[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 114 (Thursday, June 13, 2002)] [Notices] [Pages 40735-40737] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 02-14498] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-7227-3] Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Final Agency Action on 98 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Final Agency Action on 20 Determinations That TMDLs Are Not Needed AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces final agency action on 98 TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in Louisiana's Calcasieu and Ouachita river basins, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). This notice also announces final agency action removing 20 waterbody/ pollutant combinations from the Louisiana 303(d) list because TMDLs are not needed. The EPA evaluated these waters and prepared the 98 TMDLs needed in response to a consent decree entered in the lawsuit Sierra Club, et al. v. Clifford et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. La.). Documents from the administrative record files for the 20 determinations that TMDLs are not needed and for the 98 TMDLs, including TMDL calculations and the responses to comments, may be viewed at www.epa.gov/region6/water/tmdl.htm. EPA believes that the public notice and comment period provided for these TMDLs was adequate. During the comment period, EPA received over 400 pages of comments from numerous commenters, including the parties requesting more time. EPA believes that it has appropriately responded to the comments received. Furthermore, EPA is establishing these TMDLs pursuant to deadlines established in a consent decree in the case styled Sierra Club, et al. v. Clifford et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. La.) which does not at this late date permit EPA to grant additional time for public comment, absent relief from the court, which the Agency does not believe is necessary to seek here. However, EPA will continue to accept information submitted regarding potential errors in the TMDL, and/or to meet with parties to discuss potential errors. If the Agency determines that errors were made, it will issue a correction notice or revise the TMDL, as appropriate. The administrative record files may be 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, the plaintiffs alleged that the EPA failed to establish Louisiana TMDLs in a timely manner. EPA Takes Final Agency Action on 98 TMDLs By this notice EPA is taking final agency action on the following 98 TMDLs for waters located within the Calcasieu and Ouachita river basins: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subsegment Waterbody name Pollutant ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 030301.......................... Calcasieu River & Ship Contaminated sediments (Mercury, PAHs, and Channel--Saltwater toxicity). Barrier to Moss Lake (Estuarine) (Includes Coon Island and Clooney Island Loops). 030306.......................... Bayou Verdine (Estuarine) Contaminated sediments (4,4'-DDT, Methoxychlor, PAHs, Zinc, Calcium, and toxicity). 030901.......................... Bayou D'Inde--Headwaters Contaminated sediments (Mercury, toxicity, and to Calcasieu River organics). (Estuarine). 030305.......................... Contraband Bayou Copper. (Estuarine). 031201.......................... Calcasieu River Basin-- Mercury. Coastal Bays and Gulf Waters to State 3 mile limit. 030301.......................... Calcasieu River and Ship Metals (Copper, Lead, and Mercury). Channel--Saltwater Barrier to Moss Lake (Estuarine) (Includes Coon Island and Clooney Island Loops). 030304.......................... Moss Lake (Estuarine).... Metals (Copper, Mercury). 030306.......................... Bayou Verdine (Estuarine) Metals (Mercury, Nickel). 030901.......................... Bayou D'Inde--Headwaters Metals (Copper, Nickel, and Mercury). to Calcasieu River (Estuarine). 030305.......................... Contraband Bayou Pathogen indicators. (Estuarine). 030701.......................... Bayou Serpent............ Pesticides (Fipronil). 030301.......................... Calcasieu River and Ship Priority organics (PAHs). Channel--Saltwater Barrier to Moss Lake (Estuarine) (Includes Coon Island and Clooney Island Loops). [[Page 40736]] 030306.......................... Bayou Verdine (Estuarine) Priority organics (Phenols, and 1,2- Dichloroethane). 030901.......................... Bayou D'Inde--Headwaters Priority organics (PCBs, Tetrachloroethane, to Calcasieu River Hexachlorobenzene, Hexachlorobutadiene, and (Estuarine). Bromoform). 