The Montana Board of Environmental Review and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold a public hearing in February to consider proposed amendments to the state’s water quality standards. The hearing is scheduled on February 5, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. in Room 111 at the Metcalf building at 1520 East Sixth Street in Helena.
Amendments to the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) 17.24.645,17.24.646, 17.30.502, 17.30.619, 17.30.702, 17.30.1001, 17.36.345, 17.55.109, 17.56.507, and 17.56.608 will be considered. Each of the ARM amendments pertains to ground water standards.
The Board and DEQ are proposing to add the following six new human-health ground water criteria concentrations into Department Circular DEQ-7:
- diallate, 5.5 μg/L
- dioxane, 1,4-, 3 μg/L;
- iron, 4,000 μg/L
- manganese, 100 μg/L
- perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), 0.07 μg/L
- perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), 0.07 μg/L
Concerned persons may submit their data, views, or arguments, either orally or in writing, at the hearing. Written data, views, or arguments may also be submitted to Legal Secretary Sandy Scherer at the DEQ, 1520 E. Sixth Avenue, P.O. Box 200901, Helena, Montana 59620-0901; faxed to (406) 444-4386; or e-mailed to sscherer@mt.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. February 8, 2019. To be guaranteed consideration, mailed comments must be postmarked on or before that date.
AE2S Drinking Water Practice Leader Nate Weisenburger plans to attend the hearing to stay abreast of the proposed amendments.