Bill > HB664

This bill addresses Montana's water quality standards by repealing numeric nutrient standards that the state has found to be unachievable and burdensome, particularly for municipal wastewater treatment systems. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to amend multiple administrative rules to delete all references to base numeric nutrient standards and nutrient standard variances, and to repeal Department Circular DEQ-12A, which established these standards in 2014. Additionally, the bill eliminates the Nutrient Work Group, which was an advisory group meant to provide guidance on nutrient standards. The legislation stems from a recognition that these numeric standards were not explicitly required by law and that many states have not adopted such comprehensive numeric standards for all water bodies. By removing these specific numeric standards, the bill aims to provide more flexibility for water quality management while still maintaining the overall goal of protecting water quality, as outlined in the Clean Water Act. The changes will require the DEQ to modify its guidance, assessment methods, and policies to remove references to the now-repealed numeric nutrient standards, effectively returning to a more narrative-based approach to water quality regulation.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3452