[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19762-19764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9093]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6577-4]
Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of Total Maximum
Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Determinations That TMDLs Are Not Needed
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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[[Page 19763]]
SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability for comment of the
administrative record file for 19 TMDLs, and the calculations for these
TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in the Mermentau and
Vermilion/Teche river basins, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water
Act (CWA). The above TMDLs were completed in response to the October 1,
1999, Court Order in the Sierra Club, et al. v. Clifford et al., No.
96-0527 (E.D. La. Oct. 1, 1999). This Court Order required EPA to
establish TMDLs for CWA section 303(d) listed waters in several basins,
including the Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche river basins. This notice
also announces the availability for comment of EPA determinations that
TMDLs are not needed for 46 waterbody/pollutant combinations in the
Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche river basins and an additional 2 listings
in the Pearl River basin.
DATES: Comments must be submitted to EPA on or before May 12, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the 19 TMDLs and notice that TMDLs are not
needed for 48 waterbodies 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. Copies of the TMDLs and their respective calculations may be
viewed at www.epa.gov/region6/water/tmdl.htm, or obtained by writing or
calling Ms. Caldwell at the above address. The administrative record
file for these TMDLs is available for public inspection at the above
address as well. 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). Among other claims,
plaintiffs alleged EPA failed to fulfill a mandatory duty under CWA
section 303(d), submission of a reasonable schedule and establishment
of TMDLs for all Louisiana waters not satisfying water quality
standards.
By the October 1, 1999, judgment (Sierra Club, et al. v. Clifford
et al., No. 96-0527 [E.D. La. Oct. 1, 1999]), the Court disapproved
EPA's proposed 12-year TMDL schedule. The Court, in part, ordered the
following EPA actions:
(1) The defendants, EPA, shall prepare total maximum daily loads
for Louisiana waters identified as not meeting water quality standards
according to the following schedule:
(a) By December 31, 1999, for all of the waters in the Mermentau and
Vermilion/Teche basins.
(b) By December 31, 2001, for all of the waters in the Calcasieu and
Ouachita basins.
(c) By December 31, 2003, for all of the waters in the Barataria and
Terrebonne basins.
(d) By December 31, 2005, for all of the waters in the Red and Sabine
basins.
(e) By December 31, 2006, for all of the waters in the Pontchartrain
basins.
(f) By December 31, 2007, for all of the waters in the Mississippi,
Atchafalaya, and Pearl basins.
(2) The defendants, EPA, shall add or delete waters to the schedule
as new data confirms that the waters are or are not meeting water
quality standards. If a water is deleted from the identification of
waters that do not meet water quality standards, the defendants need
not prepare a total maximum daily load for the water. If an additional
water is identified as not meeting water quality standards, the
defendants shall prepare a total maximum daily load for the water by
the applicable deadline in the schedule if the water is identified at
least one year prior to the deadline. If the additional water is
identified less than one year before the total maximum load would be
due under the schedule, the defendants shall have discretion to prepare
the load by the scheduled deadline or to extend the schedule.
(3) The defendants, EPA, may determine if the State of Louisiana
wishes to assist the EPA in preparing any or all of the total maximum
daily loads required by this schedule. If Louisiana elects to assume
responsibility for preparation of any of the total maximum daily loads,
it shall submit the load to the defendants by the dates indicated in
the schedule described above. The defendants shall approve or
disapprove any total maximum daily load submitted by the state within
30 days of its submission. If the defendants disapprove any total
maximum daily load, the defendants shall prepare a total maximum load
for the water within 30 days after the date of its disapproval. If
after assuming responsibility for the preparation of any total maximum
daily load, the state fails to submit the load to the EPA by the
required deadline, the defendants shall prepare the total maximum daily
load within 60 days after the deadline.
Consistent with earlier EPA representations, the administrative
record file and calculations for the following nineteen TMDLs, prepared
on waters located within the Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche basins, are
available for review and comment:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subsegment Waterbody name Pollutant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
050201.......................... Bayou Plaquemine Mercury.
Brule.
050101.......................... Bayou Des Cannes.. Mercury.
050702.......................... Seventh Ward Canal Mercury.
(Intracoastal
Waterway).
060203.......................... Chicot Lake....... Mercury.
050901.......................... Coastal waters of Mercury.
the Gulf of
Mexico (Mermentau
River Basin
Coastal).
061201.......................... Coastal waters of Mercury.
the Gulf of
Mexico (Vermilion-
Teche RB-CB&G).
050101.......................... Bayou Des Cannes.. Fecal Coliform
050201.......................... Bayou Plaquemine Fecal Coliform
Brule.
050301.......................... Bayou Nezpique.... Fecal Coliform
050501.......................... Bayou Queue de Turbidity
Tortue.
060208.......................... Bayou Boeuf....... Fecal Coliform
060301.......................... Bayou Teche....... Fecal Coliform
060401.......................... Bayou Teche....... Fecal Coliform
060801.......................... Vermilion River... Fecal Coliform
060802.......................... Vermilion River... Fecal Coliform
060801.......................... Vermilion River... Dissolved Oxygen
060801.......................... Vermilion River... Nitrogen
060802.......................... Vermilion River... Dissolved Oxygen
060802.......................... Vermilion River... Nitrogen.
