WASHINGTON, DC, April 2, 2008 -- EPA has issued a notice announcing final agency action on 56 TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in Louisiana's Red, Sabine, and the Terrebonne Basins, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
Documents from the administrative record file for the 56 TMDLs, including the 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 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
Tel: (214) 665-2145
Background
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 43 of these TMDLs pursuant to a consent decree entered in this lawsuit.
EPA requested the public to provide EPA with any significant data or information that might impact the 56 final TMDLs in the Federal Register Notices: Volume 72, Number 206, pages 60666 and 60667 (October 25, 2007); Volume 72, Number 209, pages 61355 and 61356 (October 30, 2007); and Volume 73, Number 22, pages 6178 and 6179 (Feb. 1, 2008). The comments were received, and EPA's response to comments and the TMDLs may be found at http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6wq/npdes/tmdl/index.htm.
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