The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will conduct the first of two public meetings on draft Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for selected streams in the Cheat Watershed at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 3 at Camp Dawson’s Armed Forces Reserve Center in Kingwood, Preston County.
The Armed Forces Reserve Center is located approximately one mile west from the intersection of Route 7 and River Road. Route 7 also is known as Main Street and Veterans Memorial Highway. The meeting was originally listed for a different location at Camp Dawson (240 Army Road) but was moved to the Reserve Center.
The second meeting for draft Cheat Watershed TMDLs is set for 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 4 at Blackwater Falls State Park in Davis.
The public meetings are intended to present a general discussion of the TMDL development process and to answer questions regarding the proposed TMDLs.
A TMDL is a plan of action used to clean up streams not meeting water quality standards. Each of the streams under TMDL development has been identified as violating state water quality standards and the federal Clean Water Act requires TMDL development for them. TMDLs are being developed for fecal coliform bacteria, aluminum, iron, manganese, pH and biological impairments for selected streams.
The DEP invites public comment on all aspects of the draft TMDLs. The comment period began July 26 and extends through Aug. 23, 2010. Written comments may be submitted by U.S. Mail and electronic mail. The preferred form for comment submissions is e-mail or disk in order to expedite the review and response process. Written comments should be postmarked no later than Aug. 23, 2010.
Comments should be sent to: Steve Young, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, 601 57th Street, Charleston, WV 25304.
E-mail: stephen.a.young@wv.gov
Draft documents may be viewed at: http://www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/watershed/TMDL/grpa/Pages/default.aspx