Department of Environmental Quality
Department of Environmental Quality
Meeting:
TMDL Public Meeting - Water Quality Improvement Plan - Guest River (Wise County, VA)
| Meeting Details | |
|---|---|
| Date / Time | 3/3/2014 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 | minutes not taken |
| Disability Friendly? Yes Deaf interpreter available upon request? No | |
| Purpose of the meeting The Upper Tennessee River Roundtable will host a public meeting to present the draft version of the revised water quality improvement plan for reducing excessive sediment accumulation within the Guest River (Wise County, VA) and fecal bacteria contamination within the following tributaries of the Guest River: Crab Orchard Creek, Sepulcher Creek, Little Toms Creek, and Toms Creek. The development of this plan is required by Virginia’s 1997 Water Quality Monitoring, Information, and Restoration Act (§62.1-44.19:4 through 19:8 of the Code of Virginia). The public meeting provides an opportunity for citizens and interested parties to ask questions, provide comments, and will begin a 30 day period during which written public comments on the plan will be accepted. The draft water quality improvement plan will be available on DEQ’s website the day after the public meeting at the following website location: http://www.deq.state.va.us/Programs/ Water/WaterQualityInformationTMDLs/ TMDL/PublicNotices.aspx The Guest River does not meet Virginia’s general standard for water quality, due to an excessive accumulation of sand, silt, and clay on the streambed that is harmful to aquatic life. Fecal bacteria levels (e.g. E. coli) in Crab Orchard Creek, Sepulcher Creek, Little Toms Creek, and Toms Creek exceed state water quality standards designed to protect primary contact recreation (e.g. swimming, wading, kayaking, etc.). Due to these water quality impairments, Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for E. coli and sediment have been developed by DEQ. A TMDL describes the amount of pollution that a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards. The sediment TMDL study for the Guest River was completed in 2003 and the TMDL study for fecal bacteria in the Guest River tributaries listed above was completed in 2004. These studies can be located on DEQ’s website at: http://www.deq.state.va.us/Programs/Water/ WaterQualityInformationTMDLs/TMDL/TMDLDevelopment/ApprovedTMDLReports.aspx PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The public comment period on the materials presented at the public meeting will extend from March 3, 2014 to April 3, 2014. Notice of this meeting and comment period appears in the February 24, 2014 Virginia Register. Please contact Adam Wells, Guest River Coordinator with questions about the public meeting (phone: 276-926-5527; email: guestriverproject@gmail.com). Comments or questions associated with the draft water quality improvement plan for the Guest River watershed should be addressed to Patrick Lizon (contact information below). The back-up date in case the meeting is cancelled due to bad weather is March 10th (same location and time). | |
| 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: | Patrick Lizon / TMDL/Field Coordinator |
| Address: |
DEQ - Southwest Regional Office 355-A Deadmore Street Abingdon, 24210 |
| Email Address: | Patrick.Lizon@deq.virginia.gov |
| Telephone: | (276)676-4803 FAX: (276)676-4899 TDD: ()- |