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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 02-2235i

[32 Pa.B. 6140]

[Continued from previous Web Page]

Public Meeting and Request for Comment for the TMDL for the Sixmile Run Watershed and the Longs Run/Sandy Run Watershed in Bedford County

   The Department will hold a public meeting to discuss and accept comments on the proposed TMDL for the Sixmile Run Watershed and the Longs Run/Sandy Run Watershed in Bedford County. The meeting will be held on Monday, January 27, 2003, at 6:30 p.m. at the Sixmile Run Fire Hall in Broad Top Township, Bedford County. Individuals who plan to make a presentation at the public meeting should contact Tim Kania, (814) 342-8200, tkania@state.pa.us by 4 p.m. on Friday, January 17, 2003. The Department will consider all comments in developing the final TMDL for these watersheds, which will be submitted to the EPA for approval.

   The proposed TMDLs for the Sixmile Run Watershed and the Longs Run/Sandy Run Watershed were established in accordance with the requirements of section 303(d) of the act. One stream segment in the Sixmile Run Watershed has been identified as impaired on the 1996, 1998 and draft 2002 Pennsylvania 303(d) lists due to depressed pH and/or high concentrations of metals. The listed segment and miles degraded are shown in the following table:

Stream Code Stream Name Miles Degraded
13791 Sixmile Run 6.16

   Two stream segments in the Longs Run/Sandy Run Watershed have been identified as impaired on the 1996, 1998 and draft 2002 Pennsylvania 303(d) lists due to depressed pH and/or high concentrations of metals. The listed segments and miles degraded are shown in the following table:

Stream Code Stream Name Miles Degraded
14031 Longs Run 5.26
14030 Sandy Run 6.26

   The proposed plan for the Sixmile Run Watershed and the Longs Run/Sandy Run Watershed provides calculations of the stream's total capacity to accept metals (aluminum, iron, manganese and acidity), pH and maintain levels below water quality criteria. The applicable water quality criteria are as follows:

CriterionTotal Recoverable/
Parameter value (mg/l) Dissolved
Aluminum 0.75 Total Recoverable
Iron 1.5  
0.3  
Total Recoverable
Dissolved
Manganese 1.00 Total Recoverable
pH 6.0--9.0 NA

   The primary pollutant source for the Sixmile Run Watershed and the Longs Run/Sandy Run Watershed is abandoned mine workings. These watersheds were heavily mined for coal throughout the 19th and late 20th centuries. The effects of this mining are still present in these watersheds. All of the allocations made in the TMDLs are LA, which are made to nonpoint sources of pollution.

   The TMDLs for the Sixmile Run Watershed and the Longs Run/Sandy Run Watershed were developed using a MCS to determine long-term average concentrations that each stream segment could accept and still meet water quality criteria 99% of the time. MCS allows for the expansion of a data set based on its statistical makeup. Since there was no critical flow condition where criteria were exceeded, the Department used the average flow to express the loading values in the proposed TMDLs. The proposed TMDLs for the Sixmile Run Watershed and the Longs Run/Sandy Run Watershed set allowable loading rates for metals and acidity at specified points in the watersheds. Field data collected over the past 2 years was used to establish the proposed TMDLs for the Sixmile Run Watershed and the Longs Run/Sandy Run Watershed. Data and all supporting information used to develop the proposed TMDLs for the Sixmile Run Watershed and the Longs Run/Sandy Run Watershed are available from the Department.

   The Department will accept written comments on the proposed TMDLs for the Sixmile Run Watershed and the Longs Run/Sandy Run Watershed. Comments will not be accepted by facsimile or voice mail. Written comments, which will be considered by the Department in developing the final TMDLs, must be postmarked by February 12, 2003, and sent to Tim Kania, Permits Chief, Department of Environmental Protection, Cambria District Mining Office, 286 Industrial Park Road, Ebensburg, PA 15931-4119.

   To request a copy of the proposed TMDLs and associated information sheets or to obtain directions to the Sixmile Run Fire Hall meeting place, contact Tim Kania at the previous phone number or e-mail address.

