Proposed Rules. Notice of availability

629 words·~3 min read·/register/2002/05/01/02-10631

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BILLING CODE 6560-50-P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-7203-4] Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Final Agency Action on 45 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability. SUMMARY: This notice announces final agency action on 45 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 evaluated these waters and prepared the 45 TMDLs in response to the lawsuit styled *Sierra Club, et al.* v. * Clifford et al.,* No. 96-0527, (E.D.

La.). Documents from the administrative record files for the final 45 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. EPA Takes Final Agency Action on 45 TMDLs By this notice EPA is taking a final agency action on the following 45 TMDLs for waters located within the Mermentau and Vermilion/Teche basins: Subsegment Waterbody Name Pollutant 050103 Bayou Mallet Ammonia. 050402 Lake Arthur and Lower Mermentau River to Grand Lake Ammonia. 050103 Bayou Mallet Nutrients. 050402 Lake Arthur and Lower Mermentau River to Grand Lake Nutrients. 050701 Grand Lake Nutrients. 050702 Intracoastal Waterway Nutrients. 050901 Mermentau River Basin Coastal Bays and Gulf Waters to State 3-mile limit Nutrients. 050103 Bayou Mallet Organic enrichment/low DO. 050402 Lake Arthur and Lower Mermentau Organic enrichment/low DO. 050602 Intracoastal Waterway Organic enrichment/low DO. 050603 Bayou Chene—includes Bayou Grand Marais Organic enrichment/low DO. 050701 Grand Lake Organic enrichment/low DO. 050702 Intracoastal Waterway Organic enrichment/low DO. 050802 Big Constance Lake and Associated Waterbodies (Estuarine) Organic enrichment/low DO. 050901 Mermentau River Basin Coastal Bays and Gulf Waters to State 3-mile limit Organic enrichment/low DO. 060207 Bayou des Glaises Diversion Channel Nutrients. 060210 Bayou Carron Nutrients. 060601 Charenton Canal Nutrients. 060701 Tete Bayou Nutrients. 060803 Vermilion River Nutrients. 060901 Bayou Petite Anse Nutrients. 060903 Bayou Tigre Nutrients. 060904 Vermilion B890 Basin New Iberia Southern Drainage Canal Nutrients. 060907 Franklin Canal Nutrients. 060909 Lake Peigneur Nutrients. 060911 Vermilion-Teche River Basin—(Dugas Canal) Nutrients. 061103 Freshwater Bayou Canal Nutrients. 060207 Bayou des Glaises Diversion Channel Organic enrichment/low DO. 060209 Irish Ditch/Big Bayou—unnamed Ditch to Irish Ditch Organic enrichment/low DO. 060210 Bayou Carron Organic enrichment/low DO. 060211 West Atchafalaya Borrow Pit Canal Organic enrichment/low DO. 060212 Chatlin Lake Canal Organic enrichment/low DO. 060601 Charenton Canal Organic enrichment/low DO. 060701 Tete Bayou Organic enrichment/low DO. 060703 Bayou du Portage Organic enrichment/low DO. 060803 Vermilion River Cutoff Organic enrichment/low DO. 060901 Bayou Petite Anse Organic enrichment/low DO. 060903 Bayou Tigre Organic enrichment/low DO. 060904 Vermilion River B890 Basin New Iberia Southern Drainage Canal Organic enrichment/low DO. 060907 Franklin Canal Organic enrichment/low DO. 060908 Spanish Lake Organic enrichment/low DO. 060909 Lake Peigneur Organic enrichment/low DO. 060911 Vermilion-Teche River Basin—(Dugas Canal) Organic enrichment/low DO. 061001 West Cote Blanche Bay Organic enrichment/low DO. 061103 Freshwater Bayou Canal Organic enrichment/low DO. EPA requested the public to provide EPA with any significant data or information that may impact the 45 TMDLs at **Federal Register** Notice: Volume 66, Number 199, pages 52403-52404 (October 15, 2001). The comments received and EPA's response to comments may be found at *www.epa.gov/region6/water/tmdl.htm.* Dated: April 22, 2002. Sam Becker, Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6. [FR Doc. 02-10631 Filed 4-30-02; 8:45 am]