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###### Environmental Protection Agency

          - [EPA-HQ-OW-2012-0803] [ER-FRL-9018-9]

# AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

# ACTION:

Environmental Assessment (EA)/Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

# SUMMARY:

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4307h), the Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA regulations (40 CFR part 1500-1508), and EPA's regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR part 6), EPA has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the potential environmental impacts related to the reissuance of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for stormwater discharges associated with Industrial Activity (the “2015 Multi-Sector General Permit”). The EA evaluates the potential environmental impacts from the discharge of pollutants in stormwater discharges associated with industrial activities where EPA is the permitting authority. Based on the environmental impact analysis in the EA, EPA has made a preliminary determination that no significant environmental impacts are anticipated from the issuance of the 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit.

This notice initiates the 30-day review period and invites comments from Federal, State, and local agencies, Indian tribes, and the public regarding EPA's preliminary determination.

# DATES:

Comments must be received by February 16, 2015.

# ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments to the Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2012-0803 by any of the following methods:
      -  Federal eRulemaking Portal:                          Go to                          http://www.regulations.gov . Follow the online instructions for submitting comments by clicking on “Help” or “FAQs.”                    
      -  Mail:                          ATTN: MSGP Comments, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Mail Code: 4203 M, Washington, DC 20460                    
      -  Courier:                          ATTN: MSGP Comments, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Rm # 7235A, Washington, DC 20004, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.                    

                        Comments should be received within 30 days of the date of the publication of this notice in the                         **Federal Register**                        . EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at                         *www.regulations.gov,*                         including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through                         *www.regulations.gov*. The                         *www.regulations.gov*                         Web site is an “anonymous access” system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses.                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jessica Trice, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Mail Code: 2252A, Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 564-6646.

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

                    EPA is seeking public comment regarding its preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) to document its determination that no significant environmental impacts are anticipated from the issuance of the 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit. EPA invites the public to submit comments through Regulations.gov or by mail to the address cited in the                     **ADDRESSES**                     section during the 30-day comment period following the publication of this notice in the                     **Federal Register**                    .                

Since 1995, EPA has issued a series of NPDES Multi-Sector General Permits (MSGP) that cover areas where EPA is the permitting authority. At present, EPA is the permitting authority in Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Mexico, Indian Country Lands, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, and U.S. territories and protectorates. EPA's current MSGP became effective on September 29, 2008 (73 FR 56572) and expired at midnight on September 29, 2013. The proposed action, would replace the 2008 MSGP. EPA proposes to issue the MSGP for five (5) years during which time the permit will provide coverage to eligible existing and new dischargers for the ten categories of industrial activities identified in 40 CFR 122.26(b)(14)(i)-(xi) where EPA is the NPDES permitting authority. On November 15, 2013, EPA initiated scoping for the development of the environmental issues and reasonable alternatives to be addressed in the EA. 78 FR 68835.

The environmental review process, which is documented by the Environmental Assessment (EA), indicates that no potential significant adverse environmental impacts are anticipated from the proposed action. The EA, which analyzed the potential environmental impacts of issuing the new MSGP, considered the potential environmental impacts from the discharge of pollutants in stormwater discharges associated with industrial activities where EPA is the permitting authority.

                    Based on the environmental impact analysis in the EA, EPA has determined that no significant environmental impacts are anticipated from the issuance of the 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit and the proposed action does not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, making the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) unnecessary. Therefore,                           ( print page 2414)                        EPA is issuing a preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).                

Dated: January 13, 2015.

Cliff Rader,

Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 2015-00634 Filed 1-15-15; 8:45 am]

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