[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 114 (Thursday, June 13, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40735-40737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-14498]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7227-3]


Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Final Agency Action on 98 Total 
Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Final Agency Action on 20 
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 98 TMDLs prepared 
by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in Louisiana's Calcasieu and Ouachita 
river basins, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). This 
notice also announces final agency action removing 20 waterbody/
pollutant combinations from the Louisiana 303(d) list because TMDLs are 
not needed. The EPA evaluated these waters and prepared the 98 TMDLs 
needed in response to a 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 20 determinations that 
TMDLs are not needed and for the 98 TMDLs, including TMDL calculations 
and the responses to comments, may be viewed at www.epa.gov/region6/water/tmdl.htm.
    EPA believes that the public notice and comment period provided for 
these TMDLs was adequate. During the comment period, EPA received over 
400 pages of comments from numerous commenters, including the parties 
requesting more time. EPA believes that it has appropriately responded 
to the comments received. Furthermore, EPA is establishing these TMDLs 
pursuant to deadlines established in a consent decree in the case 
styled Sierra Club, et al. v. Clifford et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. La.) 
which does not at this late date permit EPA to grant additional time 
for public comment, absent relief from the court, which the Agency does 
not believe is necessary to seek here. However, EPA will continue to 
accept information submitted regarding potential errors in the TMDL, 
and/or to meet with parties to discuss potential errors. If the Agency 
determines that errors were made, it will issue a correction notice or 
revise the TMDL, as appropriate.
    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 EPA, styled 
Sierra Club, et al. v. Clifford et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. La.). Among 
other claims, the plaintiffs alleged that the EPA failed to establish 
Louisiana TMDLs in a timely manner.

EPA Takes Final Agency Action on 98 TMDLs

    By this notice EPA is taking final agency action on the following 
98 TMDLs for waters located within the Calcasieu and Ouachita river 
basins:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Subsegment                   Waterbody name                            Pollutant
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
030301..........................  Calcasieu River & Ship     Contaminated sediments (Mercury, PAHs, and
                                   Channel--Saltwater         toxicity).
                                   Barrier to Moss Lake
                                   (Estuarine) (Includes
                                   Coon Island and Clooney
                                   Island Loops).
030306..........................  Bayou Verdine (Estuarine)  Contaminated sediments (4,4'-DDT, Methoxychlor,
                                                              PAHs, Zinc, Calcium, and toxicity).
030901..........................  Bayou D'Inde--Headwaters   Contaminated sediments (Mercury, toxicity, and
                                   to Calcasieu River         organics).
                                   (Estuarine).
030305..........................  Contraband Bayou           Copper.
                                   (Estuarine).
031201..........................  Calcasieu River Basin--    Mercury.
                                   Coastal Bays and Gulf
                                   Waters to State 3 mile
                                   limit.
030301..........................  Calcasieu River and Ship   Metals (Copper, Lead, and Mercury).
                                   Channel--Saltwater
                                   Barrier to Moss Lake
                                   (Estuarine) (Includes
                                   Coon Island and Clooney
                                   Island Loops).
030304..........................  Moss Lake (Estuarine)....  Metals (Copper, Mercury).
030306..........................  Bayou Verdine (Estuarine)  Metals (Mercury, Nickel).
030901..........................  Bayou D'Inde--Headwaters   Metals (Copper, Nickel, and Mercury).
                                   to Calcasieu River
                                   (Estuarine).
030305..........................  Contraband Bayou           Pathogen indicators.
                                   (Estuarine).
030701..........................  Bayou Serpent............  Pesticides (Fipronil).
030301..........................  Calcasieu River and Ship   Priority organics (PAHs).
                                   Channel--Saltwater
                                   Barrier to Moss Lake
                                   (Estuarine) (Includes
                                   Coon Island and Clooney
                                   Island Loops).

[[Page 40736]]

