[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21557-21558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8496]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9657-2]


Clean Water Act: Final Agency Action on 32 Total Maximum Daily 
Loads (TMDLs) in Louisiana

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces final agency action on 32 TMDLs prepared 
by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in Louisiana's, Lake Pontchartrain 
Basin, under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Documents 
from the administrative record file for the 32 TMDLs, including TMDL 
calculations and responses to comments, may be viewed at www.epa.gov/region6/water/npdes/tmdl/index.htm. The administrative record file may 
be examined by calling or writing Ms. Diane Smith at the address below. 
Please contact Ms. Smith to schedule an inspection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Smith, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Water Quality Protection Division, U.S. EPA Region 6, 1445 
Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202-2733, (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 established 32 of these TMDLs pursuant to 
a consent decree entered in this lawsuit.

EPA Takes Final Agency Action on 32 TMDLs

    By this notice EPA is taking final agency action on the following 
32 TMDLs on waters located within the Louisiana Lake Pontchartrain 
Basin:

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               Subsegment                               Waterbody name                         Pollutant
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040102..................................  Comite River--Wilson-Clinton Hwy to         Fecal Coliform
                                           entrance of White Bayou (East Baton Rouge
                                           Parish) (Scenic).
040103..................................  Comite River--Entrance of White Bayou to    Fecal Coliform.
                                           Amite River.
040201..................................  Bayou Manchac--Headwaters to Amite River..  Fecal Coliform.
040302..................................  Amite River--LA Hwy 37 to Amite River       Fecal Coliform.
                                           Diversion Canal.
040304..................................  Grays Creek--Headwaters to River Amite....  Fecal Coliform.
040305..................................  Colyell Creek System (includes Colyell      Fecal Coliform.
                                           Bay).
040503..................................  Natalbany River--Headwaters to Tickfaw      Fecal Coliform.
                                           River.
040504..................................  Yellow Water River--Origin to Ponchatoula   Fecal Coliform.
                                           Creek.
040505..................................  Ponchatoula Creek and Ponchatoula River...  Fecal Coliform.
040603..................................  Selsers Creek--Origin to South Slough.....  Fecal Coliform.
040703..................................  Big Creek and Tributaries--Headwaters to    Fecal Coliform.
                                           confluence with Tangipahoia River.
040909..................................  W-14 Main Diversion Canal--from its origin  Fecal Coliform.
                                           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).

[[Page 21558]]

 
041302..................................  Lake Pontchartrain Drainage Canals........  Fecal Coliform.
041401..................................  New Orleans East Leveed Waterbodies         Fecal Coliform.
                                           (Estuarine).
040501..................................  Tickfaw River--From MS State Line to LA     TDS.
                                           Hwy 42 (Scenic).
040504..................................  Yellow Water River--Origin to Ponchatoula   TDS.
                                           Creek.
040301..................................  Amite River--MS State Line to LA Hwy 37     TSS.
                                           (Scenic).
040401..................................  Blind River--From Amite River Diversion     TSS.
                                           Canal to mouth at Lake Maurepas (Scenic).
040903..................................  Bayou Cane--Headwaters to U.S. Hwy 190      TSS.
                                           (Scenic).
040303..................................  Amite River--Amite River Diversion Canal    Mercury.
                                           to Lake Maurepas.
040401..................................  Blind River--From Amite River Diversion     Mercury.
                                           Canal to mouth at Lake Maurepas (Scenic).
040403..................................  Blind River--Source to confluence with      Mercury.
                                           Amite River Diversion Canal (Scenic).
040501..................................  Tickfaw River--From MS State Line to LA     Mercury.
                                           Hwy 42 (Scenic).
040701..................................  Tangipahoa River--MS State Line to          Mercury.
                                           Interstate Hwy 1-12 (Scenic).
040801..................................  Tchefuncte River and Tributaries--          Mercury.
                                           Headwaters to confluence with Bogue
                                           Falaya River (Scenic).
040905..................................  Bayou Liberty--Headwaters to LA Hwy 433
                                           Mercury..
040906..................................  Bayou Liberty--LA Hwy 433 to confluence     Mercury.
                                           With Bayou Bonfouca (Estuarine).
040505..................................  Ponchatoula Creek and Ponchatoula           Oxygen.
                                           Dissolved River.
041201..................................  Bayou Labranche...........................  Dissolved Oxygen.
041805..................................  Lake Borgne Canal (Violet Canal)..........  Dissolved Oxygen.
041401..................................  New Orleans East Leveed Waterbodies.......  Dissolved (Estuarine)
                                                                                       Oxygen.
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    EPA requested the public provide to EPA any significant water 
quality related data or information that might impact the 32 TMDLs in 
the Federal Register Notices: volume 76, number 219, pages 70442 and 
70443 (November 14, 2011), volume 76, number 234, page 76161 (December 
6, 2011), and volume 76, number 247, page 80366 (December 23, 2011). 
The comments which were received, EPA's response to comments, as well 
as the TMDLs may be found at www.epa.gov/region6/water/npdes/tmdl/index.htm.

    Dated: March 28, 2012.
 William K. Honker,
P.E., Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2012-8496 Filed 4-9-12; 8:45 am]
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