EPA Establishes Pollutant Reduction Plans for Four Missouri Creeks

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is establishing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) or pollutant reduction plans for Hinkson Creek in Boone County, and Jordan, Pearson and Wilson creeks in Christian and Greene counties in Missouri. The TMDLs call for significant pollutant reductions to improve the streams’ water quality.

The TMDLs are calculations of the maximum allowable load of pollutants that a water body can receive daily and still meet water quality standards. The TMDLs are established to identify the pollutant reductions necessary to meet water quality standards and restore the water bodies. For each of the four streams, the current biological impairments cannot be attributed to a single pollutant. The impairments are attributed to multiple pollutants.

The TMDLs are being established to address requirements of the 2001 consent decree, American Canoe Association, et.al. v. EPA, that TMDLs for these streams be established by Dec. 31, 2010. The deadline was extended until Jan. 31, 2011. These streams were first listed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) on its 1998 Impaired Waters, or 303(d), list. EPA has worked closely with MDNR using the best available data to analyze, develop and establish these TMDLs.

EPA will work with MDNR to ensure the impairments are addressed as required by the Clean Water Act.

Source: U.S. EPA