02-3659. Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of Proposed Determinations That Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Are Not Needed

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of availability.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces the availability for comment of EPA determinations that TMDLs are not needed for one hundred fifty waterbody/pollutant combinations in the Calcasieu and Ouachita River Basins because new data and information show that water quality standards (WQS) are currently being met. This proposed action would result in the removal of one hundred fifty waterbody/pollutant combinations from the Louisiana 303(d) list.

DATES:

Comments on the proposed determinations that TMDLs are not needed must be submitted in writing to EPA on or before March 18, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Comments on the proposed determinations 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 [phone]. Documents supporting the determinations that the TMDLs are not needed are available for public inspection at this address as well. Documents supporting the determinations that TMDLs are not needed also 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 [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. Discussion of the court's order may be found at 65 FR 54032 (September 6, 2000).

EPA Seeks Comments on Proposed Determinations That One Hundred Fifty TMDLs for Waterbody/Pollutant Combinations are not Needed based on the assessment of new data and information that show the TMDLs are currently meeting WQS:

Subsegment	Waterbody name	Pollutant
030103	Calcasieu—Rapides-Allen Parish line to confluence with Marsh Bayou (Scenic)	Cadmium.
030201	Calcasieu River—Confluence with Marsh Bayou to Salt-water Barrier	Cadmium.
030801	West Fork Calcasieu River—From confluence of Beckwith Creek and Hickory Branch to Calcasieu River	Cadmium.
030103	Calcasieu River—Rapides-Allen Parish line to confluence with Marsh Bayou (Scenic)	Copper.
030201	Calcasieu River—Confluence with Marsh Bayou to Salt-water Barrier	Copper.
030801	West Fork Calcasieu River—From confluence of Beckwith Creek and Hickory Branch to Calcasieu River	Copper.
030702	English Bayou—Headwaters to Calcasieu River	Lead.
030801	West Fork Calcasieu River—From confluence of Beckwith Creek and Hickory Branch to Calcasieu River	Lead.
030702	English Bayou—Headwaters to Calcasieu River	Mercury.
030306	Bayou Verdine (Estuarine)	Oil & grease.
030901	Bayou D'Inde—Headwaters to Calcasieu River (Estuarine)	Oil & grease.
030301	Calcasieu River and Ship Channel—Salt-water Barrier to below Moss Lake (Estuarine, includes Coon Island and Clooney Island Loops)	Pathogen indicators.
030302	Lake Charles (Estuarine)	Pathogen indicators.
030401	Calcasieu River—Calcasieu Ship Channel below Moss Lake to the Gulf of Mexico (Estuarine, includes Monkey Island Loop)	Pathogen indicators.
030402	Calcasieu Lake (Estuarine)	Pathogen indicators.
030901	Bayou D'Inde—Headwaters to Calcasieu River (Estuarine)	Pathogen indicators.
030201	Calcasieu River—Confluence with Marsh Bayou to Salt-water Barrier	Suspended solids.
030103	Calcasieu River—Rapides-Allen Parish line to confluence with Marsh Bayou (Scenic)	Suspended solids.
030201	Calcasieu River—Confluence with Marsh Bayou to Salt-water Barrier	Turbidity.
030103	Calcasieu River—Rapides-Allen Parish line to confluence with Marsh Bayou (Scenic)	Turbidity.
080301	Black River—Jonesville to Corps of Engineers Control Structure (at mile 25, Serena)	Cadmium.
081501	Castor Creek—Headwaters to Little River	Cadmium.
