The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) will conduct an online public hearing October 28, 2021 on proposed revisions to the Environmental Management Commission’s (EMC) Fresh Surface Water Quality Standards for Class C Waters in 15A NCAC 02B .0211 to adopt a site-specific standard for chlorophyll-a in High Rock Lake. Written public comments are being accepted through November 15, 2021.
What: Public Hearing regarding the proposed revisions to the Fresh Surface Water Quality Standards for Class C Waters – 15A NCAC 02B .0211
When: 6 p.m., Thursday, October 28, 2021 (attendees and participants may join starting at 5:45 p.m.)
Where: To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the public hearing will be held remotely.
To Join: WebEx link
Event Number: 161 161 1806
WebEx Password: MPm6Jub8Y8k
Join by Phone: +1-415-655-0003
Access Code: 161 161 1806
Please register to join and indicate whether you wish to speak during the hearing by visiting: DEQ.nc.gov.
The Federal Clean Water Act and State laws provide for the establishment of site-specific surface water quality standards to tailor the protection of designated uses to the unique physical and chemical characteristics of specific water bodies in North Carolina. The proposed site-specific standard for chlorophyll-a in High Rock Lake was developed as part of the North Carolina Nutrient Criteria Development Plan (NCDP) and incorporates recommendations from the NCDP Science Advisory Council and stakeholders. The proposed standard is designed to address nutrient-related impacts to the designated uses of High Rock Lake and considers magnitude, duration, frequency, spatial, and temporal (seasonal) components and also provides a site-specific narrative standard.
The rule being proposed for amendment is 15A NCAC 02B .0211-Fresh Surface Water Quality Standards for Class C Waters. The Proposed changes include:
- The addition of Sub-Item (4)(a) to include language for site-specific numeric and narrative standards for chlorophyll-a in the High Rock Lake Reservoir and,
- The addition of language in the introductory sentence of Item (4), to direct attention to the site-specific standards for the High Rock Lake Reservoir that comprise Sub-Item (4)(a)
For additional information on these proposed changes, please visit the Division of Water Resources’ Water Planning webpage.