030702.......................... English Bayou--Headwaters Suspended solids. to Calcasieu River. 030702.......................... English Bayou--Headwaters Turbidity. to Calcasieu River. 081501.......................... Castor Creek--Headwaters Chlorides. to Little River. 0809(04)........................ Little Bayou Boeuf/Wham Dioxins. Brake (within segment 0809). 080912.......................... Tisdale Brake/ Dioxins. Staulkinghead Creek from origin to Little Bayou Boeuf. 080101.......................... Ouachita River--Arkansas Mercury. State Line to Columbia Lock and Dam (Scenic from the Arkansas State Line to intersection with Bayou Bartholomew-- 22 miles). 080902.......................... Bayou Bonne Idee-- Nitrogen. Headwaters to Boeuf River. 080102.......................... Bayou Chauvin............ Noxious aquatic plants. 080201.......................... Ouachita River--Columbia Nutrients. Lock and Dam to Jonesville. 080302.......................... Black River--Corps of Nutrients. Engineers Control Structure to Red River. 080902.......................... Bayou Bonne Idee-- Nutrients. Headwaters to Boeuf River. 080904.......................... Bayou Lafourche--near Nutrients. Oakridge to Boeuf River near Columbia. 080910.......................... Clear Lake............... Nutrients. 081002.......................... Joe's Bayou--Headwaters Nutrients. to Bayou Macon. 081201.......................... Tensas River--Headwaters Nutrients. to Jonesville (including Tensas Bayou). 081202.......................... Lake St. Joseph (Oxbow Nutrients. Lake). 080201.......................... Ouachita River--Columbia Organic enrichment/low DO. Lock. 080501.......................... Bayou de L'Outre-- Organic enrichment/low DO. Arkansas State to Ouachita River (Scenic). 080607.......................... Corney Bayou--from Organic enrichment/low DO. Arkansas State Line to Corney Lake (Scenic). 080902.......................... Bayou Bonne Idee-- Organic enrichment/low DO. Headwaters to Boeuf River. 080904.......................... Bayou Lafourche--near Organic enrichment/low DO. Oakridge to Boeuf River near Columbia. 080910.......................... Clear Lake............... Organic enrichment/low DO. 081002.......................... Joe's Bayou--Headwaters Organic enrichment/low DO. to Bayou Macon. 081201.......................... Tensas River--Headwaters Organic enrichment/low DO. to Jonesville (including Tensas Bayou). 081202.......................... Lake St. Joseph (Oxbow Organic enrichment/low DO. Lake). 080102.......................... Bayou Chauvin--Headwaters Pathogen indicators. to Ouachita River. 080610.......................... Middle Fork of Bayou Pathogen indicators. D'Arbonne--From origin to Bayou D'Arbonne Lake (Scenic). 080905.......................... Turkey Creek--Headwaters Pathogen indicators. to Turkey Creek Cutoff and Turkey Creek Cutoff to Big Creek including Glade Slough. 080910.......................... Clear Lake............... Pathogen indicators. 081001.......................... Bayou Macon.............. Pathogen indicators. 081602.......................... Little River--From Bear Pathogen indicators. Creek to Catahoula Lake (Scenic). 080901.......................... Boeuf River--Arkansas Pesticides (Carbofuran, DDT, and Toxaphene). State Line to Ouachita River. 080903.......................... Big Creek--Headwaters to Pesticides (Carbofuran, Atrazine, DDT, and Methyl Boeuf. Parathion). 081001.......................... Bayou Macon.............. Pesticides (DDT). 081002.......................... Joe's Bayou--Headwaters Pesticides (Carbofuran, and DDT). to Bayou Macon. 081201.......................... Tensas River--Headwaters Pesticides (Carbofuran, Toxaphene, and DDT). to Jonesville including Tensas Bayou. 080902.......................... Bayou Bonne Idee-- Phosphorus. Headwaters to Boeuf River. 080904.......................... Bayou Lafourche--near Priority organics (Dioxins). Oakridge to Boeuf River near Columbia. 081501.......................... Castor Creek--Headwaters Salinity/TDS. to Little River. 080202.......................... Bayou Louis.............. Siltation. 080901.......................... Boeuf River--Arkansas Siltation. State Line to Ouachita River. 080102.......................... Bayou Chauvin............ Suspended solids. 080901.......................... Boeuf River--Arkansas Suspended solids. State Line to Ouachita River. 