DNR Seeks Public Comment on CHANGES TO THREE Water Quality Standards CRITERIA 

The DNR is seeking public comments on proposed rules that would establish requirements to protect and manage the water quality of Iowa's surface waters.

 Recently, the DNR began to compile research related to toxicity of total dissolved solids, chloride and sulfate. The purpose was to update and develop criteria for these parameters to better protect aquatic life based on new scientific information.

 With the availability of new research and toxicity data, the information is now available to propose numeric criteria for chloride and sulfate to better protect river, stream and lake aquatic life uses and revaluate the current interim approach for total dissolved solids criteria.

 People can comment on the proposed rules orally or in writing at seven public meetings, listed alphabetically by town:

·        Atlantic: 10:00 a.m. July 15, Atlantic Public Library, 507 Poplar St.

·        Clear Lake: 11:00 a.m. July 16, Clear Lake Public Library, 200 N. Fourth St. 

·        Des Moines: 1:00 p.m. July 9, fifth floor conference rooms of the Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. Ninth St.

·        Dubuque: 11:00 a.m. July 13, Dubuque Public Library, 360 W. 11th St.

·        Iowa City: 6:00 p.m. July 13, Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St.

·        Orange City: 11:00 a.m. July 7, Orange City Public Library, 112 Albany Avenue SE 

·        Spencer: 6:00 p.m. July 7, Spencer Public Library, 21 E. Third St.

 The proposed changes would:

  a.. Establish numerical water quality criteria for chloride, for the protection of aquatic life 
·        Establish numerical water quality criteria for sulfate, for the protection of aquatic life and livestock watering

·        Remove criteria for total dissolved solids and associated implementation procedures.

Revise the default hardness level used for hardness-dependent chemical criteria

Find detailed information on the changes and view the complete rule proposal at www.iowadnr.gov/water/standards/chloride.html.

 People can submit written comments to Adam Schnieders at the Iowa DNR, 502 East Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319, or by e-mail to [log in to unmask] The DNR will accept comments until Aug. 14, 2009.

 For more information, contact Schnieders by e-mail or at (515) 281-7409.

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