   The proposed TMDLs for the Sixmile Run Watershed and the Longs Run/Sandy Run Watershed can be accessed through the Department's website (http://www.dep.state.pa.us) by typing ''TMDL'' in the direct link field and clicking ''GO.'' Persons with a disability who require accommodations to attend this meeting should contact the Department at (717) 783-2938 or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users) to discuss how the Department may accommodate their needs.

Public Meeting and Request for Comment for the TMDL for South Branch Codorus Creek in York County

   The Department will hold a public meeting to discuss and accept comments on the proposed TMDL for the South Branch Codorus Creek in York County. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2003, at 7 p.m. in the Nature Center, Nixon County Park, 5922 Nixon Drive, York, PA. Individuals who plan to make a presentation at the public meeting should contact Lee McDonnell, (717) 783-2951, lmcdonnell@state.pa.us by 4 p.m. on Friday, January 17, 2003. The Department will consider all comments in developing the final TMDL for the South Branch Codorus Creek, which will be submitted to the EPA for approval.

   The proposed TMDL developed for the South Branch Codorus Creek in York County was established in accordance with the requirements of section 303(d) of the act. The Commonwealth's 1996 and 1998 Section 303(d) lists included stream segments in the watershed. The listings of these segments were due to use impairments caused by nutrients and siltation as a result of agricultural and urban runoff.

   There currently are no State or Federal instream numerical water quality criteria for nutrients and sediment. Therefore, the Department utilized a reference watershed approach to implement the applicable narrative criteria. The proposed TMDL sets allowable loadings of phosphorus and sediment in the South Branch Codorus Creek watershed. Phosphorus was chosen as the TMDL endpoint for nutrient impairments due to it being the limiting nutrient in the watershed. The phosphorus and sediment loadings were allocated among all land use categories present in the watershed. Data used in establishing these TMDLs were generated using a water quality analysis model (AVGWLF) designed by the Pennsylvania State University.


   The following table shows the estimated current phosphorus and sediment loadings for two subbasins within the watershed. Overall load reductions necessary to meet the TMDLs are also identified.

Existing LoadTMDLPercent
Watershed Pollutant (lbs/yr) (lbs/yr) Reduction
Subbasin 1 Phosphorus        33,852        16,367 52%
Sediment 29,141,794 13,773,460 53%
Subbasin 2 Phosphorus        24,269        13,493 44%
Sediment 17,753,092 11,355,391 36%

   The Department will accept written comments on the proposed TMDL for South Branch Codorus Creek. Comments will not be accepted by facsimile or voice mail. Written comments, which will be considered by the Department in developing the final TMDL, must be postmarked by February 12, 2003, and sent to Lee A. McDonnell, P. E., Chief, TMDL and Modeling Section, Division of Water Quality Assessment and Standards, Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17105, (717) 783-2938, lmcdonnel@state.pa.us.

   To request a copy of the proposed TMDL and associated information or to obtain directions to the Nature Center at Nixon County Park, contact Lee McDonnell at the previous phone number or e-mail address.

   The proposed TMDL for the South Branch Codorus Creek can be accessed through the Department's website (http://www.dep.state.pa.us) by typing ''TMDL'' in the direct link field and clicking ''GO.'' Persons with a disability who require accommodations to attend this meeting should contact the Department at (717) 783-2951 or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users) to discuss how the Department may accommodate their needs.

Public Meeting and Request for Comments for the TMDL for the Tioga River Watershed in Tioga and Bradford Counties

   The Department will hold a public meeting to discuss and accept comments on the proposed TMDL for the Tioga River Watershed in Tioga and Bradford Counties. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 28, 2003, at 7 p.m. at the Hillside Rod and Gun Club in Blossburg, PA. Individuals who plan to make a presentation at the public meeting should contact Chuck Yingling, (717) 783-2300, cyingling@state.pa.us by 4 p.m. on Friday, January 3, 2003. The Department will consider all comments in developing the final TMDL for the Tioga River Watershed, which will be submitted to the EPA for approval.