080903.......................... Big Creek--Headwaters to Suspended solids. Boeuf River (including Big Colewa Bayou). 080904.......................... Bayou Lafourche--near Suspended solids. Oakridge to Boeuf River near Columbia. 080910.......................... Clear Lake............... Suspended solids. 081001.......................... Bayou Macon--Arkansas Suspended solids. State Line to Tensas River. 081002.......................... Joe's Bayou--Headwaters Suspended solids. to Bayou Macon. 081201.......................... Tensas River--Headwaters Suspended solids. to Jonesville (including Tensas Bayou). 081202.......................... Lake St. Joseph (Oxbow Suspended solids. Lake). 080102.......................... Bayou Chauvin............ Turbidity. 080901.......................... Boeuf River--Arkansas Turbidity. State Line to Ouachita River. 080903.......................... Big Creek--Headwaters to Turbidity. Boeuf River (including Big Colewa Bayou). 080904.......................... Bayou Lafourche--near Turbidity. Oakridge to Boeuf River near Columbia. 081001.......................... Bayou Macon--Arkansas Turbidity. State Line to Tensas River. 081201.......................... Tensas River--Headwaters Turbidity. to Jonesville (including Tensas Bayou). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EPA requested the public to provide EPA with any significant data or information that may impact the 98 TMDLs in 67 FR 15196 (March 29, 2002). The comments received and EPA's response to comments may be found at www.epa.gov/region6/water/tmdl.htm. [[Page 40737]] Final Agency Action Removing 20 Waterbody/Pollutant Combinations for Waters Located Within the Calcasieu and Ouachita Basins From the Louisiana 303(d) List Because TMDLs Are Not Needed ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subsegment Waterbody name Pollutant ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 030301.......................... Calcasieu River and Ship Ammonia. Channel--Saltwater Barrier to Moss Lake (Estuarine) (includes Coon Island and Clooney Island Loops). 030302.......................... Lake Charles (Estuarine). Non-priority organics. 030306.......................... Bayou Verdine............ Non-priority organics. 030901.......................... Bayou D'Inde--Headwaters Non-priority organics. to Calcasieu River (Estuarine). 030901.......................... Bayou D'Inde--Headwaters Other inorganics. to Calcasieu River (Estuarine). 030302.......................... Lake Charles (Estuarine). Priority organics. 030303.......................... Prien Lake............... Priority organics. 030304.......................... Moss Lake (Estuarine).... Priority organics. 030305.......................... Contraband Bayou Priority organics. (Estuarine). 030401.......................... Calcasieu River-- Priority organics. Calcasieu Ship Channel Below Moss Lake to the Gulf of Mexico (Estuarine) (Includes Monkey Island Loop). 030402.......................... Calcasieu Lake Priority organics. (Estuarine). 080102.......................... Bayou Chauvin--Headwaters Ammonia. to the Ouachita River. 080901.......................... Boeuf River--Arkansas Ammonia. State Line to Ouachita River. 080905.......................... Turkey Creek--Headwaters Ammonia. to Turkey Creek Cutoff and Turkey Creek Cutoff to Big Creek including Glade Slough. 081401.......................... Dugdemona River-- Dioxins. Headwaters to junction with Big Creek. 081001.......................... Bayou Macon--Arkansas Nutrients. State Line to Tensas River. 081402.......................... Dugdemona River--From Big Organic enrichment/low DO. Creek to Little River. 081609.......................... Hemphill Creek-- Organic enrichment/low DO. Headwaters to Catahoula Lake (includes Hair Creek). 080901.......................... Boeuf River--Arkansas Phosphorus. State Line to Ouachita River. 080903.......................... Big Creek--Headwaters to Phosphorus. Boeuf River (including Big Colewa Bayou). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EPA requested the public to provide to EPA any significant data or information that may impact the determinations that 20 TMDLs are not needed in 67 FR 15196 (March 29, 2002). The comments received and EPA's response to comments may be found at www.epa.gov/region6/water/tmdl.htm. Dated: May 31, 2002. Oscar Ramirez, Jr., Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6. [FR Doc. 02-14498 Filed 6-12-02; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P