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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 ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF CONSOLIDATED ASSESSMENT AND LISING METHODOLOGY PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Office of Water Resources announces that the draft Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) is available for public review. The CALM fulfills Rhode Island's requirement, under sections 305(b) and 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act, to provide a description of the decision making process used for assessing the quality of the state's surface waters and for generating the list of impaired waters.Specifically, Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act requires states to assess the health of their surface waters and submit biennial reports describing water quality conditions. Historically, the Rhode Island 305(b) State of the State's Waters Report, provided information on the quality of all assessed waters in the state relative to their designated uses (swimming/recreation, shellfish consumption, aquatic life, drinking water supply, and fish consumption), and water quality criteria established in the state's water quality regulations. Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act requires states to develop a list of waters that do not meet water quality standards. Waterbodies that do not meet water quality standards under the 305(b) process are placed on the 303(d) List of Impaired Waters. Recent EPA guidance recommends that states integrate their Section 305(b) water quality assessment report and their Section 303(d) impaired waters list into a single document known as the Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report. This report includes a five-part integrated list format for reporting the water quality assessment status of the state's waters. As part of this new reporting format, states are required to document the assessment and listing methodology utilized to assess the waters of the state for development of the integrated list of waterbodies. The methods that DEM will use to develop the 2008 integrated report are described in the draft CALM. The document includes a description of quality assurance requirements, methods used to evaluate water quality data and assess water quality standards attainment, and the rationale for the placement of waterbodies into the integrated list. Copies of the draft CALM are available on DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on Office of Water Resources under Offices and Divisions, then Water Quality, then Surface Water, or by calling Carol MacAndrew in the Office of Water Resources at 222-3961 ext. 7220. The draft CALM is also available at DEM's Office of Water Resources at 235 Promenade Street in Providence, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. DEM's Office of Water Resources will accept comments on the draft CALM through November 3. Comments can be mailed to Connie Carey, DEM/Office of Water Resources, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908, or they may be submitted via e-mail to connie.carey@dem.ri.gov. The CALM will be modified and finalized based on comments received. -30- |
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rev. 2/5/07