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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 08-675

NOTICES

Availability for Public Comment; 2008 Draft Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report

[38 Pa.B. 1779]
[Saturday, April 12, 2008]

   The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is providing for public comment its draft 2008 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (Integrated Report). The Integrated Report includes both a narrative description of the Commonwealth's water quality management programs (formerly the 305(b) Report) and various lists depicting the status of Commonwealth surface waters as required by section 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act. The report is comprised of four parts and also includes a five-part list that collectively summarizes the designated use attainment status of Commonwealth surface waters.

   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 requires best management practices are in place for nonpoint sources. Waterbodies that do not meet water quality standards after this evaluation are placed on List 5 of the Integrated Waterbody List.

   For each waterbody in Category 5, the state or the United States Environmental Protection Agency must develop Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) allocations. 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. When a TMDL is approved for a waterbody, that waterbody listing is moved to List 4a.

   Waterbody assessment and compilation of the Integrated Report is an ongoing process. The Department will continue to verify the quality of data used in this process and, as needed, will publish supplements to the Integrated Report for public review and comment.

   The draft 2008 Integrated Report is available on the Department's web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us (under ''Water Topics,'' select ''Water Quality,'' then ''2008 Integrated List''). Due to the volume of the draft Integrated Report, it will not be available in hardcopy.

   The Department invites public comments on the draft Integrated Report. The Department must received comments on the draft Integrated Report by May 27, 2008. Written comments should be submitted to Amy Williams, Division of Water Quality Standards, Bureau of Water Standards and Facility Regulation, P. O. Box 8467, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8467, amywilli@state.pa.us. Comments received by facsimile will not be accepted.

   Persons in need of accommodations as provided for in the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 should contact Amy Williams directly at (717) 772-4045 or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TTD) to discuss how the Department may accommodate their needs.

KATHLEEN A. MCGINTY,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 08-675. Filed for public inspection April 11, 2008, 9:00 a.m.]


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