Pursuant to IC 13-18-2-3, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is soliciting public comment on the assessment of water quality data for the development of a total maximum daily load (TMDL) report. These data were collected by IDEM staff from November of 2017 through October of 2018 following the IDEM quality assured work plan and IDEM standard operating procedures. They were assessed using IDEM's Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM).

Chemical, physical, and biological samples of the Lower East Fork White River Watershed were collected in 1986, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2013 using probabilistic, targeted, and fish tissue monitoring programs. Based on these monitoring programs, impairments listed on the 303(d) List of Impaired Waters include E. coli, PCBs, dissolved oxygen (DO), and impaired biotic communities (IBC). In 2017, the Lower East Fork White River Watershed was selected for an intensive watershed characterization monitoring project to identify the sources and extent of impairments based on those waters that were previously listed. Seventeen sites were assessed for general chemistry, nutrients, habitat, and fish and macroinvertebrate communities.

Based on the watershed characterization study assessments in 2017-2018, there are 37 stream segments, tracked using assessment unit IDs (AUIDs), where additional impairments are identified. The additional impairments across all stream segments sampled within the Lower East Fork White River Watershed totals 54 including 34 E. coli, 10 IBC, 2 DO, and 8 nutrients.

Also as a result of the assessments, a total of seven historical impairments (including five dissolved oxygen and two E. coli impairments) are identified as no longer applicable as those segments now demonstrate attainment of applicable water quality standards.

At this time, IDEM solicits water quality-related information to support or refute the assessments described above.

Comments may be submitted in one of the following ways:

(1) By mail or common carrier to the following address:

Document #19-294 2018 Assessment of Lower East Fork White River Water Quality Data

Caleb Rennaker, Watershed Assessment and Planning Branch

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

2525 North Shadeland Avenue, Suite 100

Indianapolis, IN 46219

(2) By electronic mail to CRennake@idem.in.gov. To confirm timely delivery of your comments, please request a document receipt when you send the electronic mail. PLEASE NOTE: Electronic mail comments will NOT be considered part of the official written comment period unless they are sent to the address indicated in this notice.

(3) Hand delivered to the receptionist on duty at the reception desk, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, 2525 North Shadeland Avenue, Suite 100, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Regardless of the delivery method used, to properly identify each comment with the action it is intended to address, each comment document must clearly specify the document number of the action on which you are commenting.

All comments must be postmarked or time stamped not later than September 3, 2019. Hand-delivered comments must be delivered to the appropriate office by 4:45 p.m. on the above-listed deadline date.

Additional information regarding this notice may be obtained from Caleb Rennaker in the Watershed Assessment and Planning Branch, Office of Water Quality, (317) 308-3119 or (800) 451-6027 (in Indiana).

After the public comment period, the determination of impairments for TMDL development will be presented to the commissioner for final approval.

DIN: 20190605-IR-327190294ONA

Composed: May 06,2024 3:44:56PM EDT

A PDF version of this document.