[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 60189]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25930]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6883-4]
Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of Total Maximum
Daily Loads (TMDLs)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: This document announces the availability for comment of the
administrative record file for six TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for
waters listed in Louisiana's Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche river
basins, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). EPA prepared
these TMDLs in response to a Court Order dated October 1, 1999, in the
lawsuit Sierra Club, et al. v. Clifford et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. La.
Oct. 1, 1999). Under this court order, EPA is required to prepare TMDLs
when needed for waters on the Louisiana 1998 section 303(d) list by
December 31, 2007.
DATES: Comments on the six TMDLs must be submitted in writing to EPA on
or before November 9, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the six TMDLs should be sent to Ellen Caldwell,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Water Quality Protection Division,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6, 1445 Ross Ave., Dallas,
TX 75202-2733. For further information, contact Ellen Caldwell at (214)
665-7513. The administrative record file for these TMDLs is available
for public inspection at this address as well. Copies of the TMDLs and
their respective calculations may be viewed at www.epa.gov/region6/water/tmdl.htm, or obtained by calling or writing Ms. Caldwell at the
above address. Please contact Ms. Caldwell to schedule an inspection.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Caldwell at (214) 665-7513.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1996, two Louisiana environmental groups,
the Sierra Club and Louisiana Environmental Action Network
(plaintiffs), filed a lawsuit in Federal Court against the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), styled Sierra Club, et
al. v. Clifford et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. La. Oct. 1, 1999). Among
other claims, plaintiffs alleged that EPA failed to establish Louisiana
TMDLs in a timely manner. Discussion of the court's order may be found
at 65 FR 54032 (September 6, 2000).
EPA Seeks Comments on Six TMDLs
By this notice EPA is seeking comment on the following six TMDLs
for waters located within the Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche basins:
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Subsegment Waterbody name Pollutant
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060212....................... Chatlin Lake Fecal Coliform.
Canal and Bayou
DuLac.
060901....................... Bayou Petite Anse Fecal Coliform.
060701....................... Tete Bayou....... Fecal Coliform.
060703....................... Bayou du Portage. Fecal Coliform.
060909....................... Lake Peigneur.... Fecal Coliform.
060911....................... Vermilion-Teche Fecal Coliform.
River Basin.
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EPA requests that the public provide to EPA any water quality
related data and information that may be relevant to the calculations
for these TMDLs, or any other comments relevant to these TMDLs. EPA
will review all data and information submitted during the public
comment period and revise the six TMDLs where appropriate. EPA will
then forward the TMDLs to the Court and the Louisiana Department of
Environmental Quality (LDEQ). LDEQ will incorporate the TMDLs into its
current water quality management plan.
Dated: September 25, 2000.
Sam Becker,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 00-25930 Filed 10-6-00; 8:45 am]
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