8 Broadcaster Press February 4, 2020 www.broadcasteronline.com DENR Seeks Comments On Waterbody Report, National 303(D) Program Vision PIERRE – The state Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is seeking public comments on the draft 2020 Integrated Report. Required under the federal Clean Water Act, this report is used by the state to identify impaired waterbodies in South Dakota. The draft 2020 Integrated Report also includes the National 303(d) Program Vision. Comments from the general public, interested parties and organizations will be accepted through March 6, 2020. Comments can be submitted online at DENR’s One-Stop Public Notice page at http://denr. sd.gov/public/default.aspx, emailed to Anine Rosse at Anine.Rosse@state.sd.us, or submitted in writing to: Department of Environment and Natural Resources Surface Water Quality Program 523 East Capitol Avenue – Joe Foss Building Pierre, South Dakota 57501-3181 A copy of the draft 2020 Integrated Report is available on DENR’s One-Stop Public Notice page at: http://denr.sd.gov/ public/default.aspx. Those persons desiring to only review the Vision can access the document individually at the same web address. Copies of the 2020 Integrated Report can also be obtained by emailing Anine Rosse at Anine. Rosse@state.sd.us, by contacting DENR at the above address, or by phone at 1-800-438-3367. “Because this list drives state water quality programs, it is important that people in South Dakota see the draft report and pro- vide us comments before it is finalized and sent to EPA for approval,” said DENR Secretary Hunter Roberts. The draft 2020 Integrated Report contains an assessment of the surface water quality of South Dakota’s waters, a description of South Dakota’s water quality monitoring programs, pollutants causing impairments of the water bodies and identification of waters targeted for total maximum daily load development. A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is a determination of the amount of pollution a waterbody can receive and still maintain water quality standards. The draft 2020 report lists 170 waterbodies or waterbody segments needing a total maximum daily load. Of those listed, 97 are stream or river segments and 73 are lakes that periodically do not meet water quality standards. The National 303(d) Program Vision serves as a planning tool for states to implement effective strategies to meet water quality goals. The Vision contains six elements considered important to the process. The Vision defines prioritization for TMDL development with consideration for alternative or protection approaches. South Dakota’s original Vision strategy was first made available in the 2016 Integrated Report. In 2018, EPA offered and open season to provide states with the opportunity to make changes to the Vision. South Dakota made changes and updated the Vision for the 2020 reporting cycle. Johnson’s Office Accepting Summer Internship Applications Summer Food Service Program Seeking Sponsors To Serve Communities PIERRE, S.D. - In an effort to fend off hunger, the South Dakota Department of Education’s office of Child and Adult Nutrition Services is seeking sponsors for a federally-funded program that provides nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer months. Community organizations, nonprofits, schools, and tribal and local governments can apply to be sponsors if they operate in low-income areas, serve a group of mostly low-income children, or operate a summer camp with a high proportion of low-income participants. Parks and recreation departments, city and county health departments, libraries, and neighborhood service agencies can participate as sites or sponsors. “This program plays an important role in providing children healthy meals throughout the summer when they don’t have access to the National School Lunch Program,” said Mikayla Hardy, program specialist with South Dakota’s Child and Adult Nutrition Services. When school is in session, more than 60,000 South Dakota students receive free or reducedprice meals through the National School Lunch Program. The Summer Food Service Program is federally funded through of service “casework,” and it is actually the main focus of my offices in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen. Our staff members at those offices are specially trained to help South Dakotans navigate the federal bureaucracy. We’re also continuing to respond to South Dakotans who have contacted my office to share their thoughts and views with me. Since I took office in January 2015, we have responded to over 147,000 inquiries from South Dakotans. That averages out to around 80 phone calls, emails, letters or personal visits per day over the past five years. Hearing firsthand the views and opinions of South Dakotans keeps me better informed as I work to make the best decisions for our state and nation. The number of folks contacting us to help them with a federal agency continues to grow. In 2019, we opened more than 500 new cases. We work with people on issues they’re having at various different agencies, the most com- YOUR RADIATOR HEADQUARTERS! Deadline for the February 18th issue will be Thursday, February 13th at 11am for all display and classified ads. 201 W. Cherry Street, Vermillion, SD www.broadcasteronline.com • 605-624-4429 responsibilities are invited to watch this Summer Food Service Program Overview. To learn more about serving as a sponsor or site, call Child and Adult Nutrition Services at 605-773-3413. For more information, go to http:// doe.sd.gov/cans/sfsp. aspx. Sponsors are often looking for partners to help provide activities and educational programs to encourage continued student participation throughout the summer. School food authorities also have the option to utilize the Seamless Summer Option to provide meals in the summer. Information on that option can also be obtained from South Dakota’s Child and Adult Nutrition Services