[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46156-46157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15325]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-10978-01-R3]
Clean Water Act: Identification of Water Quality-Limited Segments
To Be Added to West Virginia's Section 303(d) List
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Public notice.
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SUMMARY: The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires that states periodically
submit, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approve or
disapprove, lists of waters (called ``Section 303(d) lists'') for which
existing technology-based pollution controls are not stringent enough
to attain or maintain State water quality standards and for which total
maximum daily loads (TMDLs) must be prepared. Waters identified on
Section 303(d) lists are called ``water quality-limited segments.''
This notice announces the EPA's identification of certain additional
water quality-limited segments for West Virginia's Combined 2018-2020-
2022 Section 303(d) list and requests public comment on those
additions.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 18, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may send written comments to Mr. Gregory Voigt by the
following methods:
Electronic mail: [email protected]. Include `FRL-
10978-01-R3 comment' in the subject line of the message.
Mail: Mr. Gregory Voigt, Mail Code 3WD42, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 Water Division, Four Penn
Center, 1600 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Gregory Voigt, Water Division
Standards and TMDL Section, 3WD42, Environmental Protection Agency at
[email protected] or (215) 814-5737. Additional information
regarding the basis for this EPA action is available at https://www.epa.gov/tmdl/wv-303d-list-public-notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act
requires that each state identify those water quality-limited segments
for which existing technology-based pollution controls are not
stringent enough to attain or maintain state water quality standards
and for which total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) must be prepared. For
each water quality-limited segment on the list, the state identifies
the pollutant causing the impairment, when known. In addition, the
state assigns a priority ranking for development of TMDLs based on the
severity of the pollution and the uses to be made of the waters, among
other factors (40 CFR 130.7(b)(4)).
The 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 assemble and evaluate
all existing and readily-available water quality data and to use that
data to identify water quality-limited segments still requiring TMDLs
every two years. Where a state does not use certain data, it must
provide a rationale. The list of waters still needing TMDL development
must also include priority rankings and must identify the waters
targeted for TMDL development during the next two years (40 CFR 130.7).
The EPA received West Virginia's submittal of its listing decisions
under Section 303(d)(2) on May 5, 2023. On June 1, 2023, the EPA
partially approved and partially disapproved West Virginia's Combined
2018-2020-2022 Section 303(d) list of water
[[Page 46157]]
quality-limited segments based upon the Agency's finding that West
Virginia did not use certain water quality information and therefore
did not identify certain water quality-limited segments based upon
existing data and public input. The EPA analyzed the information and
identified three-hundred forty-six (346) additional water quality-
limited segments for inclusion on West Virginia's Combined 2018-2020-
2022 Section 303(d) list. These water quality-limited segments are
identified in Enclosure 3 of the June 1, 2023 decision document and
displayed on an interactive webmap, both of which are available at the
website link provided.
The EPA is providing the public an opportunity to review and
comment on its identification of these water quality-limited segments
for West Virginia's Combined 2018-2020-2022 Section 303(d) list as
required by 40 CFR 130.7(d)(2). The EPA will consider public comments
and make any appropriate revisions before transmitting its final list
of water quality-limited segments to the State.
Catherine Libertz,
Director, Water Division, Region III.
[FR Doc. 2023-15325 Filed 7-18-23; 8:45 am]
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