Document ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2010-0606-0120
Agency: epa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Water Quality Standards Regulatory Clarifications
Posted Date: 2013-11-27T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70905-70906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28522]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 131

[EPA-HQ-OW-2010-0606; FRL-9903-54-OW]

Extension of Comment Period for the Water Quality Standards 
Regulatory Clarifications Proposed Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the 
comment period for the proposed rule ``Water Quality Standards 
Regulatory Clarifications''. EPA is extending the comment period in 
response to stakeholder requests for a 30-day extension.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 2, 2014. The 
comment period was originally scheduled to end on December 3, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket identification 
(ID) No. EPA-HQ-OW-2010-0606, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: ow-docket@epa.gov.
     Mail: Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail 
Code 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460. 
Attention: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2010-0606.
     Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, EPA West Room 3334, 1301 
Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20004, Attention: Docket ID No. 
EPA-HQ-OW-2010-0606. Such deliveries

[[Page 70906]]

are only accepted during the Docket Center's normal hours of operation. 
Special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information 
by calling 202-566-2426.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2010-
0606. The EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
http://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 http://www.regulations.gov or email. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site 
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means the EPA will not know 
your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body 
of your comment. If you send an email comment directly to the EPA 
without going through www.regulations.gov your email address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, the EPA recommends that you include your 
name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with 
any disc you submit. If the EPA cannot read your comment due to 
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, the 
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 additional information about the 
EPA's public docket visit the Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available (e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute). Certain other materials, 
such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard 
copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either 
electronically in http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the 
Office of Water Docket Center, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 
Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open 
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 
566-1744; the telephone number for the Office of Water Docket Center is 
(202) 566-2426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janita Aguirre, EPA Headquarters, 
Office of Water, Office of Science and Technology, at 202-566-1860 or 
email address: WQSRegulatoryClarifications@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 4, 2013, EPA published the 
proposed rule ``Water Quality Standards Regulatory Clarifications'' in 
the Federal Register (78 FR 54517). In the proposed rulemaking, EPA is 
proposing changes to the federal water quality standards (WQS) 
regulation at 40 CFR Part 131 which helps implement the Clean Water Act 
in order to improve effectiveness in restoring and maintaining the 
chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters. 
The proposed rule addresses the following key program areas: 
Administrator's determinations that new or revised WQS are necessary, 
designated uses, triennial reviews, antidegradation, variances to WQS, 
and compliance schedule authorizing provisions. Once final, the 
proposed rule will lead to improved water quality standard development, 
implementation and compliance as well as improving the ability of water 
systems to adapt and respond to the impacts of climate change.
    The original comment deadline was December 3, 2013. This action 
extends the comment period for 30 days. Written comments must now be 
received by the January 2, 2014.

    Dated: November 22, 2013.
Nancy K. Stoner,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2013-28522 Filed 11-26-13; 8:45 am]
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