The State Environmental Commission (SEC) will hold a meeting on Wednesday, January 19, 2023, at 9:00 am to consider adoption of Permanent Regulation R113-22: Bureau of Water Quality Planning – Anti-Degradation Protection of Surface Waters and New Process for Ecological, Aesthetic, or Recreational Waters. The meeting will be held in the Tahoe Room, on the second floor of the Bryan Building, at 901 South Stewart Street. There is also the option to participate virtually. Click here for more information.
NRS 445A.565 requires any surface waters of the State whose quality is higher than the applicable standards of water quality when those standards became effective must be maintained in their higher quality; known as antidegradation.
NDEP is proposing to amend the NAC to establish provisions for antidegradation protection of surface waters of the State as required by NRS 445A.565, and to set forth a process for classifying certain surface waters of the State which have exceptional water quality condition, unique water quality characteristic, or ecological, aesthetic, or recreational value, as Ecological, Aesthetic or Recreational Waters (EAWs). This classification will provide a higher level of antidegradation protection to maintain and protect these water quality conditions or special values.
The proposed regulation may have an indirect economic impact on a new discharger applying for a point source discharge permit and on an existing permittee who proposes a major modification during renewal of their discharge permit. Classification of a water as an EAW may have an economic effect on local government, citizens, and businesses, but are difficult to predict; however, the economic impact of classifying a surface water as an EAW will be evaluated in determining whether to classify the water.
HRBWA submitted comment letters during development of the proposed regulations and has joined with the Nevada Farm Bureau, Nevada Mining Association and Truckee Meadows Water Authority in a letter supporting the current version of the proposed regulations.
