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Environmental News
Martin Kessler(913) 551-7003
kessler.martin@epa.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2004
EPA APPROVES NEBRASKA'S IMPAIRED WATERS LIST
EPA has approved Nebraska's 2004 Section 303(d) List of Impaired Waters requiring the development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) to address the impairments.
A TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards, and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant's sources.
Under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, states, territories, and authorized tribes are required to develop lists of impaired waters every two years. By law, EPA must approve or disapprove those 303(d) lists.
The state combined their impaired waters list and their water quality report into an integrated water quality monitoring and assessment report for the first time, based on EPA's recommendation to all states. An integrated report fosters a more efficient and effective analysis.
The state submitted their integrated report to EPA on April 1, 2004. EPA's approval letter and supporting documentation was provided to the state on April 29.
EPA is pleased with the work done by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality in preparing their 2004 integrated report, seeking public participation, and continuing improvements in interagency coordination.
Links to EPA's approval letter and supporting documentation will be available on-line (under the text of this release) on April 30 at: www.epa.gov/region07/water/tmdl.htm.
