DEQ News Release

 

News Release

Contact Information: Katherine Benenati / 501.682.0821 / benenati@adeq.state.ar.us

FOR RELEASE: March 10, 2016

COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED FOR IMPAIRED WATERBODIES LIST

In response to requests received from the public, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has extended the public comment period for the agency’s proposed 2016 Impaired Waterbodies List (commonly called the 303(d) List). The ADEQ will now accept written or electronic mail comments until 4:30 p.m. (Central Time) March 16, 2016.

Written comments on the proposal should be sent to: Jim Wise, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, Water Division, 5301 Northshore Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72118. E-mail comments should be sent to: ImpairedWaterbodies_Comments@adeq.state.ar.us (ImpairedWaterbodies_Comments@adeq.state.ar.us).

A public hearing on the proposed list was held March 1, 2016, at the ADEQ Headquarters Building in North Little Rock. The original deadline for comments on the proposal was March 11, 2016.

The 303(d) List is developed by ADEQ every two years under provisions of Section 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act. ADEQ assesses water quality monitoring data from numerous locations around the state and utilizes a comprehensive assessment methodology to determine which waters are not meeting their water quality standards and/or designated uses as listed in the Arkansas Water Quality Standards (Regulation 2 of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission).

Water quality data from stream and lake sampling sites were considered during the development of the proposed 2016 303(d) List. The evaluated water quality data were collected by multiple entities, including ADEQ; state agencies such as Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, federal agencies such as the U.S. Geological Survey, and local government agencies such as Beaver Water District; as well as private entities in Arkansas and from surrounding states. The draft 2016 list evaluated data covering a period of record from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2015.

Copies of the list and maps of listed waters by county are available on the ADEQ’s website at: http://www.adeq.state.ar.us/water/branch_planning/303d/303d.htm or can be obtained by contacting Jim Wise in the ADEQ Water Division; telephone, 501-682-0663; E-mail, wise@adeq.state.ar.us. A complete listing of impaired waterbodies and the reasons for impairment can be found in the tables following the narrative of the draft 303(d) List.

Copies of the proposed 2016 Arkansas 303(d) List also are available for public inspection during normal business hours at the ADEQ Headquarters Building, 5301 Northshore Drive, North Little Rock. In addition, copies of the list are available for public review during normal business hours at ADEQ information depositories located in public libraries at Arkadelphia, Batesville, Blytheville, Camden, Clinton, Crossett, El Dorado, Fayetteville, Forrest City, Fort Smith, Harrison, Helena, Hope, Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Little Rock (main branch), Magnolia, Mena, Monticello, Mountain Home, Pocahontas, Russellville, Searcy, Stuttgart, Texarkana, and West Memphis; in campus libraries at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the University of Central Arkansas at Conway; and in the Arkansas State Library, 900 W. Capitol, Suite 100, Little Rock.

Proposed revisions to the 2016 Arkansas 303(d) List may be incorporated into the 2016 Arkansas Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (commonly called the 305(b) Report), after approval by the ADEQ Director and the Region 6 Office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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