[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50610-50611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19863]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8708-9]


Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of 30 Modified Total 
Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) 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 30 modified TMDLs and the calculations 
for these TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in the 
Lower, Middle, and Upper Terrebonne Basins, under section 303(d) of the 
Clean Water Act (CWA). These TMDLs were completed in response to the 
court order 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 26, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the 30 modified 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 these TMDLs are available for 
public inspection at this address as well. Documents from the 
administrative record file may be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/region6/water/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 United 
States Environmental Protection Agency (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 originally established these TMDLs pursuant to a 
consent decree entered in this lawsuit. EPA has modified these TMDLs.

EPA Seeks Comments on 30 Modified TMDLs

    By this notice EPA is seeking comment on the following 30 modified 
TMDLs for waters located within the Terrebonne basin:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Subsegment             Waterbody name             Pollutant
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120102.................  Bayou Poydras..........  Dissolved Oxygen and
                                                   Nutrients.
120103.................  Bayou Choctaw..........  Dissolved Oxygen,
                                                   Nitrogen, Phosphorus,
                                                   and Nutrients.
120105.................  Chamberlin Canal.......  Dissolved Oxygen,
                                                   Nitrogen, Phosphorus,
                                                   and Nutrients.

[[Page 50611]]

 
120106.................  Bayou Plaquemine.......  Dissolved Oxygen and
                                                   Nutrients.
120107.................  Upper Grand River and    Dissolved Oxygen.
                          Lower Flat River--
                          Headwaters to
                          Intracoastal Waterway.
120109.................  Intracoastal Waterway--  Dissolved Oxygen and
                          in Morgan City to Port   Nutrients.
                          Allen Route--Port
                          Allen Locks to Bayou
                          Sorrel Locks.
120110.................  Bayou Cholpe--           Dissolved Oxygen.
                          Headwaters to Bayou
                          Choctaw.
120202.................  Bayou Black--            Dissolved Oxygen and
                          Intracoastal Waterway    Nutrients.
                          to Houma.
120204.................  Lake Verret and Grassy   Dissolved Oxygen and
                          Lake.                    Nutrients.
120304.................  Intracoastal Waterway--  Dissolved Oxygen and
                          Houma to Larose.         Nutrients.
120403.................  Intracoastal Waterway--  Dissolved Oxygen.
                          Bayou Boeuf.
120604.................  Bayou Blue--             Dissolved Oxygen.
                          Intracoastal Waterway
                          to boundary between
                          segments 1206 and 1207.
120401.................  Bayou Penchant--Bayou    Dissolved Oxygen.
                          Chene to Lake Penchant.
120404.................  Lake Penchant..........  Dissolved Oxygen.
120405.................  Lake Hatch and Lake      Dissolved Oxygen and
                          Theriot.                 Nutrients.
120406.................  Lake de Cade...........  Dissolved Oxygen and
                                                   Nutrients.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA previously requested the public to provide EPA with any 
significant data or information that might impact the original 30 TMDLs 
in Federal Register Notices: Volume 72, Number 206, pages 60666 and 
60667 (October 25, 2007); Volume 72, Number 209, pages 61355 and 61356 
(October 30, 2007); Volume 73, Number 22, pages 6178 and 6179 (February 
1, 2008).
    EPA now requests that the public provide any water quality related 
data and information that may be relevant to the calculations for these 
30 modified TMDLs. EPA will review all data and information submitted 
during the public comment period and revise the modifications to the 
TMDLs where appropriate. EPA will then forward the modified TMDLs to 
the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). The LDEQ will 
incorporate the modified TMDLs into its current water quality 
management plan.

    Dated: August 20, 2008.
James R. Brown,
P.G., Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. E8-19863 Filed 8-26-08; 8:45 am]
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