Saving Your Watershed

Informed involvement with your state’s TMDL process

Mid-Atlantic Environmental Law Center (“MAELC”) invites you to learn more about your state’s upcoming proposed Water Pollution Control Plans known as TMDLs.

What is a TMDL?

• A TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) is the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive without violatingstate water quality standards.
• TMDLs are mandated by Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act to help cleanup waterbodies and meet water quality standards.
• States have identified approximately 21,000 polluted (or “impaired”) river segments, lakes and estuaries.
• 218 million Americans live within 10 miles of an impaired waterbody.
• State calculations to establish TMDLs must be subject to public review.

Submitting informed public comment to your state agency about a proposed action can have a positive impact on the final decision they make in setting standards or limits such as with TMDLs. Preparing an effective set of public comments requires a citizen to pay attention to certain guidelines.

Individuals and watershed groups interested in commenting on proposed TMDLs should review the examples MAELC provides of properly structured comments which have been submitted to agencies proposing TMDLs.

In addition, MAELC has developed a citizens manual for effective involvement in the TMDL process.  To request a copy, contact the Center at 302-477-2167.