[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 219 (Monday, November 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70442-70443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29302]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9491-1]


Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of 28 Total Maximum 
Daily Loads (TMDLs) in Louisiana

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability for comment on the 
administrative record files and the calculations of 28 TMDLs prepared 
by EPA Region 6. This notice covers waters in the State of Louisiana's 
Lake Pontchartrain Basin that were identified as impaired on the 
State's Section 303(d) list. 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 
December 29, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the 28 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 email: [email protected]. For further information, 
contact Diane Smith at (214) 665-2145 or fax (214) 665-7373. The 
administrative record files for the 28 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 28 TMDLs pursuant to a 
consent decree entered in this lawsuit.

EPA Seeks Comment on 28 TMDLs

    By this notice EPA is seeking comment on the following 28 TMDLs for 
waters located within Louisiana:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Subsegment                           Waterbody name                        Pollutant
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
040102...................................  Comite River--Wilson-Clinton Hwy   Fecal Coliform.
                                            to entrance of White Bayou (East
                                            Baton Rouge Parish) (Scenic).
040103...................................  Comite River--Entrance of White    Fecal Coliform.
                                            Bayou to Amite River.
040201...................................  Bayou Manchac--Headwaters to       Fecal Coliform.
                                            Amite River.
040302...................................  Amite River--LA Hwy 37 to Amite    Fecal Coliform.
                                            River Diversion Canal.
040304...................................  Grays Creek--Headwaters to Amite   Fecal Coliform.
                                            River.
040305...................................  Colyell Creek System (includes     Fecal Coliform.
                                            Colyell Bay).
040503...................................  Natalbany River--Headwaters to     Fecal Coliform.
                                            Tickfaw River.
040504...................................  Yellow Water River--Origin to      Fecal Coliform.
                                            Ponchatoula Creek.
040505...................................  Ponchatoula Creek and Ponchatoula  Fecal Coliform.
                                            River.
040603...................................  Selsers Creek--Origin to South     Fecal Coliform.
                                            Slough.
040703...................................  Big Creek and Tributaries--        Fecal Coliform.
                                            Headwaters to confluence with
                                            Tangipahoia River.
040909...................................  W-14 Main Diversion Canal--From    Fecal Coliform.
                                            its origin in the north end of
                                            the City of Slidell to its
                                            junction with Salt Bayou.
040910...................................  Salt Bayou--Headwaters to Lake     Fecal Coliform.
                                            Pontchartrain (Estuarine).
041302...................................  Lake Pontchartrain Drainage        Fecal Coliform.
                                            Canals.
041401...................................  New Orleans East Leveed            Fecal Coliform.
                                            Waterbodies (Estuarine).
040501...................................  Tickfaw River--From MS State Line  TDS.
                                            to LA Hwy 42 (Scenic).
040504...................................  Yellow Water River--Origin to      TDS.
                                            Ponchatoula Creek.
040301...................................  Amite River--MS State Line to LA   TSS.
                                            Hwy 37 (Scenic).
040401...................................  Blind River--From Amite River      TSS.
                                            Diversion Canal to mouth at Lake
                                            Maurepas (Scenic).
040903...................................  Bayou Cane--Headwaters to U.S.     TSS.
                                            Hwy 190 (Scenic).
040303...................................  Amite River--Amite River           Mercury.
                                            Diversion Canal to Lake Maurepas.
040401...................................  Blind River--From Amite River      Mercury.
                                            Diversion Canal to mouth at Lake
                                            Maurepas (Scenic).
040403...................................  Blind River--Source to confluence  Mercury.
                                            with Amite River Diversion Canal
                                            (Scenic).
040501...................................  Tickfaw River--From MS State Line  Mercury
                                            to LA Hwy 42 (Scenic).
040701...................................  Tangipahoa River--MS State Line    Mercury.
                                            to Interstate Hwy 1-12 (Scenic).

[[Page 70443]]

 
040801...................................  Tchefuncte River and Tributaries-- Mercury.
                                            Headwaters to confluence with
                                            Bogue Falaya River (Scenic).
040905...................................  Bayou Liberty--Headwaters to LA    Mercury.
                                            Hwy 433.
040906...................................  Bayou Liberty--LA Hwy 433 to       Mercury.
                                            confluence with Bayou Bonfouca
                                            (Estuarine).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA requests the public provide to EPA any water quality related 
data and information that may be relevant to the calculations for the 
28 TMDLs. EPA will review all data and information submitted during the 
public comment period and will 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: November 3, 2011.
Troy Hill,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2011-29302 Filed 11-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P