[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-620]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 11, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-4824-2]

 

CWA 303(d): EPA's Intent To Approve and Availability of State 
List Submissions

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency, Region II.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency's (EPA) intent to approve the lists submitted to the U.S. EPA 
pursuant to Clean Water Act (CWA) section 303(d) by the State of New 
York, the State of New Jersey, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico on 
September 4, 1992, May 20, 1993, and November 18, 1993, respectively. 
Please be advised that the U.S. Virgin Islands is not required to 
submit a 303(d) list because there are no water quality-limited 
segments in the U.S. Virgin Islands requiring Total Maximum Daily Loads 
(TMDL). EPA issued its intent to approve the New York State September 
4, 1992 list submittal on May 18, 1993. With regard to the New Jersey 
May 20, 1993 and the Puerto Rico November 18, 1993 list submittals, 
although EPA has not yet sent out approval letters, EPA does intend to 
approve both of these list submittals as well.
    In the case of the Puerto Rico section 303(d) list, it should be 
noted that several modifications, which will affect the Commonwealth's 
section 303(d) list, have been agreed upon by the Puerto Rico 
Environmental Quality Board (PREQB) and EPA subsequent to the November 
18, 1993 submittal. These proposed modifications reflect recent 
negotiations between PREQB and EPA regarding 1994 permitting priorities 
in Puerto Rico. The current Puerto Rico section 303(d) list does not 
reflect these specific modifications. Since the section 303(d) process 
is ongoing, another comprehensive review/revision of all State section 
303(d) lists is scheduled to take place in April, 1994. At that time 
the Puerto Rico section 303(d) list will be updated to include all 
agreed upon modifications.
    EPA is soliciting public comment on its intent to approve these 
303(d) lists, which, together with EPA's tentative approval documents, 
are available to the public.

DATES: Comments on EPA's intent to approve these lists and the list 
submittals, must be submitted to EPA on or before February 10, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the lists submitted pursuant to 303(d) and EPA's 
tentative approval documents can be obtained by writing to Mr. Wayne 
Jackson, Surface Water Quality Branch, U.S. Environ-mental Protection 
Agency Region II, Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, 
New York, New York 10278 or calling (212) 264-5685. Comments on these 
items should be sent to Mr. Wayne Jackson at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Wayne Jackson, telephone (212) 
264-5685.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA), 
as amended by the Water Quality Act of 1987, requires every State to: 
Identify those waters within its boundaries for which the effluent 
limitations required by section 301(b)(1)(A) and section 301(b)(1)(B) 
of the CWA are not stringent enough to meet any water quality standard 
applicable to such waters. Each State is required to identify the 
pollutants causing the impairment of the listed waters. Section 303(d) 
further requires the State to establish a priority ranking for such 
waters, taking into account the severity of the pollution and the 
designated uses of these waters. Finally, the State is required to 
identify waters targeted for TMDL development over the next two (2) 
years. TMDLs establish the allowable pollutant loadings necessary for a 
waterbody to meet applicable State water quality standards. State 
303(d) lists and TMDLs are submitted to EPA for approval or 
disapproval. The deadline for submitting the above lists to the United 
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was October 22, 1992 (See 
57 FR 33047 (July 24, 1992)).
    Consistent with 40 CFR 130.7, New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico 
submitted to EPA, for approval, their listing decisions under section 
303(d) on September 4, 1992, May 20, 1993, and November 18, 1993, 
respectively. EPA today notices its intent to approve these lists and 
solicits public comment on both the intent to approve and on the lists. 
EPA is soliciting comments on the New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico 
1992 CWA section 303(d) lists and approvals. All future biennial 
submissions of the 303(d) lists will provide for public comment at the 
State level.
    The lists and approvals are available by mail or for public 
inspection at the EPA Region 2 office by appointment. To request a copy 
of a list and/or approval, to make arrangements to examine the lists, 
or to submit comments, contact the Agency representative identified 
above. Comments must be submitted within thirty (30) days of the 
publication of this notice.
    Following the close of the comment period, EPA will make a final 
determination on the State lists and will issue a response to comments 
received. A copy of EPA's decision and response to comments document 
will be sent to all parties submitting comments in response to this 
notice.

    Dated: December 27, 1993.
William J. Muszynski,
Acting Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-620 Filed 1-10-94; 8:45 am]
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