[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48731-48732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24505]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6158-9]
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General
Permits for Discharges From Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
(CAFOs)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of reopening of the public comment period for proposed
NPDES general permits.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Region 6 of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) intends to reopen, during a specified period of
time, the comment period for the proposed reissuance of the EPA Region
6 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general
[[Page 48732]]
permits for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in New
Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas and all Indian Country Lands within these
States.
DATES: EPA Region 6 will be accepting additional comments on the
proposed CAFO general permits until October 12, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments and suggestions should be mailed to Ms. Wilma
Turner (6WQ-CA), EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-
2733.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on the
proposed permits or to request a complete copy of the entire fact sheet
and the draft permits, please contact Ms. Wilma Turner at the above
address or by telephone at (214) 665-7516. The draft permits may be
obtained from the following website address: www.epa.gov/region6/6wq/
npdes/genpermt.htm
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Region 6 of the EPA publicly announced on
June 26, 1998, in the Federal Register (see 63 FR 34874) the proposed
reissuance of the EPA Region 6, National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) general permits for concentrated animal
feeding operations (CAFOs) in New Mexico (Permit Nos. NMG800000 and
NMG810000); Oklahoma (Permit Nos. OKG800000 and OKG810000); and Texas
(Permit Nos. TXG800000 and TXG810000) and all Indian Country Lands
within these States. EPA requested the general public to submit written
comments on the proposed permits to EPA Region 6 during the public
comment period ending on August 25, 1998. However, EPA has received
numerous requests both during public hearings on the proposed permits
and by mail to extend the August 25, 1998, deadline for commenting on
the proposed permits. After considering these comments, EPA has decided
to extend the comment period from August 25, 1998, to October 12, 1998.
Therefore, the comment period for these general permits has been
reopened and EPA Region 6 will be accepting additional comments on the
proposed CAFO general permits until October 12, 1998.
The public may comment on any aspects of the proposed permits.
However, EPA is particularly requesting comments on the following
issues:
1. Should the general permit coverage be limited to some maximum
number of animal units? If so, what should this maximum number be?
2. Should the 303(d) list be used to establish stream segments
impaired due to nutrients? If not, what specific criteria should be
utilized?
3. Should all nutrient-impaired watersheds be included in the
impaired watershed permit or only those specifically identified as
related to CAFO activities?
4. The applicability of the proposed permits to pollutants from
poultry operations that spread litter (manure) to land in a non-
agronomic manner.
5. The definition of agricultural (agronomic) uses of manure based
upon nitrogen and phosphorus application rates.
6. The appropriate rates of manure application in impaired and
nonimpaired watersheds when the manure is applied at rates that exceed
agronomic rates.
William B. Hathaway,
Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 98-24505 Filed 9-10-98; 8:45 am]
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