[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 119 (Thursday, June 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51883-51884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13414]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-11994-01-R6]


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

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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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 describes the EPA's Decision Document, which identified 
certain additional water quality-limited segments for the Arkansas 2020 
Section 303(d) list, and requests public comment on those additions.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 26, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may send written comments to Mr. Richard Wooster by the 
following methods:
    Electronic mail: [email protected]. Include `FRL-comment' in 
the subject line of the message.
    Mail: Mr. Richard Wooster, Mail Code R6WDPQ, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency Region 6, 1201 Elm St., Dallas, TX 75270.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard Wooster, Water Division 
Water Quality Protection Section, R6WDPQ, Environmental Protection 
Agency at [email protected] or (214) 665-6473. Additional 
information regarding the basis for this EPA action is available at 
https://www.epa.gov/publicnotices.

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 Arkansas's submittal of its listing decisions 
under Section 303(d)(2) on June 2, 2022. On September 28, 2023, the EPA 
partially approved and partially disapproved Arkansas's 2020 Section 
303(d) list of water quality-limited segments based upon the Agency's 
finding that Arkansas 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 seven additional water quality-limited segments for 
inclusion on Arkansas's 2020 Section 303(d) list.

[[Page 51884]]

    The EPA is providing the public an opportunity to review and 
comment on its identification of these water quality- limited segments 
for Arkansas's 2020 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 the list of water quality-
limited segments to the State.

Troy C. Hill,
Director, Water Division.
[FR Doc. 2024-13414 Filed 6-18-24; 8:45 am]
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