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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 06-1078

NOTICES

Availability of Draft Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report

[36 Pa.B. 3038]
[Saturday, June 17, 2006]

   The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is making available for public comment its draft 2006 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (Integrated Report) and the Assessment and Listing Methodology (methodology) used to create the Integrated Report. The Integrated Report and methodology include 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 sections 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 re- quired 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 (EPA) 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 waterbody listings included in this draft 2006 Integrated Report were developed using the methodology published as part of this notice. This methodology describes field data collection procedures, data analysis methods and data management protocols used to obtain and evaluate water quality information from a variety of sources, including the Department's Statewide Surface Water Assessment Program and existing and readily available data submitted by external groups and agencies.

   The draft 2006 Integrated Report and methodology are available on the Department's website at www. depweb.state.pa.us (select ''DEP Programs'' and then choose ''Water Quality Standards''). Due to the large number of pages, the Integrated Report will not be available in hardcopy.

   Persons wishing to comment on the draft Integrated Report may do so in writing to the Bureau of Water Standards and Facility Regulation or by e-mail no later than August 16, 2006. Comments should be mailed or e-mailed to Mary Houghton, Division of Water Quality Standards, Bureau of Water Standards and Facility Regulation, P. O. Box 8467, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8467, (717) 787-9637, mhoughton@state.pa.us. Comments received by facsimile will not be accepted.

   The Department will consider all public comments regarding the validity of the data and the appropriateness of both the narrative and listings contained in the draft Report and incorporate appropriate revisions before submitting the final Report to the EPA for approval.

   Persons in need of accommodations as provided for in the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 should contact Mary Houghton directly at (717) 787-9637 orthrough 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. 06-1078. Filed for public inspection June 16, 2006, 9:00 a.m.]


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