From: Brundage, Jennifer

To: "Andes, Fredric"

Cc: Hisel-Mccoy, Sara

Subject: RE: Request for Extension of Comment Period on Maine WQS

Date: Thursday, June 09, 2016 4:21:00 PM

Hello Mr. Andes,

Thank you for your May 27, 2016 message requesting an extension to the comment period for the

 Proposed Rule: Proposal of Certain Federal Water Quality Standards Applicable to Maine.

We have considered your request and have decided not to extend the public comment period on

 the proposed rule. We appreciate your desire for more time to consider the complex issues raised

 by the rule and compare the proposed standards in Maine to actions in other States and Regions.

 Our primary concern with extending the comment period is that for many pollutants there are no

 criteria in effect for Clean Water Act purposes, including most human health criteria for waters in

 Indian lands. It is of the utmost importance to remedy this gap in protection without further delay.

 In addition to the 60-day comment period underway through June 20, EPA released a prepublication version of the proposed rule on Monday, April 11, which allowed interested parties 9

 days to review the rule before the official public comment period began. For these reasons, EPA

 believes that a 60-day comment period provides sufficient time to formulate a position and submit

 comments on EPA’s proposed rule for Maine.

Again, thank you for reaching out. We look forward to your comments on the proposed rule, and we

 remain available for additional discussion as needed. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Jennifer Brundage

Regional Branch

Standards and Health Protection Division| Office of Science and Technology |Office of Water

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

202-566-1265

From: Andes, Fredric [mailto:Fredric.Andes@btlaw.com] 

Sent: Friday, May 27, 2016 1:28 PM

To: Brundage, Jennifer <Brundage.Jennifer@epa.gov>

Cc: Hisel-Mccoy, Sara <Hisel-McCoy.Sara@epa.gov>

Subject: Request for Extension of Comment Period on Maine WQS

Ms. Brundage: We coordinate the activities of the Federal Water Quality Coalition. The Coalition

 plans to submit comments on the Agency’s recent proposal of water quality standards for Maine. I

 want to let you know that we have submitted a request for extension of the comment period. Here

 is the text of that request, which we have submitted to the docket on www.regulations.gov :

On behalf of the Federal Water Quality Coalition, I am requesting that EPA extend the comment
 period on the proposed Maine water quality standards by 60 days. This rulemaking touches on

 important issues – legal, technical and policy. Moreover, the issues presented are complicated,

 including as to how these standards fit with what is happening in other States and Regions. In

 order to provide helpful comments on these issues, we need additional time. If you have any

 questions concerning this request, please let me know. Thank you.

We hope that the Agency will give serious consideration to this request. If you would like any

 additional information, please feel free to give me a call. Thanks much.

Fredric P. Andes, Esq.

Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Suite 4400

One N. Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606-2833

Phone: 312/214-8310

Fax: 312/759-5646

Cell: 773/354-3100

E-Mail: fandes@btlaw.com

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