Friday, May 11, 2012

DEP Issues Draft 303(d) List of Impaired Streams



Every 2 years the DEP puts together a list of impaired streams, as required by Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act.  These are the streams for which total maximum daily loads are required.

      The Department of Environmental Protection, under the authority of the federal Clean Water Act, Section 303(d) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Quality Planning and Management Regulations, 40 CFR Part 130.7 has developed a draft list of West Virginia’s impaired streams and lakes.

An “impaired water” is a water body, which, due to a pollutant or combination of pollutants, fails to meet state water quality standards.  By violating applicable water quality standards, impaired waters fail to support one or more of their designated uses such as, public drinking water supply, aquatic life propagation and maintenance, or contact recreation.

The DEP is required to update its list of impaired waters every two years.  The list, commonly known as the 303(d) List, is compiled from readily available information and serves as an inventory of waters for which Total Maximum Daily Loads must be developed.

In order to allow public participation in the listing process, the DEP has established a public comment period beginning May 11, 2012 and ending June 11, 2012, during which interested parties may provide comments regarding the draft list. 

Comments may be submitted by e-mail to Stephen.A.Young@wv.gov or via U.S. mail
to:

      West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
      Division of Water and Waste Management
      2012 303(d) List – Attn: Stephen A. Young
      601 57th Street, S.E.
      Charleston, WV 25304

The draft West Virginia 2012 Section 303(d) List will be posted on DEP’s Web site, http://www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/303d no later than the close of business May 10, 2012.  CDs of the 303(d) List may be obtained by contacting Steve Young at
(304) 926-0495, TTY/TDD (304) 926-0489.

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