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
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Start Preamble
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.
Start Further InfoFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ellen Caldwell at (214) 665-7513.
End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental InformationSUPPLEMENTARY 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). Start Printed Page 40736 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.
Start Printed Page 40737Final 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.
Start SignatureDated: May 31, 2002.
Oscar Ramirez, Jr.,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 02-14498 Filed 6-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
Document Information
- Published:
- 06/13/2002
- Department:
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Entry Type:
- Notice
- Action:
- Notice of availability.
- Document Number:
- 02-14498
- Pages:
- 40735-40737 (3 pages)
- Docket Numbers:
- FRL-7227-3
- PDF File:
- 02-14498.pdf