[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 151 (Friday, August 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47928-47929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18027]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7799-1]


Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of EPA's Decision To 
Add Waters and Pollutants to Colorado's 2004 List

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Region VIII of the EPA is hereby providing notice, and 
requesting public comment on EPA's decision to identify additional 
water quality limited segments and associated pollutants in Colorado to 
be listed pursuant to Clean Water Act section 303(d)(2). Section 
303(d)(2) of the Clean Water Act requires that states submit and EPA 
approve or disapprove lists of waters for which existing technology-
based pollution controls are not stringent enough to attain or maintain 
state water quality standards and for which total maximum daily loads 
(TMDLs) must be prepared.
    On July 26, 2004, EPA partially approved and partially disapproved 
Colorado's section 303(d) list submittal for the 2004 listing cycle. 
Specifically, EPA approved Colorado's listing of 117 waters, associated 
pollutants, and associated priority rankings. EPA disapproved 
Colorado's decisions not to list six waterbodies and associated 
pollutants and one pollutant for a waterbody already listed by the 
State. EPA identified these additional water bodies and pollutants 
along with priority rankings for inclusion on the year 2004 section 
303(d) list.
    EPA is providing the public the opportunity to review its decisions 
to add waters and pollutants (shown in Table 1) to Colorado's 2004 
section 303(d) list, as required by EPA's Public Participation 
regulations (40 CFR part 25). EPA will consider public comments in 
reaching its final decisions on the additional water bodies and 
pollutants identified for inclusion on Colorado's list.

DATES: Comments must be submitted to EPA on or before September 20, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed decisions should be sent to Kathryn 
Hernandez, TMDL Team (8EPR-EP), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
Region VIII, 999 18th Street, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80202-2466, 
telephone (303) 312-6101, facsimile (303) 312-6339, e-mail 
[email protected]. Oral comments will not be considered. Copies 
of EPA's decision concerning Colorado's list that explain the rationale 
for EPA's decisions can be obtained at EPA Region VIII's Web site at 
http://www.epa.gov/region08/water/tmdl, or by writing or calling Ms. 
Hernandez at the above address. The full administrative record 
containing background technical information is on file and may be 
inspected at the U.S. EPA, Region VIII Technical Library found in the 
Environmental Information Service Center (EISC). The Library and 
Service Center are located on the ground floor at Denver Place, 999 
18th Street, Denver Colorado. The Library is open to the public from 10 
a.m. to 4 p.m. The Library can be contacted by calling the Service 
Center at (303) 312-6312 or (800) 227-8917. Arrangements to examine the 
administrative record may also be made by contacting Kathryn Hernandez.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathryn Hernandez at (303) 312-6101 or 
Bruce Zander (TMDL Coordinator) at (303) 312-6846 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) 
requires that each state identify those waters for which existing 
technology-based pollution controls are not stringent enough to attain 
or maintain state water quality standards. For those waters, states are 
required to establish TMDLs according to a priority ranking.
    EPA's Water Quality Planning and Management regulations include 
requirements related to the implementation of section 303(d) of the CWA 
(40 CFR 130.7). The regulations require states to identify water 
quality limited waters still requiring TMDLs every two years. The lists 
of waters still needing TMDLs must also include priority rankings, 
identify the pollutants causing the impairment, and must identify the 
waters targeted for TMDL development during the next two years (40 CFR 
130.7).
    Consistent with EPA's regulations, Colorado submitted to EPA its 
listing decisions under section 303(d)(2) on March 18, 2004. On July 
26, 2004, EPA approved Colorado's listing of 117 waters and associated 
priority rankings. EPA disapproved Colorado's decisions not to list six 
water quality limited segments and associated pollutants as well as one 
pollutant for a segment already on the State's list. EPA identified 
these additional waters and pollutants along with priority rankings for 
inclusion on the 2004 section 303(d) list. EPA solicits public comment 
on its identification of the additional waters, associated pollutants 
and priority rankings, for inclusion on Colorado's 2004 section 303(d) 
list.

         Table 1.--List of Waters and Pollutants for Addition to Colorado's 2004 CWA Section 303(d) List
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                                                                   Water quality standard
         Waterbody description                Pollutant(s)                 not met            Priority ranking
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Red Mountain Creek (from East Fork of   Copper, lead, zinc......  Aquatic life use........  Low.
 Red Mountain Creek to Uncompahgre
 River) Segment COGUUN06b.
West Fork of Clear Creek (from Woods    Zinc....................  Zinc numeric standard     Low.
 Creek to Clear Creek mainstem)                                    (acute) for aquatic
 Segment COSPCL05.                                                 life use.
Middle South Platte River (from Big     Dissolved oxygen........  Dissolved oxygen numeric  Low.
 Dry Creek to Highway 60) Segment                                  standard for aquatic
 COSPMS01.                                                         life use.
Blue River Tributaries (Camp Creek,     pH......................  pH numeric standard for   Low.
 Jones Gulch) Segment COUCBL06.                                    aquatic life use.
Blue River Tributaries (Keystone        pH......................  pH numeric standard for   Low.
 Gulch, Mozart Creek) Segment COUCBL08.                            aquatic life use.
Bear Creek (from Evergreen Lake to      Temperature.............  Aquatic life use........  Low.
 Harriman Ditch) Segment COSPBE01.

[[Page 47929]]

 
Dolores River (from below McPhee        Unknown.................  Aquatic life use........  Low.
 Reservoir to Bradfield Ranch Bridge)
 Segment COSJDO04.
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    Authority: Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.

    Dated: July 30, 2004.
Max H. Dodson,
Assistant Regional Administrator, Office of Ecosystems Protection and 
Remediation.
[FR Doc. 04-18027 Filed 8-5-04; 8:45 am]
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