 
030306..........................  Bayou Verdine (Estuarine)  Priority organics (Phenols, and 1,2-
                                                              Dichloroethane).
030901..........................  Bayou D'Inde--Headwaters   Priority organics (PCBs, Tetrachloroethane,
                                   to Calcasieu River         Hexachlorobenzene, Hexachlorobutadiene, and
                                   (Estuarine).               Bromoform).
030702..........................  English Bayou--Headwaters  Suspended solids.
                                   to Calcasieu River.
030702..........................  English Bayou--Headwaters  Turbidity.
                                   to Calcasieu River.
081501..........................  Castor Creek--Headwaters   Chlorides.
                                   to Little River.
0809(04)........................  Little Bayou Boeuf/Wham    Dioxins.
                                   Brake (within segment
                                   0809).
080912..........................  Tisdale Brake/             Dioxins.
                                   Staulkinghead Creek from
                                   origin to Little Bayou
                                   Boeuf.
080101..........................  Ouachita River--Arkansas   Mercury.
                                   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--Columbia   Nutrients.
                                   Lock and Dam to
                                   Jonesville.
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--Headwaters    Nutrients.
                                   to Bayou Macon.
081201..........................  Tensas River--Headwaters   Nutrients.
                                   to Jonesville (including
                                   Tensas Bayou).
081202..........................  Lake St. Joseph (Oxbow     Nutrients.
                                   Lake).
080201..........................  Ouachita River--Columbia   Organic enrichment/low DO.
                                   Lock.
080501..........................  Bayou de L'Outre--         Organic enrichment/low DO.
                                   Arkansas State to
                                   Ouachita River (Scenic).
080607..........................  Corney Bayou--from         Organic enrichment/low DO.
                                   Arkansas State Line to
                                   Corney Lake (Scenic).
080902..........................  Bayou Bonne Idee--         Organic enrichment/low DO.
                                   Headwaters to Boeuf
                                   River.
080904..........................  Bayou Lafourche--near      Organic enrichment/low DO.
                                   Oakridge to Boeuf River
                                   near Columbia.
080910..........................  Clear Lake...............  Organic enrichment/low DO.
081002..........................  Joe's Bayou--Headwaters    Organic enrichment/low DO.
                                   to Bayou Macon.
081201..........................  Tensas River--Headwaters   Organic enrichment/low DO.
                                   to Jonesville (including
                                   Tensas Bayou).
081202..........................  Lake St. Joseph (Oxbow     Organic enrichment/low DO.
                                   Lake).
080102..........................  Bayou Chauvin--Headwaters  Pathogen indicators.
                                   to Ouachita River.
080610..........................  Middle Fork of Bayou       Pathogen indicators.
                                   D'Arbonne--From origin
                                   to Bayou D'Arbonne Lake
                                   (Scenic).
080905..........................  Turkey Creek--Headwaters   Pathogen indicators.
                                   to Turkey 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 Bear    Pathogen indicators.
                                   Creek to Catahoula Lake
                                   (Scenic).
080901..........................  Boeuf River--Arkansas      Pesticides (Carbofuran, DDT, and Toxaphene).
                                   State Line to Ouachita
                                   River.
080903..........................  Big Creek--Headwaters to   Pesticides (Carbofuran, Atrazine, DDT, and Methyl
                                   Boeuf.                     Parathion).
081001..........................  Bayou Macon..............  Pesticides (DDT).
081002..........................  Joe's Bayou--Headwaters    Pesticides (Carbofuran, and DDT).
                                   to Bayou Macon.
081201..........................  Tensas River--Headwaters   Pesticides (Carbofuran, Toxaphene, and DDT).
                                   to Jonesville including
                                   Tensas Bayou.
080902..........................  Bayou Bonne Idee--         Phosphorus.
                                   Headwaters to Boeuf
                                   River.
080904..........................  Bayou Lafourche--near      Priority organics (Dioxins).
                                   Oakridge to Boeuf River
                                   near Columbia.
081501..........................  Castor Creek--Headwaters   Salinity/TDS.
                                   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 solids.
                                   State Line to Ouachita
                                   River.
080903..........................  Big Creek--Headwaters to   Suspended solids.
                                   Boeuf River (including
                                   Big Colewa Bayou).
080904..........................  Bayou Lafourche--near      Suspended solids.
                                   Oakridge to Boeuf River
                                   near Columbia.
080910..........................  Clear Lake...............  Suspended solids.
081001..........................  Bayou Macon--Arkansas      Suspended solids.
                                   State Line to Tensas
                                   River.
081002..........................  Joe's Bayou--Headwaters    Suspended solids.
                                   to Bayou Macon.
081201..........................  Tensas River--Headwaters   Suspended solids.
                                   to Jonesville (including
                                   Tensas Bayou).
081202..........................  Lake St. Joseph (Oxbow     Suspended solids.
                                   Lake).
080102..........................  Bayou Chauvin............  Turbidity.
080901..........................  Boeuf River--Arkansas      Turbidity.
                                   State Line to Ouachita
                                   River.
080903..........................  Big Creek--Headwaters to   Turbidity.
                                   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--Headwaters   Turbidity.
                                   to Jonesville (including
                                   Tensas Bayou).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA requested the public to provide EPA with any significant data 
or information that may impact the 98 TMDLs in 67 FR 15196 (March 29, 
2002). The comments received and EPA's response to comments may be 
found at www.epa.gov/region6/water/tmdl.htm.

[[Page 40737]]

Final Agency Action Removing 20 Waterbody/Pollutant Combinations for 
Waters Located Within the Calcasieu and Ouachita Basins From the 
Louisiana 303(d) List Because TMDLs Are Not Needed

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

    EPA requested the public to provide to EPA any significant data or 
information that may impact the determinations that 20 TMDLs are not 
needed in 67 FR 15196 (March 29, 2002). The comments received and EPA's 
response to comments may be found at www.epa.gov/region6/water/tmdl.htm.

    Dated: May 31, 2002.
Oscar Ramirez, Jr.,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 02-14498 Filed 6-12-02; 8:45 am]
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