[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 219 (Monday, November 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67742-67743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28956]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6900-1]


Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of Total Maximum 
Daily Loads (TMDLs)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability for comment of the 
administrative record file for nine TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for 
waters listed in Louisiana's Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche river 
basins, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). EPA prepared 
these TMDLs in response to a Court Order dated October 1, 1999, in the 
lawsuit Sierra

[[Page 67743]]

Club, et al. v. Clifford et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. La. Oct. 1, 1999). 
Under this court order, EPA is required to prepare TMDLs when needed 
for waters on the Louisiana 1998 section 303(d) list by December 31, 
2007.

DATES: Comments on the nine TMDLs must be submitted in writing to EPA 
on or before December 13, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the nine TMDLs 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 (214) 
665-7513. The administrative record file for these TMDLs is available 
for public inspection at this address as well. Copies of the TMDLs and 
their respective calculations 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 (214) 665-7513.

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 United 
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), styled Sierra Club, et 
al. v. Clifford et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. La. Oct. 1, 1999). 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 Nine TMDLs

    By this notice EPA is seeking comment on the following nine TMDLs 
for waters located within the Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche basins:

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        Subsegment                        Waterbody name                                Pollutant
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050703....................  White Lake................................  Total Dissolved Solids.
050703....................  White Lake................................  Chloride.
060801....................  Vermilion River--Headwaters To Bayou        Sulfate.
                             Fusilier Bourbeaux Junction to New
                             Flanders.
060802....................  Vermilion River--From New Flanders to       Sulfate.
                             Intracoastal Waterway.
060205....................  Bayou Teche--Headwaters at Bayou            Sulfate.
                             Courtableau to I-10.
060205....................  Bayou Teche--Headwaters at Bayou            Chloride.
                             Courtableau to I-10.
060101....................  Bayou Cocodrie............................  Total Dissolved Solids.
060206....................  Indian Creek Reservoir....................  Temperature.
060102....................  Bayou Cocodrie............................  Total Dissolved Solids.
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    EPA requests that the public provide to EPA any water quality 
related data and information that may be relevant to the calculations 
for these TMDLs, or any other comments relevant to these TMDLs. EPA 
will review all data and information submitted during the public 
comment period and revise the nine TMDLs where appropriate. EPA will 
then forward the TMDLs to the Court and the Louisiana Department of 
Environmental Quality (LDEQ). LDEQ will incorporate the TMDLs into its 
current water quality management plan.

    Dated: October 20, 2000.
Jayne Fontenot,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 00-28956 Filed 11-9-00; 8:45 am]
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