[Federal Register: August 6, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 151)]
[Notices]
[Page 47928-47929]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06au04-69]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7799-1]
Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of EPA's Decision To
Add Waters and Pollutants to Colorado's 2004 List
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: Region VIII of the EPA is hereby providing notice, and
requesting public comment on EPA's decision to identify additional
water quality limited segments and associated pollutants in Colorado to
be listed pursuant to Clean Water Act section 303(d)(2). Section
303(d)(2) of the Clean Water Act requires that states submit and EPA
approve or disapprove lists of waters 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.
On July 26, 2004, EPA partially approved and partially disapproved
Colorado's section 303(d) list submittal for the 2004 listing cycle.
Specifically, EPA approved Colorado's listing of 117 waters, associated
pollutants, and associated priority rankings. EPA disapproved
Colorado's decisions not to list six waterbodies and associated
pollutants and one pollutant for a waterbody already listed by the
State. EPA identified these additional water bodies and pollutants
along with priority rankings for inclusion on the year 2004 section
303(d) list.
EPA is providing the public the opportunity to review its decisions
to add waters and pollutants (shown in Table 1) to Colorado's 2004
section 303(d) list, as required by EPA's Public Participation
regulations (40 CFR part 25). EPA will consider public comments in
reaching its final decisions on the additional water bodies and
pollutants identified for inclusion on Colorado's list.
DATES: Comments must be submitted to EPA on or before September 20,
2004.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed decisions should be sent to Kathryn
Hernandez, TMDL Team (8EPR-EP), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region VIII, 999 18th Street, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80202-2466,
telephone (303) 312-6101, facsimile (303) 312-6339, e-mail
hernandez.kathryn@epa.gov. Oral comments will not be considered. Copies
of EPA's decision concerning Colorado's list that explain the rationale
for EPA's decisions can be obtained at EPA Region VIII's Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/region08/water/tmdl, or by writing or calling Ms.
Hernandez at the above address. The full administrative record
containing background technical information is on file and may be
inspected at the U.S. EPA, Region VIII Technical Library found in the
Environmental Information Service Center (EISC). The Library and
Service Center are located on the ground floor at Denver Place, 999
18th Street, Denver Colorado. The Library is open to the public from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. The Library can be contacted by calling the Service
Center at (303) 312-6312 or (800) 227-8917. Arrangements to examine the
administrative record may also be made by contacting Kathryn Hernandez.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathryn Hernandez at (303) 312-6101 or
Bruce Zander (TMDL Coordinator) at (303) 312-6846 or
zander.bruce@epa.gov.
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 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 lists
of waters still needing TMDLs must also include priority rankings,
identify the pollutants causing the impairment, and must identify the
waters targeted for TMDL development during the next two years (40 CFR
130.7).
Consistent with EPA's regulations, Colorado submitted to EPA its
listing decisions under section 303(d)(2) on March 18, 2004. On July
26, 2004, EPA approved Colorado's listing of 117 waters and associated
priority rankings. EPA disapproved Colorado's decisions not to list six
water quality limited segments and associated pollutants as well as one
pollutant for a segment already on the State's list. EPA identified
these additional waters and pollutants along with priority rankings for
inclusion on the 2004 section 303(d) list. EPA solicits public comment
on its identification of the additional waters, associated pollutants
and priority rankings, for inclusion on Colorado's 2004 section 303(d)
list.
Table 1.--List of Waters and Pollutants for Addition to Colorado's 2004 CWA Section 303(d) List
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Water quality standard
Waterbody description Pollutant(s) not met Priority ranking
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Red Mountain Creek (from East Fork of Copper, lead, zinc...... Aquatic life use........ Low.
Red Mountain Creek to Uncompahgre
River) Segment COGUUN06b.
West Fork of Clear Creek (from Woods Zinc.................... Zinc numeric standard Low.
Creek to Clear Creek mainstem) (acute) for aquatic
Segment COSPCL05. life use.
Middle South Platte River (from Big Dissolved oxygen........ Dissolved oxygen numeric Low.
Dry Creek to Highway 60) Segment standard for aquatic
COSPMS01. life use.
Blue River Tributaries (Camp Creek, pH...................... pH numeric standard for Low.
Jones Gulch) Segment COUCBL06. aquatic life use.
Blue River Tributaries (Keystone pH...................... pH numeric standard for Low.
Gulch, Mozart Creek) Segment COUCBL08. aquatic life use.
Bear Creek (from Evergreen Lake to Temperature............. Aquatic life use........ Low.
Harriman Ditch) Segment COSPBE01.
[[Page 47929]]
Dolores River (from below McPhee Unknown................. Aquatic life use........ Low.
Reservoir to Bradfield Ranch Bridge)
Segment COSJDO04.
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Authority: Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.
Dated: July 30, 2004.
Max H. Dodson,
Assistant Regional Administrator, Office of Ecosystems Protection and
Remediation.
[FR Doc. 04-18027 Filed 8-5-04; 8:45 am]
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