[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 37 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 8698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3830]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9118-5]


Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of Ten 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 ten TMDLs prepared 
by EPA Region 6.
    This notice covers waters in the State of Louisiana's Atchafalaya 
and Mississippi River Basins that were identified as impaired on the 
States 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 March 
29, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the ten 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 e-mail: [email protected]. For further information, 
contact Diane Smith at (214) 665-2145 or fax 214.665.7373. The 
administrative record files for the ten 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 ten TMDLs pursuant to a 
consent decree entered in this lawsuit.

EPA Seeks Comment on Ten TMDLs

    By this notice EPA is seeking comment on the following ten TMDLs 
for waters located within Louisiana:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Subsegment                Waterbody name          Pollutant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
010301........................  West Atchafalaya Basin  Dissolved
                                 Floodway.               Oxygen.
070203........................  Devil's Swamp Lake and  Fecal Coliform.
                                 Bayou Baton Rouge.
070401........................  Mississippi River       Fecal Coliform.
                                 Passes (estuarine).
070403........................  Octave Pass and Main    Fecal Coliform.
                                 Pass (estuarine).
070404........................  Tiger Pass, Red Pass,   Fecal Coliform.
                                 Grand Pass, and Tante
                                 Phine Pass
                                 (estuarine).
070501........................  Bayou Sara............  Fecal Coliform.
070502........................  Thompson Creek........  Fecal Coliform.
070503........................  Capitol Lake..........  Fecal Coliform.
070505........................  Tunica Bayou..........  Fecal Coliform.
070601........................  Mississippi River       Fecal Coliform.
                                 Basin Coastal Bays
                                 and Gulf Waters to
                                 the State three-mile
                                 limit.
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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 
ten 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 
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its current water quality management plan.

    Dated: February 18, 2010.
Miguel I. Flores,
Director, Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2010-3830 Filed 2-24-10; 8:45 am]
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