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EPA Approves Kansas' List of Impaired Waters

Release Date: 06/07/2012
Contact Information: Kris Lancaster, (913) 551-7557, lancaster.kris@epa.gov

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., June 7, 2012) - EPA has approved Kansas’ list of impaired waters, which removes 561 waters from the previous impaired waters list and adds 121 waters. Today’s decision brings the total number of impaired waters in the state to 1,330.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) submitted its impaired waters list to EPA for review and approval as required by the Clean Water Act. The act requires EPA to review the state’s list of impaired waters to determine if the state reasonably considered available water quality-related data, and identifies waters to be listed.

“The list of impaired waters is used by federal, state and local agencies to set priorities for development of pollution controls and restoration of polluted waters,” said Karl Brooks, EPA regional administrator. “KDHE should be commended for the progress that has been made to improve Kansas lakes and streams.”

A water body is placed on the impaired waters list when monitoring finds that pollutant levels prevent the lake, river, or stream from attaining its beneficial uses. Beneficial uses in Kansas include human recreation, agricultural water supply, and maintaining healthy aquatic life.

EPA’s June 5, 2012, decision letter provides a more detailed description of EPA’s review and the basis for this action. The decision letter, including the 2012 impaired waters list, is available at www.epa.gov/region7/newsevents/legal.