Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Environmental Quality
Board
Department of Environmental Quality

General Notice
Comment Period - Revised Draft of TMDL for Upper North Fork Holston River
Date Posted: 2/27/2006
Expiration Date: 4/19/2006
Submitted to Registrar for publication: NO
No comment forum defined for this notice.

Department of Environmental Quality

Announcement of a Second Public Comment Period

Purpose of notice: To seek public comment on the revised draft “General Standard (Benthic) Total Maximum Daily Load Development for Upper North Fork Holston River” water quality improvement study by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Conservation and Recreation

DESCRIPTION OF STUDY: The 4.8 mile long “impaired” stream segment of North Fork Holston River begins at the confluence with Robertson Branch in Saltville and extends downstream to Tumbling Creek.  The stream is impaired for the Aquatic Life Use- violations of the general standard for aquatic organisms. Virginia agencies have identified sources of chlorides that decrease the number and variety of aquatic organisms in the waters of the North Fork Holston River just downstream of Saltville in Smyth County and Washington County Virginia.

            The study reports that chloride is impairing the aquatic community and recommends a total maximum daily load, or TMDL, for the impaired water. A TMDL is the total amount of a pollutant a water body can contain and still meet water quality standards. To restore water quality, contamination levels have to be reduced to the TMDL amount.

How a decision is made: The development of a TMDL includes a public comment period and public meetings. The draft document was revised after the final public meeting and it is the revised document that is available for public review and comment.  After public comments have been considered and addressed, DEQ will submit the TMDL report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval.

How to comment:  DEQ accepts written comments by e-mail, fax or postal mail. Written comments should include the name, address and telephone number of the person commenting and be received by DEQ during the comment period, March 20 to April 19, 2006.

to review draft tmdl report:  The revised draft TMDL report for the impaired water is available after March 20, 2006 from the contact below or on the DEQ web site at www.deq.virginia.gov/tmdl.

Contact for additional information:  Nancy T. Norton, P.E. – Regional TMDL Coordinator, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality-Southwest Regional Office, 355 Deadmore Street, P. O. Box 1688, Abingdon, Virginia, 24212-1688, Phone: (276) 676-4807     E-mail: ntnorton@deq.virginia.gov     Fax: (276) 676-4899


Contact Information
Name / Title: Nancy T. Norton 
Address: 355 Deadmore Street
Abingdon, 24212
Email Address: ntnorton@deq.virginia.gov
Telephone: (276)676-4807    FAX: (276)676-4899