[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54498-54499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19132]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-R10-OW-2022-0418; FRL-9860-03-R10]


Proposed Determination To Prohibit and Restrict the Use of 
Certain Waters Within Defined Areas as Disposal Sites; Pebble Deposit 
Area, Southwest Alaska; Announcement To Extend the Period To Evaluate 
Public Comments

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice to extend the period to evaluate public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 is 
extending the time requirement to allow the EPA Region 10 Regional 
Administrator to consider all public comments received on its 2022 
Proposed Determination to Prohibit and Restrict the Use of Certain 
Waters within Defined Areas as Disposal Sites; Pebble Deposit Area, 
Southwest Alaska, issued pursuant to the Clean Water Act (CWA).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 26, 2022, the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 published in the Federal Register a 
notice of availability and notice of public hearings for the 2022 
Proposed Determination to Prohibit and Restrict the Use of Certain 
Waters Within Defined Areas as Disposal Sites; Pebble Deposit Area, 
Southwest Alaska issued pursuant to Section 404(c) of the Clean

[[Page 54499]]

Water Act (CWA) (87 FR 32021). On June 16 and 17, 2022, the EPA Region 
10 held three public hearings. Of the 186 individuals that attended the 
public hearings 111 provided testimony. On June 30, 2022, the EPA 
published in the Federal Register a Notice of extension of public 
comment period and public hearing comment period through September 6, 
2022 (87 FR 39091). As of August 24, 2022, the EPA Region 10 had 
received 35,011 comments and expects to receive additional comments 
through the end of the public comment period.
    EPA's regulations require that, within 30 days after the conclusion 
of public hearings (but not before the end of the comment period), the 
Regional Administrator either withdraw the 2022 Proposed Determination 
or prepare a Recommended Determination (40 CFR 231.5(a)). The Regional 
Administrator may, upon a showing of good cause, extend this time 
requirement (40 CFR 231.8). At the time the public comment period 
closes, more than 30 days will have passed since the date of the last 
public hearing. Accordingly, the EPA finds there is good cause to 
extend the time period provided in 40 CFR 231.5(a) to either withdraw 
the 2022 Proposed Determination or to prepare a Recommended 
Determination until no later than December 2, 2022, to help ensure full 
consideration of the extensive administrative record including all 
public comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Visit www.epa.gov/bristolbay or 
contact Erin Seyfried through the Bristol Bay-specific phone line, 
(206) 553-0040, or email address, [email protected].

    Dated: August 29, 2022.
Casey Sixkiller,
Regional Administrator, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2022-19132 Filed 9-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


