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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Make your voice heard! Find out how to get Take Action Alerts and other important Sierra Club messages by email at: http://www.sierraclub.org/email