   The proposed TMDL for the Tioga River Watershed was established in accordance with the requirements of section 303(d) of the act. Three stream segments in the Tioga River Watershed have been identified as impaired on the 1996 and 1998 Pennsylvania 303(d) lists due to depressed pH and/or high concentrations of metals, as well as an additional 14 segments. The listed segments and miles degraded are shown in the following table:

Stream Code Stream Name Miles Degraded
30990 Tioga River 19.71
31442 Bear Creek   1.14
31443 Johnson Creek   8.0
31476 Coal Creek   2.36
31477 Coal Creek, UNT   0.36
31480 Morris Run   2.27
31481 Morris Run, UNT   0.56
31483 Morris Run, UNT   0.67
31484 Morris Run, UNT   1.4
31485 Morris Run, UNT   0.59
31486 Morris Run, UNT   0.36
31487 Morris Run, UNT   0.35
31488 Morris Run, UNT   0.2
31506 Fall Brook   6.83
31519 Fall Brook, UNT   1.15
31521 Fall Brook, UNT   0.98
31522 Fall Brook, UNT   0.91
31523 Fall Brook, UNT   0.15
31534 Fellows Creek   3.38

   The proposed plan provides calculations of stream's total capacity to accept metals (aluminum, iron, manganese and acidity), pH and maintain levels below water quality criteria. The applicable water quality criteria are as follows:

CriterionTotal Recoverable/
Parameter value (mg/l) Dissolved
Aluminum 0.75 Total Recoverable
Iron 1.5   30-Day Average Total Recoverable
Manganese 1.00 Total Recoverable
pH 6.0--9.0 N/A

   The primary pollutant source for the watershed is abandoned mine workings. This watershed was heavily mined for coal from the 19th to the late 20th centuries. The effects of this mining are still present. All of the allocations made in the TMDL are LA that are made to nonpoint sources of pollution.

   The TMDL was developed using MCS to determine long-term average concentrations that each stream segment could accept and still meet water quality criteria 99% of the time. MCS allows for the expansion of a data set based on its statistical makeup. Since there was no critical flow condition where criteria were exceeded, the Department used the average flow to express the loading values in the TMDL. The TMDL sets allowable loading rates for metals and acidity at specified points in the watershed. Field date collected over the past 10 years was the basis of information used in the establishment of this TMDL for the Tioga River Watershed. The data and all supporting information used to develop the proposed TMDL are available from the Department.

   The Department will accept written comments on the proposed TMDL for the Tioga River Watershed. Comments will not be accepted by facsimile or voice mail. Written comments, which will be considered by the Department in developing the final TMDL, must be postmarked by February 12, 2003, and sent to Chuck Yingling, Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Water Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8555.

   To request a copy of the proposed TMDL and associated information or to obtain directions to the Hillside Rod and Gun Club meeting place, contact Chuck Yingling at the previous phone number or e-mail address.

   The proposed TMDL for Tioga River Watershed can be accessed through the Department's website (http://www.dep.state.pa.us) by typing ''TMDL'' in the direct link field and clicking ''GO.'' Persons with a disability who require accommodations to attend this meeting should contact the Department at (717) 783-2300 or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users) to discuss how the Department may accommodate their needs.

Public Meeting and Request for Comment for the TMDL Developed for the Unnamed Tributary to Schuylkill River in Chester County

   The Department will hold a public meeting to discuss and accept comments on the proposed TMDL for the unnamed tributary to Schuylkill River in Chester County. The meeting will be held on Monday, February 3, 2003, at 1 p.m. at the Department's Southeast Regional Office, Lee Park, Suite 6010, 555 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA. Individuals who plan to make a presentation at the public meeting should contact Lee McDonnell, (717) 783-2938, lmcdonnell@state.pa.us by 4 p.m. on Friday, January 24, 2003. The Department will consider all comments in developing the final TMDL for this tributary to the Schuylkill River, which will be submitted to the EPA for approval.

