Document ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2013-0710-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Hearings: Michigan Clean Water Act Program
Posted Date: 2013-10-23T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 63185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24841]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9901-74-Region 5]

Public Hearing and Request for Comments on Proposed Revisions to 
Michigan's Clean Water Act (CWA) Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of proposed revisions to Michigan's CWA Section 404 
program, public hearing and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: EPA requests comments on proposed revisions to Michigan's CWA 
Section 404 permitting program resulting from the recent enactment of 
Michigan Public Act 98 (PA 98). EPA will hold a public hearing in 
Lansing, Michigan, on December 11, 2013, to take comments on the 
proposed program revisions. Under Section 404 of the CWA, permits are 
required for activities involving discharges of dredged or fill 
material to waters of the United States, including wetlands, lakes and 
streams. In 1984, Michigan assumed Section 404 permitting authority for 
its inland waters and wetlands. PA 98 amended the wetlands and the 
inland lakes and streams provisions of the Michigan's Natural Resources 
and Environmental Protection Act to address areas, as identified by EPA 
in a 2008 program review, where the state's Section 404 program did not 
comply with CWA requirements. In addition to changes to address issues 
identified in EPA's program review, PA 98 included: (1) Changes to the 
definition of contiguous wetlands regulated by Michigan's Section 404 
program; (2) the addition of new exemptions from permitting; and (3) 
changes to the requirements for mitigating the effects of filling 
wetlands and other waters of the United States. Under federal 
regulations, substantial changes to state CWA Section 404 programs do 
not become effective until program revisions are approved by EPA. 
Information about PA 98, the resulting proposed revisions to Michigan's 
Section 404 program, the public hearing, and procedures for submitting 
comments is available at: www.regulations.gov/ (insert: EPA-HQ-OW-2013-
0710 in the search field).

DATES and LOCATION: On December 11, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. EST, EPA will 
hold a public hearing to take oral and written comments at the Crowne 
Plaza Lansing West (formerly known as the Lexington Lansing Hotel), 925 
South Creyts Road, Lansing, Michigan 48917. The formal hearing will be 
preceded by an informational session at 6:00 p.m. EST. Written comments 
will also be accepted until December 18, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2013-
0710, online using www.regulations.gov (the preferred method); by email 
to ow-docket@epa.gov; or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460. All comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information, or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, call toll-
free, 800-621-8431, weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., central time, or 
contact Sue Elston, at the EPA Docket Center address noted above.

    Dated: September 27, 2013.
Timothy C. Henry,
Acting Director, Water Division, EPA Region 5.
[FR Doc. 2013-24841 Filed 10-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P