081401	Dugdemona River—Headwaters to junction with Big Creek	Cadmium.
081601	Little River—Confluence of Castor Creek and Dugdemona River to junction with Bear Creek (Scenic)	Cadmium.
081602	Little River—From Bear Creek to Catahoula Lake (Scenic)	Cadmium.
080101	Ouachita River—Arkansas State Line to Columbia Lock and Dam (Scenic from the Arkansas state line to intersection with Bayou Bartholomew—22 miles)	Cadmium.
080501	Bayou de L'Outre—Arkansas State Line to Ouachita River (Scenic)	Chlorides.
081611	Bayou Funny Louis	Chlorides.
080903	Big Creek—Headwaters to Boeuf River (including Big Colewa Bayou)	Chlorides.
080901	Boeuf River—Arkansas State Line to Ouachita River	Chlorides.
081603	Catahoula Lake	Chlorides.
080609	Corney Bayou—From Corney Lake to Bayou D'Arbonne Lake (Scenic)	Chlorides.
081402	Dugdemona River—From Big Creek to Little River	Chlorides.
081601	Little River—Confluence of Castor Creek and Dugdemona River to junction with Bear Creek (Scenic)	Chlorides.
081602	Little River—From Bear Creek to Catahoula Lake (Scenic)	Chlorides.
080610	Middle Fork of Bayou D'Arbonne—From origin to Bayou D'Arbonne Lake (Scenic)	Chlorides.
081201	Tensas River—Headwaters to Jonesville (including Tensas Bayou)	Chlorides.
080301	Black River—Jonesville to Corps of Engineers Control Structure (at mile 25, Serena)	Copper.
081501	Castor Creek—Headwaters to Little River	Copper.
081604	Catahoula Lake Diversion Canal—Catahoula Lake to Black River	Copper.
081402	Dugdemona River—From Big Creek to Little River	Copper.
081401	Dugdemona River—Headwaters to junction with Big Creek	Copper.
081601	Little River—Confluence of Castor Creek and Dugdemona River to junction with Beart Creek (Scenic)	Copper.
081602	Little River—From Bear Creek to Catahoula Lake (Scenic)	Copper.
080101	Ouachita River—Arkansas State Line to Columbia Lock and Dam (Scenic from the Arkansas state line to intersection with Bayou Bartholomew—22 miles)	Copper.
080201	Ouachita River—Columbia Lock and Dam to Joneville	Copper.
080101	Ouachita River—Arkansas State Line to Columbia Lock and Dam (Scenic from the Arkansas state line to intersection with Bayou Bartholomew—22 miles)	Dioxins, priority organics.
080401	Bayou Bartholomew—Arkansas State Line to Dead Bayou (Lake Bartholomew Scenic)	Lead.
080605	Bayou D'Arbonne—From Bayou D'Arbonne Lake to Ouachita River (Scenic)	Lead.
080603	Bayou D'Arbonne—From Lake Claiborne to Bayou D'Arbonne Lake	Lead.
080604	Bayou D'Arbonne Lake	Lead.
080501	Bayou de L'Outre—Arkansas State Line to Ouachita River (Scenic)	Lead
081503	Beaucoup Creek—Headwaters to Castor Creek	Lead.
080301	Black River—Jonesville to Corps of Engineers Control Structure (at mile 25, Serena)	Lead.
081501	Castor Creek—Headwaters to Little River	Lead.
081604	Catahoula Lake Diversion Canal—Catahoula Lake to Black River	Lead.
080609	Corney Bayou—From Corney Lake to Bayou D'Arbonne Lake (Scenic)	Lead.
081402	Dugdemona River—From Big Creek to Little River	Lead.
081401	Dugdemona River—Headwaters to junction with Big Creek	Lead.
081601	Little River—Confluence of Castor Creek and Dugdemona River to junction with Bear Creek (Scenic)	Lead.
081602	Little River—From Bear Creek to Catahoula Lake (Scenic)	Lead.
080610	Middle Fork of Bayou D'Arbonne—From origin to Bayou D'Arbonne Lake (Scenic)	Lead.
080101	Ouachita River—Arkansas State Line to Columbia Lock and Dam (Scenic from the Arkansas state line to intersection with Bayou Bartholomew—22 miles)	Lead.
080201	Ouachita River—Columbia Lock and Dam to Jonesville	Lead.
081201	Tensas River—Headwaters to Jonesville (including Tensas Bayou)	Lead.
