[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 22 (Friday, February 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6178-6179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1897]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8523-6]


Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of 16 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 16 TMDLs and the calculations for these 
TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in the Pearl River and 
the Terrebonne 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 March 
3, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the 16 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 16 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 six of these TMDLs pursuant to a 
consent decree entered in this lawsuit.

EPA Seeks Comment on 16 TMDLs

    By this notice EPA is seeking comment on the following 16 TMDLs for 
waters located within Louisiana basins:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Subsegment              Waterbody name            Pollutant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           ........................  ...................
090101...................  Pearl River--MS State     Fecal Coliform.
                            Line to Pearl River
                            Navigation Canal.
090104...................  Peters Creek--Headwaters  Fecal Coliform.
                            to Pearl River.
090106...................  Holmes Bayou--From the    Turbidity.
                            Pearl River to the West
                            Pearl River (scenic).
090201...................  West Pearl River--From    Turbidity.
                            Headwaters to
                            confluence with Holmes
                            Bayou (scenic).
090202...................  West Pearl River--From    Turbidity.
                            confluence with Holmes
                            Bayou to the Rigolets
                            (includes east and west
                            mouths) (scenic).
090301...................  Pushepatapa Creek--MS     Fecal Coliform.
                            State Line to Pearl
                            River floodplain.
090401...................  Bogue Lusa Creek--        Fecal Coliform.
                            Headwaters to Pearl
                            River.

[[Page 6179]]

 
090501...................  Bogue Chitto River--From  Turbidity.
                            MS State Line to Pearl
                            River Navigation Canal
                            (scenic).
090502...................  Big Silver Creek--        Fecal Coliform.
                            Headwaters to Bogue
                            Chitto River.
090505...................  Bonner Creek--Headwaters  Fecal Coliform.
                            to Bogue Chitto River.
090506...................  Thigpen Creek--           Fecal Coliform.
                            Headwaters to Bogue
                            Chitto River.
090105...................  Pearl River Navigation    Dissolved Oxygen.
                            Canal--From Pools Bluff
                            to Lock No. 3 (includes
                            east and west mouths)
                            (scenic).
090204...................  Pearl River Navigation    Dissolved Oxygen.
                            Canal--Below Lock No. 3.
090207...................  Middle Pearl River and    Dissolved Oxygen.
                            West Middle Pearl
                            River--From West Pearl
                            River to Little Lake.
120606...................  Bayou Blue--Grand Bayou   Dissolved Oxygen
                            Canal to Boundary         and Nutrients.
                            between segments 1206
                            and 1207 (Estuarine).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA requests that the public provide to EPA any water quality 
related data and information that may be relevant to the calculations 
for the 16 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: January 25, 2008.
Miguel I. Flores,
Director, Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region 6.
[FR Doc. E8-1897 Filed 1-31-08; 8:45 am]
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