History : EPA Notification of Extension to Provide State/Tribe 401 Certification of the DRAFT Vessel General Permits Jose Font to: PedroNieves Cc: RobertoAya l a, Sergio Bosques , Juhi Saxena, Cai tlin Gregg, Teresita Rodriguez, Jose Soto, Jeff Gratz

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. 07/05/2012 05 :01 PM

Jose Font EPA Notification of Extension to Provid e Stateffribe 401 Certification of the

Dear Pedro:
This message is to inform you of EPA's extension ofthe State certification dead line for States to certify the draft vessel general permits under section 401 of the Clean Water Act. The new deadline for providing 401 certification on the draft permits is October 1 , 2012.
As you know, EPA is in the process of rei ssuing the NPDES Vessel General Permit (VGP) to authorize discharges incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels and non-recreational vessels greater than or equal to 79 feet in length and issuing the NPDES SmalJ Vessel General Permit (sVGP) to authorize d ischarges incidental to the normal operation of vessels less than 79 feet in length. Copies of the draft general permits and draft fact sheets are available at http: //c fpub.epa.gov/npdes/vessels/vgpermit.cfm. These draft general permits would authorize discharges into the waters of your state and tribal lands. In December 2011, I sent a letter, along with a compact disc of the draft permits and fact sheets, requesting that States/Tribes make a written determination regarding certification under CWA section 40 l. Under section 401 certification regulations , a State or Tribe is required to waive, grant, or deny certification based on the draft , not the final "as issued," permit. 40 CFR 124.53(c)-(e). EPA may not issue a permit authorizing discharges into the waters ofyour state until a State/Tribe has granted certification under CWA secti on 401 , or has waived its right to certify. 33 USC 134l(a)( l) ; 4 0 CFR 124 .53(a )

. EPA regulations allow the State or Tribe to ha ve 60 days to certify unless the Regional Administ rator finds that unusual circumstances require a longer time. 40 CFR 124.53(c)(3). As indicated in our letter, EPA provided until June 30,2012 for all States/Tribes to certify the vessel permits because the permits not only regulate di scharges of mobile point sources, but also because of their broad app licability to the wa ters of every State and Tribe in the country. EPA also wanted to allow States/ Tribes time to coordinate with their neighboring States/Tribes. EPA greatly appreciates the efforts of States/Tribes who have submitted their 401 certification in advance ofthe deadline, and understands that many of you completed your 401 certifications under time constraints. However, after hearing concerns expressed by several States, we also understand that many States/T ribes would benefit from more time to complete or reinitiate their pub lic comment periods , conduct other essential administrative processes , and finalize their 401certification conditions for these unique general permits. Therefore, EPA believes that unusual circumstances continue to exist and is providing until October 1, 2012 for all States/Tribes to certify the draft permits. If you have already submitted a 401 certification, you need not take any additional action unless you choose to do so. You will be deemed to have waived your right to certify unless that right is exercised by October 1, 2012. As a reminder, the State certification shall be in writing and shall include the specific conditions necessary to assure compliance with the applicable provisions of CW A sections 208( e), 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307, and with appropriate requirements of State law. 33 USC 134l(d); 40 CFR 124.53(e)(l). If you believe that any condition(s) more stringent than those contained in the draft permit is necessary to meet the requirements of either the CWA or State law, you should include

such condition(s) and, in each case, cite the CWA or State law reference upon which that condition(s) is based. Failure to provide such a citation waives your right to cert i fy with respect to that condition(s). 40 CFR 124.53(e)(2) . EPA requests that you specify whether each condition is applicable to the VGP, sVGP , or both. In addition, the State certification must include a statement of the extent to which each condition of the draft permit can be made less stringent

without violating the requirements of State law, including water quality standards. Failure to provide this statement for any condition waives the right to certify or object to any less stringent condition which may be established during the EPA permit issuance process. 40 CFR

124.53( e)(3 ). Following review of the public comments received during the public comment period and receipt of your certification or waiver thereof, EPA plans to issue the general permits as final documents in November 2012 . Those final permits will incorporate any conditions specified in the State's! Tribe's certification. 33 USC 1341(d). I would appreciate receiving your certification by October 1, 2012. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Sergio Bosques at (787) 977-5838. Thank you for your assistance and cooperation .

Sincerely, Jose C. Font Acting Division Director, R2- CEPD