Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
 
Agency
Department of Environmental Quality
Board
Department of Environmental Quality
Meeting:
TMDL Public Meeting - Clinch River & Various Tributaries

 
Meeting Details
Date / Time 8/22/2013  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? No
Purpose of the meeting
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is announcing the final study report to restore water quality, a public comment opportunity, and public meeting in 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. This is the final 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 have been 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 comment period will be from August 22, 2013 to September 23, 2013. Notice of this meeting appears in the August 12, 2013 Virginia Register. TO REVIEW FACT SHEETS: 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 
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: ()-