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Citizen Comments Sought on Water Quality Improvement Plans

Release Date: 7/17/2000
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith (215) 814-5543

Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

PHILADELPHIA - The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency welcomes citizen comments on water quality improvement plans for 11 West Virginia water bodies. Comments on the plans can be provided by fax, e-mail, or in person. Comments on the plans for Kanawha River, Pocatalico River, Armour Creek, and the Ohio River period are due by August 18, 2000. Comments on Reedy Creek, the Little Kanawha River, Spring Creek, Saltlick Creek, Sand Fork, Oil Creek and Saltlick Pond are due September 1, 2000.

The Clean Water Act requires that states identify waters that do not meet water quality standards. West Virginia’s Division of Environmental Protection has identified these water bodies as impaired.

A pollution budget, called a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), is needed for each pollutant exceeding the existing water quality standards. A TMDL sets the limits of a pollutant that a water body can absorb and still meet clean water standards. The TMDL takes into account the total amount of pollution from all significant sources and includes a safety factor.

A court order, resulting from a citizen lawsuit, requires EPA to establish TMDLs for listed water bodies in West Virginia by September 30, 2000 if the state fails to do so. To meet that requirement, EPA is proposing the above described TMDLs.

EPA encourages comments on the proposed TMDLs and is grateful for the local participation already provided. Written comments need to be sent by the close of the comment period to:

Lenka Berlin, Office of Watersheds (3WP12)
USEPA
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
lberlin@epa.gov.

The proposed TMDLs are available on the web at www.epa.gov/region3/wapd/ tmdl or www.epa.gov/region3/water.htm The following is a schedule of public hearings:

Public hearing about the Kanawha River, Pocatalico River, Armour Creek TMDLs for dioxin.

Date: Tuesday July 25, 2000
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Nitro Senior Center
Nitro, West Virginia

Public hearing about the Little Kanawha River, Reedy Creek, Spring Creek, Saltlick Creek, Sand Fork, Oil Creek, Saltlick Pond TMDLs for aluminum and iron.

Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2000
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Roan County High School
One High School Road
Spencer, West Virginia

Public hearing about the Ohio River TMDL for dioxin.

Date: Thursday, July 27, 2000
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Cabell County Public Library, Barboursville Branch
728 Main Street
Barboursville, West Virginia