080605	Bayou D'Arbonne—From Bayou D'Arbonne Lake to Ouachita River (Scenic)	Mercury.
080501	Bayou de L'Outre—Arkansas State Line to Ouachita River (Scenic)	Mercury.
080904	Bayou Lafourche—Near Oakridge to Boeuf River near Columbia	Mercury.
080301	Black River—Jonesville to Corps of Engineers Control Structure (at mile 25, Serena)	Mercury.
080901	Boeuf River—Arkansas State Line to Ouachita River	Mercury.
081501	Castor Creek—Headwaters to Little River	Mercury.
081402	Dugdemona River—From Big Creek to Little River	Mercury.
081401	Dugdemona River—Headwaters to junction with Big Creek	Mercury.
081602	Little River—From Bear Creek to Catahoula Lake (Scenic)	Mercury.
080201	Ouachita River—Columbia Lock and Dam to Jonesville	Mercury.
081401	Dugdemona River—Headwaters to junction with Big Creek	Non-priority organics.
081601	Little River—Confluence of Castor Creek and Dugdemona River to junction with Bear Creek (Scenic)	Non-priority organics.
081203	Lake Bruin (Oxbow Lake)	Nutrients.
081501	Castor Creek—Headwaters to Little River	Oil & grease.
081601	Little River—Confluence of Castor Creek and Dugdemona River to junction with Bear Creek (Scenic)	Oil & grease.
081602	Little River—From Bear Creek to Catahoula Lake (Scenic)	Oil & grease.
081611	Bayou Funny Louis	Oil & grease.
081603	Catahoula Lake	Oil & grease.
081001	Bayou Macon—Arkansas State Line to Tensas River	Organic enrichment/Low DO.
081203	Lake Bruin (Oxbow Lake)	Organic enrichment/Low DO.
080401	Bayou Bartholomew—Arkansas State Line to Dead Bayou (Lake Bartholomew Scenic)	Other inorganics.
080603	Bayou D'Arbonne—From Lake Claiborne to Bayou D'Arbonne Lake	Other inorganics.
081201	Tensas River—Headwaters to Jonesville (including Tensas Bayou)	Other inorganics.
080905	Turkey Creek—Headwaters to Turkey Creek Cutoff and Turkey Creek Cutoff to Big Creek including Glade Slough	Other inorganics.
080401	Bayou Bartholomew—Arkansas State Line to Dead Bayou (Lake Bartholomew Scenic)	Pathogen indicators.
080904	Bayou Lafourche—Near Oakridge to Boeuf River near Columbia	Pathogen indicators.
081501	Castor Creek—Headwaters to Little River	Pathogen indicators.
081609	Hemphill Creek—Headwaters to Catahoula Lake (includes Hair Creek)	Pathogen indicators.
080902	Bayou Bonne Idee—Headwaters to Boeuf River	Pesticides.
080301	Black River—Jonesville to Corps of Engineers Control Structure (at mile 25, Serena)	Pesticides.
080302	Black River—Corps of Engineer Control Structure to Red River	Pesticides.
080910	Clear Lake	Pesticides.
080909	Crew Lake	Pesticides.
081202	Lake St. Joseph (Oxbow Lake)	Pesticides.
080101	Ouachita River—Arkansas State Line to Columbia Lock and Dam (Scenic from the Arkansas state line to intersection with Bayou Bartholomew—22 miles)	Pesticides.
080201	Ouachita River—Columbia Lock and Dam to Jonesville	Pesticides.
080905	Turkey Creek—Headwaters to Turkey Creek Cutoff and Turkey Creek Cutoff to Big Creek including Glade Slough	Pesticides.
080401	Bayou Bartholomew—Arkansas State Line to Dead Bayou (Lake Bartholomew Scenic)	Pesticides.
080904	Bayou Lafourche—Near Oakridge to Boeuf River near Columbia	Pesticides.
080202	Bayou Louis	Pesticides.
081203	Lake Bruin (Oxbow Lake)	Pesticides.
080102	Bayou Chauvin	pH.
080501	Bayou de L'Outre—Arkansas State Line to Ouachita River (Scenic)	Salinity/TDS.
080903	Big Creek—Headwaters to Boeuf River (including Big Colewa Bayou)	Salinity/TDS.
081603	Catahoula Lake	Salinity/TDS.
080609	Corney Bayou—From Corney Lake to D'Arbonne Lake	Salinity/TDS.
081402	Dugdemona River—From Big Creek to Little River	Salinity/TDS.
081601	Little River—Confluence of Castor Creek and Dugdemona River to junction with Bear Creek (Scenic)	Salinity/TDS.
