Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) implementing regulations direct each state to identify and list waters, known as water quality limited segments (WQLSs), in which current required controls of a specified substance are inadequate to achieve water quality standards. For each WQLS, the State is to either establish a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) of the specified substance that the waterbody can receive without violating water quality standards, or demonstrate that water quality standards are being met (CFR 2006c). The restricted shellfish harvesting area in the Chester River is located in portions of three 8-digit basins: Lower Chester River (basin number 02130505), Southeast Creek (basin number 02130508) and Middle Chester River (basin number 02130509). The assessment unit listing code for this area in Marylands 303(d) List is MD-CHSOH-Chester River. These three basins were all first identified on the 1996 303(d) List submitted to EPA by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). The Lower Chester River was listed as impaired by sediments (1996), nutrients (1996), fecal coliform in tidal shellfish harvesting portions of the basin (1996), toxics (2002), impacts to biological communities (2002, 2004), and bacteria in public beaches (2006). The Southeast Creek was listed as impaired by sediments (1996, 2002), fecal coliform in tidal shellfish harvesting portions of the basin (1996), impacts to biological communities (2002, 2004) and bacteria in public beaches (2006). The Middle Chester River was listed as impaired by sediments (1996), fecal coliform in tidal shellfish harvesting portions of the basin (1996), toxics (2002) and impacts to biological communities (2002, 2004, 2006). This document, upon EPA approval, establishes a TMDL of fecal coliform for the one restricted shellfish harvesting area in the Lower Chester River, Southeast Creek and Middle Chester River, hereafter referred to as the Chester River restricted shellfish harvesting area. Thus, the TMDL addresses all three listings for fecal coliform in the tidal shellfish harvesting portions of the three 8-digit basins.