Cover Letter to State

Jack Riessen, P.E.
Chief, Water Quality Bureau
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
401 SW 7th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Dear Mr. Riessen:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed its review of the Iowa Section 303(d) List of Water Quality Limited Segments (WQLS) still requiring Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), submitted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) on December 19, 2002. Although Iowa’s list consists of five parts, only parts one and five, totaling 136 impaired waterbodies, require TMDLs and EPA’s approval consistent with Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and EPA’s regulations. Based on its review, EPA has determined that IDNR’s list of WQLSs requiring TMDLs partially meets the requirements of Section 303(d) of the CWA and EPA’s implementing regulations. EPA is, therefore, partially approving and partially disapproving Iowa’s 2002 Section 303(d) list. EPA disapproves Iowa’s decision not to list 20 waterbodies and associated pollutants. EPA will open a public comment period to receive comments concerning our decision to add back these waterbodies and pollutants to the State’s list. The statutory and regulatory requirements and a summary of EPA’s review of Iowa’s compliance with each requirement are described in Enclosure 1.

If you would like to further discuss EPA’s action, please contact me at 913-551-7001, or Cheryl Crisler, Branch Chief of the Water Resources Protection Branch at 913-551-7820.

Sincerely,

Leo J. Alderman
Director
Water, Wetlands, and Pesticides Division

Enclosures:
1. Summary to Support EPA’s Decision
          Attachment A - Rationale For Not Including Segments of the Mississippi River on Iowa’s 2002
          303(d)List for Sediment and/or Turbidity
          Attachment B - Listing of Documents Reviewed by EPA
2. Waterbody Removed from Iowa’s 1998 303(d) List with Good Cause and Not Included on Parts 1 or 5
    of Iowa’s 2002 303(d) List
3. Waterbodies Removed from Iowa’s 303(d) List Which EPA is Disapproving

Cover Letter to State

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