[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 55 (Thursday, March 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13144-13145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6845]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7161-3]


Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Final Agency Action on 27 Total 
Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Final Agency Action on 6 Determinations 
That TMDLs Are Not Needed

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces final agency action on 27 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). This notice also announces final agency action removing 6 
waterbody/pollutant combinations from the Louisiana 303(d) list because 
TMDLs are not needed. EPA evaluated these waters and prepared the 27 
TMDLs needed in response to a partial 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 6 
determinations that TMDLs are not needed and for 27 TMDLs, including 
TMDL calculations and responses to comments may be viewed at 
www.epa.gov/region6/water/tmdl.htm. 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.

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.

EPA Takes Final Agency Action on 27 TMDLs

    By this notice EPA is taking final agency action on the following 
27 TMDLs for waters located within the Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche 
basins:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Subsegment               Waterbody name           Pollutant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
050101.....................  Bayou Des Cannes--       Pesticides
                              Headwaters to            (carbofuran &
                              Mermentau River.         fipronil).
050701.....................  Grand Lake.............  Pesticides
                                                       (carbofuran).
050702.....................  Intracoastal Waterway..  Pesticides
                                                       (carbofuran).

[[Page 13145]]

 
050901.....................  Bays and Gulf Waters to  Pesticides
                              State 3-mile Limit.      (carbofuran).
060205.....................  Bayou Teche--Headwaters  Pesticides
                              at Bayou Courtableau     (carbofuran).
                              to I-10.
060207.....................  Bayou des Glaises        Pesticides
                              Diversion Canal.         (carbofuran).
060301.....................  Bayou Teche--I-10 to     Pesticides
                              Keystone Locks and Dam.  (carbofuran).
060401.....................  Bayou Teche--Keystone    Pesticides
                              Locks and Dam to         (carbofuran).
                              Charenton Canal.
060701.....................  Tete Bayou.............  Pesticides
                                                       (carbofuran).
060801.....................  Vermilion River--        Pesticides
                              Headwaters at Bayou      (carbofuran).
                              Fusilier-Bourbeaux
                              Junction to New
                              Flanders (Ambassador
                              Caffery Bridge at Hwy
                              3073).
060802.....................  Vermilion River--From    Pesticides
                              New Flanders             (carbofuran).
                              (Ambassador Caffery
                              Bridge) at Hwy 3073 to
                              Intracoastal Waterway.
060803.....................  Vermilion River Cutoff.  Pesticides
                                                       (carbofuran).
060901.....................  Bayou Petite Anse......  Pesticides
                                                       (carbofuran).
060902.....................  Bayou Carlin (Delcambre  Pesticides
                              Canal)--Lake Peigneur    (carbofuran).
                              to Bayou Petite Anse
                              (Estuarine).
060903.....................  Bayou Tigre............  Pesticides
                                                       (carbofuran).
060904.....................  Vermilion River B890     Pesticides
                              Basin New Iberia         (carbofuran).
                              Southern Drainage
                              Canal.
060906.....................  Intracoastal Waterway..  Pesticides
                                                       (carbofuran).
060907.....................  Franklin Canal.........  Pesticides
                                                       (carbofuran).
060910.....................  Boston Canal and         Pesticides
                              Associated Canals        (carbofuran).
                              (Estuarine).
060911.....................  Vermilion-Teche River    Pesticides
                              Basin.                   (carbofuran).
061101.....................  Bayou Petite Anse......  Pesticides
                                                       (carbofuran).
061102.....................  Intracoastal Waterway..  Pesticides
                                                       (carbofuran).
050201.....................  Bayou Plaquemine Brule-- Pesticides
                              headwaters to Bayou      (fipronil).
                              Des Cannes.
050401.....................  Mermentau River--origin  Pesticides
                              to Lake Arthur.          (fipronil).
050501.....................  Bayou Queue de Tortue--  Pesticides
                              headwaters to            (fipronil).
                              Mermentau River.
050603.....................  Bayou Chene--includes    Pesticides
                              Bayou Grand Marais.      (fipronil).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA requested the public to provide EPA with any significant data 
or information that may impact the 27 TMDLs in 66 FR 47673 (September 
13, 2001). The comments received and EPA's response to comments may be 
found at www.epa.gov/region6/water/tmdl.htm.
    Final Agency Action Removing 6 Waterbody/Pollutant Combinations for 
waters located within the Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche basins from the 
Louisiana 303(d) List Because TMDLs are not Needed:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Subsegment               Waterbody name           Pollutant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
050102.....................  Bayou Joe Marcel.......  Ammonia,
                                                       nutrients, and
                                                       organic
                                                       enrichment/low
                                                       DO.
060906.....................  Intracoastal Waterway..  Nutrients.
061101.....................  Bayou Petite Anse......  Nutrients.
060204.....................  Bayou Courtableau--      Oil and grease.
                              origin to.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA requested the public to provide to EPA any significant data or 
information that may impact the determinations that 6 TMDLs are not 
needed in 66 FR 52403 (October 15, 2001). No comments were received.

    Dated: March 13, 2002
Sam Becker,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 02-6845 Filed 3-20-02; 8:45 am]
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