The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) circulated the agenda for today’s meeting addressing the Assessment Methodology for the 2018 303(d) Listing Cycle. The meeting is being held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the ADEQ Commission Room.
The agenda reflects a focus on the topic of:
Discussion of Assessment Methodology Sessions
The meeting will also address “Outstanding Topics and Future Discussions.”
The agency states that the Assessment Methodology Sessions that will be covered are based on input received during the “listening section.” The meeting will attempt to review:
1.0 Assessment Background
2.0 Integrated Reporting Categories
3.2 Data Quality Considerations
3.2.1 Tiered Approach to Qualifying Data – Table I
3.3 Data Representativeness Considerations
3.4 Instrument Error
3.5 Aggregation of Samples within a Monitoring Segment
3.6 Data Quantity Considerations
3.7 Adequate Data Sets for Attainment Determinations
3.10 WQAR
4.1 Antidegradation
5.0 General Standards
5.1 Biological Integrity
6.0 Specific Standards
6.2 Turbidity
6.6 Bacteria
6.9 Nutrients Assessment – Beaver Lake
6.10 Mineral Quality
6.11 Domestic, Agricultural and Industrial Water Supply Uses
6.12 Ammonia Toxicity
General Input
Geology/Karst
Public Participation Process
ADEQ states that Section 6.3 (pH) and 6.4 (Dissolved Oxygen) related to Continuous Monitoring Data will be reserved for the second meeting.
Section 303 of the Clean Water Act requires that each state develop water quality standards for jurisdictional waters of the United States within their borders. They establish the water quality goals for a specific body of water and also serve as a regulatory basis for the development of the water-quality based effluent limits and strategies for individual point source discharges.
A water quality standard consists of three parts:
- The designated uses of a waterbody
- The water quality criteria that are necessary to protect existing uses and to attain the beneficial uses designated by the State
- An antidegradation statement or policy to protect existing uses in high quality water
Water quality criteria must be developed or incorporated that are sufficient to protect the designated uses.
A copy of the following documents can be downloaded here.
ADEQ Emails List Notification
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