E8-1897. Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of 16 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) in Louisiana

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of availability.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces the availability for comment of the administrative record files for 16 TMDLs and the calculations for these TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in the Pearl River and the Terrebonne River Basins of Louisiana, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). 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 March 3, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Comments on the 16 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 e-mail: [e-mail]. For further information, contact Diane Smith at [phone] or fax [phone]. The administrative record files for the 16 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 six of these TMDLs pursuant to a consent decree entered in this lawsuit.

EPA Seeks Comment on 16 TMDLs

By this notice EPA is seeking comment on the following 16 TMDLs for waters located within Louisiana basins:

Subsegment	Waterbody name	Pollutant
090101	Pearl River—MS State Line to Pearl River Navigation Canal	Fecal Coliform.
090104	Peters Creek—Headwaters to Pearl River	Fecal Coliform.
090106	Holmes Bayou—From the Pearl River to the West Pearl River (scenic)	Turbidity.
090201	West Pearl River—From Headwaters to confluence with Holmes Bayou (scenic)	Turbidity.
090202	West Pearl River—From confluence with Holmes Bayou to the Rigolets (includes east and west mouths) (scenic)	Turbidity.
090301	Pushepatapa Creek—MS State Line to Pearl River floodplain	Fecal Coliform.
090401	Bogue Lusa Creek—Headwaters to Pearl River	Fecal Coliform.
090501	Bogue Chitto River—From MS State Line to Pearl River Navigation Canal (scenic)	Turbidity.
090502	Big Silver Creek—Headwaters to Bogue Chitto River	Fecal Coliform.
090505	Bonner Creek—Headwaters to Bogue Chitto River	Fecal Coliform.
090506	Thigpen Creek—Headwaters to Bogue Chitto River	Fecal Coliform.
090105	Pearl River Navigation Canal—From Pools Bluff to Lock No. 3 (includes east and west mouths) (scenic)	Dissolved Oxygen.
090204	Pearl River Navigation Canal—Below Lock No. 3	Dissolved Oxygen.
090207	Middle Pearl River and West Middle Pearl River—From West Pearl River to Little Lake	Dissolved Oxygen.
120606	Bayou Blue—Grand Bayou Canal to Boundary between segments 1206 and 1207 (Estuarine)	Dissolved Oxygen and Nutrients.

EPA requests that the public provide to EPA any water quality related data and information that may be relevant to the calculations for the 16 TMDLs. EPA will review all data and information submitted during the public comment period and 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: January 25, 2008.

Miguel I. Flores,

Director, Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region 6.