NOTICES
Availability of Draft Section 303(d) List of Impaired Waters
[32 Pa.B. 2812] The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is making available for public comment a draft list for the year 2002 of waterbodies in this Commonwealth with impaired water quality. The list is required by section 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C.A. § 1313(d)).
Section 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act and 40 CFR Part 130 require states to identify waters which would still be impaired, even after the appropriate technology has been applied to point sources and required best management practices are in place for nonpoint sources. Waterbodies that do not meet water quality standards after this evaluation are required to be placed on the section 303(d) List of Impaired Waters (List).
For each waterbody on the section 303(d) List, the state or the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must develop Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) allocations. If a TMDL has already been approved for a waterbody, that waterbody is not listed.
A TMDL is a calculation of the assimilative capacity of a waterbody to handle point and nonpoint pollutant loads without violating water quality standards. TMDLs also describe the conditions necessary to improve water quality. TMDLs are used to set limits in NPDES water quality permits and identify where best management practices for nonpoint sources are necessary to improve and protect water quality.
Waterbody assessments and compilation of the section 303(d) List is an ongoing process. The Department will continue to verify the quality of data for waterbodies on the section 303(d) List and, as needed, will publish supplements to the section 303(d) List for public review and comment.
The draft section 303(d) List for the year 2002 was developed using information from stream and lake surveys and other sources, including the Department's Surface Water Assessment Program, the Water Quality Assessment Process, the Nonpoint Source Program and existing and readily available data submitted by external groups and agencies.
Copies of the draft section 303(d) List can be obtained by contacting Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply and Wastewater Management, 11th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P. O. 8467, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8467, (717) 783-3795, e-mail to trutroutma@state.pa.us.
The draft section 303(d) List is available for viewing on the Department's website at www.dep.state.pa.us directLINK ''participate''; scroll down to ''Proposals Open for Comment''; then choose ''Other Proposals'' or directLINK ''water quality assessment and standards.''
Persons wishing to comment on the draft section 303(d) List may do so in writing to the Bureau of Water Supply and Wastewater Management or by e-mail to ebrezina@ state.pa.us no later than 60 days from publication. Comments will not be accepted by facsimile or on voice mail.
The Department will consider all public comments regarding the validity of the data and the appropriateness of placing waterbodies on the draft section 303(d) List. The final section 303(d) List will be submitted to EPA for approval.
Persons with a disability may use the AT&T Relay Service by calling (800) 654-5984 (TDD users or (800) 654-5988 (voice users). Following the specified comment period, the Department will review submitted comments, prepare a written comments and response document and prepare a final document. An availability notice of the final section 303(d) List will be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
DAVID E. HESS,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 02-985. Filed for public inspection June 7, 2002, 9:00 a.m.]
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