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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 10-613

NOTICES

2010 Draft Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report; Notice of Availability for Public Comment

[40 Pa.B. 1827]
[Saturday, April 3, 2010]

 The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is providing for public comment on its draft 2010 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (Integrated Report). The Integrated Report includes both a narrative description of this 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 Category 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 Category 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 2010 Integrated Report is available on the Department's web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us, select ''Water,'' select ''The Bureau of Water Standards and Facility Regulation,'' from right hand column select ''Water Quality Standards,'' and finally ''2010 Integrated List Draft.'' The full address is: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/water_quality_standards/10556.

 The Department invites public comments on the draft Integrated Report. The Department must receive comments on the draft Integrated Report by May 3, 2010. Written comments should be submitted to Angela Bransteitter, Division of Water Quality Standards, Bureau of Water Standards and Facility Regulation, P. O. Box 8467, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8467, abransteit@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 Angela Bransteitter directly at (717) 772-5164 or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TTD) to discuss how the Department may accommodate their needs.

JOHN HANGER, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 10-613. Filed for public inspection April 2, 2010, 9:00 a.m.]


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