E8-26262. Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Final Agency Action on 29 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) in Louisiana

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of availability.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces final agency action on 29 TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in Louisiana's Pearl River basin, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Documents from the administrative record file for the 29 TMDLs, including TMDL calculations and responses to comments, may be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/​region6/​water/​npdes/​tmdl/​index.htm. The administrative record file may be examined by calling or writing Ms. Diane Smith at the address below. Please contact Ms. Smith to schedule an inspection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Diane Smith, Environmental Protection Specialist, Water Quality Protection Division, U.S. EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202-2733, [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 established 18 of these TMDLs pursuant to a consent decree entered in this lawsuit.

EPA Takes Final Agency Action on 29 TMDLs

By this notice EPA is taking final agency action on the following 29 TMDLs for waters located within the Louisiana Pearl River basin:

Subsegment	Waterbody name	Pollutant
090101	Pearl River—MS State Line to Pearl River Navigation Canal	Mercury and Fecal coliform.
090102	East Pearl River—Holmes Bayou to I-10	Mercury.
090103	East Pearl River—From I-10 to Lake Borgne (estuarine)	Mercury.
090104	Peters Creek	Fecal coliform.
090105	Pearl River Navigation Canal—From Pools Bluff to Lock No. 3	Mercury and Dissolved oxygen.
090106	Holmes Bayou—From the Pearl River to the West Pearl River (scenic)	Mercury and Turbidity.
090107	Pearl River—From Pearl River Navigation Canal to Holmes Bayou	Mercury.
090201	West Pearl River—From Headwaters to confluence with Holmes Bayou (scenic)	Mercury and Turbidity.
090202	West Pearl River	Turbidity.
090202-5126	Morgan River—From Porters River to its confluence with Pearl River (scenic)	Mercury.
090203	Lower Bogue Chitto—From River Navigation Canal to Wilsons Slough	Mercury.
090204	Pearl River Navigation Canal—Below Lock No. 3	Mercury and Dissolved oxygen.
090205	Wilson Slough—Bogue Chitto to West Pearl River	Mercury.
090206	Bradley Slough—Bogue Chitto to West Pearl River	Mercury.
090207	Middle Pearl River and West Middle Pearl River—From West Pearl River to Little Lake	Mercury and Dissolved oxygen.
090207-5112	Morgan Bayou—Headwaters near I-10 to confluence with Middle River	Mercury.
090301	Pushepatapa Creek	Fecal coliform.
090401	Bogue Lusa Creek	Fecal coliform.
090501	Bogue Chitto River—From MS State Line to Pearl River Navigation Canal (scenic)	Mercury and Turbidity.
090502	Big Silver Creek	Fecal coliform.
090505	Bonner Creek	Fecal coliform.
090506	Thigpen Creek	Fecal coliform.

EPA requested the public to provide EPA with any significant data or information that might impact the 29 TMDLs in the Federal Register Notices: Volume 72, number 137, page 39420 (July 18, 2007) and volume 73, number 22, pages 6178 and 6179 (February 1, 2008). The comments which were received, the EPA's response to comments, and the TMDLs may be found at http://www.epa.gov/​region6/​water/​npdes/​tmdl/​index.htm.

Dated: October 28, 2008.

Larry D. Wright,

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