ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL–8229–3]
Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Final Agency Action on Eighty Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
AGENCY:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION:
Notice of availability.
SUMMARY:
This notice announces final agency action on eighty TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in Louisiana's Red River, Sabine River, and Terrebonne Basins, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Documents from the administrative record file for the eighty TMDLs, including TMDL calculations and responses to comments, may be viewed at
http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6wq/npdes/tmdl/index.htm
. The administrative record file may be examined by calling or writing Ms. Diane Smith at the address below. Please contact Ms. Smith to schedule an inspection.
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.
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 established 63 of these TMDLs pursuant to a consent decree entered in this lawsuit.
EPA Takes Final Agency Action on Eighty TMDLs
By this notice EPA is taking final agency action on the following eighty TMDLs for waters located within the Louisiana river basins:
Subsegment
Waterbody name
Pollutant
100306
Kelly Bayou—AR State Line to Black Bayou
Fecal Coliform.
100309
Cross Bayou
Turbidity, TDS, Chloride, Sulfate, and TSS.
100406
Flat River—Headwaters to Loggy Bayou
Fecal Coliform and TDS.
100602
Boggy Bayou
Turbidity and Sedimentation/siltation.
100603
Wallace Lake
Turbidity and Sedimentation/siltation.
100701
Black Lake Bayou
Turbidity, TDS, and Sedimentation/siltation.
100704
Kepler Creek
TDS.
100707
Castor Creek—Headwaters to Black Lake Bayou
Fecal Coliform.
100708
Unnamed Tributary to Castor Creek near Town of Castor
Sulfate and TDS.
100709
Grand Bayou—Headwaters to Black Lake Bayou
Fecal Coliform.
100710
Unnamed Tributary to Grand and Bayou near Town of Hall Summit
TDS, Chloride, Sulfate.
100801
Saline Bayou—from its origin near Arcadia to LA Hwy 156 in Winn Parish (scenic)
Fecal Coliform.
100804
Unnamed Tributary to Saline Bayou near Town of Arcadia
TDS and Sulfate.
100901
Nantaches Creek—Headwaters to Nantaches Lake
Fecal Coliform.
101101
Cane River—above Natchitoches to Red River
TDS and Chloride.
101103
Bayou Kisatchie—entrance into Kisatchie National Forest to Old River (scenic)
Fecal Coliform and TDS.
101301
Rigolette Bayou—Headwaters to Red River
Fecal Coliform.
101303
Iatt Creek—Headwaters to Iatt Lake
TDS.
101401
Buhlow Lake (Pineville)
Turbidity.
101601
Bayou Cocodrie—from Little Cross Bayou to Wild Cow Bayou (scenic)
Turbidity.
110202
Pearl Creek—from its origin to its entrance into Sabine River (scenic)
Fecal Coliform.
110401
Bayou Toro—Headwaters to LA Hwy 473
Fecal Coliform.
110402
Bayou Toro—LA Hwy 473 to its entrance into Sabine River
Fecal Coliform.
110501
West Anacoco Creek—Headwaters to Vernon Lake
Fecal Coliform.
110504
Bayou Anacoco—Vernon Lake to Anacoco Lake
Fecal Coliform.
110601
Vinton Waterway
Turbidity.
120101
Bayou Portage
TDS, Chloride, Fecal Coliform, and TSS.
120102
Bayou Poydras
Sediment, Sulfate, TDS, TSS, and Fecal Coliform.
120104
Bayou Grosse Tete
Fecal Coliform and TDS.
120105
Chamberlin Canal
Fecal Coliform, TSS, and Sediment.
120106
Bayou Plaquemine
Turbidity.
120109
Intracoastal Waterway
Fecal Coliform.
120110
Bayou Cholpe
TDS and Sulfate .
120111
Bayou Maringouin— and Headwaters to East Atchafalaya Basin Levee
Fecal Coliform TDS.
120112
Bayou Fordoche
Fecal Coliform and TDS.
120201
Lower Grand River and Belle River
Fecal Coliform and Sulfate.
120206
Grand Bayou and Little Grand Bayou
Fecal Coliform.
120301
Bayou Terrebonne
Fecal Coliform.
120502
Bayou Grand Caillou
Fecal Coliform.
120503
Bayou Petit Caillou
Fecal Coliform.
120504
Bayou Petit Caillou
Fecal Coliform.
120506
Bayou du Large
Fecal Coliform.
120507
Bayou Chauvin
Fecal Coliform.
120508
Houma Navigation Canal
Fecal Coliform.
120602
Bayou Terrebonne
Fecal Coliform.
120605
Bayou Pointe au Chien
Fecal Coliform.
120606
Bayou Blue
Fecal Coliform.
120701
Bayou Grand Caillou
Fecal Coliform.
120703
Bayou du Large
Fecal Coliform.
120707
Lake Boudreaux
Fecal Coliform.
120708
Lost Lake, Four League Bay
Fecal Coliform.
.
EPA requested the public to provide EPA with any significant data or information that might impact the eighty TMDLs in the
Federal Register
Notice: Volume 71, Number 139, pages 41217–41218 (July 20, 2006). The
comments received and the EPA's response to comments may be found at
http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6wq/npdes/tmdl/index.htm.
EPA received requests from the Gulf Restoration Network and six individuals for a 60-day extension of the comment period on the eighty draft TMDLs in Louisiana. EPA will not extend the original comment period, however, the Gulf Restoration Network and others may submit comments after the closing date (i.e., August 21, 2006) of the comment period until October 20, 2006. EPA will review and respond to comments received between August 22, 2006, and October 20, 2006, and may consider revising or modifying these TMDLs if appropriate.
Dated: September 28, 2006.
Miguel I. Flores,
Director, Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region 6.