PUBLIC MEETINGS TO DISCUSS AMENDMENTS TO WATER QUALITY STANDARDS

Iowans are invited to six public meetings addressing DNR-proposed changes to
Iowa rules protecting water quality.

The amendments will affect Chapter 61 of the Iowa Administrative Code,
"Water Quality Standards." The standards are used to define, measure and
protect the quality of Iowa's surface and ground water.

Some of the changes being considered for change include:

O  Establishing chloride limits to protect aquatic life and general uses for
water bodies. Public input is particularly requested to establish reasonable
chloride levels to protect general uses such as livestock and wildlife
watering.

o  Creating a site-specific approach in establishing discharge limits for
dissolved solids. This would replace a numerical standard for total
dissolved solids currently used for all waters with a guideline value.
Sources proposing to discharge at a level higher than the guideline would be
required to perform toxicity testing to clearly demonstrate that the aquatic
life in the receiving stream would be protected before a permit would be
issued.

o  Classifying approximately 300 publicly owned lakes and wetlands. The
proposed change would designate these waters as supporting warm-water game
fish and associated aquatic communities, providing additional protection
from being polluted.

o  Classifying a number of stream segments for secondary contact
recreational uses. In addition to the existing aquatic life classifications
for these streams, the changes would also provide bacteria water standards
designed to protect the public from incidental or accidental contact
associated with recreational activities such as fishing or boating.

The public is invited to present oral or written comments about these
proposed amendments at the following public hearings:

Oct. 7, 2 p.m. Municipal Utilities conference room, 15 W. Third St.,
Atlantic
Oct.  9, 7 p.m. Decorah City Hall meeting room, 400 Claiborne Dr., Decorah
Oct.  10, 1 p.m. Clear Lake community meeting room, 15 N. Sixth St., Clear
Lake
Oct. 13, 11 a.m. Cherokee Community Center, 530 W. Bluff St., Cherokee
Oct. 15, 11 a.m. Iowa City Public Library meeting room A, 123 S. Linn St.
(use temporary entrance in Pedestrian Mall), Iowa City
Oct. 17, 1 p.m. Wallace State Office Building, 5th floor conference rooms,
900 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines

Additional information on Iowa's Water Quality Standards can be found on the
DNR's Web site at
http://www.state.ia.us/dnr/organiza/epd/wtresrce/wquality/index.htm.

As required by recent legislation, a brief Fiscal Impact Statement has been
prepared for this Notice and is available upon request.  It can also be
found at the above Web site.

Copies of Environmental Protection Commission rules may be obtained from
Cecilia Nelson, Records Center, Iowa Department of Natural Resources,
Wallace State Office Building, 900 East Grand, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0034.

Any person may submit written suggestions or comments on the proposed rule
changes through October 31, 2003.  Send suggestions or comments to: Ralph
Turkle, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Wallace State Office Building,
900 East Grand, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0034 or by FAX at  (515) 281-8895 or
by e-mail to [log in to unmask]  Additional questions may be
addressed by contacting Ralph Turkle at (515) 281-7025.

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