[Federal Register: July 8, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 130)]
[Notices]
[Page 39511-39512]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08jy05-50]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7935-8]
Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Notice Final Agency Action
Withdrawing Nine Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of Withdrawal of nine TMDLs.
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Subject: This notice announces EPA final action withdrawing nine
TMDLs in the water column that EPA established pursuant to the Clean
Water Act (``CWA'') section 303(d) in Louisiana. EPA is withdrawing
these nine TMDLs because on September 22, 2003, Louisiana promulgated
revisions to the Louisiana water quality standards regulations (LAC
33:IX, 1123.C.1).
Background: Louisiana revised its water quality standards for
chloride, sulfate and TDS for subsegments 060204, 060211, and 060301;
and for sulfate and TDS for subsegments 060801 and 060802 located in
the Vermillion-
[[Page 39512]]
Teche River Basin that receive water diverted from the Atchafalaya
River.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) General
Counsel certified these water quality standards revisions and submitted
them to EPA on September 22, 2003. EPA received the revisions and
certification on September 23, 2003, pursuant to 40 CFR 131.5, and EPA
approved these revisions to the water quality standards (WQS) on
December 22, 2003.
The numeric criteria for chloride for subsegments 060204, 060211,
and 060301 was revised from 40 mg/L to 65 mg/L; the numeric criteria
for sulfate for subsegments 060204, 060211, 060301, 060801 and 060802
was revised from 30 mg/L to 70 mg/L; and, the numeric criteria for TDS
for subsegments 060204, 060211, 060301, 060801 and 060802 was revised
from 220 mg/L to 440 mg/L. Following the revisions to the water quality
standards LDEQ re-assessed the ambient water quality data from the
affected water bodies to determine whether the water quality standards
were met, using data from January 1, 1998 through August 20, 2004.
Based on the re-assessment, the revised water quality standards for
sulfate, chloride, and TDS for subsegments 060204, 060211, 060301,
060801, and 060802 are met. Thus, EPA is withdrawing these nine TMDLs.
EPA Withdraws Previously Approved TMDLs for Nine Waterbody/Pollutant
Combinations That Are Not Needed Due to Assessment of New Data That
Show They Are Meeting New WQS:
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Subsegment Waterbody name Pollutant
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060204...................... Bayou Courtableau-- Sulfate and TDS/
origin to West Salinity.
Atchafalaya Borrow
Pit Canal.
060211...................... West Atchafalaya Sulfate and TDS/
Borrow Pit Canal-- Salinity.
from Bayou
Courtableau to
Henderson, LA,
includes Bayou
Portage.
060301...................... Bayou Teche-- Sulfate, TDS/
headwaters at Bayou Salinity, and,
Courtableau to Chloride.
Keystone Locks and
Dam.
060801...................... Vermilion River-- Sulfate.
headwaters at Bayou
Fusilier-Bourbeaux
junction to New
Flanders
(Ambassador
Caffery) Bridge,
Hwy. 3073.
060802...................... Vermilion River-- Sulfate.
from New Flanders
(Ambassador
Caffery) Bridge,
Hwy. 3073 to
Intracoastal
Waterway.
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EPA established these nine TMDLs under CWA section 303(d) to
satisfy a consent decree obligation in the lawsuit styled Sierra Club
v. Clifford, Civ. No. 96-0527 (E.D. La.). Because the affected water
bodies are meeting the revised water quality standards, they are no
longer impaired under CWA section 303(d). LDEQ has no present
obligation under the CWA to submit TMDLs to EPA for these pollutants on
these subsegments, nor does the CWA require EPA to maintain these nine
TMDLs. Other TMDLs either developed by EPA or LDEQ are not affected by
this determination.
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.
Dated: June 28, 2005.
William K. Honker,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 05-13491 Filed 7-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P