Department of Environmental Quality
Department of Environmental Quality
Meeting:
TMDL Public Meeting - Clinch River and certain tributaries (Tazewell, Russell, Wise, Scott, & Lee Counties)
| Meeting Details | |
|---|---|
| Date / Time | 7/11/2013 6:00 pm |
| Location | Norton Community Center
201 East Park Avenue NE Norton, VA |
| Board Website | http://www.deq.virginia.gov |
| Agenda document | agency has not posted |
| Minutes document | agency has not posted |
| Disability Friendly? Yes Deaf interpreter available upon request? Yes | |
| Purpose of the meeting Announcement of an effort to restore water quality in the Clinch River and the following tributaries: Bark Camp Branch, Bear Creek, Fall Creek, Laurel Creek, Little Stoney Creek, Russell Creek, Staunton Creek, Stony Creek, Thompson Creek, Cove Creek, Stock Creek, Copper Creek, Moll Creek, Valley Creek, North Fork Clinch River, and Blackwater Creek in Tazewell, Russell, Wise, Scott, and Lee Counties, Virginia. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Conservation and Recreation are announcing an effort to restore water quality, a public comment opportunity, and public meeting. MEETING DESCRIPTION: This is the first public meeting on a study to restore water quality. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY: DEQ has been working to identify sources of bacterial contamination and sources of pollutants affecting aquatic organisms. The mainstem of the Clinch River is impaired for failure to meet the Recreational Use because of fecal coliform bacteria violations and violations of the E. coli standard. Bear Creek, Fall Creek, Little Stoney Creek, Russell Creek, Staunton Creek, Stony Creek, Cove Creek, Stock Creek, Copper Creek, Moll Creek, Valley Creek, North Fork Clinch River, and Blackwater Creek are impaired for failure to meet the Recreational Use because of fecal coliform bacteria violations and violations of the E. coli standard. Bark Camp Branch in Wise County, Laurel Creek in Russell and Tazewell Counties, as well as Thompson Creek in Tazewell Counties are impaired for failing to meet the Aquatic Life Use (benthic impairment) based on violations of the general standard for aquatic organisms. Bark Camp Branch is also impaired for failure to meet the Aquatic Life Use based on violations of the pH water quality standard. During the study, the sources of bacterial contamination and pollutants impairing the aquatic community will be identified and total maximum daily loads, or TMDL, developed for the impaired waters. To restore water quality, contamination levels must be reduced to the TMDL amount. A TMDL is the total amount of a pollutant a water body can contain and still meet water quality standards. The development of a TMDL includes public meetings and a public comment period once the study report is drafted. After public comments have been considered and addressed, DEQ will submit the TMDL report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval. The comment period will be from July 11, 2013 to August 12, 2013. Notice of this meeting appears in the July 1, 2013 Virginia Register. Fact sheets are available on the impaired waters from the contacts below or on the DEQ web site at http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/WaterQualityInformationTMDLs.aspx. | |
| Meeting Scope |
Public hearing to receive comment on a proposed stage
X
General business of the board
Discuss particular regulations / chapters
|
| Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| Name / Title: | Martha Chapman / TMDL Coordinator |
| Address: |
DEQ Southwest Regional Office 355-A Deadmore Street, P. O. Box 1688 Abingdon, 24210-1688 |
| Email Address: | Martha.Chapman@deq.virginia.gov |
| Telephone: | (276)676-4800 FAX: (276)676-4899 TDD: ()- |