081602	Little River—From Bear Creek to Catahoula Lake (Scenic)	Salinity/TDS.
080610	Middle Fork of Bayou D'Arbonne—From origin to Bayou D'Arbonne Lake (Scenic)	Salinity/TDS.
081201	Tensas River—Headwaters to Jonesville (including Tensas Bayou)	Salinity/TDS.
080901	Boeuf River—Arkansas State Line to Ouachita River	Salinity/TDS.
081611	Bayou Funny Louis	Salinity/TDS.
080302	Black River—Corps of Engineers Control Structure to Red River	Siltation.
081602	Little River—From Bear Creek to Catahoula Lake (Scenic)	Siltation.
080201	Ouachita River—Columbia Lock and Dam to Jonesville	Siltation.
080501	Bayou de L'Outre—Arkansas State Line to Ouachita River (Scenic)	Sulfates.
081611	Bayou Funny Louis	Sulfates.
080903	Big Creek—Headwaters to Boeuf River (including Big Colewa Bayou)	Sulfates.
080901	Boeuf River—Arkansas State Line to Ouachita River	Sulfates.
081501	Castor Creek—Headwaters to Little River	Sulfates.
081603	Catahoula Lake	Sulfates.
080609	Corney Bayou—From Corney Lake to Bayou D'Arbonne Lake (Scenic)	Sulfates.
081402	Dugdemona River—From Big Creek to Little River	Sulfates.
081601	Little River—Confluence of Castor Creek and Dugdemona River to junction with Bear Creek (Scenic)	Sulfates.
081602	Little River—From Bear Creek to Catahoula Lake (Scenic)	Sulfates.
080610	Middle Fork of Bayou D'Arbonne—From origin to Bayou D'Arbonne Lake (Scenic)	Sulfates.
081201	Tensas River—Headwaters to Jonesville (including Tensas Bayou)	Sulfates.
080401	Bayou Bartholomew—Arkansas State Line to Dead Bayou (Lake Bartholomew Scenic)	Suspended solids.
080902	Bayou Bonne Idee—Headwaters to Boeuf River	Suspended solids.
080605	Bayou D'Arbonne—From Bayou D'Arbonne Lake to Ouachita River (Scenic)	Suspended solids.
080603	Bayou D'Arbonne—From Lake Claiborne to Bayou D'Arbonne Lake	Suspended solids.
081501	Castor Creek—Headwaters to Little River	Suspended solids.
080609	Corney Bayou—From Corney Lake to Bayou D'Arbonne Lake (Scenic)	Suspended solids.
080905	Turkey Creek—Headwaters to Turkey Creek Cutoff and Turkey Creek Cutoff to Big Creek including Glade Slough	Suspended solids.
080101	Ouachita River—Arkansas State Line to Columbia Lock and Dam (Scenic from the Arkansas state line to intersection with Bayou Bartholomew—22 miles)	Suspended solids.
081402	Dugdemona River—From Big Creek to Little Creek	Turbidity.
081601	Little River—Confluence of Castor Creek and Dugdemona River to junction with Bear Creek (Scenic)	Turbidity.
081602	Little River—From Bear Creek to Catahoula Lake (Scenic)	Turbidity.
080905	Turkey Creek—Headwaters to Turkey Creek Cutoff and Turkey Creek Cutoff to Big Creek including Glade Slough	Turbidity.
080401	Bayou Bartholomew—Arkansas State Line to Dead Bayou (Lake Bartholomew Scenic)	Turbidity.
081611	Bayou Funny Louis	Turbidity.
080610	Middle Fork of Bayou D'Arbonne— From origin to Bayou D'Arbonne Lake (Scenic)	Turbidity.
080101	Ouachita River—Arkansas State Line to Columbia Lock and Dam (Scenic from the Arkansas state line to intersection with Bayou Bartholomew—22 miles)	Turbidity.
080301	Black River—Jonesville to Corps of Engineers Control Structure (at mile 25, Serena)	Unknown toxicity.

EPA requests that the public provide to EPA any water quality related data and information that may be relevant to these proposed determinations that TMDLs are not needed. EPA will review all data and information submitted during the public comment period and revise the determinations where appropriate.

Dated: February 5, 2002.

Oscar Ramirez, Jr.,

Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.