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In This Issue

  1. OCS Crane Requirements
  2. Louisiana Rules for Pipeline Integrity Management
  3. O&M Manual Up-To-Date?
  4. Homeland Security Advisory System – Brochure
  5. DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop – March 19-20, 2003 – Houston Includes update on the new Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 signed into law on Dec 17, 2002
  6. Withdrawal of MMS Proposed Rule – Pipeline Repairs
  7. Air Permit Needs?
  8. MMS Safety Alert on Pipeline Safety Joints
  9. OQ-2 Teleconference
  10. RCP Website hang-ups
  11. Interested in Web-Based Compliance Management Systems?
  12. New Southeast Louisiana Area Contingency Plan
  13. Definition of “Waters of the United States”: extension of comment period
  14. Pipeline Integrity Management in High Consequence Areas (Gas Transmission Pipelines): Notice of public meeting

Definition of “Waters of the United States”: extension of comment period

On January 15, 2003, the Department of the Army (Army) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) jointly published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on the Clean Water Act (CWA) regulatory definition of “Waters of the United States” ( see our February, 2003 newsletters). That ANPRM requests public input on issues associated with the definition of “waters of the United States” in light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 531 U.S. 159 (2001) (SWANCC). It also solicits information or data from the general public, the scientific community, and Federal and State resource agencies on the implications of the SWANCC decision for jurisdictional decisions under the CWA. The input received from the public in response to the ANPRM will be used by the agencies to determine the issues to be addressed and the substantive approach for a future proposed rulemaking addressing the scope of CWA jurisdiction.

The Army and EPA sought responses to the ANPRM by March 3, 2003. In response to comments from the public requesting additional time to fully analyze the issues, gather requested information, and prepare comments, the comment period is being extended to April 16, 2003 (Docket ID No. OW-2002-0050).