[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 90 (Thursday, May 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27233-27234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-11109]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9811-4]
Clean Water Act: Availability of List Decisions
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's action
identifying water quality limited segments and associated pollutants in
Louisiana to be listed pursuant to Clean Water Act Section 303(d), and
request for public comment. Section 303(d) requires that States submit
and EPA approve or disapprove lists of waters for which existing
technology-based pollution controls are not stringent enough to attain
or maintain State water quality standards and for which total maximum
daily loads (TMDLs) must be prepared.
On May 01, 2013, EPA partially approved and proposed to partially
disapprove Louisiana's 2012 Section 303(d) submittal. Specifically, EPA
approved Louisiana's listing of 323 waterbody pollutant combinations,
and associated priority rankings. EPA proposed to disapprove
Louisiana's decisions not to list three waterbodies. These three
waterbodies were added by EPA because the applicable numeric water
quality standards marine criterion for dissolved oxygen was not
attained in these segments.
EPA is providing the public the opportunity to review its proposed
decisions to add the three waters to Louisiana's 2012 Section 303(d)
List. EPA will consider public comments and if necessary amend its
proposed action on the additional waterbodies identified for inclusion
on Louisiana's Final 2012 Section 303(d) List.
DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing to EPA on or before June
10, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the decisions should be sent to Diane Smith,
[[Page 27234]]
Environmental Protection Specialist, Water Quality Protection Division,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6, 1445 Ross Ave., Dallas,
TX 75202-2733, telephone (214) 665-2145, facsimile (214) 665-6490, or
email: [email protected]. Oral comments will not be considered.
Copies of the documents which explain the rationale for EPA's decisions
and a list of the 3 water quality limited segments for which EPA
proposed disapproval of Louisiana's decisions not to list can be
obtained at EPA Region 6's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/region6/water/npdes/tmdl/index.htm, or by writing or calling Ms. Smith at the
above address. Underlying documents from the administrative record for
these decisions are available for public inspection at the above
address. Please contact Ms. Smith to schedule an inspection.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Smith at (214) 665-2145.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA)
requires that each State identify those waters for which existing
technology-based pollution controls are not stringent enough to attain
or maintain State water quality standards. For those waters, States are
required to establish Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) according to a
priority ranking. EPA's Water Quality Planning and Management
regulations include requirements related to the implementation of
Section 303(d) of the CWA (40 CFR 130.7). The regulations require
States to identify water quality limited waters still requiring TMDLs
every two years. The list of waters still needing TMDLs must also
include priority rankings and must identify the waters targeted for
TMDL development during the next two years (40 CFR 130.7). On March 31,
2000, EPA promulgated a revision to this regulation that waived the
requirement for States to submit Section 303(d) lists in 2000 except in
cases where a court order, consent decree, or settlement agreement
required EPA to take action on a list in 2000 (65 FR 17170).
Consistent with EPA's regulations, Louisiana submitted to EPA its
listing decisions under Section 303(d) on February 01, 2013. On May 01,
2013, EPA approved Louisiana's listing of 323 water body-pollutant
combinations and associated priority rankings. EPA proposed to
disapprove Louisiana's decisions not to list three waterbodies. These
three waterbodies were proposed for addition by EPA because the
applicable numeric water quality standards marine criterion for
dissolved oxygen was not attained in these segments. EPA solicits
public comment on its identification of three additional waters for
inclusion on Louisiana's 2012 Section 303(d) List.
Dated: May 1, 2013.
William K. Honker,
Director, Water Quality Protection Division.
[FR Doc. 2013-11109 Filed 5-8-13; 8:45 am]
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