[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20020-20021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7952]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9655-2]


Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of List Decisions

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's Responsiveness 
Summary Concerning EPA's November 30, 2011, Public Notice of Proposed 
Decisions to Add Waters and Pollutants to Louisiana's 2010 Section 
303(d) List.
    On November 30, 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) published a notice in the Federal Register at Volume 76, Number 
230, pages 74057-74058 providing the public the opportunity to review 
its decision to partially approve and proposal to partially disapprove 
Louisiana's 2010 Section 303(d) List. Specifically, EPA approved 
Louisiana's listing of 410 waterbody pollutant combinations, and 
associated priority rankings. EPA proposed to disapprove Louisiana's 
decisions not to list three waterbodies. These three waterbodies were 
added by EPA because the applicable numeric water quality standards 
marine criterion for dissolved oxygen was not attained in these 
segments.
    Based on the Responsiveness Summary, EPA finds no new information 
or persuasive arguments as to why the three waters should not be added 
to the 2010 Louisiana Section 303(d) List as proposed. Therefore, EPA 
is taking Final Action on the addition of three waterbody pollutant 
combinations to the final Louisiana 2010 Section 303(d) List. The basis 
for these decisions is described in EPA's Responsiveness Summary and 
the Record of Decision.

ADDRESSES: Copies of EPA's Responsiveness Summary Concerning EPA's 
March 20, 2012 Public Notice of Final Decisions to Add Waters and 
Pollutants to Louisiana's 2010 Section 303(d) List can be obtained at 
EPA Region 6's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/region6/water/npdes/tmdl/index.htm#303dlists, or by writing or calling Ms. Diane Smith at Water 
Quality Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
Region 6, 1445 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX 75202-2733, telephone (214) 665-
2145, facsimile (214) 665-6490, or email: [email protected]. 
Underlying documents from the administrative record for these decisions 
are available for public inspection at the above address. Please 
contact Ms. Smith to schedule an inspection.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) 
requires that each state identify those waters for which existing 
technology-based pollution controls are not stringent enough to attain 
or maintain state water quality standards. For those waters, states are 
required to establish Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) according to a 
priority ranking.
    EPA's Water Quality Planning and Management regulations include 
requirements related to the implementation of Section 303(d) of the CWA 
(40 CFR 130.7). The regulations require states to identify water 
quality limited waters still requiring TMDLs every two years. The list 
of waters still needing TMDLs must also include priority rankings and 
must identify the waters targeted for TMDL development during the next 
two years (40 CFR 130.7).
    Consistent with EPA's regulations, Louisiana submitted to EPA its 
2010 listing decisions under Section 303(d) on January 13, 2011. On 
November 30, 2011, EPA approved Louisiana's 2010 listing of 410 water 
body-pollutant combinations and associated priority rankings, and 
proposed to disapprove Louisiana's decisions not to list three 
waterbodies. On March 20, 2012, EPA finalized the action to disapprove 
Louisiana's 2010 listing decisions not to list three water quality 
limited segments. EPA identified these additional waters and pollutants 
along

[[Page 20021]]

with priority rankings for inclusion on the 2010 Section 303(d) List.

    Dated: March 20, 2012.
William K. Honker,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2012-7952 Filed 4-2-12; 8:45 am]
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