Notice of Final NPDES General Permit – Western Portion of the OCS of the Gulf of Mexico (GMG290000) EPA Region 6 issued a modification of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for the Western Portion of the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico (No. GMG290000) for discharges from new sources, existing sources, and new dischargers in the Offshore Subcategory of the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category (40 CFR part 435, Subpart A). The modified permit will become effective February 19, 2002. The existing permit published in the Federal Register, at 64 FR 19156 on April 19, 1999, authorizes discharges from exploration, development, and production facilities located in and discharging to Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico seaward of the outer boundary of the territorial seas offshore of Louisiana and Texas. This action adds the authorization to discharge of drill cuttings generated using synthetic and other non-aqueous based drilling fluids and hydrostatic test water from pressure testing of existing pipelines.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Diane Smith, EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202, Telephone: (214) 665 7191, or via EMAIL to the following address: smith.diane@epa.gov. The full notice can be downloaded from RCP's website at here.