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 Environmental Protection Agency [FRL-6983-1]
 AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
 ACTION: Notice of availability.
 SUMMARY: This notice announces final agency action on 11 TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in 
                        ( print page 28489)
                        Louisiana's Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche river basins, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). This notice also announces final agency action removing 26 waterbody/pollutant combinations from the Louisiana 303(d) list because new data/information shows that water quality standards are being met. EPA evaluated these waters and prepared the 11 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.). 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. EPA is also required to add or delete waters to the schedule as new data confirms that waters are or are not meeting water quality standards. Documents from the administrative record files for the 26 determinations that TMDLs are not needed and for the final 11 TMDLs, including TMDL calculations and responses to comments, may be viewed at 
                        *www.epa.gov/​region6/​water/​tmdl.htm.*
                         The administrative record files may be 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.). Among other claims, plaintiffs alleged that EPA failed to establish Louisiana TMDLs in a timely manner. Discussion of the court order may be found at 65 FR 54032 (September 6, 2000). EPA Takes Final Agency Action on 11 TMDLs By this notice EPA is taking a final agency action on the following 2 fecal coliform TMDLs for waters located within the Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche basins: A TMDL for subsegment 060205 (Bayou Teche) was written and included in the same TMDL written for subsegments 060301 (of Bayou Teche) and 060401 (also of Bayou Teche) as referenced at 65 FR 19762-19764 of the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     published on April 12, 2000 as well as 66 FR 18087-18089 of the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     published on April 5, 2001. However, as no explicit reference was given to subsegment 060205 in either of the aforementioned notices, this notice is to serve as notice that the TMDL is inclusive of subsegment 060205. As cited in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     notices described above, the TMDL written for subsegment 060205, as well as subsegments 060301 and 060401, may be viewed at 
                    *www.epa.gov/​region6/​water/​tmdl.htm*
                     (click on “Finalized TMDL Reports * * *”). A TMDL for subsegment 050303 (Bayou Castor) was written and included in the same TMDL written for subsegment 050301 (Bayou Nezpique) as referenced at 65 FR 19762-19764 of the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     published April 12, 2000 as well as 65 FR 18087-18089 of the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     published April 5, 2001. However, as no explicit reference was given to subsegment 050303 in either of the aforementioned notices, this notice is to serve as notice that the TMDL is inclusive of subsegment 050303. As cited in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     notices described above, the TMDL written for subsegment 050303, as well as subsegment 050301, may be viewed at 
                    *www.epa.gov/​region6/​water/​tmdl.htm*
                     (click on “Finalized TMDL Reports * * *). As comment on these TMDLs has already been requested previously, no further comment is requested. Also by this notice EPA is taking a final agency action on the following 9 TMDLs for waters located within the Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche basins: Subsegment
Waterbody name
Pollutant050703
White Lake
Total Dissolved Solids.050703
White Lake
Chloride.060801
Vermilion River—Headwaters To Bayou Fusilier Bourbeaux Junction to New Flanders
Sulfate.060802
Vermilion River—From New Flanders to Intracoastal Waterway
Sulfate.060205
Bayou Teche—Headwaters at Bayou Courtableau to I-10
Sulfate.060205
Bayou Teche—Headwaters at Bayou Courtableau to I-10
Chloride.060201
Bayou Cocodrie-from U.S. Hwy 167 to the Bayou Boeuf-Cocodrie Diversion Canal (Scenic)
Total Dissolved Solids.060206
Indian Creek Reservoir
Temperature.060202
Bayou Cocodrie-Cocodrie Diversion Canal to its intersection with Bayou Boeuf
Total Dissolved Solids.
 EPA requested the public to provide EPA with any significant data or information that may impact the 9 TMDLs at 65 FR 67742 (November 13, 2000). The comments received and EPA's response to comments may be found at 
                    *www.epa.gov/​region6/​water/​tmdl.htm.* Final Agency Action Removing 26 Waterbody/Pollutants from the Louisiana 303(d) List Because TMDLs Are Not Necessary
Subsegment
Waterbody description
Pollutant
Reason for delisting050101
Bayou Des Cannes—Headwaters to Mermentau River
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.050103
Bayou Mallet
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.050201
Bayou Plaquemine Brule-Headwaters to Bayou Des Cannes
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.050901
Mermentau River Basin Coastal
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.
                            ( print page 28490)060802
Vermilion River—from New Flanders (Ambassador Caffery) Bridge at Hwy 3073 to Intracoastal Waterway
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.060904
Vermilion River—B890 Basin New Iberia Southern Drainage Canal
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.060907
Franklin Canal
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.061101
Bayou Petite Anse
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.060804
Intracoastal Waterway
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.060901
Bayou Petite Anse
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.050402
Lake Arthur and Lower Mermentau
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.050602
Intracoastal Waterway
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.050701
Grand Lake
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.050702
Intracoastal Waterway
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.050703
White Lake
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.060205
Bayou Teche—Headwaters at Bayou Courtableau to I-10
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.060212
Chatlin Lake Canal and Bayou DuLac
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.060701
Tete Bayou
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.060702
Lake Fausse Point and Dauterive Lake
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.060906
Intracoastal Waterway
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.060910
Boston Canal and Associated Canals (Estuarine)
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.061103
Freshwater Bayou Canal
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.050501
Bayou Queue de Tortue—Headwaters to Mermentau River
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.060902
Bayou Carlin (Delcambre Canal)—Lake Peigneur To Bayou Petite Anse (Estuarine)
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.060803
Vermilion River Cutoff
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.061102
Intracoastal Waterway
Oil & Grease
Assessment of new data and information shows it is meeting WQS.
 EPA requested the public to provide to EPA any significant data or information that may impact the determination that 26 TMDLs are not necessary at 66 FR 15472 (March 19, 2001). No comments were received. Dated: May 3, 2001. Sam Becker, Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.


[FR Doc. 01-12886 Filed 5-22-01; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P