the direct final notice of deletion which is located in the Rules section of this Federal Register.

DATES:

Comments concerning this Site must be received by March 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments should be addressed to: Dave Novak, Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA (P-19J), 77 W. Jackson, Chicago, IL 60604, 312-886-7478 or 1-800-621-8431.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brenda Jones, Remedial Project Manager at [phone], or Gladys Beard, State NPL Deletion Process Manager at [phone] or 1-800-621-8431, Superfund Division, U.S. EPA (SR-6J), 77 W. Jackson, IL 60604.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

For additional information, see the Direct Final Notice of Deletion which is located in the Rules section of this Federal Register.

Information Repositories: Repositories have been established to provide detailed information concerning this decision at the following address: EPA Region V Record Center, 77 W. Jackson, Chicago, IL 60604, [phone], Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Lake Linden/Hubbell Public Library, 601 Calumet St., Lake Linden, MI 49945, [phone], Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 6 p.m to 8 p.m.; Portage Lake District Library, 105 Huron, Houghton, MI 49931 [phone], Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300

• Environmental protection
• Air pollution control
• Chemicals
• Hazardous waste
• Hazardous substances
• Intergovernmental relations
• Penalties
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Superfund
• Water pollution control
• Water supply

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(c)(2); 42 U.S.C. 9601-9657; E.O. 12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; E.O. 12580, 52 FR 2923; 3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p. 193.

Dated: January 14, 2004.

William E. Muno,

Acting Regional Administrator, Region V.