Arkansas continues to maintain that the Illinois River is not impaired by nutrients that include phosphorus.  Nor is Osage Creek, a tributary of the Illinois River, listed as impaired.  The U.S. EPA in past years has included the streams as impaired even if Arkansas does not list them so.

In the draft list, the Illinois River in Benton and Washington Counties is listed as impaired for primary body contact by pathogens from agriculture.

The Illinois River in Washington County is listed as impaired for primary contact by turbidity and pathogen indicators from surface erosion and agriculture.

Clear Creek in Washington County is listed as impaired for primary contact by pathogens from urban runoff.  Clear Creek is a tributary of the Illinois River and receives the discharge from one of Fayetteville's sewage disposal plants.

In Benton County, Sager Creek is listed as impaired (use unspecified) by nitrates from a municipal point source (Siloam Springs, AR WWTP).

The public comment period on theimpaired waters list (303(d) list) opens January 17 and closes Feb. 17.  Comments should be directed to the ADEQ in Little Rock, AR.  A public hearing is scheduled at 2 PM Feb. 7 in Little Rock. 

The meetings are scheduled for:
—Feb. 15 in Fayetteville at the Clarion Inn Terrace Room, 1255 S. Shiloh Drive. The meeting begins at 6 p.m.
—Feb. 16 in Batesville at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesvile. The meeting, in the Independence Hall Room, begins at 6 p.m.
—Feb. 21 in West Memphis at the Eugene Woods Civic Center, 212 W. Polk Ave. The meeting begins at 6 p.m.
—Feb. 23 in El Dorado at the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission Building, 2215 W. Hillsboro St. The meeting begins at 6 p.m