Proposed Rules. Notice of availability

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Action: Notice of availability
Citation: FR Doc. 01-12887 · FRL-6982-9

Summary

This notice announces the availability for comment of the administrative record file for one TMDL 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 this TMDL 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.

Dates

Comments on this TMDL must be submitted in writing to EPA on or before June 22, 2001.

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. Discussion of the court order may be found at 65 FR 54032 (September 6, 2000). EPA Seeks Comments on One TMDL By this notice EPA is seeking comment on the following TMDL for waters located within the Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche basins: Subsegment Waterbody name Pollutant 060204 Bayou Courtableau—Origin to West Atchafalaya Borrow Pit Canal Oil and Grease. EPA requests that the public provide to EPA any water quality related data and information that may be relevant to the calculations for this TMDL, or any other comments relevant to this TMDL. EPA will review all data and information submitted during the public comment period and revise the TMDL where appropriate. EPA will then forward the TMDL to the Court and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). LDEQ will incorporate the TMDL into its current water quality management plan. Dated: May 3, 2001. Sam Becker, Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6. [FR Doc. 01-12887 Filed 5-22-01; 8:45 am]