IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES May 10, 2007 For immediate release 1. DNR seeks public comments on impaired waters list 2. City of Birmingham reports wastewater discharge DNR SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENTS ON IMPAIRED WATERS LIST MEDIA CONTACT: John Olson at (515) 281-8905. DES MOINES – The DNR is asking interested people to comment on the draft 2006 Iowa Impaired Waters list that was presented to the DNR’s Environmental Protection Commission on May 1. About 135 new water bodies have been added since the 2004 list was prepared. The list also includes 92 waters that remain impaired, but have a water quality improvement plan. The total of 366 impaired waters indicates an increase in water and biological monitoring, not necessarily an increase in pollution, according to John Olson, the DNR’s specialist on water quality assessments. “Most of our impairments are not dangerous to humans, but they do indicate that our waters are not as good as they could or should be for Iowa’s aquatic life and for Iowans to drink, to swim in and to play in,” Olson said. The DNR identifies and develops the impaired waters list for waters that do not fully meet state water quality standards. The list must be updated every two years and submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to meet requirements of the Clean Water Act. The DNR will accept comments on the list through June 29. Comments can be submitted to John Olson, DNR, 502 East Ninth St., Des Moines, Iowa 50319. Or, comments can be emailed to [log in to unmask] The draft list and supporting materials are available on the DNR Web site at http://wqm.igsb.uiowa.edu/WQA/303d.html. Hard copies are available by contacting Olson at (515) 281-8905. The DNR will consider the comments, revise the draft list and submit the revised list to the U.S. EPA for approval. Writer: Karen Grimes # # # CITY OF BIRMINGHAM REPORTS WASTEWATER DISCHARGE MEDIA CONTACT: Terry Jones, (319) 653-2135. BIRMINGHAM — The City of Birmingham reported a wastewater overflow from a lift station to the DNR on Wednesday. Following last weekend’s storms, the lift station pumps could not keep up with the excess flow. An unknown amount of wastewater overflowed from the lift station and into a nearby creek, an unnamed tributary of Cedar Creek. The overflow began on May 7 and ended the morning of May 8. Writer: Jessie Brown -30- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp