02-14498. Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Final Agency Action on 98 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Final Agency Action on 20 Determinations That TMDLs Are Not Needed

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of availability.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces final agency action on 98 TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in Louisiana's Calcasieu and Ouachita river basins, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). This notice also announces final agency action removing 20 waterbody/pollutant combinations from the Louisiana 303(d) list because TMDLs are not needed. The EPA evaluated these waters and prepared the 98 TMDLs needed in response to a consent decree entered in the lawsuit Sierra Club, et al. v. Clifford et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. La.). Documents from the administrative record files for the 20 determinations that TMDLs are not needed and for the 98 TMDLs, including TMDL calculations and the responses to comments, may be viewed at www.epa.gov/​region6/​water/​tmdl.htm.

EPA believes that the public notice and comment period provided for these TMDLs was adequate. During the comment period, EPA received over 400 pages of comments from numerous commenters, including the parties requesting more time. EPA believes that it has appropriately responded to the comments received. Furthermore, EPA is establishing these TMDLs pursuant to deadlines established in a consent decree in the case styled Sierra Club, et al. v. Clifford et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. La.) which does not at this late date permit EPA to grant additional time for public comment, absent relief from the court, which the Agency does not believe is necessary to seek here. However, EPA will continue to accept information submitted regarding potential errors in the TMDL, and/or to meet with parties to discuss potential errors. If the Agency determines that errors were made, it will issue a correction notice or revise the TMDL, as appropriate.

The administrative record files may be 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, the plaintiffs alleged that the EPA failed to establish Louisiana TMDLs in a timely manner.

EPA Takes Final Agency Action on 98 TMDLs

By this notice EPA is taking final agency action on the following 98 TMDLs for waters located within the Calcasieu and Ouachita river basins:

Subsegment	Waterbody name	Pollutant
030301	Calcasieu River & Ship Channel—Saltwater Barrier to Moss Lake (Estuarine) (Includes Coon Island and Clooney Island Loops)	Contaminated sediments (Mercury, PAHs, and toxicity).
030306	Bayou Verdine (Estuarine)	Contaminated sediments (4,4'-DDT, Methoxychlor, PAHs, Zinc, Calcium, and toxicity).
030901	Bayou D'Inde—Headwaters to Calcasieu River (Estuarine)	Contaminated sediments (Mercury, toxicity, and organics).
030305	Contraband Bayou (Estuarine)	Copper.
031201	Calcasieu River Basin—Coastal Bays and Gulf Waters to State 3 mile limit	Mercury.
030301	Calcasieu River and Ship Channel—Saltwater Barrier to Moss Lake (Estuarine) (Includes Coon Island and Clooney Island Loops)	Metals (Copper, Lead, and Mercury).
030304	Moss Lake (Estuarine)	Metals (Copper, Mercury).
030306	Bayou Verdine (Estuarine)	Metals (Mercury, Nickel).
030901	Bayou D'Inde—Headwaters to Calcasieu River (Estuarine)	Metals (Copper, Nickel, and Mercury).
030305	Contraband Bayou (Estuarine)	Pathogen indicators.
030701	Bayou Serpent	Pesticides (Fipronil).
030301	Calcasieu River and Ship Channel—Saltwater Barrier to Moss Lake (Estuarine) (Includes Coon Island and Clooney Island Loops)	Priority organics (PAHs).
030306	Bayou Verdine (Estuarine)	Priority organics (Phenols, and 1,2-Dichloroethane).
030901	Bayou D'Inde—Headwaters to Calcasieu River (Estuarine)	Priority organics (PCBs, Tetrachloroethane, Hexachlorobenzene, Hexachlorobutadiene, and Bromoform).
030702	English Bayou—Headwaters to Calcasieu River	Suspended solids.
030702	English Bayou—Headwaters to Calcasieu River	Turbidity.
081501	Castor Creek—Headwaters to Little River	Chlorides.
0809(04)	Little Bayou Boeuf/Wham Brake (within segment 0809)	Dioxins.
080912	Tisdale Brake/Staulkinghead Creek from origin to Little Bayou Boeuf	Dioxins.
080101	Ouachita River—Arkansas State Line to Columbia Lock and Dam (Scenic from the Arkansas State Line to intersection with Bayou Bartholomew—22 miles)	Mercury.
080902	Bayou Bonne Idee—Headwaters to Boeuf River	Nitrogen.
080102	Bayou Chauvin	Noxious aquatic plants.
080201	Ouachita River—Columbia Lock and Dam to Jonesville	Nutrients.
080302	Black River—Corps of Engineers Control Structure to Red River	Nutrients.
080902	Bayou Bonne Idee—Headwaters to Boeuf River	Nutrients.
080904	Bayou Lafourche—near Oakridge to Boeuf River near Columbia	Nutrients.
080910	Clear Lake	Nutrients.
081002	Joe's Bayou—Headwaters to Bayou Macon	Nutrients.
081201	Tensas River—Headwaters to Jonesville (including Tensas Bayou)	Nutrients.
081202	Lake St. Joseph (Oxbow Lake)	Nutrients.
080201	Ouachita River—Columbia Lock	Organic enrichment/low DO.
080501	Bayou de L'Outre—Arkansas State to Ouachita River (Scenic)	Organic enrichment/low DO.
080607	Corney Bayou—from Arkansas State Line to Corney Lake (Scenic)	Organic enrichment/low DO.
080902	Bayou Bonne Idee—Headwaters to Boeuf River	Organic enrichment/low DO.
080904	Bayou Lafourche—near Oakridge to Boeuf River near Columbia	Organic enrichment/low DO.
080910	Clear Lake	Organic enrichment/low DO.
081002	Joe's Bayou—Headwaters to Bayou Macon	Organic enrichment/low DO.
081201	Tensas River—Headwaters to Jonesville (including Tensas Bayou)	Organic enrichment/low DO.
081202	Lake St. Joseph (Oxbow Lake)	Organic enrichment/low DO.
080102	Bayou Chauvin—Headwaters to Ouachita River	Pathogen indicators.
080610	Middle Fork of Bayou D'Arbonne—From origin to Bayou D'Arbonne Lake (Scenic)	Pathogen indicators.
080905	Turkey Creek—Headwaters to Turkey Creek Cutoff and Turkey Creek Cutoff to Big Creek including Glade Slough	Pathogen indicators.
080910	Clear Lake	Pathogen indicators.
081001	Bayou Macon	Pathogen indicators.
081602	Little River—From Bear Creek to Catahoula Lake (Scenic)	Pathogen indicators.
080901	Boeuf River—Arkansas State Line to Ouachita River	Pesticides (Carbofuran, DDT, and Toxaphene).
080903	Big Creek—Headwaters to Boeuf	Pesticides (Carbofuran, Atrazine, DDT, and Methyl Parathion).
081001	Bayou Macon	Pesticides (DDT).
081002	Joe's Bayou—Headwaters to Bayou Macon	Pesticides (Carbofuran, and DDT).
081201	Tensas River—Headwaters to Jonesville including Tensas Bayou	Pesticides (Carbofuran, Toxaphene, and DDT).
080902	Bayou Bonne Idee—Headwaters to Boeuf River	Phosphorus.
080904	Bayou Lafourche—near Oakridge to Boeuf River near Columbia	Priority organics (Dioxins).
081501	Castor Creek—Headwaters to Little River	Salinity/TDS.
080202	Bayou Louis	Siltation.
080901	Boeuf River—Arkansas State Line to Ouachita River	Siltation.
080102	Bayou Chauvin	Suspended solids.
080901	Boeuf River—Arkansas State Line to Ouachita River	Suspended solids.
080903	Big Creek—Headwaters to Boeuf River (including Big Colewa Bayou)	Suspended solids.
080904	Bayou Lafourche—near Oakridge to Boeuf River near Columbia	Suspended solids.
080910	Clear Lake	Suspended solids.
081001	Bayou Macon—Arkansas State Line to Tensas River	Suspended solids.
081002	Joe's Bayou—Headwaters to Bayou Macon	Suspended solids.
081201	Tensas River—Headwaters to Jonesville (including Tensas Bayou)	Suspended solids.
081202	Lake St. Joseph (Oxbow Lake)	Suspended solids.
080102	Bayou Chauvin	Turbidity.
080901	Boeuf River—Arkansas State Line to Ouachita River	Turbidity.
080903	Big Creek—Headwaters to Boeuf River (including Big Colewa Bayou)	Turbidity.
080904	Bayou Lafourche—near Oakridge to Boeuf River near Columbia	Turbidity.
081001	Bayou Macon—Arkansas State Line to Tensas River	Turbidity.
081201	Tensas River—Headwaters to Jonesville (including Tensas Bayou)	Turbidity.

EPA requested the public to provide EPA with any significant data or information that may impact the 98 TMDLs in 67 FR 15196 (March 29, 2002). The comments received and EPA's response to comments may be found at www.epa.gov/​region6/​water/​tmdl.htm.

Final Agency Action Removing 20 Waterbody/Pollutant Combinations for Waters Located Within the Calcasieu and Ouachita Basins From the Louisiana 303(d) List Because TMDLs Are Not Needed

Subsegment	Waterbody name	Pollutant
030301	Calcasieu River and Ship Channel—Saltwater Barrier to Moss Lake (Estuarine) (includes Coon Island and Clooney Island Loops)	Ammonia.
030302	Lake Charles (Estuarine)	Non-priority organics.
030306	Bayou Verdine	Non-priority organics.
030901	Bayou D'Inde—Headwaters to Calcasieu River (Estuarine)	Non-priority organics.
030901	Bayou D'Inde—Headwaters to Calcasieu River (Estuarine)	Other inorganics.
030302	Lake Charles (Estuarine)	Priority organics.
030303	Prien Lake	Priority organics.
030304	Moss Lake (Estuarine)	Priority organics.
030305	Contraband Bayou (Estuarine)	Priority organics.
030401	Calcasieu River—Calcasieu Ship Channel Below Moss Lake to the Gulf of Mexico (Estuarine) (Includes Monkey Island Loop)	Priority organics.
030402	Calcasieu Lake (Estuarine)	Priority organics.
080102	Bayou Chauvin—Headwaters to the Ouachita River	Ammonia.
080901	Boeuf River—Arkansas State Line to Ouachita River	Ammonia.
080905	Turkey Creek—Headwaters to Turkey Creek Cutoff and Turkey Creek Cutoff to Big Creek including Glade Slough	Ammonia.
081401	Dugdemona River—Headwaters to junction with Big Creek	Dioxins.
081001	Bayou Macon—Arkansas State Line to Tensas River	Nutrients.
081402	Dugdemona River—From Big Creek to Little River	Organic enrichment/low DO.
081609	Hemphill Creek—Headwaters to Catahoula Lake (includes Hair Creek)	Organic enrichment/low DO.
080901	Boeuf River—Arkansas State Line to Ouachita River	Phosphorus.
080903	Big Creek—Headwaters to Boeuf River (including Big Colewa Bayou)	Phosphorus.

EPA requested the public to provide to EPA any significant data or information that may impact the determinations that 20 TMDLs are not needed in 67 FR 15196 (March 29, 2002). The comments received and EPA's response to comments may be found at www.epa.gov/​region6/​water/​tmdl.htm.

Dated: May 31, 2002.

Oscar Ramirez, Jr.,

Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.