[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15472-15474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6680]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6953-8]


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 of EPA's 
determination that TMDLs are not needed for 26 waterbody/pollutant 
combinations in the Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche River Basins because 
new data and information show that water quality standards are being 
met. This proposed action would result in the removal of 26 waterbody/
pollutant combinations from the Louisiana 303(d) list. 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. The court order also requires EPA 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 26 proposed determinations that TMDLs are not 
needed must be submitted in writing to EPA on or before April 18, 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. Documents from 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 EPA, styled 
Sierra

[[Page 15473]]

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 26 Proposed Determinations That TMDLs Are Not Needed
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Waterbody                Waterbody description    Suspected pollutant       Reason for delisting
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
050101.............................  Bayou Des Cannes--      Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                      Headwaters to                                   information shows it is
                                      Mermentau River.                                meeting WQS.
050103.............................  Bayou Mallet..........  Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
050201.............................  Bayou Plaquemine        Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                      Brule, Headwaters to                            information shows it is
                                      Bayou Des Cannes.                               meeting WQS.
050901.............................  Mermentau River Basin,  Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                      Coastal.                                        information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060802.............................  Vermilion River--From   Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                      New Flanders                                    information shows it is
                                      Ambassador Caffery                              meeting WQS.
                                      Bridge.
060904.............................  Vermilion River B890    Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                      Basin, New Iberia                               information shows it is
                                      Southern Drainage                               meeting WQS.
                                      Canal.
060907.............................  Franklin Canal........  Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
061101.............................  Bayou Petite Anse.....  Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060804.............................  Intracoastal Waterway.  Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060901.............................  Bayou Petite Anse.....  Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
050402.............................  Lake Arthur and Lower   Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                      Mermentau.                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
050602.............................  Intracoastal Waterway.  Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
050701.............................  Grand Lake............  Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
050702.............................  Intracoastal Waterway.  Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
050703.............................  White Lake............  Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060205.............................  Bayou Teche--           Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                      Headwaters at Bayou                             information shows it is
                                      Courtableau to I-10.                            meeting WQS.
060212.............................  Chatlin Lake Canal and  Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                      Bayou DuLac.                                    information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060701.............................  Tete Bayou............  Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060702.............................  Lake Fausse Point and   Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                      Dauterive Lake.                                 information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060906.............................  Intracoastal Waterway.  Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
060910.............................  Boston Canal and        Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                      Associated Canals                               information shows it is
                                      (Estuarine).                                    Meeting WQS.
061103.............................  Freshwater Bayou Canal  Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
050501.............................  Bayou Que de Tortue     Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                      Headwaters to                                   information shows it is
                                      Mermentau River.                                meeting WQS.
060902.............................  Bayou Carlin            Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                      (Delcambre Canal)--                             information shows it is
                                      Lake Peigneur To                                meeting WQS.
                                      Bayou Petite Anse.
060803.............................  Vermilion River Cutoff  Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
061102.............................  Intracoastal Waterway.  Oil & Grease..........  Assessment of new data and
                                                                                      information shows it is
                                                                                      meeting WQS.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 15474]]

    EPA requests that the public provide to EPA any water quality 
related data and information that may be relevant to the 26 proposed 
determinations that TMDLs are not needed. EPA will review all data and 
information submitted during the public comment period and revise the 
determinations where appropriate.

    Dated: March 7, 2001.
Joan E. Brown,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 01-6680 Filed 3-16-01; 8:45 am]
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