[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 11 (Thursday, January 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 2280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-636]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8270-2]


Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of San Gabriel River 
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This action announces the availability of EPA proposed total 
maximum daily loads (TMDLs) in San Gabriel River watershed to address 
water quality limited segments and elevated metals and selenium levels 
pursuant to Clean Water Act Section 303(d)(1), and requests public 
comment. Section 303(d)(1) requires that states submit water quality 
planning documents called total maximum daily loads for impaired waters 
for which existing technology-based pollution controls are not 
stringent enough to attain or maintain state water quality standards. 
EPA must approve or disapprove the State's submitted TMDLs.
    Today, EPA is providing the public the opportunity to review 
proposed TMDLs for San Gabriel River metals. EPA is establishing these 
TMDLs in lieu of California because of deadlines associated with the 
consent decree described below. EPA will prepare a responsiveness 
summary that demonstrates how public comments were considered in the 
final TMDL decisions. The responsiveness document will be available 
when the TMDLs are established.

DATES: Comments must be submitted to EPA on or before February 15, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed decisions should be sent to 
Terrence Fleming, Water Division (WTR-2), U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, 
telephone (415) 972-3462, facsimile (415) 947-3537, e-mail 
[email protected]. Oral comments will not be considered. Copies 
of the proposed TMDLs for San Gabriel River watershed will be available 
on EPA Region 9's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/region9/water/tmdl/303d.html or by writing or calling Mr. Fleming at the above address. 
Underlying documentation comprising the record for these TMDLs is 
available for public inspection at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terrence Fleming at (415) 972-3462 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act 
requires states to identify water bodies that do not meet water quality 
standards and then to establish TMDLs for each water body for each 
pollutant of concern. TMDLs identify the maximum amount of pollutants 
that can be discharged to water bodies without causing violations of 
water quality standards. Several reaches or tributaries of the San 
Gabriel River are included on the State of California's Section 303(d) 
list of polluted waters due to water quality impacts associated with 
discharges of metals and selenium. EPA will establish TMDLs for metals 
and selenium for waters in the watershed by March 26, 2007 because of 
deadlines under a consent decree (Heal the Bay Inc., et al. v. Browner 
C 98-4825 SBA, entered March 24, 1999).
    The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board is in the 
process of developing TMDLs for metals and selenium for the San Gabriel 
River watershed. However, because the State is not expected to adopt 
and submit these metals and selenium TMDLs by March 26, 2007, EPA is 
establishing these metals and selenium pollutant TMDLs.

    Dated: January 8, 2007.
Nancy Woo,
Acting Director, Water Division, Region IX.
[FR Doc. E7-636 Filed 1-17-07; 8:45 am]
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