The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has extended the public comment period on the draft of the Landusky Metals and Cyanide TMDLs and Framework Water Quality Restoration Plan until October 12, 2011.

In simple terms, a total maximum daily load (TMDL) is a plan to attain and maintain water quality standards in waters that are not currently meeting them.

The waters not currently meeting water quality standards in the Landusky TMDL Planning Area have been identified and described in the Landusky Metals and Cyanide TMDLs and Framework Water Quality Restoration Plan.

The document also presents a draft plan to attain and maintain water quality standards in all of those waters considered impaired.

The draft document is available on the DEQ web site at http://deq.mt.gov/wqinfo. Copies are available at the Phillips County Public Library in Malta, MT, the Fort Belknap College Technology Center and Library, Fort Belknap Agency, and the State Library in Helena.

Public comments will be accepted until 5 p.m., October 12, 2011. Comments may be mailed to Montana Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 200901, Helena, Montana 59620-0901, or emailed to TMDLComments@mt.gov.

For more information, document availability or other questions, please contact Tim Byron, MT DEQ, at (406)444-5341, or by e-mail at tbyron@mt.gov.