   This TMDL was established in accordance with the requirements of section 303(d) of the act. The Commonwealth's 1996 and 1998 Section 303(d) lists included the stream segment. The listing of this waterbody was due to use impairments caused by excessive nutrients from agricultural land uses.

   There are currently no State or Federal instream numerical water quality criteria for nutrients and sediments. Therefore, the Department utilized a reference watershed approach to implement the applicable narrative criteria. These TMDLs set allowable loadings of sediment and phosphorous in the unnamed tributary to the Schuylkill River watershed. Phosphorous was chosen as the TMDL endpoint for nutrient impairments due to it being the limiting nutrient in these watersheds. The sediment and phosphorous loadings were allocated among all of the land use categories present in the watershed. Data used in establishing this TMDL was generated using a water quality analysis model (AVGWLF) designed by the Pennsylvania State University. The following table shows the listed segment and miles degraded.

Stream Code Stream Name Miles Degraded
1622 Unnamed tributary to Schuylkill River 2.6

   The Department will accept written comments on the proposed TMDL. Comments will not be accepted by facsimile or voice mail. Written comments, which will be considered by the Department in developing the final TMDL, must be postmarked by February 12, 2003, and sent to Lee A. McDonnell, P. E., Chief, TMDL and Modeling Section, Division of Water Quality Assessment and Standards, Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17105, (717) 783-2938, lmcdonnel@state.pa.us.

   To request a copy of the proposed TMDL and associated information or to obtain directions to the Department's Southeast Regional Office, contact Lee McDonnell at the previous phone number or e-mail address.

   The proposed TMDL can be accessed through the Department's website (http://www.dep.state.pa.us) by typing ''TMDL'' in the direct link field and clicking ''GO.'' Persons with a disability who require accommodations to attend this meeting should contact the Department at (717) 783-2938 or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users) to discuss how the Department may accommodate their needs.

Public Meeting and Request for Comment for the Proposed TMDLs Developed for an Unnamed Tributary to Swatara Creek in Lebanon County

   The Department will hold a public meeting to discuss and accept comments on the proposed TMDL for an unnamed tributary to Swatara Creek in Lebanon County. The meeting will be held on Monday, January 13, 2003, at 7 p.m. in the East Hanover Township Building, Lebanon County. Individuals who plan to make a presentation at the public meeting should contact Lee McDonnell, (717) 783-2951, lmcdonnell@state.pa.us by 4 p.m. on Friday, January 3, 2003. The Department will consider all comments in developing the final TMDL, which will be submitted to the EPA for approval.

   The proposed TMDLs developed for an unnamed tributary to Swatara Creek in Lebanon County were established in accordance with the requirements of section 303(d) of the act. The Commonwealth's 1996 and 1998 Section 303(d) lists included stream segments in the watershed. The listings of these segments were due to use impairments caused by organic enrichment and low dissolved oxygen as a result of agricultural land use practices.

   There are currently no State or Federal instream numerical water quality criteria for nutrients. Therefore, the Department utilized a reference watershed approach to implement the applicable narrative criteria. The proposed TMDL sets allowable loadings of phosphorus in the unnamed tributary to the Swatara Creek watershed. Phosphorus was chosen as the TMDL endpoint for nutrient impairments due to it being the limiting nutrient in these watersheds. The phosphorus loadings were allocated among all land use categories present in the watersheds. Data used in establishing these TMDLs were generated using a water quality analysis model (AVGWLF) designed by the Pennsylvania State University.


   The following table shows the estimated current phosphorus loadings for two sub-basins within the watershed. Overall load reductions necessary to meet the TMDLs are also identified.

Existing LoadTMDLPercent
Watershed Pollutant (lbs/yr) (lbs/yr) Reduction
Subbasin 1 Phosphorus 1,865 1,575 16%
Subbasin 2 Phosphorus 1,816 1,218 33%

   The Department will accept written comments on the proposed TMDL. Comments will not be accepted by facsimile or voice mail. Written comments, which will be considered by the Department in developing the final TMDL, must be postmarked by February 12, 2003, and sent to Lee A. McDonnell, P. E., Chief, TMDL and Modeling Section, Division of Water Quality Assessment and Standards, Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17105, (717) 783-2938, lmcdonnel@state.pa.us.

