HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-04-20 Correspondence - DEQ Montana's Water Quality Standards Public Hearing •
DE
Montana department Q,=.�
of Environmental Quality
June 4, 2020
Dear Interested Party,
In a letter dated April 16,2020,the Department updated the date of the public hearing associated with the opening of
Montana's water quality standards for public comment to June 10, 2020.The update letter gave options for attending
this meeting remotely or in person at the Metcalf Building in Helena. Due to health concerns involving COVID-19,the
public hearing will no longer have an in-person location and will be held entirely remotely. Information on how to
attend remotely is available on our website: http://deq.mt.gov/water/Surfacewater/standards. For your convenience
the information from the original letter is provided below:
The Montana Water Quality Act and the Federal Clean Water Act require that the State of Montana review and,
as appropriate, adopt new or revised water quality standards at least every three years. Federal regulations
require that the Department open water quality standards for a public comment period of 60 days, as well as
hold a public hearing. On February 12, 2020 Montana opened water quality standards for public review,which
will end on June 10, 2020. Furthermore, on June 10, 2020,the Board of Environmental Review(Board)will hold
a public hearing at 1:00 PM.
The purpose of the public comment period and hearing is for the Board to solicit comments from all interested
persons regarding potential revision to any aspect of Montana's water quality standards.Comments should
identify the water quality standard at issue, any suggested revision to the standard, and the basis for the
suggested revision, including technical information.
Montana's water quality standards include the Administrative Rules of Montana Title 17,Chapter 30,
subchapters 5 (mixing zones), 6(water quality standards), 7 (nondegradation), and 10(groundwater protection),
and Department Circulars DEQ-7.
You are invited to submit data,views, or arguments concerning water quality standards at the hearing. Written
data,views, or arguments may be submitted to:William Howard George, Department of Environmental Quality,
P.O. Box 200901, Helena, Montana, 59620-0901;telephone (406)444-6491;or email:William.George@mt.gov;
no later than 5:00 pm on June 10, 2020.
The Board will make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities who wish to participate in this
hearing or need an alternative accessible format of this notice. If you require an accommodation,contact the
Department of Environmental Quality no later than 5:00 p.m.on May 15, 2020,to advise us of the nature of the
accommodation that you need. Please contact Sandy Scherer, Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box
200901, Helena, Montana 59620-0901;telephone(406)444-2630;fax(406)444-6836;or e-mail
sscherer@mt.gov.
We thank you for your interest in Montana's water quality standards.
Sincerely,
Myla Kelly
1-6— v�
Water Quality Standards Section Supervisor
Steve Bullock, Governor I Shaun McGrath,Director I P.O.Box 200901 1 Helena,MT 59620-0901 1(406)444-2544 1 www.deq.mt.gov