EPA Takes Final Agency Action on 37 TMDLs

The EPA announced final agency action on 37 TMDLs prepared by EPA Region 6 for waters listed in the state of Arkansas, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). These TMDLs were completed in response to the lawsuit styled Sierra Club, et al. v. Clifford, et al., No. LR-C-99-114. Documents from the administrative record files for the final 37 TMDLs, including TMDL calculations and responses to comments, may be viewed at www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6wq/artmdl.htm">http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6wq/artmdl.htm.

In 1999, five Arkansas environmental groups, the Sierra Club, Federation of Fly Fishers, Crooked Creek Coalition, Arkansas Fly Fishers, and Save our Streams (plaintiffs), filed a lawsuit in Federal Court against the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), styled Sierra Club, et al. v. Browner et al., No. LR-C-99-114. Among other claims, plaintiffs alleged that EPA failed to establish Arkansas TMDLs in a timely manner.

By this notice EPA is taking final agency action on the following 37 TMDLs for waters located within the state of Arkansas:

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Segment-reach Waterbody name Pollutant

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11140203-20-11.9.............. Dorcheat Bayou........ Mercury

11140203-22-8.4............... Dorcheat Bayou........ Mercury

11140203-24-7................. Dorcheat Bayou........ Mercury

11140203-26-23.3.............. Dorcheat Bayou........ Mercury

11110206-02-8.7............... Fourche LaFave River.. Mercury

11010014-36................... South Fork Little Red Mercury

River.

11140203...................... Columbia Lake......... Mercury

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11110206...................... Cove Creek Lake....... Mercury

11110206...................... Dry Fork Lake......... Mercury

11110206...................... Nimrod Lake........... Mercury

11010014...................... Johnson Hole.......... Mercury

11110201...................... Shepherd Springs Lake. Mercury

11110207...................... Lake Sylvia........... Mercury

11110207...................... Spring Lake........... Mercury

08040201-02-22.5.............. Ouachita River........ Mercury

08040201-04-2.5............... Ouachita River........ Mercury

08040202...................... Oxbow River--Oxbows Mercury

below Camden.

08040202...................... Felsenthal Wildlife Mercury

Refuge.

08040202-02-4................. Ouachita River........ Mercury

08040202-03-8.4............... Ouachita River........ Mercury

08040202-04-28.9.............. Ouachita River........ Mercury

08040203...................... Lake Winona........... Mercury

08040203-01-0.2............... Saline River.......... Mercury

08040204-01-2.8............... Saline River.......... Mercury

08040204-02-53................ Saline River.......... Mercury

08040204-04-16.4.............. Saline River.......... Mercury

08040204-06-17.5.............. Saline River.......... Mercury

08040201-01-12................ Moro Creek............ Mercury

08040201-03-20................ Champagnolle Creek.... Mercury

08040202-03-8.4............... Little Champagnolle... Mercury

08040205-02-17.9.............. Bayou Bartholomew..... Mercury

08040205-12-82.7.............. Bayou Bartholomew..... Mercury

08040205-07-16.8.............. Cutoff Creek.......... Mercury

08040201-606-8.5.............. ELCC Tributary........ Chloride

08040201-606-8.5.............. ELCC Tributary........ Sulfate

08040201-606-8.5.............. ELCC Tributary........ TDS

08040201-606-8.5.............. ELCC Tributary........ Ammonia

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EPA requested the public to provide EPA with any significant data or information that may impact the 37 TMDLs at Federal Register Notice: Volume 67, Number 202, pages 64369-64370 (October 18, 2002). The comments received and EPA's response to comments may be found at www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6wq/artmdl.htm">http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6wq/artmdl.htm.

Source: EPA