E.P.A. Approves Nebraska’s List of Impaired Waters

(Kansas City, Kan., Jan. 27, 2011) - E.P.A. has approved Nebraska's list of impaired waters, which removes 36 waters from the previous impaired waters list and adds 107 waters. Today's decision brings the total number of impaired waters in the state to 259.

E.P.A. Region seven Administrator Karl Brooks said, "The impaired waters list helps the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality set priorities for restoration activities and reduce sources of water pollution in the state. This is a big step toward cleaner water for all Nebraskans."

The NDEQ submitted its impaired waters list to E.P.A. for review and approval as required by the Clean Water Act (CWA). The CWA requires E.P.A. to review the state's list of impaired waters to determine if the state reasonably considered accessible water quality-related data, and identifies waters to be listed.

A water body is placed on the impaired waters list when monitoring finds that pollutant levels prevent the lake, river, or stream from attaining its beneficial uses. Beneficial uses in Nebraska include human recreation, agricultural water supply, and maintaining healthy aquatic life.

EPA's January 26, 2011, decision letter provides a more detailed description of EPA's review and the basis for this action. The decision letter, including the 2010 impaired waters list, is accessible at www.epa.gov/region07/news_events/legal.

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