Three Hudson Valley Waterbodies Set to Be Removed from Impaired List

ALBANY, NY (01/20/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has proposed removing water bodies in Greene, Dutchess, and Westchester counties from a federal list of impaired waters, Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today. Recent assessments found significant water quality improvements in Rudd Pond, and Shingle Kill and Peach Lake following the recent construction of a new wastewater treatment plant for the area.

"New York is making great progress in improving water quality throughout the state through initiatives that target untreated sewage effluent discharges, stormwater and agricultural runoff, industrial pollution, and other sources of contamination," Commissioner Grannis said. "While there is much more work to be done, we recognize the efforts of communities that have helped clean up our waters."

Under Section 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act, DEC must periodically identify waters for which a water quality standard has not been met due to pollution. Such waters are considered "water quality-limited" or "impaired." After assessing data collected from a variety of sources, DEC identifies waters that are impacted by pollution and that would benefit from a pollutant reduction plan (commonly referred to as a Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL.) Such waters are proposed by DEC for 303(d) listing to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Upon EPA approval of a final list, these waters are scheduled for development of a TMDL to restore water quality. If DEC develops necessary plans to demonstrate how a waterbody will be improved, if other non-TMDL actions are identified to address the impairment, or if waterbodies show sufficient improvement and begin meeting water quality standards again, DEC can then propose to delist them.

More information about the current and draft 303(d) impaired waters lists can be found on DEC's website at www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/31290.html . In addition, DEC is accepting public comments on the 2010 draft recommendations until Feb. 26, 2010.

The three Hudson Valley waters being proposed for delisting from the federal impaired waters inventory are:

Rudd Pond: Town of North East, Dutchess County

First listed in 1998 due to phosphorus from agricultural runoff, DEC proposes to delist the pond because nutrient levels have improved and recreational use is no longer impaired.

Shingle Kill: Town of Cairo, Greene County

Listed in 2002 due to pathogens caused by nearby septic systems, DEC proposes to delist the river due to construction of a new wastewater treatment plant in the Village of Cairo that will address the contamination.

Peach Lake: Town of North Salem, Westchester County/Town of Southeast, Putnam County

First listed in 2002 due to pathogens from nearby septic systems, DEC proposes delisting due to the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant serving the Peach Lake community.

Public comments can be sent to NYSDEC Division of Water, Bureau of Watershed Assessment and Management, 625 Broadway, 4th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-3502, or by email to jamyers@gw.dec.state.ny.us . DEC will submit the draft list to EPA in April, and EPA is expected to approve the list by the end of May.