Following is a notice about the new Impaired Stream List, commonly called the 303(d) list. Arkansas is required to monitor, analyze and list streams (and lakes) that are "impaired" because they do not meet water quality standards, set by the State with approval from EPA. This requirement of the Clean Water Act occurs every two years.
There is a public hearing in Little Rock March 12, but comments can be made until March 26th, as indicated near the end of the notice.
If you want in depth information, I direct your attention to the following link on the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality 9ADEQ) Web site
http://www.adeq.state.ar.us/water/reports_data.htm
Check out the 2004- 303(B) document, which is a much more in-depth look at how Arkansas monitors and evaluates streams. (Note: Arkansas was sued a few years back to inspire compliance.)
Also check out link on the West Fork. A good analysis of what is happening on many of our tributaries. Warning: These are very long documents.
Best,
Gene Dunaway
President
Friends
2008 IMPAIRED STREAMS LIST HEARING SCHEDULED
The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) will hold a public hearing at
(A separate public hearing on the 2006 303d List was announced last month and is still scheduled for
Prior to accepting formal public comments at the hearing, the ADEQ Water Division staff will present a short program discussing the proposed 2008 303d List. A period of time will also be set aside for informal discussion and questions and answers before the formal public comment period begins.
The 303d List is developed by the ADEQ every two years under provisions of Section 303d of the federal Clean Water Act. The ADEQ assesses water quality monitoring data from numerous locations around the state, and utilizes a comprehensive assessment methodology approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to determine which waters are not meeting all of their designated uses as listed in the Arkansas Water Quality Standards (Regulation No. 2 of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission).
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2006 Impaired Streams List, Page Two
Water quality data from more than 700 stream sampling sites and 210 lake sampling sites were considered during the development of the proposed 2008 303d List. The sampling stations were either part of the ADEQ’s statewide water quality monitoring network, special surveys conducted by the ADEQ, or sites sampled by the U.S. National Park Service within the Buffalo River Watershed. Other water quality data from federal state, and local government agencies, as well as from private entities in
A complete listing of impaired waterbodies can be found in the tables following the narrative of the draft 2008 303d List. Copies of the list are available on the ADEQ’s Internet web site at www.adeq.state.ar.us or can be obtained by contacting Jim Wise in the ADEQ Water Division; telephone, 501-682-0663; e-mail, wise@adeq.state.ar.us.
Copies of the proposed 2008
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2006 Impaired Streams List, Page Three
Oral and written comments on the proposed 2008 303d List will be accepted at the public hearing, but written statements are preferred in the interest of accuracy. In addition, written statements will be considered if received no later than
Proposed revisions to the 2008 Arkansas 303d List will be incorporated into the 2008 Arkansas Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (commonly called the 305b Report), after approval by the ADEQ director and the Region 6 office of the EPA.
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