In accordance with Section 303(c)(1) of the Clean Water Act and 20.6.4.10 New Mexico Administrative Code, states are required to hold public hearings at least once every three years to review, amend, and adopt water quality standards, as applicable. This is referred to as a “Triennial Review. Pursuant to Section 74-6-4(F) of the State’s Water Quality Act, the Water Quality Control Commission delegated the New Mexico Environment Department the responsibility for organizing and proposing amendments to the State’s surface water quality standards, codified under 20.6.4 NMAC. This matter has been docketed under WQCC 20-51(R).
NMED proposed several amendments as part of the Triennial Review which include, but are not limited to the following:
Updating definitions (20.6.4.7 NMAC)
Clarification of language under Review of Standards (20.6.4.10 NMAC)
Clarification of language under Use Attainability Analysis (20.6.4.15 NMAC)
Several designated use amendments
Existing Use Analysis for non-perennial waters within Los Alamos National Laboratory currently classified under 20.6.4.128 NMAC
Existing Use Analysis for perennial classified waters with a secondary contact recreational use
Updates to the numeric aquatic life and human health criteria (20.6.4.900 NMAC)
Updates to the numeric ammonia criteria (20.6.4.900 NMAC)