   To request a copy of the proposed TMDLs and associated information sheets or to obtain directions to the East Hanover Township Building meeting place, contact Lee McDonnell at the previous phone number or e-mail address.

   The proposed TMDLs can be accessed through the Department's website (http://ww.dep.state.pa.us) by typing ''TMDL'' in the direct link field and clicking ''GO.'' Persons with a disability who require accommodations to attend this meeting should contact the Department at (717) 783-2951 or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users) to discuss how the Department may accommodate their needs.

Public Meeting and Request for Comment for the TMDL for Upper Schuylkill River Watershed in Schuylkill County

   The Department will hold a public meeting to discuss and accept comments on the proposed TMDL for the Upper Schuylkill River Watershed in Schuylkill County. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 22, 2003, at 6 p.m. at the Tamaqua Community Center in Tamaqua, PA. Individuals who plan to make a presentation at the public meeting should contact Michael Hill, (570) 621-3118, mihill@state.pa.us by 4 p.m. on Friday, January 17, 2003. The Department will consider all comments in developing the final TMDL, which will be submitted to the EPA for approval.

   The proposed TMDL for the Uppers Schuylkill River Watershed was established in accordance with the requirements of section 303(d) of the act. Panther and Wabash Creeks in the Upper Schuylkill River Watershed have been identified as impaired on the 1996 and 1998 Pennsylvania 303(d) lists due to high concentrations of metals. The listed streams and miles degraded are shown in the following table:

Stream Code Stream Name Miles Degraded
02252 Panther Creek 6.47
02251 Wabash Creek 2.03

   The proposed plan provides calculations of stream's total capacity to accept metals (aluminum, iron, manganese and acidity), pH and maintain levels below water quality criteria. The applicable water quality criteria are as follows:

CriterionTotal Recoverable/
Parameter value (mg/l) Dissolved
Aluminum 0.1 of the 96 hour LC 50
0.75
Total Recoverable
Iron 1.5  
0.3  
Total Recoverable
Dissolved
Manganese 1.00 Total Recoverable
pH 6.0--9.0 N/A

   The primary pollutant source for the watershed is abandoned mine workings. The majority of the watersheds had been affected by underground and surface mining activities dating back at least 200 years. The effects of this are still present. All of the allocations made in the TMDL are LA, which are made to nonpoint sources of pollution.

   The proposed TMDL was developed using MCS to determine long-term average concentrations that each stream segment could accept and still meet water quality criteria 99% of the time. MCS allows for the expansion of a data set based on its statistical makeup. Since there was no critical flow condition where criteria were exceeded, the Department used the average flow to express the loading values in the TMDL. The TMDL sets allowable loading rates for metals and acidity at specified points in the watershed. Field data collected over the past 10 years was used to establish the proposed TMDL for the Upper Schuylkill River Watershed. Data and all supporting information used to develop the proposed TMDL are available from the Department.

   The Department will accept written comments on the proposed TMDL for the Upper Schuylkill River Watershed. Comments will not be accepted by facsimile or voice mail. Written comments, which will be considered by the Department in developing the final TMDL, must be postmarked by February 12, 2003, and sent to Michael Hill, Geologic Specialist, Department of Environmental Protection, Pottsville District Mining Office, 5 West Laurel Blvd., Pottsville, PA 17901.

   To request a copy of the proposed TMDL for the Upper Schuylkill River Watershed or to obtain directions to the Tamaqua Community Center meeting place, contact Michael Hill at the previous phone number or e-mail address.

   The proposed TMDL for the Upper Schuylkill River Watershed can be accessed through the Department's website (http://ww.dep.state.pa.us) by typing ''TMDL'' in the direct link field and clicking ''GO.'' Persons with a disability who require accommodations to attend this meeting should contact the Department at (570) 621-3118 or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users) to discuss how the Department may accommodate their needs.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 02-2235. Filed for public inspection December 13, 2002, 9:00 a.m.]



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