[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 243 (Monday, December 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79100-79102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32148]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6918-3]


Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of Proposed 
Determinations That Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Are Not Needed

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability for comment EPA 
proposed determinations that TMDLs are not needed for 54 waterbody/
pollutant combinations in the Mermenatu and Vermilion/Teche river 
basins. EPA prepared the proposed determinations in response to a Court 
Order dated October 1, 1999, in the lawsuit Sierra Club, et al. v. 
Clifford et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. La.). 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. EPA is also required to 
add or delete waters to the schedule as new data confirms that waters 
are or are not meeting water quality standards.

DATES: Comments on the 54 proposed determinations that TMDLs are not 
needed must be submitted in writing to EPA on or before January 17, 
2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed determinations 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 
the proposed determinations is available for public inspection at this 
address as well. The administrative record file 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.). 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 54 Proposed Determinations That TMDLs Are Not Necessary
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Waterbody             Waterbody description         Suspected  pollutant         Reason for delisting
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
050101..................  Bayou Des Cannes--Headwaters  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                           to Mermentau.                                              information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting Water Quality
                                                                                      Standards (WQS).
050102..................  Bayou Joe Marcel............  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information show it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
050103..................  Bayou Mallet................  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information show it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
050201..................  Bayou Plaquemine Brule--      Chlorides..................  Assessment of new data and
                           Headwaters to Bayou Des      Sulfates...................   information show it is
                           Cannes.                                                    meeting WQS.

[[Page 79101]]

 
050301..................  Bayou Nezpique--Headwaters    Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                           to Mermentau River.                                        information show it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
050401..................  Mermentau River--Origin To    Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                           Lake Arthur.                                               information show it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
050402..................  Lake Arthur and Lower         Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                           Mermentau.                                                 information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
050501..................  Bayou Que de Tortue--         Chlorides..................  Assessment of new data and
                           Headwaters to Mermentau      Sulfates...................   information shows it is it
                           River.                       Phosphorus.................   meeting WQS.
050602..................  Intracoastal Waterway.......  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
050701..................  Grand Lake..................  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
050702..................  Intracoastal Waterway.......  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
050703..................  White Lake..................  Sulfates...................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
050901..................  Bays and Gulf Waters to       Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                           State 3-mile Limit.                                        information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060202..................  Bayou Cocodrie..............  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060203..................  Chicot Lake.................  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060204..................  Bayou Courtableau--Origin to  Chlorides..................  Assessment of new data and
                           West Atchafalaya Borrow Pit  Turbidity..................   information shows it is
                           Canal.                                                     meeting WQS.
060205..................  Bayou Teche--Headwaters at    Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                           Bayou Courtableau to I-10.                                 information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060207..................  Bayou des Glaises Diversion   Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                           Channel.                                                   information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060208..................  Bayou Boeuf--Headwaters to    Chlorides..................  Assessment of new data and
                           Bayou Courtableau.           Sulfates...................   information shows it is
                                                        Turbidity..................   meeting WQS.
060209..................  Irish Ditch/Big Bayou--       Salinity/TDS...............  Assessment of new data and
                           Unnamed Ditch to Irish       Chlorides..................   information shows it is
                           Ditch.                       Sulfates...................   meeting WQS.
060210..................  Bayou Carron................  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060211..................  West Atchafalaya Borrow Pit   Chlorides..................  Assessment of new data and
                           Canal.                       Turbidity..................   information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060212..................  Chatlin Lake Canal and Bayou  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                           DuLac.                                                     information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060401..................  Bayou Teche--Keystone Locks   Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                           and Dam to Charenton Canal.                                information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060501..................  Bayou Teche--Charenton Canal  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                           to Wax Lake Outlet.                                        information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060601..................  Charenton Canal.............  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060701..................  Tete Bayou..................  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060702..................  Lake Fausse Point and         Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                           Dauterive Lake.                                            information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060703..................  Bayou du Portage............  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060801..................  Vermilion River--Head-waters  Chlorides..................  Assessment of new data and
                           at Bayou Fusilier--          Salinity/TDS...............   information shows it is
                           Bourbeaux Junction to New    Turbidity..................   meeting WQS.
                           Flanders (Ambassador
                           Caffery Bridge at Hwy 3073).
060802..................  Vermilion River--From New     Salinity/TDS...............  Assessment of new data and
                           Flanders (Ambassador         Chlorides..................   information shows it is
                           Caffery Bridge at Hwy 3073)  Temp.......................   meeting WQS.
                           To Intracoastal Waterway.    Turbidity..................
060803..................  Vermilion River Cutoff......  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060804..................  Intracoastal Waterway.......  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060901..................  Bayou Petite Anse...........  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060902..................  Bayou Carlin (Delcambre       Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                           Canal)--Lake Peigneur to                                   information shows it is
                           Bayou Petite Anse                                          meeting WQS.
                           (Estuarine).
060903..................  Bayou Tigre.................  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.

[[Page 79102]]

 
060904..................  Vermilion River B890 Basin    Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                           New Iberia Southern                                        information shows it is
                           Drainage Canal.                                            meeting WQS.
060906..................  Intracoastal Waterway.......  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060909..................  Lake Peigneur...............  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
061102..................  Intracoastal Waterway.......  Turbidity..................  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
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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 54 proposed 
determinations that TMDLs are not necessary. EPA will review all data 
and information submitted during the public comment period and revise 
the determinations where appropriate.

    Dated: November 27, 2000.
Sam Becker,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 00-32148 Filed 12-15-00; 8:45 am]
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