The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

March 16, 2010

DEP seeking public comment on impaired streams, lakes

By Amelia A. Pridemore From Staff Reports

The Department of Environmental Protection has developed a draft list of West Virginia’s impaired streams and lakes.

An “impaired water” is a water body, which, due to a pollutant or combination of pollutants, fails to meet state water quality standards. By violating applicable water quality standards, impaired waters fail to support one or more of their designated uses such as, public drinking water supply, aquatic life propagation, or contact recreation.

The WVDEP is required to update its list of impaired waters every two years. The list, commonly known as the 303(d) List, is compiled from readily available information and serves as an inventory of waters for which Total Maximum Daily Loads must be developed.

In order to allow public participation in the listing process, a public comment period began March 15. The comment period ends April 19.

Comments may be submitted by e-mail to Stephen.A.Young@wv.gov or via U.S. mail to West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water and Waste Management, 2010 303(d) List – Attn: Stephen A. Young, 601 57th Street, S.E., Charleston, WV 25304

The draft list may be viewed on DEP’s Web site, http://www.dep.wv.g ov/WWE/WATERSHED/IR/Pages/default.aspx

For more information about the impaired streams list, please contact Steve Young at 304-926-0495.

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