PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Office of Water Resources will hold an open workshop Wednesday, August 16 to discuss DEM's draft list of impaired waterbodies and the schedule for addressing them. The public is invited to participate. The prioritized list will play an important role in directing water quality planning and protection activities in Rhode Island for the next several years.

The list identifies waterbodies within the state that may not currently meet Rhode Island water quality standards, establishes a priority ranking of the waters, and identifies the need to develop restoration plans, known as total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) of pollutant limits that will achieve water quality standards for each waterbody.

The list includes information on causes of impairment and target dates for TMDL development. The priority rankings take into account impacts to shellfishing, drinking water supplies, and input from the public.

Compared to 1998 list, the draft 2000 list includes a number of changes. As a result of water quality data collected by DEM and other organizations, impairments of 39 different waterbodies, mostly for nutrient and pathogen-related causes, were added to the list. Also based on additional data collection and/or analysis, the department is recommending that impairments for 43 different waterbodies be removed from the list. Many of those same waterbodies, however, will remain on the list for other impairments.

The August 16 workshop will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Conference Room300 at DEM Headquarters, 235 Promenade St., Providence. The draft list can be obtained DEM's website at www.dem.state.ri.us/303d/index.htm. Copies of the list may also be picked up at DEM's Office of Water Resources, also at 235 Promenade Street, weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., or by calling Carol MacAndrew at (401) 222-3961 ext. 7220 or TDD (401) 222-4462.

DEM will accept comments on the draft list through September 6. Comments may be mailed to Wayne Jenkins at DEM's Office of Water Resources, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 or e-mailed to wjenkins@dem.state.ri.us.