Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of 28 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) in Louisiana
Federal Register, Volume 76 Issue 219 (Monday, November 14, 2011)
Federal Register Volume 76, Number 219 (Monday, November 14, 2011)
Notices
Pages 70442-70443
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov
FR Doc No: 2011-29302
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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.
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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: smith.diane@epa.gov. 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:
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Subsegment Waterbody name Pollutant
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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).
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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
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