Impaired Streams List Released for Comments

Dear all,

Welcome once again to the "biannual" review of stream quality in Arkansas. For those of you new to the process, the state must define water quality standards for most bodies of water in Arkansas. Then, the goal is to maintain water quality to prevent that water body from becoming "impaired." If it is impaired, the state has 13 years to come up with a "solution" which is basically a TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) that the stream can stand of the particular "pollutant" that would take it off the impaired list. The section of the Clean Water Act (CWA) is 303d, thus the name of the list. There is also a narrative report that details the States findings (2010 Arkansas Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report.. 305(b) Report). It is not out yet, but you can find the 2008 report, which as based on 2004 data.

Citizens can comment on the list, even recommend that streams be added. There is a public hearing in Little Rock on February 24, 2010 at ADEQ headwaters. Comments will be accepted until March 10 at 4:30pm. The press release about the Report follows. The link to the actual report n the Hot Topics section of ADEQ's web site on the right side.

Contact Information: Aaron Sadler / 501.682.2287 / sadlera@adeq.state.ar.us
FOR RELEASE: February 8, 2010
HEARING, COMMENT PERIOD SET FOR IMPAIRED WATERBODIES LIST

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) will hold a public hearing at North Little Rock February 24, 2010, to receive comments on the agency’s proposed 2010 Impaired Waterbodies List (commonly called the 303d List). The hearing will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the Commission Room at the ADEQ headquarters building; 5301 Northshore Drive.
Prior to accepting formal public comments at the hearing, ADEQ Water Division staff will present a short program discussing the proposed list. The presentation will include time for informal discussion and questions and answers before the formal public comment period begins.
The 303d List is developed by ADEQ every two years under provisions of Section 303d of the Federal Clean Water Act. ADEQ assesses water quality monitoring data from numerous locations around the state and utilizes a comprehensive assessment methodology to determine which waters are not meeting their designated uses as listed in the Arkansas Water Quality Standards (Regulation No. 2 of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission).
Water quality data from stream and lake sampling sites were considered during the development of the proposed 2010 303d List. These sampling stations were either part of ADEQ’s statewide water quality monitoring network, special surveys conducted by ADEQ, or sites sampled by 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, both within Arkansas and from adjoining states, were also evaluated during development of the proposed list.
A complete listing of impaired waterbodies can be found in the tables following the narrative of the draft 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 2010 Arkansas 303d List also are available for public inspection during normal business hours at the ADEQ’s Public Outreach and Assistance Division, located on the second floor of the ADEQ headquarters building, 5301 Northshore Drive, North Little Rock. In addition, copies of the list are available for public review during normal business hours at ADEQ information depositories located in public libraries at Arkadelphia Batesville, Blytheville, Camden, Clinton, Crossett, El Dorado, Fayetteville, Forrest City, Fort Smith, Harrison, Helena, Hope, Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Magnolia, Mena, Monticello, Mountain Home, Pocahontas, Russellville, Searcy, Stuttgart, Texarkana, and West Memphis; in campus libraries at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the University of Central Arkansas at Conway; and in the Arkansas State Library, 900 W. Capitol, Suite 100, Little Rock.
Oral and written comments on the proposed 2010 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 4:30 p.m., March 10, 2010. Written statements should be sent to: Jim Wise, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, Water Division, 5301 Northshore Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72118; e-mail: wise@adeq.state.ar.us.
Proposed revisions to the 2010 Arkansas 303d List will be incorporated into the 2010 Arkansas Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (commonly called the 305b Report), after approval by the ADEQ Director

Gene

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Gene Dunaway
POB 539
209 S. Peabody
Mountain View, AR 72560-0539
Home 870-269-3442
Work 870-269-5855
Cell 870-213-5784
gene.dunaway@gmail.com