The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources will conduct a public hearing May 2 at 6 p.m. at the Swain County Administration Building, 101 Mitchell Street, Bryson City to receive public comment on the proposed reclassification (from Class C to Class B) of a section of the Little Tennessee River. The Class B designation is assigned to freshwaters that are used for primary recreation purposes such as swimming or any other use involving human body contact.

The proposed reclassification reach of river is the main stem of the Little Tennessee from approximately four-tenths of a mile upstream of the N.C. 28 bridge near Iotla to Fontana Lake. Nearly 25 river miles are proposed to be reclassified.

Classification as Class B requires new wastewater discharges to comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) standards. There are currently no NPDES discharges in the reach of river proposed for reclassification. There is one planned discharge in this stretch of river that meets Class B standards. No buffers will be required as a result of reclassification and forestry, animal, mining, development, transportation, dam/water resource and farming activities will not be affected.

Verbal and/or written comments will be accepted at the hearing and the comment period for written comments will continue until May 16. For more information contact Elizabeth Kountis at 919.733.5083.