office. USDA Nondiscrimination Statement In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of com- munication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at http:// www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 202509410 (2) fax: 202-690-7442; or (3) email: program. intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Working For South Dakotans By Sen. Mike Rounds While the Senate is conducting the impeachment trial, we are unable to hold votes on the full Senate floor without agreement of all 100 senators. So all Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson other Senate business has virtually come to a halt. (R-S.D.) announced that his office is seeking internship Important nominations applicants for Summer 2020 in his Washington, D.C., are not being confirmed Rapid City, Aberdeen, and Sioux Falls offices. and legislation is not being Duties will include researching legislation, attending considered that could bencommittee hearings and briefings, leading tours of the efit South Dakota families. U.S. Capitol, handling constituent phone calls, sorting mail and providing support to the staff and the Congress- While this is frustrating man. Interns will work closely with constituents and staff to many of us, we are still while developing their research, writing, and communica- able to get some work done while we’re not in the tions skills. Most importantly, they will gain an in-depth trial. Most days, the trial understanding of the South Dakota congressional office. “Our offices are hands-on,” said Johnson. “Interns are has started at 1:00 p.m., allowing us to hold commita vital part of our team both in Washington and in the tee hearings and meet with state. We all work as a team to ensure South Dakota’s interns leave the congressional office with the experience constituents until that time. We’re also continuing and tools needed to successfully enter the workforce.” to get work done for South Interested applicants should complete the online internship application and submit a resume no later than Dakotans in other ways, just as we have since I March 3rd, 2020. More information about the internship program, along with the application, can be found online. took office. My office frequently Resumes should be submitted at dustyjohnson.house. works with residents who gov/services/internships. are having trouble with different federal agencies. We can act as a liaison between you and the agency to identify the source of your issue and help to resolve it. We call this type BroadcasterOnline.com “Get Connected!” the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the South Dakota Department of Education. It provides meals to students when school is not in session. Children age 18 and younger may receive a meal free of charge at a participating site. In 2019, South Dakota Summer Food Service Program sponsors served 484,059 meals. That is a decrease from the 516,186 meals served in 2018, though it is important to note that the need for meals has not decreased. Summer food program sites must be in the attendance area of a school where 50 percent or more of students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, or within the boundary of a U.S. Census block where at least 50 percent of children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals when at school. A site meeting those criteria is open to all children under age 18 with special considerations for children from migrant households or those with a disability. It is important to note that while some areas may not qualify with school data, such areas may still be able to qualify using census data. To determine eligibility in your area, see http:// www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/ mapping-tools-summermeal-programs. Organizations interested in reviewing sponsor • Great Parts • Great Warranty On-Hand & In-Stock! NO WAITING! Cox Auto 1007 Broadway Ave Yankton, SD 605•665•4494 Carpentry, Decks, Windows & Doors, Re?nishing, Drywall, & Ceramic Tile Romsdahl’s Repair & Remodel 19 Years in Business Free Estimates 605-670-2161 mon being the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). We frequently assist people with visas and passports, we help veterans access their benefits from the VA and we help to make sure seniors are receiving their correct social security benefits—these are just a few examples of the types of cases we handle. One of the biggest issues we’ve heard about from South Dakotans is getting H-2B visa workers to help with seasonal, temporary jobs in the tourism and construction industries. Without these temporary employees, many businesses in our state would be in danger of closing permanently because of the low number of available South Dakotans to work in these jobs. I recently led 188 of my congressional colleagues in a letter to the administration urging them to increase the statutory cap of available H-2B visas for the remainder of fiscal year 2020. The administration already has congressional authorization to release these visas, so we want to make sure they do so as soon as possible. 64,716 additional visas should be available for U.S. employers who need workers. We work on a lot of casework that involves expediting H-2B visas for workers coming to South Dakota. Last year, we helped a Sioux Falls landscaping company expedite H-2B visas for five workers that the company needed in order to finish work before winter. Please reach out if you’re having any issues with any federal agency. We will do our best to find a resolution to your situation. Give us a call or stop in to one of our offices if you have any questions about the work we do for South Dakotans. All our location and contact information can be found on my website, www.rounds. senate.gov. The Classifieds: Your Ticket to Local Finds Call or go online to browse, buy or sell! bp Since 1934 Broadcaster Press 201 W. Cherry, Vermillion 605-624-4429 • www.broadcasteronline.com