2018 Assessment Methodology Review

Section 305(b) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (hereinafter “Clean Water Act”) requires states to perform a comprehensive assessment of the state’s water quality to be reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) every two years. This assessment provides information on the quality of the state’s waters; the extent to which state waters provide for the protection and propagation of a balanced population of fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and allow recreational activities in and on the water; and how pollution control measures are leading to water quality standards attainment. The period of record for the 2018 303(d) list and 305(b) report is April 1, 2014 through March 31, 2017 for Metals and ammonia analysis; January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2016 for Beaver Lake site specific nutrient criteria analysis; and April 1, 2012 through March 31, 2017 for all other analysis.

Arkansas’ waters are evaluated in terms of whether their assigned water quality standards and designated uses, as delineated in the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission’s (APC&EC) Regulation 2, are being attained. Monitoring data are assessed for compliance with APC&EC Regulation 2 to determine impairment and designated use support, based upon the frequency, duration, and/or magnitude of water quality standard exceedances as delineated in the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Assessment Methodology.

DEQ follows the specific requirements of 40 C.F.R. § 130.7-130.8. DEQ’s Assessment Methodology constitutes the process that the State of Arkansas employs to determine to which of the five integrated reporting categories a monitoring segment belongs. EPA’s most current 305(b) reporting and 303(d) listing requirements and guidance are considered when developing this assessment methodology.

Phase III

Public Comment Open

Comments Due By:

November 13, 2017
4:30 pm

Related Documents

Phase I

Phase II

  • Stakeholder Workgroup Summary

Phase III