Regulacje i polityka gospodarcza · 6.12.1996

Final General NPDES Permit Modifications for Mechanical Placer Mining (No. AKG-37-0000), Medium-size Suction Dredge Placer Mining (No. AKG-37-1000), and Small Suction Dredge Placer Mining (No. AKG-37-5000) in the State of Alaska

The Director, Office of Water, EPA Region 10, is modifying the General National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for placer mining in Alaska pursuant to the provisions of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. EPA originally issued this general permit (No. AKG-37-000) on May 13, 1994 [59 FR 28079]. On September 28, 1994, two environmental groups filed a petition for review of the general permit in the Ninth Circuit. Without any admission or denial of any of the Petitioners' allegations, EPA proposed to modify the general permit on January 31, 1996 [61 FR 3403]. The original comment period on the proposed modification began on January 31, 1996, and ended on March 15, 1996. Region 10 later extended the comment period to April 18, 1996. Public hearings were held in Anchorage on March 4 and in Fairbanks on March 5, 1996. Based on the comments received, it was apparent that there was some confusion regarding what conditions were applicable to which type of facility (mechanical operations, medium-size suction dredges, or small suction dredges). Therefore, the permit was split into three separate general permits--one for each type of facility. The permit numbers