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 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 surface water quality standards, codified under 20.6.4 NMAC. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the 2020 Triennial Review on January 20, 2023.
NMED released a Public Review Draft for the 2026 Triennial Review and accepted comments on the standards and proposed amendments from August 15, 2025 – October 14, 2025. Additionally, SWQB held a virtual public meeting on September 10, 2025. After considering public comment, NMED petitioned the WQCC at their December 09, 2025 regular meeting. The WQCC granted the petition and appointed a hearing officer to preside over a rulemaking hearing from September 28 – October 1, 2026. The hearing officer issued a Pre-hearing Order on January 15, 2026 to govern the proceeding and set a schedule for participation.
Please see the table below for important documents, links to more information and resources, and a link to NMED’s events calendar. You may also sign up for the SWQB’s email listserv at: https://www.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality and click on the “Subscribe to SWQB News” button on the bottom of the home page. SWQB will be updating this website throughout the process with rulemaking information and notifying listserv subscribers about public participation opportunities and rulemaking actions related to the Triennial Review. For additional information, contact Michael Baca, WQS Coordinator, at michael.baca1@env.nm.gov or (505) 470-1652.
Please visit the WQCC Docketed Matters webpage for the official rulemaking record including pre-hearing orders, technical testimony, and exhibits.
| Document/Link | Author | Date |
| Frequently Used | ||
| 20.6.4 NMAC, Draft Amendments | SWQB | 11.26.25 |
| NMED Events Calendar | SWQB | 08.20.2025 11.26.2025 |
| SmartComment Portal | SWQB | 08.15.2025 |
| Pre-hearing Engagement | ||
| Public Review Draft of 20.6.4 NMAC, (Draft Amendments with basis of change) | SWQB | 08.15.2025 |
| Public Involvement Plan and Limited English Proficiency Analysis | SWQB | 08.15.2025 |
| Notice of Public Review Draft Comment Period and Informational Meetings English and Español | SWQB | 08.15.2025 |
| Informational Meeting Presentation Slides | SWQB | 09.23.2025 |
| Informational Meeting Recording | SWQB | 09.23.2025 |
| EPA Comment – Public Review Draft | SWQB | 10.09.2025 |
| Public Comments – Combined | SWQB | 10.14.2025 |
| Hearing and Rulemaking Information | ||
| WQCC Docketed Matters | OPF | 11.26.2025 |
| Petition for Rulemaking Hearing | NMED | 11.26.2025 |
| Pre-hearing Order | OPF | 1.15.2026 |
| Public Notice of Rulemaking Hearing | NMED | TBD |
| Technical Information and Resources | ||
| WQS: Regulations and Resources | EPA | 3.15.2026 |
| 40 CFR Pt 131 – Water Quality Standards | CFR | 3.9.2026 |
| Water Quality Data | EPA | 3.15.2026 |
| WQS Handbook | EPA | 3.15.2026 |
| WQ Criteria | EPA | 3.15.2026 |
| Wetland WQS | EPA | 3.15.2026 |
| CWA 303(d)/305(b) Integrated Report | NMED | 3.15.2026 |
Return to our Water Quality Standards webpage
Visit our WQS Amendments webpage for previous Triennial Review information.