2011-29302. Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of 28 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) in Louisiana

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of availability.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces the availability for comment on the administrative record files and the calculations of 28 TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6. This notice covers waters in the State of Louisiana's Lake Pontchartrain Basin that were identified as impaired on the State's Section 303(d) list. These TMDLs were completed in response to a court order in the lawsuit styled Sierra Club, et al. v. Clifford, et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. La.).

DATES:

Comments must be submitted in writing to EPA on or before December 29, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Comments on the 28 TMDLs should be sent to Diane Smith, Environmental Protection Specialist, Water Quality Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6, 1445 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX 75202-2733 or email: [e-mail]. For further information, contact Diane Smith at [phone] or fax [phone]. The administrative record files for the 28 TMDLs are available for public inspection at this address as well. Documents from the administrative record files may be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/​earth1r6/​6wq/​npdes/​tmdl/​index.htm,, or obtained by calling or writing Ms. Smith at the above address. Please contact Ms. Smith to schedule an inspection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Diane Smith at [phone].

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. EPA proposes these 28 TMDLs pursuant to a consent decree entered in this lawsuit.

EPA Seeks Comment on 28 TMDLs

By this notice EPA is seeking comment on the following 28 TMDLs for waters located within Louisiana:

Subsegment	Waterbody name	Pollutant
040102	Comite River—Wilson-Clinton Hwy to entrance of White Bayou (East Baton Rouge Parish) (Scenic)	Fecal Coliform.
040103	Comite River—Entrance of White Bayou to Amite River	Fecal Coliform.
040201	Bayou Manchac—Headwaters to Amite River	Fecal Coliform.
040302	Amite River—LA Hwy 37 to Amite River Diversion Canal	Fecal Coliform.
040304	Grays Creek—Headwaters to Amite River	Fecal Coliform.
040305	Colyell Creek System (includes Colyell Bay)	Fecal Coliform.
040503	Natalbany River—Headwaters to Tickfaw River	Fecal Coliform.
040504	Yellow Water River—Origin to Ponchatoula Creek	Fecal Coliform.
040505	Ponchatoula Creek and Ponchatoula River	Fecal Coliform.
040603	Selsers Creek—Origin to South Slough	Fecal Coliform.
040703	Big Creek and Tributaries—Headwaters to confluence with Tangipahoia River	Fecal Coliform.
040909	W-14 Main Diversion Canal—From its origin in the north end of the City of Slidell to its junction with Salt Bayou	Fecal Coliform.
040910	Salt Bayou—Headwaters to Lake Pontchartrain (Estuarine)	Fecal Coliform.
041302	Lake Pontchartrain Drainage Canals	Fecal Coliform.
041401	New Orleans East Leveed Waterbodies (Estuarine)	Fecal Coliform.
040501	Tickfaw River—From MS State Line to LA Hwy 42 (Scenic)	TDS.
040504	Yellow Water River—Origin to Ponchatoula Creek	TDS.
040301	Amite River—MS State Line to LA Hwy 37 (Scenic)	TSS.
040401	Blind River—From Amite River Diversion Canal to mouth at Lake Maurepas (Scenic)	TSS.
040903	Bayou Cane—Headwaters to U.S. Hwy 190 (Scenic)	TSS.
040303	Amite River—Amite River Diversion Canal to Lake Maurepas	Mercury.
040401	Blind River—From Amite River Diversion Canal to mouth at Lake Maurepas (Scenic)	Mercury.
040403	Blind River—Source to confluence with Amite River Diversion Canal (Scenic)	Mercury.
040501	Tickfaw River—From MS State Line to LA Hwy 42 (Scenic)	Mercury
040701	Tangipahoa River—MS State Line to Interstate Hwy 1-12 (Scenic)	Mercury.
040801	Tchefuncte River and Tributaries—Headwaters to confluence with Bogue Falaya River (Scenic)	Mercury.
040905	Bayou Liberty—Headwaters to LA Hwy 433	Mercury.
040906	Bayou Liberty—LA Hwy 433 to confluence with Bayou Bonfouca (Estuarine)	Mercury.

EPA requests the public provide to EPA any water quality related data and information that may be relevant to the calculations for the 28 TMDLs. EPA will review all data and information submitted during the public comment period and will revise the TMDLs where appropriate. EPA will then forward the TMDLs to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). The LDEQ will incorporate the TMDLs into its current water quality management plan.

Dated: November 3, 2011.

Troy Hill,

Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region 6.