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EPA regulations provide for public participation when the Agency
establishes TMDLs. By this notice, and pursuant to 40 CFR part
130.7(d)(2), EPA is seeking comment on the above 19 TMDLs. While these
TMDLs were prepared consistent with short time frames provided in the
October 1, 1999, Court Order, EPA recognizes the importance of
preparing both, timely and accurate TMDLs. Thus, EPA requests the
public to provide any significant data and information that may impact
these 19 TMDLs. If such data and information is submitted during the
public comment period, EPA may determine it is necessary to revise any
one, or some of the 19 TMDLs. After consideration of data and
information submitted during the public comment period, and making any
appropriate revisions, EPA will forward the TMDLs
[[Page 19764]]
to the Court and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
(LDEQ). LDEQ will incorporate the TMDLs into its current water quality
management plan.
Through this notice, EPA is also making available for comment EPA's
February 25, 2000 determination that TMDLs are not needed for 46
waterbody/pollutant combinations in the Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche
river basins and 2 in the Pearl River basin.
In response to the Court's October 1, 1999 Order, EPA on October
28, 1999 disapproved Louisiana's 1998 CWA section 303(d) list and, on
November 1, 1999, submitted to the Court a Court Ordered CWA section
303(d) list and administrative record. EPA made the Court Ordered List
available for public comment on November 29, 1999 (64 FR 66635). After
review of water quality data and monitoring information and public
comments, EPA issued a Modified Court Ordered CWA section 303(d) list
on February 25, 2000. As part of that decision, EPA determined that 46
waterbody/pollutant combinations in the Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche
basins and 2 in the Pearl River basin should be removed from the Court
Ordered CWA section 303(d) list. The rationale for the determinations
is set out in the Decision Document for the Modified Court Ordered
Sec. 303(d) List and further explained in Appendix E of that document
and provided as follows:
050101 Bayou Des Cannes--Headwaters to Mermentau
Copper................................ New data shows it is meeting
Water Quality Standards
(WQS).
Lead.................................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
050201 Bayou Plaquemine Brule--Headwaters to Bayou Des Cannes
Lead.................................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
Phosphorus............................ New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
Turbidity............................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
050301 Bayou Nezpique--Headwaters to Mermentau
Copper................................ New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
Lead.................................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
050401 Mermentau River -- Origin to Lake Arthur
Phosphorus............................ Assessment of data shows it
is meeting WQS.
Copper................................ New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
Lead.................................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
Mercury............................... New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
Suspended Solids...................... New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
050501 Bayou Queue de Tortue--Headwaters to Mermentau
Lead.................................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
050601 Lacassine Bayou--Headwaters to Intracoastal Waterway
Phosphorus............................ Assessment of data shows it
is meeting WQS.
Suspended Solids...................... New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
Turbidity............................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
Lead.................................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
050703 White Lake
Siltation............................. Assessment of data and
information shows it is
meeting WQS.
Turbidity............................. Assessment of data and
information shows it is
meeting WQS.
Lead.................................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
050801 Mermentau River--Catfish Point Control Structure to Gulf of
Mexico (Estuarine)
Copper................................ New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
060101 Spring Creek--Headwaters to Cocodrie Lake
Siltation............................. Assessment of data shows it
is meeting WQS.
Turbidity............................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
Cadmium............................... New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
Copper................................ New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
Lead.................................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
Mercury............................... New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
060102 Cocodrie Lake
Cadmium............................... Original basis for listing
determined to be
inaccurate.
Copper................................ Original basis for listing
determined to be
inaccurate.
Lead.................................. Original basis for listing
determined to be
inaccurate.
060201 Bayou Cocodrie from US Highway 167 to the Boeuf-Cocodrie
Diversion Canal
Lead.................................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
060203 Chicot Lake
Copper................................ New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
Lead.................................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
060204 Bayou Courtableau--Origin to West Atchafalaya Borrow Pit Canal
Lead.................................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
060205 Bayou Teche--Headwaters at Bayou Courtableau to I-10
Lead.................................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
060401 Bayou Teche--Keystone Locks & Dam to Charenton Canal
Phosphorus............................ Assessment of data shows it
is meeting WQS.
060501 Bayou Teche--Charenton Canal to Wax Lake Outlet
Phosphorus............................ Assessment of data shows it
is meeting WQS.
060702 Lake Fausse Point and Dauterive Lake
Phosphorus............................ Assessment of data shows it
is meeting WQS.
060801 Vermilion River--Headwaters at Bayou Fusilier-Bourbeaux Junction
to New Flanders (Ambassador Caffery Bridge)
Phosphorus............................ Assessment of data shows it
is meeting WQS.
Cadmium............................... New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
Lead.................................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
060802 Vermilion River from New Flanders (Ambassador Caffery Bridge) New
Bridge, LA Hwy 3073 to Intracoastal Waterway
Phosphorus............................ Assessment of data shows it
is meeting WQS.
Lead.................................. New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
060902 Bayou Carlin (Delcambre Canal) Lake Peigneur to Bayou Petite Anse
(Estuarine)
Copper................................ New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
061104 Vermilion Bay
Copper................................ New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
090101 Pearl River
Copper................................ New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
090202 West Pearl River
Copper................................ New data shows it is meeting
WQS.
110507 Bayou Anacoco
Dioxin................................ Original basis for listing
determined to be
inaccurate, dioxin included
with priority organics
listing.
EPA request the public to provide any significant data or
information warranting revision of EPA's decision to remove these 48
waterbody/pollutant combinations. If such data or information is
submitted during the public comment period, EPA may revise the Modified
Court Ordered List accordingly. EPA is not requesting comment on any
other aspect of its February 25, 2000, decision on the Modified Court
Ordered CWA section 303(d) list.
Dated: March 25, 2000.
Oscar Ramirez, Jr.,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 00-9093 Filed 4-11-00; 8:45 am]
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