[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 199 (Monday, October 15, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52403-52404]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25738]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7082-1]
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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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability for comment of the
administrative record file for forty-five 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). These TMDLs were completed 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.). 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. The court
order also requires EPA to add or delete waters to the schedule as new
data confirms that waters are or are not meeting water quality
standards.
This notice also announces the availability for comment of EPA
determinations that TMDLs are not needed for six waterbody/pollutant
combinations in the Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche river basins because
new data and information show that water quality standards are being
met. This proposed action would result in the removal of six waterbody/
pollutant combinations from the Louisiana 303(d) list.
DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing to EPA on or before
November 14, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the forty-five TMDLs and the determinations that
TMDLs are not needed for six waterbody/pollutant combinations 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 and the determinations that
TMDLs are not needed are available for public inspection at this
address as well. Documents from the administrative record file 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 EPA, styled
Sierra Club, et al. v. Clifford et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. La.). 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 Forty-five TMDLs
By this notice EPA is seeking comments on the following forty-five
TMDLs for waters located within the Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche
basins:
[[Page 52404]]
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Subsegment Waterbody name Pollutant
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050103...................... Bayou Mallet........ Ammonia, Nutrients,
and Organic
enrichment/low DO.
050402...................... Lake Arthur and Ammonia, Nutrients,
Lower Mermentau. and Organic
enrichment/low DO.
050602...................... Intracoastal Organic enrichment/
Waterway. low DO.
050603...................... Bayou Chene-includes Organic enrichment/
Bayou Grand Marais. low DO.
050701...................... Grand Lake.......... Nutrients, and
Organic enrichment/
low DO.
050702...................... Intracoastal Nutrients, and
Waterway. Organic enrichment/
low DO.
050802...................... Big Constance Lake Organic enrichment/
and Associated low DO.
Waterbodies
(Estuarine).
050901...................... Mermentau River Nutrients, and
Basin Coastal Bays Organic enrichment/
and Gulf Waters to low DO.
State 3-mile limit.
060207...................... Bayou des Glaises Nutrients, and
Diversion Channel. Organic enrichment/
low DO.
060209...................... Irish Ditch/Big Organic enrichment/
Bayou-unnamed Ditch low DO.
to Irish Ditch
(Ditch).
060210...................... Bayou Carron........ Nutrients, and
Organic enrichment/
low DO.
060211...................... West Atchafalaya Organic enrichment/
Borrow Pit Canal. low DO.
060212...................... Chatlin Lake Canal Organic enrichment/
and Bayou DuLac. low DO.
060601...................... Charenton Canal..... Nutrients, and
Organic enrichment/
low DO.
060701...................... Tete Bayou.......... Nutrients, and
Organic enrichment/
low DO.
060703...................... Bayou du Portage.... Organic enrichment/
low DO.
060803...................... Vermilion River Nutrients, and
Cutoff. Organic enrichment/
low DO.
060901...................... Bayou Petite Anse... Nutrients, and
Organic enrichment/
low DO.
060903...................... Bayou Tigre......... Nutrients, and
Organic enrichment/
low DO.
060904...................... Vermilion River B890 Nutrients, and
Basin New Iberia Organic enrichment/
Southern Drainage low DO.
Canal.
060907...................... Franklin Canal...... Nutrients, and
Organic enrichment/
low DO.
060908...................... Spanish Lake........ Organic enrichment/
low DO.
060909...................... Lake Peigneur....... Nutrients, and
Organic enrichment/
low DO.
060911...................... Vermilion-Teche Nutrients, and
River Basin-(Dugas Organic enrichment/
Canal). low DO.
061001...................... West Cote Blanche Organic enrichment/
Bay. low DO.
061103...................... Freshwater Bayou Nutrients, and
Canal. Organic enrichment/
low DO.
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EPA Seeks Comments on Proposed Determinations That Six TMDLs for
Waterbody/Pollutant Combinations Are Not Needed Due to Assesssment
of New Data and Information That Shows They Are Meeting WQS
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Subsegment Waterbody name Pollutant
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050102....................................... Bayou Joe Marcel................ Ammonia, Nutrients, and Organic
enrichment/low DO.
060906....................................... Intracoastal Waterway........... Nutrients.
061101....................................... Bayou Petite Anse............... Nutrients.
060204....................................... Bayou Courtableau--origin to Oil and Grease.
West Atchafalaya Borrow Pit
Canal.
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EPA requests that the public provide any water quality related data
and information that may be relevant to the calculations for these
forty-five TMDLs, or any other comments relevant to the six proposed
determinations that TMDLs are not needed. EPA will review all data and
information submitted during the public comment period and revise the
TMDLs and determinations 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. EPA also will revise the Louisiana 303(d) list
as appropriate.
Dated: October 4, 2001.
Jayne Fontenot,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 01-25738 Filed 10-12-01; 8:45 am]
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