99-27385. Notice of Availability of Letter From EPA to the State of Minnesota Pursuant to Section 118 of the Clean Water Act and the Water Quality Guidance for the Great Lakes System

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 56505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27385]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6461-2]


Notice of Availability of Letter From EPA to the State of 
Minnesota 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 of availability.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Region 5 of the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to find that the State of Minnesota 
(Minnesota) has fulfilled its obligation under section 118(c) of the 
Clean Water Act and 40 CFR part 132 by adopting provisions in its water 
quality standards and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 
(NPDES) permits program that EPA believes are consistent with section 
118(c) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and 40 CFR part 132. The basis for 
EPA's belief and its proposed course of action are described in a 
September 28, 1999 letter from Region 5 to the State. EPA invites 
public comment on all aspects of that letter and on EPA's proposed 
course of action.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing by December 6, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted to Joan M. Karnauskas, 
Chief, Standards and Applied Sciences Branch (WT-15J), Water Division, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson 
Boulevard., Chicago, Illinois, 60604. In the alternative, EPA will 
accept comments electronically. Comments should be sent to the 
following Internet E-mail address: [e-mail]. 
Electronic comments must be submitted in an ASCII file avoiding the use 
of special characters and any form of encryption. EPA will print 
electronic comments in hard-copy paper form for the official 
administrative record. EPA will attempt to clarify electronic comments 
if there is an apparent error in transmission. Comments provided 
electronically will be considered timely if they are submitted 
electronically by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern time) December 6, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan M. Karnauskas, Standards and 
Applied Sciences Branch (WT-15J), Water Division, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, 
Illinois 60604, or telephone her at [phone].
    Copies of the September 28, 1999 letter described above are 
available upon request by contacting Ms. Karnauskas. The September 28, 
1999 letter and materials submitted by Minnesota in support of its 
submission that EPA relied upon in preparing the letter (i.e., the 
docket) are available for review by appointment at: EPA, Region 5, 77 W 
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois (telephone [phone]); and 
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 520 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, 
Minnesota (telephone [phone]). To access the docket material in 
Chicago, call Ms. Mary Willis at [phone] between 8 a.m. and 4:30 
p.m. (central time) (Monday-Friday); in Minnesota, call Mr. Gary 
Kimball at [phone] between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (central time).

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 132.4 and 
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 reviewed the submission from Minnesota for consistency with the 
Guidance in accordance with 40 CFR part 131 and 132.5. Based on its 
review to date, EPA believes that Minnesota has adopted provisions that 
are consistent with the Guidance. The basis for EPA's belief is set 
forth in the September 28, 1999 letter. Today, EPA is soliciting public 
comment regarding all aspects of that letter and on EPA's belief that 
Minnesota has adopted provisions that are consistent with the Guidance.
    EPA intends to review any information provided to it within the 
next 45 days before taking further action pursuant to section 118(c) of 
the Clean Water Act and 40 CFR part 132 on Minnesota's submission.
Elissa Speizman,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 99-27385 Filed 10-19-99; 8:45 am]
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