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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM ISSUES DRAFT LISTING OF RHODE ISLAND WATERS IMPAIRED BY POLLUTION The workshop will be held from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the third floor cafeteria at DEM Headquarters, 235 Promenade Street in Providence. DEM is seeking public input on the identification of impaired waters and on the prioritization of water quality restoration activities associated with the impaired waters. In accordance with the federal Clean Water Act, all states are required to regularly evaluate their waters to determine compliance with state and federal water quality standards, and to report their findings in the biennial "State of the State's Waters Report," also known as the 305(b) report. Water quality restoration plans, officially known as Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), must be developed for each waterbody identified as impaired by pollution. The 303(d) list establishes a priority ranking for development of these restoration plans, and, as such, serves to direct water quality monitoring and restoration planning efforts in Rhode Island. The draft 2002 list notes a number of changes since the 2000 list. For instance, progress has been made in developing pollution control plans for the Narrow River and its tributaries, Gilbert Stuart and Crooked Brook, the Palmer River, and Mt. Hope Bay. New waterbodies where pollution control plans are being developed include Point Judith Pond, the tidal portion of the Saugatucket River, Sands Pond on Block Island, Bissel Cove, the tidal portion of the Pawcatuck River, Little Narragansett Bay, Yawgoo Pond, Barber Pond, and Chickasheen Brook. Since 2000, data on more waterbodies has been obtained that identifies additional water quality impairments; therefore, the draft 2002 list contains 130 waterbodies, compared to 116 waterbodies on the 2000 list. For the 303(d) list, DEM utilizes water quality information available from a variety of sources including data collected by state, federal and local agencies; universities; and volunteer monitoring organizations. Most of the baseline monitoring consists of quarterly and seasonal sampling programs. Stations are assessed based on biological data, chemical data, or both. Often, single monitoring stations are considered representative of the specified waterbody for a distance downstream where no significant influences exist that might tend to change water quality or biological and habitat quality. However, waters that have not actually been evaluated or monitored for more than 10 years are reported as unassessed. This provides a more accurate representation of the waters in the state for which DEM has data, as well as those waters where monitoring is needed. Copies of the draft list are available on DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov by clicking on "water quality" under "topics" (no longer posted), or by calling Carol MacAndrew of the Office of Water Resources at 222-3961 ext. 7220. DEM's Office of Water Resources will accept comments on the draft 2002 303(d) list through January 24, 2003. Comments can be mailed to Elizabeth Scott, Deputy Chief of Water Quality and Standards, DEM/Office of Water Resources, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02903, or they can be submitted via e-mail to escott@dem.state.ri.us. The Office of Water Resources will respond to all comments received verbally at the public workshop or in writing during the public comment period. The final list will be subject to modification based on the comments received from the public. -30- |
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rev. 3/27/03