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F <br /> ~ ~ Department of Environmental Quality <br /> <br /> F V Western Region Eugene Office <br /> ~ . ~ ' 2 V 1102 Lincoln Street, Suite 210 <br /> Theodore Knlongoski, Governor F.;ugene, OR 97401 <br /> «F' <br /> (541) 686-7838 <br /> FAX (541) 686-7551 <br /> '1 TY (541) 687-5603 <br /> October 17, 2006 CERTIFIED MAIL <br /> RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED <br /> Kurt Corey <br /> City of Eugene <br /> 777 Pearl St Rm 105 <br /> Eugene, OR 97401 <br /> Re: Issuance of Willamette. Basin TMDL and Water Quality Management Plan... <br /> Dear Public Works Director Corey, <br /> On September 21, 2006, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued the Willamette <br /> Basin Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) as an Order, and submitted the TMDL-to the <br /> Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval. This is a huge milestone and comes after <br /> many years of working closely with the Willamette TMDL Council and other basin partners to <br /> develop a TMDL that was approved by EPA on September 29, 2006. When implemented, it will <br /> result in a cleaner, healthier Willamette River for current and future generations. <br /> The Willamette River and numerous tributaries do not currently meet several water quality <br /> standards including bacteria; mercury and temperature: These standards assure that beneficial <br /> uses of the river and tributaries, such as swimming, fish consumption and fish rearing; are <br /> protected:: When water quality standards are not met, the federal Clean Water Act requires a <br /> TMDL to be established. A TMDL determines how much pollution can be added to the river <br /> without exceeding water quality standards. <br /> This letter is intended to provide you with notification that the TMDL has been issued as an <br /> order and that the summary of responses to comments is available as directed under OAR 340- <br /> 042-0050 to 0070. Copies of the final TMDL, Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) and <br /> Response to Comments are available on the DEQ Website at <br /> http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/tmdls/willamettebasin.htm <br /> Water quality improvements will depend on the actions of Willamette Basin communities, <br /> businesses and citizens. DEQ has named certain federal, state and local governments and <br /> .agencies, including cities, counties and special districts, as Designated Management Agencies <br /> (DMA), as these governments and agencies have authority to manage and regulate sources of <br /> pollutants listed in the TMDL. The City of Eugene has been identified as a DMA. Upon; <br /> issuance, the TMDL is an order that: requires the City to develop and carry out its own <br /> implementation plan outlining actions the City will take to meet the requirements of the TMDL. <br /> The implementation plan must be submitted to DEQ within 18 months of September 21, 2006, <br /> unless that timeline is extended by DEQ. <br /> <br />