Notice of Final NPDES General Permit for New and Existing Sources and New Dischargers in the Offshore Subcategory of the Oil and Gas Extraction Category for the Western Portion of the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico (GMG290000)

摘要

EPA Region 6 today issues a final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for the Western Portion of the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico (No. GMG290000). The general permit authorizes discharges from new sources, existing sources, and new dischargers in the Offshore Subcategory of the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category (40 CFR part 435, subpart A). The reissued permit will become effective November 8, 2004. The existing permit published in the Federal Register, at 64 FR 19156 on April 19, 1999 and modified on January 22, 2001 (66 FR 6850), authorizes discharges from exploration, development, and production facilities located in and discharging to Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico seaward of the outer boundary of the territorial seas offshore of Louisiana and Texas. Today's action reissues the permit which expired on November 3, 2003. A copy of the Region's responses to comments and the final permit may be obtained from the EPA Region 6 Internet site: http:// www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6wq/6wq.htm. A Record of Decision which completes the Environmental Assessment process required by the National Environmental Policy Act is also ava