<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Aptos;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#467886;
text-decoration:underline;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ligatures:none;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Please distribute this notice as appropriate.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Dear Maine Water Quality Partners,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">The federal Clean Water Act requires that states periodically, but at least once every 3 years, hold public hearings for the purpose of reviewing water quality
standards and, as appropriate, modifying and developing standards. Maine Statute contains similar
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">language in
</span><a href="http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/38/title38sec464.html"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">38 M.R.S. § 464.3.B.</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> This process,
known as the Triennial Review, requires consultation with the public and interested state and federal agencies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is now embarking on a
<a href="https://www.maine.gov/dep/water/wqs/triennial-review.html">Triennial Review</a>, which is expected to extend into 2026 for any required legislation. You are invited to submit proposals to the Department for changes to
<a name="_Hlk27129336">existing </a>water quality standards, including the water quality classification of specific surface waters.
<a name="_Hlk27129393">Proposals for new standards may also be submitted. </a><a name="_Hlk27129480"><b>Proposals are due by the close of business on Thursday, June 27, 2024</b> and should be submitted to
</a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk27129480"></span><a href="mailto:TRComments.DEP@maine.gov"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk27129480"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">TRComments.DEP@maine.gov</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk27129480"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk27129480"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">.
</span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Submission guidelines and a
<a name="_Hlk27144644">tentative timetable </a>are attached to this e-mail.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Susanne Meidel<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Water Quality Standards Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">ME Department of Environmental Protection<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Augusta, ME 04333<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Phone: 207 / 441-3612<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:TRComments.DEP@maine.gov"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">TRComments.DEP@maine.gov</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Web site:
</span></i><a href="https://www.maine.gov/dep/water/wqs/triennial-review.html"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">www.maine.gov/dep/water/wqs/triennial-review.html</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>