Abstract |
Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)s 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. This list of impaired waters is commonly referred to as the 303(d) list. 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. Lower Susquehanna River (basin code 02-12-02-01) was identified on the States list of WQLSs as impaired by nutrients (1996 listing), sediments (1996 listing), cadmium (Cd) (1996 listing), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish tissue (2002 listing) and evidence of biological impacts (2002 listing). The biological impairment listing is designated for two non-tidal streams, Herring Run and an unnamed tributary of the Lower Susquehanna River, while the remaining listings apply to the tidal portion. This document addresses the nutrient impairment in the tidal portion of the Lower Susquehanna River; the sediment, Cd, PCB, and biological impairments will be addressed at a future date. |