[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 61 (Friday, March 29, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15196-15198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7771]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7165-6 ]


Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of Total Maximum 
Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Determinations That 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 the 
administrative record file for 98 TMDLs and the calculations for these 
TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in the Calcasieu and 
Ouachita river basins, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act 
(CWA). These TMDLs were completed in response to a court order in the 
lawsuit Sierra Club, et al. v. Clifford et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. 
La.).
    This notice also announces the availability for comment of EPA 
determinations that TMDLs are not needed for 20 waterbody/pollutant 
combinations in the Calcasieu and Ouachita river basins because new 
data and information show that water quality standards are being met. 
This proposed action would result in the removal of 20 waterbody/
pollutant combinations from the Louisiana 303(d) list.

DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing to EPA on or before April 
29, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the 98 TMDLs and the determinations that TMDLs 
are not needed for 20 waterbody/pollutant combinations 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 and the determinations that TMDLs are not needed are 
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 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 Seeks Comments on 98 TMDLs

    By this notice EPA is seeking comment on the following 98 TMDLs for 
waters located within the Calcasieu and Ouachita river basins:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Subsegment                Waterbody name          Pollutant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
030301........................  Calcasieu River & Ship  Contaminated
                                 Channel--Saltwater      sediments
                                 Barrier to Moss Lake    (Mercury, PAHs,
                                 (Estuarine) (Includes   and toxicity).
                                 Coon Island and
                                 Clooney Island
                                 Loops).
030306........................  Bayou Verdine           Contaminated
                                 (Estuarine).            sediments (4,4'-
                                                         DDT,
                                                         Methoxychlor,
                                                         PAHs, Zinc,
                                                         Calcium, and
                                                         toxicity).
030901........................  Bayou D'Inde--          Contaminated
                                 Headwaters to           sediments
                                 Calcasieu River         (Mercury,
                                 (Estuarine).            toxicity,and
                                                         organics).
030305........................  Contraband Bayou        Copper.
                                 (Estuarine).
031201........................  Calcasieu River Basin-- Mercury.
                                 Coastal Bays and Gulf
                                 Waters to State 3
                                 mile limit.
030301........................  Calcasieu River and     Metals (Copper,
                                 Ship Channel--          Lead, and
                                 Saltwater Barrier to    Mercury).
                                 Moss Lake (Estuarine)
                                 (Includes Coon Island
                                 and Clooney Island
                                 Loops).
030304........................  Moss Lake (Estuarine).  Metals (Copper,
                                                         Mercury).
030306........................  Bayou Verdine           Metals (Mercury,
                                 (Estuarine).            Nickel).
030901........................  Bayou D'Inde--          Metals (Copper,
                                 Headwaters to           Nickel, and
                                 Calcasieu River         Mercury).
                                 (Estuarine).
030305........................  Contraband Bayou        Pathogen
                                 (Estuarine).            indicators.
030701........................  Bayou Serpent.........  Pesticides
                                                         (Fipronil).
030301........................  Calcasieu River and     Priority
                                 Ship Channel--          organics
                                 Saltwater Barrier to    (PAHs).
                                 Moss Lake (Estuarine)
                                 (Includes Coon Island
                                 and Clooney Island
                                 Loops).
030306........................  Bayou Verdine           Priority
                                 (Estuarine).            organics
                                                         (Phenols, and
                                                         1,2-
                                                         Dichloroethane)
                                                         .
030901........................  Bayou D'Inde--          Priority
                                 Headwaters to           organics (PCBs,
                                 Calcasieu River         Tetrachloroetha
                                 (Estuarine).            ne,
                                                         Hexachlorobenze
                                                         ne,
                                                         Hexachlorobutad
                                                         iene, and
                                                         Bromoform).
030702........................  English Bayou--         Suspended
                                 Headwaters to           solids.
                                 Calcasieu River.
030702........................  English Bayou--         Turbidity.
                                 Headwaters to
                                 Calcasieu River.
081501........................  Castor Creek--          Chlorides.
                                 Headwaters to Little
                                 River.
0809(04)......................  Little Bayou Boeuf/     Dioxins.
                                 Wham Brake (within
                                 segment 0809).
080912........................  Tisdale Brake/          Dioxins.
                                 Staulkinghead Creek
                                 from origin to Little
                                 Bayou Boeuf.
080101........................  Ouachita River--        Mercury.
                                 Arkansas State Line
                                 to Columbia Lock and
                                 Dam (Scenic from the
                                 Arkansas State Line
                                 to intersection with
                                 Bayou Bartholomew--22
                                 miles).
080902........................  Bayou Bonne Idee--      Nitrogen.
                                 Headwaters to Boeuf
                                 River.
080102........................  Bayou Chauvin.........  Noxious aquatic
                                                         plants.
080201........................  Ouachita River--        Nutrients.
                                 Columbia Lock and Dam
                                 to Jonesville.

