Cross-Media Electronic Reporting: Authorized Program Revision Approval, State of Wisconsin

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces EPA's approval of the State of Wisconsin's request to revise/modify certain of its EPA-authorized programs to allow electronic reporting.

DATES:

EPA approves the authorized program revision for the State of Wisconsin's National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Implementation program as of August 31, 2017, if no timely request for a public hearing is received and accepted by the Agency. EPA approves the State of Wisconsin's other authorized program revision(s) as of, August 1, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen Seeh, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Information, Mail Stop 2823T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460, (202) 566-1175, seeh.karen@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On October 13, 2005, the final Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR) was published in the Federal Register (70 FR 59848) and codified as part 3 of title 40 of the CFR. CROMERR establishes electronic reporting as an acceptable regulatory alternative to paper reporting and establishes requirements to assure that electronic documents are as legally dependable as their paper counterparts. Subpart D of CROMERR requires that state, tribal or local government agencies that receive, or wish to begin receiving, electronic reports under their EPA-authorized programs must apply to EPA for a revision or modification of those programs and obtain EPA approval. Subpart D provides standards for such approvals based on consideration of the electronic document receiving systems that the state, tribe, or local government will use to implement the electronic reporting. Additionally, § 3.1000(b) through (e) of 40 CFR part 3, subpart D provides special procedures for program revisions and modifications to allow electronic reporting, to be used at the option of the state, tribe or local government in place of procedures available under existing program-specific authorization regulations. An application submitted under the subpart D procedures must show that the state, tribe or local government has sufficient legal authority to implement the electronic reporting components of the programs covered by the application and will use electronic document receiving systems that meet the applicable subpart D requirements.

On February 22, 2016, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) submitted a revised application titled Electronic Receiving System for revisions/modifications to its EPA-approved programs under title 40 CFR to allow new electronic reporting. EPA reviewed WDNR's request to revise/modify its EPA-authorized programs and, based on this review, EPA determined that the revised application met the standards for approval of authorized program revisions/modifications set out in 40 CFR part 3, subpart D. In accordance with 40 CFR 3.1000(d), this notice of EPA's decision to approve Wisconsin's request to revise/modify its following EPA-authorized programs to allow electronic reporting under 40 CFR parts 50-52, 61-63, 65, 70, 122, 125, 141, 144, 146, 240-270, 272-280, 403-471, 501, and 503 is being published in the Federal Register:

Part 52—Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans;

Part 62—Approval and Promulgation of State Plans for Designated Facilities and Pollutants;

Part 63—National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Source Categories;

Part 70—State Operating Permit Programs;

Part 123—EPA Administered Permit Programs: The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System;

Part 142—National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Implementation;

Part 145—State Underground Injection Control Programs;

Part 239—Requirements for State Permit Program Determination of Adequacy;

Part 271—Requirements for Authorization of State Hazardous: Waste Program;

Part 403—General Pretreatment Regulations for Existing and New Sources of Pollution; and

Part 501—State Sludge Management Program Regulations.

WDNR was notified of EPA's determination to approve its application with respect to the authorized programs listed above.

Also, in today's notice, EPA is informing interested persons that they may request a public hearing on EPA's action to approve the State of Wisconsin's request to revise its authorized public water system program under 40 CFR part 142, in accordance with 40 CFR 3.1000(f). Requests for a hearing must be submitted to EPA within 30 days of publication of today's Federal Register notice. Such requests should include the following information: (1) The name, address and telephone number of the individual, organization or other entity requesting a hearing;

(2) A brief statement of the requesting person's interest in EPA's determination, a brief explanation as to why EPA should hold a hearing, and any other information that the requesting person wants EPA to consider when determining whether to grant the request;

(3) The signature of the individual making the request, or, if the request is made on behalf of an organization or other entity, the signature of a responsible official of the organization or other entity.

In the event a hearing is requested and granted, EPA will provide notice of the hearing in the Federal Register not less than 15 days prior to the scheduled hearing date. Frivolous or insubstantial requests for hearing may be denied by EPA. Following such a public hearing, EPA will review the record of the hearing and issue an order either affirming today's determination or rescinding such determination. If no timely request for a hearing is received and granted, EPA's approval of the State of Wisconsin's request to revise its part 142—National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Implementation program to allow electronic reporting will become effective 30 days after today's notice is published, pursuant to CROMERR section 3.1000(f)(4).