PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Division of Water and Waste Management 601 57th Street Charleston, WV 25304 Waters Proposed for TMDL Development in 2019 The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announces the preliminary selection of streams and impairments for 2019 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 31 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 new TMDL work in Group A this summer. However, because of limited remaining TMDL development obligations in Group A and large demands remaining in Group E, DEP is proposing TMDL development for impaired streams in the Big Sandy, Lower Ohio and Twelvepole Creek watersheds for 2019. The effort will address impairments currently identified on the West Virginia draft 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 draft 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 2016. 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. TMDLs are scheduled to be finalized by December 31, 2019. Individuals wanting to offer information or comment on the proposed selections should do so by March 15, 2016. Comments should be directed to: West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Division of Water and Waste Management Steve Young, Attention: Proposed 2019 TMDLs 601 57th Street SE Charleston, WV 25304 Phone: (304) 926-0495 Fax: (304) 926-0496 or E-mail: Stephen.A.Young@ wv.gov 2-5-FRI-1-RH; 4023