[[Page 15197]]

 
080302........................  Black River--Corps of   Nutrients.
                                 Engineers Control
                                 Structure to Red
                                 River.
080902........................  Bayou Bonne Idee--      Nutrients.
                                 Headwaters to Boeuf
                                 River.
080904........................  Bayou Lafourche--near   Nutrients.
                                 Oakridge to Boeuf
                                 River near Columbia.
080910........................  Clear Lake............  Nutrients.
081002........................  Joe's Bayou--           Nutrients.
                                 Headwaters to Bayou
                                 Macon.
081201........................  Tensas River--          Nutrients.
                                 Headwaters to
                                 Jonesville (including
                                 Tensas Bayou).
081202........................  Lake St. Joseph (Oxbow
                                 Lake) Nutrients.
080201........................  Ouachita River--        Organic
                                 Columbia Lock.          enrichment/low
                                                         DO.
080501........................  Bayou de L'Outre--      Organic
                                 Arkansas State to       enrichment/low
                                 Ouachita River          DO.
                                 (Scenic).
080607........................  Corney Bayou--from      Organic
                                 Arkansas State Line     enrichment/low
                                 to Corney Lake          DO.
                                 (Scenic).
080902........................  Bayou Bonne Idee--      Organic
                                 Headwaters to Boeuf     enrichment/low
                                 River.                  DO.
080904........................  Bayou Lafourche--near   Organic
                                 Oakridge to Boeuf       enrichment/low
                                 River near Columbia.    DO.
080910........................  Clear Lake............  Organic
                                                         enrichment/low
                                                         DO.
081002........................  Joe's Bayou--           Organic
                                 Headwaters to Bayou     enrichment/low
                                 Macon.                  DO.
081201........................  Tensas River--          Organic
                                 Headwaters to           enrichment/low
                                 Jonesville (including   DO.
                                 Tensas Bayou).
081202........................  Lake St. Joseph (Oxbow  Organic
                                 Lake).                  enrichment/low
                                                         DO.
080102........................  Bayou Chauvin--         Pathogen
                                 Headwaters to the       indicators.
                                 Ouachita River.
080610........................  Middle Fork of Bayou    Pathogen
                                 D'Arbonne--From         indicators.
                                 origin to Bayou
                                 D'Arbonne Lake
                                 (Scenic).
080905........................  Turkey Creek--          Pathogen
                                 Headwaters to Turkey    indicators.
                                 Creek Cutoff and
                                 Turkey Creek Cutoff
                                 to Big Creek
                                 including Glade
                                 Slough.
080910........................  Clear Lake............  Pathogen
                                                         indicators.
081001........................  Bayou Macon...........  Pathogen
                                                         indicators.
081602........................  Little River--From      Pathogen
                                 Bear Creek to           indicators.
                                 Catahoula Lake
                                 (Scenic).
080901........................  Boeuf River--Arkansas   Pesticides
                                 State Line to           (Carbofuran,
                                 Ouachita River.         DDT, and
                                                         Toxaphene).
080903........................  Big Creek--Headwaters   Pesticides
                                 to Boeuf.               (Carbofuran,
                                                         Atrazine, DDT,
                                                         and Methyl
                                                         Parathion).
081001........................  Bayou Macon...........  Pesticides
                                                         (DDT).
081002........................  Joe's Bayou--           Pesticides
                                 Headwaters to Bayou     (Carbofuran,
                                 Macon.                  and DDT).
081201........................  Tensas River--          Pesticides
                                 Headwaters to           (Carbofuran,
                                 Jonesville including    Toxaphene, and
                                 Tensas Bayou.           DDT).
080902........................  Bayou Bonne Idee--      Phosphorus.
                                 Headwaters to Boeuf
                                 River.
080904........................  Bayou Lafourche--near   Priority
                                 Oakridge to Boeuf       organics
                                 River near Columbia.    (Dioxins).
081501........................  Castor Creek--          Salinity/TDS.
                                 Headwaters to Little
                                 River.
080202........................  Bayou Louis...........  Siltation.
080901........................  Boeuf River--Arkansas   Siltation.
                                 State Line to
                                 Ouachita River.
080102........................  Bayou Chauvin.........  Suspended
                                                         solids.
080901........................  Boeuf River--Arkansas   Suspended
                                 State Line to           solids.
                                 Ouachita River.
080903........................  Big Creek--Headwaters   Suspended
                                 to Boeuf River          solids.
                                 (including Big Colewa
                                 Bayou).
080904........................  Bayou Lafourche--near   Suspended
                                 Oakridge to Boeuf       solids.
                                 River near Columbia.
080910........................  Clear Lake............  Suspended
                                                         solids.
081001........................  Bayou Macon--Arkansas   Suspended
                                 State Line to Tensas    solids.
                                 River.
081002........................  Joe's Bayou--           Suspended
                                 Headwaters to Bayou     solids.
                                 Macon.
081201........................  Tensas River--          Suspended
                                 Headwaters to           solids.
                                 Jonesville (including
                                 Tensas Bayou).
081202........................  Lake St. Joseph (Oxbow  Suspended
                                 Lake).                  solids.
080102........................  Bayou Chauvin.........  Turbidity.
080901........................  Boeuf River--Arkansas   Turbidity.
                                 State Line to
                                 Ouachita River.
080903........................  Big Creek--Headwaters   Turbidity.
                                 to Boeuf River
                                 (including Big Colewa
                                 Bayou).
080904........................  Bayou Lafourche--near   Turbidity.
                                 Oakridge to Boeuf
                                 River near Columbia.
081001........................  Bayou Macon--Arkansas   Turbidity.
                                 State Line to Tensas
                                 River.
081201........................  Tensas River--          Turbidity.
                                 Headwaters to
                                 Jonesville (including
                                 Tensas Bayou).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

