(EPA) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing its approval of revision to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands approved primacy program, the EPA-approved program that oversees public water systems in CNMI.
CNMI has adopted regulations that effectuate the federal Revised Total Coliform Rule, and EPA has determined that these regulations are no less stringent than the corresponding federal regulations.
Any interested person may request a public hearing on EPA’s determination.
The deadline for submitting a request for a public hearing is 30 days after the publication of the Federal Register Notice related to this action (see below for more information).
The request must be addressed to the Regional Administrator of EPA Region 9, via the following email address: [email protected]. Please note “CNMI Program Revision Determination” in the subject line of the email.
The RA may deny frivolous or insubstantial requests for a hearing.
If EPA Region 9 does not receive a timely request for a hearing or a request for a hearing was denied by the RA for being frivolous or insubstantial, and the RA does not elect to hold a hearing on their own motion, EPA’s approval shall become final and effective 30 days after publication of the previously mentioned Federal Register Notice related to this action, and no further public notice will be issued.
A request for a public hearing shall include the following: (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 this determination and of information that the requesting person intends to submit at such a hearing; and (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.
Documents relating to this determination that were submitted by CNMI as part of its program revision request are available online at http://deq.gov.mp/sec.asp/.
In addition, these documents are available by appointment between the hours of 8 a.m. and p.m., Monday through Friday, at the following address: CNMI Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, Gualo Rai Center – Safe Drinking Water Branch 2nd floor, Chalan Pale Arnold – Middle Road, Saipan, MP 96950.
Federal Register notices can be found at this website: https://www.federalregister.gov/. The Federal Register notice for this action may not publish for several days or weeks after this notice has published.
For further information, contact Jake Jenzen, EPA Region 9, at (415) 972-3570 or via email at [email protected]/.
