Public Notice West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Division of Water and Waste Management 601 57th St. Charleston, WV 25304 Waters Proposed for TMDL Development The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announces the preliminary selection of streams and impairments for the next round of TMDL development with intensive monitoring to begin this summer. The federal Clean Water Act, Section 303(d) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Planning and Management Regulations, 40CFR Part 130.7, requires DEP to develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for impaired waters. An "impaired water" is a water body that fails to meet state water quality standards. Known impaired waters are identified on the West Virginia Section 303(d) list. A TMDL is a plan of action used to clean up polluted waters. TMDLs identify problematic pollution sources and prescribe the pollutant reductions needed for the stream to meet water quality standards. In previous efforts, DEP's TMDL development program was synchronized with West Virginia's Watershed Management Framework. Organization under the framework, which divides the state's 32 major watersheds into 5 groups: A through E, allowed the DEP to efficiently and systematically accomplish statewide TMDL development by regulatory deadlines. Following the framework's schedule, DEP would be starting pre-TMDL monitoring work in Group B this summer. However, because of limited remaining TMDL development obligations in Group B and large demands remaining in Group C, DEP is proposing to begin TMDL development for impaired streams in the Lower Guyandotte River watershed with finalization and EPA approval expected in 2020. The effort will address impairments currently identified on the West Virginia 2014 Section 303(d) list and may identify additional impairments. To the extent practical, this project will include TMDL development for any newly identified impairments. The 2014 Section 303(d) list may be viewed at: http://www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/watershed/IR/Pages/303d_305b. aspx The TMDL development process will begin with a major data collection effort. Pre-TMDL water quality monitoring and source tracking activities will start in the summer of 2017. The new water quality monitoring and pollutant source tracking activities will generate reliable information to develop TMDLs. Prior to the beginning of the sampling and source tracking efforts, public meetings will be conducted to provide an overview of the TMDL development process, discuss the DEP's monitoring plans, and provide an opportunity for input regarding potential sources and sampling sites. The public will have several other opportunities to be involved throughout the TMDL development process. Individuals wanting to offer information or comment on the proposed selections should do so by March 3, 2017. Comments should be directed to: West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Division of Water and Waste Management Steve Young, Attention: Proposed 2020 TMDLs 601 57th Street, S.E. Charleston, WV 25304 Phone: (304) 926-0495, Fax: (304) 926-0496, or E-mail: Stephen.A.Young@ wv.gov. LH-49881 1-31; 2017
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