      

[[Page 15198]]

EPA Seeks Comments on Proposed Determinations That 20 TMDLs for 
Waterbody/Pollutant Combinations Are Not Needed Due to Assesssment 
of New Data and Information That Shows They Are Meeting WQS

------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Subsegment                Waterbody name          Pollutant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
030301........................  Calcasieu River and      Ammonia
                                 Ship Channel--
                                 Saltwater Barrier to
                                 Moss Lake (Estuarine)
                                 (includes Coon Island
                                 and Clooney Island
                                 Loops).
030302........................  Lake Charles            Non-priority
                                 (Estuarine).            organics
030306........................  Bayou Verdine.........  Non-priority
                                                         organics
030901........................  Bayou D'Inde--          Non-priority
                                 Headwaters to           organics
                                 Calcasieu River
                                 (Estuarine).
030901........................  Bayou D'Inde--          Other inorganics
                                 Headwaters to
                                 Calcasieu River
                                 (Estuarine).
030302........................  Lake Charles            Priority
                                 (Estuarine).            organics
030303........................  Prien Lake............  Priority
                                                         organics
030304........................  Moss Lake (Estuarine).  Priority
                                                         organics
030305........................  Contraband Bayou        Priority
                                 (Estuarine).            organics
030401........................  Calcasieu River--       Priority
                                 Calcasieu Ship          organics
                                 Channel Below Moss
                                 Lake to the Gulf of
                                 Mexico (Estuarine)
                                 (Includes Monkey
                                 Island Loop).
030402........................  Calcasieu Lake          Priority
                                 (Estuarine).            organics
080102........................  Bayou Chauvin--         Ammonia
                                 Headwaters to the
                                 Ouachita River.
080901........................  Boeuf River--Arkansas   Ammonia
                                 State Line to
                                 Ouachita River.
080905........................  Turkey Creek--          Ammonia
                                 Headwaters to Turkey
                                 Creek Cutoff and
                                 Turkey Creek Cutoff
                                 to Big Creek
                                 including Glade
                                 Slough.
081401........................  Dugdemona River--       Dioxins
                                 Headwaters to
                                 junction with Big
                                 Creek.
081001........................  Bayou Macon--Arkansas   Nutrients
                                 State Line to Tensas
                                 River.
081402........................  Dugdemona River--From   Organic
                                 Big Creek to Little     enrichment/low
                                 River.                  DO
081609........................  Hemphill Creek--        Organic
                                 Headwaters to           enrichment/low
                                 Catahoula Lake          DO
                                 (includes Hair
                                 Creek).
080901........................  Boeuf River--Arkansas   Phosphorus
                                 State Line to
                                 Ouachita River.
080903........................  Big Creek--Headwaters   Phosphorus
                                 to Boeuf River
                                 (including Big Colewa
                                 Bayou).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA requests that the public provide any water quality related data 
and information that may be relevant to the calculations for these 98 
TMDLs, or any other comments relevant to the 20 proposed determinations 
that TMDLs are not needed. EPA will review all data and information 
submitted during the public comment period and revise the TMDLs and 
determinations 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. EPA also will revise the Louisiana 303(d) list as 
appropriate.

    Dated: March 21, 2002.
Jayne Fontenot,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 02-7771 Filed 3-28-02; 8:45 am]
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