[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 15, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 20909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07818]
[[Page 20909]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 147
[EPA-R05-OW-2019-0705; FRL-10007-93-Region 5]
Request for Comments on Michigan Underground Injection Control
Class II Program Application
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of public comment period and public hearing.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives public
notice that the EPA has received a complete application from the State
of Michigan requesting federal authorization for its Underground
Injection Control (UIC) Program for wells that are used only to inject
fluids associated with oil and natural gas production, known as Class
II injection wells. EPA has determined the application contains all the
required elements. EPA approval of this application would allow the
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to regulate
all Class II injection wells in Michigan except for those on ``Indian
lands.'' See the ADDRESSES section for information on how to access the
application documents. Public comments are requested, and a public
hearing is scheduled.
DATES: Comments will be accepted on or before June 5, 2020. A public
hearing will be held before that date. For additional information
regarding the public hearing, please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section or contact Anna Miller, UIC Section, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois;
telephone number: (312) 886-7060; email address: miller.anna@epa.gov.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by Agency Docket ID No.
EPA-R05-OW-2019-0705, by any of the following methods:
Federal Portal (our preferred method): https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EPA-R05-OW-2019-0705. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5, UIC
Section, WP-16J, ATTN: Michigan Class II Application Docket, 77 West
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID
Number, EPA-R05-OW-2019-0705. Comments received may be posted without
change to https://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal or
confidential business information provided. For detailed instructions
on sending comments and additional information on the rulemaking
process, see the ``Public Participation'' heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Miller, UIC Section, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago,
Illinois; telephone number: (312) 886-7060; email address:
miller.anna@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Summary
The State of Michigan has submitted an application pursuant to
section 1425 of the Safe Drinking Water Act and 40 CFR part 147 to
regulate Class II injection wells in the State. EPA approval of this
application would allow the Michigan Department of Environment, Great
Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to regulate all Class II injection wells in
Michigan except for those on ``Indian lands.''
EPA has determined that the application is complete because it
contains all of the requirements including: A letter from the Governor
requesting program approval; a complete description of the State
Underground Injection Control program; a statement of legal authority;
a memorandum of agreement between the State of Michigan and the EPA,
Region 5; and copies of all applicable rules and forms. This notice is
not an EPA decision or action to approve or disapprove the application;
EPA is requesting comments on the application prior to making a
decision to approve or disapprove the application.
II. Documents for Review
Publicly available docket materials are available electronically in
www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EPA-R05-OW-2019-0705. Materials are also
available in hard copy at the following location: EGLE Lansing office
at Constitution Hall, 525 West Allegan Street, Lansing, Michigan 48909,
during business hours and subject to any office closures. Contact Mark
Snow at (517) 230-8233 or at SnowM@Michigan.gov for more information.
III. Public Participation
A. Written comments
Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R05-OW-2019-
0705, at https://www.regulations.gov or the other methods identified in
the ADDRESSES section. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or
withdrawn. The 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. The 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
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.
B. Public Hearing
A public hearing has been scheduled for those who wish to deliver
comments orally. The hearing is scheduled for May 27, 2020 at the
Kirtland Community College Event Center, 4800 W Four Mile Road,
Grayling, MI 49738, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time.
Note: EPA may change the format and time for the May 27 hearing
to virtual and regular business hours if appropriate to protect
public health in the face of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID 19)
risks. EPA will publish notice of any such change on or before May
20, 2020 exclusively at: https://www.epa.gov/uic/underground-injection-control-epa-region-5-il-mi-mn-oh-and-wi#public-notices.
EPA will make every effort to accommodate all speakers who register
to speak. The EPA will not respond to the oral comments at that time.
Written statements and supporting information submitted during the
comment period will be considered with the same weight as oral comments
and supporting information presented at the public hearing. EPA
encourages commenters to provide EPA with a copy of their oral
testimony electronically or in hard copy form.
Dated: April 8, 2020.
Kurt Thiede,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 2020-07818 Filed 4-14-20; 8:45 am]
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