[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 60189]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25930]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6883-4]


Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of Total Maximum 
Daily Loads (TMDLs)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the availability for comment of the 
administrative record file for six TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for 
waters listed in Louisiana's Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche river 
basins, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). EPA prepared 
these TMDLs in response to a Court Order dated October 1, 1999, in the 
lawsuit Sierra Club, et al. v. Clifford et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. La. 
Oct. 1, 1999). Under this court order, EPA is required to prepare TMDLs 
when needed for waters on the Louisiana 1998 section 303(d) list by 
December 31, 2007.

DATES: Comments on the six TMDLs must be submitted in writing to EPA on 
or before November 9, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the six TMDLs should be sent to Ellen Caldwell, 
Environmental Protection Specialist, Water Quality Protection Division, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6, 1445 Ross Ave., Dallas, 
TX 75202-2733. For further information, contact Ellen Caldwell at (214) 
665-7513. The administrative record file for these TMDLs is available 
for public inspection at this address as well. Copies of the TMDLs and 
their respective calculations may be viewed at www.epa.gov/region6/water/tmdl.htm, or obtained by calling or writing Ms. Caldwell at the 
above address. Please contact Ms. Caldwell to schedule an inspection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Caldwell at (214) 665-7513.

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 United 
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), styled Sierra Club, et 
al. v. Clifford et al., No. 96-0527, (E.D. La. Oct. 1, 1999). Among 
other claims, plaintiffs alleged that EPA failed to establish Louisiana 
TMDLs in a timely manner. Discussion of the court's order may be found 
at 65 FR 54032 (September 6, 2000).

EPA Seeks Comments on Six TMDLs

    By this notice EPA is seeking comment on the following six TMDLs 
for waters located within the Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche basins:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Subsegment              Waterbody name         Pollutant
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 060212.......................  Chatlin Lake       Fecal Coliform.
                                 Canal and Bayou
                                 DuLac.
 060901.......................  Bayou Petite Anse  Fecal Coliform.
 060701.......................  Tete Bayou.......  Fecal Coliform.
 060703.......................  Bayou du Portage.  Fecal Coliform.
 060909.......................  Lake Peigneur....  Fecal Coliform.
 060911.......................  Vermilion-Teche    Fecal Coliform.
                                 River Basin.
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    EPA requests that the public provide to EPA any water quality 
related data and information that may be relevant to the calculations 
for these TMDLs, or any other comments relevant to these TMDLs. EPA 
will review all data and information submitted during the public 
comment period and revise the six TMDLs where appropriate. EPA will 
then forward the TMDLs to the Court and the Louisiana Department of 
Environmental Quality (LDEQ). LDEQ will incorporate the TMDLs into its 
current water quality management plan.

    Dated: September 25, 2000.
Sam Becker,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 00-25930 Filed 10-6-00; 8:45 am]
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