[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 61 (Friday, March 29, 2002)] [Notices] [Pages 15196-15198] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 02-7771] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-7165-6 ] 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability for comment of the administrative record file for 98 TMDLs and the calculations for these TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in the Calcasieu and Ouachita river basins, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). These TMDLs were completed in response to a court order in the lawsuit Sierra Club, et al. v. Clifford et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. La.). This notice also announces the availability for comment of EPA determinations that TMDLs are not needed for 20 waterbody/pollutant combinations in the Calcasieu and Ouachita river basins because new data and information show that water quality standards are being met. This proposed action would result in the removal of 20 waterbody/ pollutant combinations from the Louisiana 303(d) list. DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing to EPA on or before April 29, 2002. ADDRESSES: Comments on the 98 TMDLs and the determinations that TMDLs are not needed for 20 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 United States Environmental Protection Agency (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. EPA Seeks Comments on 98 TMDLs By this notice EPA is seeking comment on the following 98 TMDLs for waters located within the Calcasieu and Ouachita river basins: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subsegment Waterbody name Pollutant ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 030301........................ Calcasieu River & Ship Contaminated Channel--Saltwater sediments Barrier to Moss Lake (Mercury, PAHs, (Estuarine) (Includes and toxicity). Coon Island and Clooney Island Loops). 030306........................ Bayou Verdine Contaminated (Estuarine). sediments (4,4'- DDT, Methoxychlor, PAHs, Zinc, Calcium, and toxicity). 030901........................ Bayou D'Inde-- Contaminated Headwaters to sediments Calcasieu River (Mercury, (Estuarine). toxicity,and organics). 030305........................ Contraband Bayou Copper. (Estuarine). 031201........................ Calcasieu River Basin-- Mercury. Coastal Bays and Gulf Waters to State 3 mile limit. 030301........................ Calcasieu River and Metals (Copper, Ship Channel-- Lead, and Saltwater Barrier to Mercury). Moss Lake (Estuarine) (Includes Coon Island and Clooney Island Loops). 030304........................ Moss Lake (Estuarine). Metals (Copper, Mercury). 030306........................ Bayou Verdine Metals (Mercury, (Estuarine). Nickel). 030901........................ Bayou D'Inde-- Metals (Copper, Headwaters to Nickel, and Calcasieu River Mercury). (Estuarine). 030305........................ Contraband Bayou Pathogen (Estuarine). indicators. 030701........................ Bayou Serpent......... Pesticides (Fipronil). 030301........................ Calcasieu River and Priority Ship Channel-- organics Saltwater Barrier to (PAHs). Moss Lake (Estuarine) (Includes Coon Island and Clooney Island Loops). 030306........................ Bayou Verdine Priority (Estuarine). organics (Phenols, and 1,2- Dichloroethane) . 030901........................ Bayou D'Inde-- Priority Headwaters to organics (PCBs, Calcasieu River Tetrachloroetha (Estuarine). ne, Hexachlorobenze ne, Hexachlorobutad iene, and Bromoform). 030702........................ English Bayou-- Suspended Headwaters to solids. Calcasieu River. 030702........................ English Bayou-- Turbidity. Headwaters to Calcasieu River. 081501........................ Castor Creek-- Chlorides. Headwaters to Little River. 0809(04)...................... Little Bayou Boeuf/ Dioxins. Wham Brake (within segment 0809). 080912........................ Tisdale Brake/ Dioxins. Staulkinghead Creek from origin to Little Bayou Boeuf. 080101........................ Ouachita River-- Mercury. Arkansas 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-- Nutrients. Columbia Lock and Dam to Jonesville. [[Page 15197]] 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-- Nutrients. Headwaters to Bayou Macon. 081201........................ Tensas River-- Nutrients. Headwaters to Jonesville (including Tensas Bayou). 081202........................ Lake St. Joseph (Oxbow Lake) Nutrients. 080201........................ Ouachita River-- Organic Columbia Lock. enrichment/low DO. 080501........................ Bayou de L'Outre-- Organic Arkansas State to enrichment/low Ouachita River DO. (Scenic). 080607........................ Corney Bayou--from Organic Arkansas State Line enrichment/low to Corney Lake DO. (Scenic). 080902........................ Bayou Bonne Idee-- Organic Headwaters to Boeuf enrichment/low River. DO. 080904........................ Bayou Lafourche--near Organic Oakridge to Boeuf enrichment/low River near Columbia. DO. 080910........................ Clear Lake............ Organic enrichment/low DO. 081002........................ Joe's Bayou-- Organic Headwaters to Bayou enrichment/low Macon. DO. 081201........................ Tensas River-- Organic Headwaters to enrichment/low Jonesville (including DO. Tensas Bayou). 081202........................ Lake St. Joseph (Oxbow Organic Lake). enrichment/low DO. 080102........................ Bayou Chauvin-- Pathogen Headwaters to the indicators. Ouachita River. 080610........................ Middle Fork of Bayou Pathogen D'Arbonne--From indicators. origin to Bayou D'Arbonne Lake (Scenic). 080905........................ Turkey Creek-- Pathogen Headwaters to Turkey indicators. 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 Pathogen Bear Creek to indicators. Catahoula Lake (Scenic). 080901........................ Boeuf River--Arkansas Pesticides State Line to (Carbofuran, Ouachita River. DDT, and Toxaphene). 080903........................ Big Creek--Headwaters Pesticides to Boeuf. (Carbofuran, Atrazine, DDT, and Methyl Parathion). 081001........................ Bayou Macon........... Pesticides (DDT). 081002........................ Joe's Bayou-- Pesticides Headwaters to Bayou (Carbofuran, Macon. and DDT). 081201........................ Tensas River-- Pesticides Headwaters to (Carbofuran, Jonesville including Toxaphene, and Tensas Bayou. DDT). 080902........................ Bayou Bonne Idee-- Phosphorus. Headwaters to Boeuf River. 080904........................ Bayou Lafourche--near Priority Oakridge to Boeuf organics River near Columbia. (Dioxins). 081501........................ Castor Creek-- Salinity/TDS. Headwaters 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 State Line to solids. Ouachita River. 080903........................ Big Creek--Headwaters Suspended to Boeuf River solids. (including Big Colewa Bayou). 080904........................ Bayou Lafourche--near Suspended Oakridge to Boeuf solids. River near Columbia. 080910........................ Clear Lake............ Suspended solids. 081001........................ Bayou Macon--Arkansas Suspended State Line to Tensas solids. River. 081002........................ Joe's Bayou-- Suspended Headwaters to Bayou solids. Macon. 081201........................ Tensas River-- Suspended Headwaters to solids. Jonesville (including Tensas Bayou). 081202........................ Lake St. Joseph (Oxbow Suspended Lake). solids. 080102........................ Bayou Chauvin......... Turbidity. 080901........................ Boeuf River--Arkansas Turbidity. State Line to Ouachita River. 080903........................ Big Creek--Headwaters Turbidity. to 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-- Turbidity. Headwaters to Jonesville (including Tensas Bayou). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [[Page 15198]] EPA Seeks Comments on Proposed Determinations That 20 TMDLs for Waterbody/Pollutant Combinations Are Not Needed Due to Assesssment of New Data and Information That Shows They Are Meeting WQS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subsegment Waterbody name Pollutant ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 030301........................ Calcasieu River and Ammonia Ship Channel-- Saltwater Barrier to Moss Lake (Estuarine) (includes Coon Island and Clooney Island Loops). 030302........................ Lake Charles Non-priority (Estuarine). organics 030306........................ Bayou Verdine......... Non-priority organics 030901........................ Bayou D'Inde-- Non-priority Headwaters to organics Calcasieu River (Estuarine). 030901........................ Bayou D'Inde-- Other inorganics Headwaters to Calcasieu River (Estuarine). 030302........................ Lake Charles Priority (Estuarine). organics 030303........................ Prien Lake............ Priority organics 030304........................ Moss Lake (Estuarine). Priority organics 030305........................ Contraband Bayou Priority (Estuarine). organics 030401........................ Calcasieu River-- Priority Calcasieu Ship organics Channel Below Moss Lake to the Gulf of Mexico (Estuarine) (Includes Monkey Island Loop). 030402........................ Calcasieu Lake Priority (Estuarine). organics 080102........................ Bayou Chauvin-- Ammonia Headwaters to the Ouachita River. 080901........................ Boeuf River--Arkansas Ammonia State Line to Ouachita River. 080905........................ Turkey Creek-- Ammonia Headwaters 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 Organic Big Creek to Little enrichment/low River. DO 081609........................ Hemphill Creek-- Organic Headwaters to enrichment/low Catahoula Lake DO (includes Hair Creek). 080901........................ Boeuf River--Arkansas Phosphorus State Line to Ouachita River. 080903........................ Big Creek--Headwaters Phosphorus to Boeuf River (including Big Colewa Bayou). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ EPA requests that the public provide any water quality related data and information that may be relevant to the calculations for these 98 TMDLs, or any other comments relevant to the 20 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: March 21, 2002. Jayne Fontenot, Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6. [FR Doc. 02-7771 Filed 3-28-02; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P