[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 160 (Thursday, August 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42068-42069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20027]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8946-4]


Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of 12 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 12 TMDLs and the calculations for these 
TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in the Atchafalaya 
River and the Mississippi 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 21, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the 12 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 12 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 12 of these TMDLs pursuant to a 
consent decree entered in this lawsuit.

EPA Seeks Comment on 12 TMDLs

    By this notice EPA is seeking comment on the following 12 TMDLs for 
waters located within Louisiana basins:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Subsegment              Waterbody name           Pollutant
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070203....................  Devil's Swamp Lake     Lead, and Turbidity.
                             and Bayou Baton
                             Rouge.
070503....................  Capitol Lake.........  Dissolved Oxygen,
                                                    Total Phosphorus,
                                                    and Total Nitrogen.
070504....................  Monte Sano Bayou.....  Chloride.
010301....................  West Atchafalaya       Mercury.
                             Basin Floodway.
010401....................  East Atchafalaya       Mercury.
                             Basin and Morganza
                             Floodway South to
                             Interstate 10 Canal.
010501....................  Lower Atchafalaya      Mercury.
                             Basin Floodway.
010601....................  Crow Bayou, Bayou      Chloride, Sulfate,
                             Blue, and              and TDS.
                             Tributaries.
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[[Page 42069]]

    EPA requests that the public provide to EPA any water quality 
related data and information that may be relevant to the calculations 
for the 12 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: August 7, 2009.
Claudia Hosch,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region 6.
[FR Doc. E9-20027 Filed 8-19-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P