[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28488-28490]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12886]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6983-1]


Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Final Agency Action on 11 Total 
Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Final Agency Action on 26 
Determinations That TMDLs Are Not Needed

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces final agency action on 11 TMDLs prepared 
by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in

[[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          Pollutant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
050703........................  White Lake............  Total Dissolved
                                                         Solids.
050703........................  White Lake............  Chloride.
060801........................  Vermilion River--       Sulfate.
                                 Headwaters To Bayou
                                 Fusilier Bourbeaux
                                 Junction to New
                                 Flanders.
060802........................  Vermilion River--From   Sulfate.
                                 New Flanders to
                                 Intracoastal Waterway.
060205........................  Bayou Teche--           Sulfate.
                                 Headwaters at Bayou
                                 Courtableau to I-10.
060205........................  Bayou Teche--           Chloride.
                                 Headwaters at Bayou
                                 Courtableau to I-10.
060201........................  Bayou Cocodrie-from     Total Dissolved
                                 U.S. Hwy 167 to the     Solids.
                                 Bayou Boeuf-Cocodrie
                                 Diversion Canal
                                 (Scenic).
060206........................  Indian Creek Reservoir  Temperature.
060202........................  Bayou Cocodrie-         Total Dissolved
                                 Cocodrie Diversion      Solids.
                                 Canal to its
                                 intersection with
                                 Bayou Boeuf.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 delisting
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
050101............................  Bayou Des Cannes--          Oil & Grease.........  Assessment of new data
                                     Headwaters to Mermentau                            and information shows it
                                     River.                                             is meeting WQS.
050103............................  Bayou Mallet..............  Oil & Grease.........  Assessment of new data
                                                                                        and information shows it
                                                                                        is meeting WQS.
050201............................  Bayou Plaquemine Brule-     Oil & Grease.........  Assessment of new data
                                     Headwaters to Bayou Des                            and information shows it
                                     Cannes.                                            is meeting WQS.
050901............................  Mermentau River Basin       Oil & Grease.........  Assessment of new data
                                     Coastal.                                           and information shows it
                                                                                        is meeting WQS.

[[Page 28490]]

 
060802............................  Vermilion River--from New   Oil & Grease.........  Assessment of new data
                                     Flanders (Ambassador                               and information shows it
                                     Caffery) Bridge at Hwy                             is meeting WQS.
                                     3073 to Intracoastal
                                     Waterway.
060904............................  Vermilion River--B890       Oil & Grease.........  Assessment of new data
                                     Basin New Iberia Southern                          and information shows it
                                     Drainage Canal.                                    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       Oil & Grease.........  Assessment of new data
                                     Mermentau.                                         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  Oil & Grease.........  Assessment of new data
                                     Bayou Courtableau to I-10.                         and information shows it
                                                                                        is meeting WQS.
060212............................  Chatlin Lake Canal and      Oil & Grease.........  Assessment of new data
                                     Bayou DuLac.                                       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       Oil & Grease.........  Assessment of new data
                                     Dauterive Lake.                                    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            Oil & Grease.........  Assessment of new data
                                     Associated Canals                                  and information shows it
                                     (Estuarine).                                       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--     Oil & Grease.........  Assessment of new data
                                     Headwaters to Mermentau                            and information shows it
                                     River.                                             is meeting WQS.
060902............................  Bayou Carlin (Delcambre     Oil & Grease.........  Assessment of new data
                                     Canal)--Lake Peigneur To                           and information shows it
                                     Bayou Petite Anse                                  is meeting WQS.
                                     (Estuarine).
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]
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