[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 39420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13897]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8441-2]


Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of 29 Total Maximum 
Daily Loads (TMDL) in Louisiana

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 files for 29 TMDLs and the calculations for these 
TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in the Red, Sabine, 
and Pearl River Basins of Louisiana, under section 303(d) of the Clean 
Water Act (CWA). These TMDLs were completed in response to a court 
order in the lawsuit styled Sierra Club, et al. v. Clifford, et al., 
No. 96-0527, (E.D. La.).

DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing to EPA on or before 
September 4, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the 29 TMDLs should be sent to Diane Smith, 
Environmental Protection Specialist, Water Quality Protection Division, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6, 1445 Ross Ave., Dallas, 
TX 75202-2733 or e-mail: [email protected]. For further information, 
contact Diane Smith at (214) 665-2145 or fax 214.665.7373. The 
administrative record files for the 29 TMDLs are available for public 
inspection at this address as well. Documents from the administrative 
record files may be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6wq/npdes/tmdl/index.htm, or obtained by calling or writing Ms. Smith at the 
above address. Please contact Ms. Smith to schedule an inspection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Smith at (214) 665-2145.

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, plaintiffs alleged that EPA failed to establish Louisiana 
TMDLs in a timely manner. EPA proposes these 29 TMDLs pursuant to a 
consent decree entered in this lawsuit.

EPA Seeks Comment on 29 TMDLs

    By this notice EPA is seeking comment on the following 29 TMDLs for 
waters located within Louisiana basins:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Subsegment              Waterbody name           Pollutant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
090101......................  Pearl River--MS       Mercury.
                               State Line to Pearl
                               River Navigation
                               Canal.
090102......................  East Pearl River--    Mercury.
                               Holmes Bayou to I-
                               10.
090103......................  East Pearl River--    Mercury.
                               From I-10 to Lake
                               Borgne (estuarine).
090105......................  Pearl River           Mercury.
                               Navigation Canal--
                               From Pools Bluff to
                               Lock No. 3.
090106......................  Holmes Bayou--From    Mercury.
                               the Pearl River to
                               the West Pearl
                               River (scenic).
090107......................  Pearl River--From     Mercury.
                               Pearl River
                               Navigation Canal to
                               Holmes Bayou.
090201......................  West Pearl River--    Mercury.
                               From Headwaters to
                               confluence with
                               Holmes Bayou
                               (scenic).
090202-5126.................  Morgan River--From    Mercury.
                               Porters River to
                               its confluence with
                               Pearl River
                               (scenic).
090203......................  Lower Bogue Chitto--  Mercury.
                               From River
                               Navigation Canal to
                               Wilsons Slough.
090204......................  Pearl River           Mercury.
                               Navigation Canal--
                               Below Lock No. 3.
090205......................  Wilson Slough--Bogue  Mercury.
                               Chitto to West
                               Pearl River.
090206......................  Bradley Slough--      Mercury.
                               Bogue Chitto to
                               West Pearl River.
090207......................  Middle Pearl River    Mercury.
                               and West Middle
                               Pearl River--From
                               West Pearl River to
                               Little Lake.
090207-5112.................  Morgan Bayou--        Mercury.
                               Headwaters near I-
                               10 to confluence
                               with Middle River.
090501......................  Bogue Chitto River--  Mercury.
                               From MS State Line
                               to Pearl River
                               Navigation Canal
                               (scenic).
100401-0556575..............  Ivan Lake...........  Mercury.
100703......................  Black Lake and Clear  Mercury.
                               Lake.
100705......................  Kepler Lake.........  Mercury.
100709......................  Grand Bayou--         Mercury.
                               Headwaters to Black
                               Lake Bayou.
100709-001..................  Grand Bayou           Mercury.
                               Reservoir.
100803......................  Saline Bayou--From    Mercury.
                               Saline Lake to Red
                               River.
101302......................  Iatt Lake...........  Mercury.
101501......................  Big Saline Bayou--    Mercury.
                               Catahoula Lake to
                               Saline Lake.
101502......................  Saline Lake.........  Mercury.
101504......................  Saline Bayou--Larto   Mercury.
                               Lake to Saline Lake
                               (scenic).
101505......................  Larto Lake..........  Mercury.
101506......................  Big Creek--           Mercury.
                               Headwaters to
                               Saline Lake.
110101......................  Toledo Bend           Mercury.
                               Reservoir--TX-LA
                               Line to Toledo Bend
                               Dam.
110503......................  Vernon Lake.........  Mercury.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA requests that the public provide to EPA any water quality 
related data and information that may be relevant to the calculations 
for the 29 TMDLs. EPA will review all data and information submitted 
during the public comment period and revise the TMDLs where 
appropriate. EPA will then forward the TMDLs to the Louisiana 
Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). The LDEQ will incorporate 
the TMDLs into its current water quality management plan.

    Dated: July 9, 2007.
Miguel I. Flores,
Director, Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region 6.
[FR Doc. E7-13897 Filed 7-17-07; 8:45 am]
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