The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is hosting a meeting to receive public comment on the draft total maximum daily load, a water quality plan addressing bacteria, in the Leon River below Proctor Lake segment 1221 on April 17, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Hamilton County Courthouse, 102 North Rice in Hamilton, Texas.

The meeting provides the public an opportunity to comment on the draft TMDL. Individuals may present oral statements when called upon in order of registration. An agency staff member will give a brief presentation at the start of the meeting and will be available to answer questions before and after all public comments have been received. Persons with disabilities with special communication or other accommodation needs, who are planning to attend the meeting, should contact the commission at 512-239-6682. Requests should be made as far in advance as possible.

The commission requests comment on each of the major components of the TMDL: problem definition, endpoint identification, source analysis, seasonal variation, linkage between sources and receiving waters, margin of safety, pollutant loading allocation, public participation, and implementation and reasonable assurances. TCEQ staff may revise the TMDL, incorporating public comments, as appropriate. The final TMDL will then be considered by the commission for adoption. Once adopted by the commission, the final TMDL and a response to all comments will be posted on the TCEQ Web site. The TMDL will then be submitted to EPA Region 6 for approval. Upon EPA approval, the TMDL will be certified as an update to the State of Texas Water Quality Management Plan.

Written comments should be submitted to Kerry Niemann, Water Programs Division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, MC 203, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, TX, 78711-3087 or faxed to 512-239-1414. All comments must be received by 5:00 p.m., May 5, 2008, and should reference, One Total Maximum Daily Load for Bacteria in the Leon River Below Proctor Lake, For Segment Number 1221. For further information regarding the draft TMDL, contact Niemann, at 512-239-0483 or kniemann@tceq.state.tx.us. Copies of the draft TMDL document can be obtained via the TCEQ Web site at: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/water/tmdl/tmdlcalendar or by calling 512-239-6682.

The goal of a TMDL is to determine the amount (or load) of a pollutant that a body of water can receive and still support its beneficial uses. TMDLs are required for some impaired water bodies under the 1972 federal Clean Water Act. The Leon River below Proctor Lake was identified as impaired due to elevated levels of bacterial indicators for pathogens, specifically fecal coliform and E-coli. The counties within the watershed include Comanche, Coryell, Erath, Hamilton and Mills. Texas is required to develop TMDLs for impaired water bodies included in the State of Texas Clean Water Act, §303(d) list of impaired water bodies.