Temporary turbidity increase proposed in Pine Creek

Cali O'Hare photo

The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) has received a request from Alder Environmental, LLC for a temporary increase in turbidity in Pine Creek in Pinedale. The temporary increase in turbidity is associated with bank stabilization.Activity in cold water streams like Pine Creek is normally limited to a ten (10) NTU increase over background. Approval of this request would allow an exceedance of this limit for up to 28 total working days, subject to monitoring and reporting. This activity will follow the procedures in Chapter 1, Section 23(c)(ii), of the WDEQ Water Quality Rules, which allow for temporary elevated levels of turbidity in certain circumstances. The applicant has secured a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 404 permit for the project.Requests for information about the proposed temporary turbidity increase should be directed to Eric Hargett by emailing [email protected] or calling 307-777-6701.Written comments must be addressed to Eric Hargett, Wyoming DEQ/WQD, 200 W. 17th Street – 4th floor, Cheyenne, WY, 82002, and be postmarked on or before 5 p.m. on Sept. 28to be considered. Electronic comments may only be submitted through and accepted by theWyoming DEQ comment portal provided at http://wq.wyomingdeq.commentinput.com/.