03-5714. Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Final Agency Action on 1 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of availability.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces final agency action on 1 TMDL prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in Louisiana's Ouachita river basin, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Documents from the administrative record file for the 1 TMDL, including TMDL calculations and responses to comments, may be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/​region6/​water/​tmdl.htm. The administrative record file may be examined by calling or writing Ms. Ellen Caldwell at the following address. Please contact Ms. Caldwell to schedule an inspection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ellen Caldwell, 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 Takes Final Agency Action on 1 TMDL

By this notice EPA is taking final agency action on the following 1 TMDL for waters located within the Ouachita river basin:

Subsegment	Waterbody name	Pollutant
081602	Little River—From Bear Creek to Catahoula Lake (Scenic)	Mercury in fish tissue.

EPA requested the public to provide EPA with any significant data or information that may impact the 1 TMDL in Federal Register notice 67 FR 77994 (December 20, 2002). The comments received and EPA's response to comments may be found at http://www.epa.gov/​region6/​water/​tmdl.htm.

Dated: February 28, 2003.

Oscar Ramirez, Jr.,

Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.