Abstract |
The Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 303(d) directs each State to develop a list of impaired waters, called the 303(d) list. The Savage River was first identified on the 1996 303(d) list, submitted to EPA by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). Among other substances still under examination, the Savage River was listed as being impaired by nutrients. This report provides more recent information to be used in justifying the removal of the nutrients listing for the Savage River. In addition to the successful implementation of a TMDL, there are at least four scenarios by which a previously listed waterbody can be removed from the 303(d) list. Waters may be removed from the list based on (1) more recent data indicating that the impairment no longer exists; (2) more recent and updated water quality modeling demonstrates that the segment is now attaining standards; (3) refinements to water quality standards, or the interpretation of those standards, results in standards being met; or (4) correction to errors made in the initial listing. The first scenario most closely applies to the present case, with the qualification that the initial listing for nutrients was suspect due to the lack of data. |