Notice of an Extension To Provide Information on Existing Programs That Protect Water Quality From Forest Road Discharges

Joel Beauvais
Environmental Protection Agency
December 17, 2015

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 242 (Thursday, December 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78728-78729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31664]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0668; 9940-23-OW]


Notice of an Extension To Provide Information on Existing 
Programs That Protect Water Quality From Forest Road Discharges

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the 
comment period for the notice, ``Opportunity to Provide Information on 
Existing Programs that Protect Water Quality from Forest Road 
Discharges.'' In response to stakeholder requests, EPA is extending the 
comment period for an additional 32 days, from January 11, 2016, to 
February 12, 2016.

DATES: The comment period for the notice, that was published on 
November 10, 2015 (80 FR 69653), is extended. Comments must be received 
on or before February 12, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2015-0668, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from 
Regulations.gov. EPA may publish any comment received to its public 
docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, 
video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written 
comment is considered the official comment and should include 
discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will generally not 
consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary 
submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For 
additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment policy, 
information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance 
on making effective comments, please visit http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Prasad Chumble, EPA Headquarters, 
Office of Water, Office of Wastewater Management via email at 
chumble.prasad@epa.gov or telephone at 202-564-0021.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 10, 2015 EPA published in the 
Federal Register (80 FR 69653) a request for information and comments 
on existing public and private sector programs that address stormwater 
discharges from forest roads. This information will assist EPA in 
responding to the remand in Environmental Defense Center, Inc. v. U.S. 
EPA, 344 F.2d 832 (9th Cir. 2003) that requires EPA to consider whether 
the Clean Water Act requires the Agency to regulate stormwater 
discharges from forest roads. EPA is considering the implementation, 
effectiveness, and scope of existing programs in addressing water 
quality impacts attributable to stormwater discharges from forest roads 
to assist in responding to the court's question. The Agency plans to 
assess a variety of existing programs, including federal, state, local, 
tribal, third party certifications, and combinations of these 
approaches, including voluntary best management practices (BMP)-based 
approaches. In preparing its response to the remand, EPA is 
coordinating with other federal agencies, and will assess whether any 
additional stormwater controls are called for, consistent with

[[Page 78729]]

federal law, including the 2014 amendments to the Clean Water Act. As 
initially published in the Federal Register, written comments were to 
be submitted to EPA on or before January 11, 2016 (a 60-day public 
comment period). Since publication, EPA has received several requests 
for additional time to submit comments. EPA is extending the public 
comment period for 32 days until February 12, 2016.

    Dated: December 8, 2015.
Joel Beauvais,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2015-31664 Filed 12-16-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P