Water Quality:
You have a chance to affect nationwide policy

Clean Water In July 2000, the EPA established rules on the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) of pollution allowed into water bodies. The TMDL rule focuses on runoff or nonpoint source pollution, an issue which has been mostly ignored. The TMDL rule facilitates the Clean Water Act's ability to
  • Identify polluted waters,
  • Determine the sources of pollution, and
  • Design clean-up plans.
The Bush administration proposed to suspend the TMDL for 18 months. Opponents to the TMDL rule were able to persuade Congress to withhold funding to delay the rule's start date. In the meantime, there is industry-backed pressure on the EPA to weaken the TMDL. The EPA is thus doing another round of public comments in five locations around the country: Atlanta, Chicago, Sacramento, Oklahoma City, and Washington, DC. The Oklahoma City meeting focuses on the process of listing impaired waters.

We need to make sure the TMDL rule remains true to its purpose. 20,000 waterbodies across America have been identified as polluted, including over 300,000 river and shoreline miles and 5 million acres of lakes. You may live near one of the places- 218 million people in the U.S. (87%) live within 10 miles of one of these polluted waters.

40% of the nation's assessed waters are still unsafe for fishing, swimming, or supporting aquatic life.

Oklahoma needs the TMDL rule. 63% of our rivers and streams and over 44% of our lakes are too polluted to meet water quality standards to protect aquatic life. Factory farms and corporate agriculture are the biggest polluters in this state and areconstantly pushing to remove waters from the impaired list so they can avoid responsibility. Our health is at stake. Let the EPA know you want effective rules to protect our health and quality of life.
Little River Algae


So what can I do?
It's easy. Here are some ideas- you can do one or all. Help create a legacy of responsibility starting today.
  • Say your piece at the public comment session
    • The EPA can't make a good rule without citizens there to back them up on it. Industry representatives that often want lax rules get paid to come and say so. They need to hear from you!
    • The Sierra Club will have a room next door to the meeting with refreshments and information on the TMDL rules. It will be fun and can make a difference. Let us know you're interested! Contact Jeannine Hale, Jeannine.Hale@att.net, 918-227-2790.
  • Be a presence at the public comment session. If you don't want to speak, the fact that you're there with an opinion still helps show support for the EPA to do the right thing. Location is below. Tell us if you would like to come- there is strength in numbers.
  • Write a short letter to the editor of your local paper - see this sample (coming soon)
  • Write a letter to the EPA stating your opinion - see this sample
  • Write a letter to Governor Keating urging him to weigh in for clean water, not dirty water - see this sample
  • Tell others about this issue and what they can do about it
  • Schedule a Sierra Club talk about TMDLs for your group. Contact Jeannine Hale, Jeannine.Hale@att.net, 918-227-2790.
  • Pass out sample letters to friends and encourage them to write to express their opinions
  • Organize a carpool of your friends to attend the hearing
  • Help the Sierra Club call volunteers to attend the hearing
  • Help give with refreshments in the Sierra Club room during the hearing.
  • If you would like to get more involved, contact Jeannine Hale, Jeannine.Hale@att.net, 918-227-2790.
  • Your opinion counts!

Public TMDL Listening Session , Oklahoma City, OK

Meeting Theme: Listing Impaired Waters

Topics to be discussed include:
  • Timing: How often should the section 303(d) list be submitted to EPA (every 2, 4, or 5 years)?
  • Scope: Should the reporting requirements for section 305(b) and section 303(d) be integrated into a single report?
  • List Credibility: What steps should be taken to ensure credible lists of impaired waters?
  • Data and information: What can be done to improve data and information available to support listing decisions?
  • Public review: How can we improve public understanding of listing decisions?
Date: Nov. 15-16, 2001

Time: 1 pm - 6 pm on Nov. 15, 2001 and 8 am - noon on Nov. 16, 2001

Location: Hilton Oklahoma City Northwest, 2945 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73112, phone: (405)848-4811 or (800)HILTONS, web site: http://www.hilton.com/.

For more information on TMDLs: