TITLE 327 WATER POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

NOTICE OF READOPTION

IC 13-14-9.5-1.1 NOTICE OF RULE REVIEW

LSA Document #08-206

This is a notice of rule review as described in IC 13-14-9.5-1.1, which describes types of rules that do not expire after seven years. These types of rules are: (1) rules required to receive or maintain delegation, primacy, or approval for implementation or operation of a program established under federal law; and (2) rules required to begin or continue receiving federal funding for implementation or operation of a program.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is required to publish a list of these rules that have been effective for seven years and request comment, in a 30 day comment period, on any specific rule that should be reviewed through the regular rulemaking process under IC 13-14-9. IDEM must also provide notice of a public hearing before the Water Pollution Control Board (board) concerning this IC 13-14-9.5-1.1 rule review. IDEM will respond to all comments received during the comment period and provide the comments and responses to the board during the public hearing. The board, after considering the comments, responses, and testimony at the hearing, will direct IDEM on whether additional rulemaking actions must be started to address concerns raised to the board.

IC 13-14-9.5-1.1 requires this notice to contain the information described under IC 13-14-9-4(a)(5) through IC 13-14-9-4(a)(7) regarding restrictions and requirements of the listed rules that are not imposed under federal law. The listed rules at:

(1) 327 IAC 2-1 and 327 IAC 2-1.5 establish water quality standards for waters of the state and specifically for the Great Lakes System, respectively;

(2) 327 IAC 5-2 and 327 IAC 5-4 concern rules regarding the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES);

(3) 327 IAC 15-2 and 327 IAC 15-4 concern rules regarding the NPDES General Permit System;

(4) 327 IAC 8-2 and 327 IAC 8-2.1 establish the drinking water standards and the water treatment systems' consumer confidence reports; and

(5) 327 IAC 8-12 concern the water treatment certified operators' requirements.

The Clean Water Act (CWA) is the authority for water quality standards and NPDES rules. Because of the variability of waters across the nation, the federal regulations under the CWA do not specify exact standards for the states but do require the states to establish standards that are federally reviewed and approved in order for a state to have delegation to conduct the NPDES program for the state. Indiana is a delegated state and, as such, the water quality standards and NPDES rules have been federally approved. The NPDES General Permit System rules are permissible under the CWA but are not required. However, as general permits are a simplified version of NPDES permitting for those categories of dischargers in one geographic area with the same or substantially similar types of operations with similar operational and monitoring requirements, they are an effective and efficient permitting tool desired by the various categories of dischargers for which general permits are established.

The drinking water standards and the consumer confidence reports are federally required under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Indiana must have regulations as stringent as the federal safe drinking water standards and associated rules, including the consumer confidence reporting rules, so that IDEM may maintain primacy (primary enforcement authority) for the safe drinking water programs and receive available federal funding. The rules for water treatment certified operators are partially required by the SDWA as well as state statute at IC 13-18-11.

The following is a list of rules in 327 IAC that have been effective for seven years and are: (1) required to receive or maintain delegation, primacy, or approval for implementation or operation of a program established under federal law; or (2) required to begin or continue receiving federal funding for implementation or operation of a program:

At this time, IDEM solicits comments on specific rules listed above that should be reviewed through the regular rulemaking process under IC 13-14-9. IDEM requests that specific changes and language suggestions accompany such comments. Mailed comments should be addressed to:

LSA Document #08-206 [2008 WPCB Nonsunset rules]

MaryAnn Stevens

Rules Section

Office of Water Quality

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

100 North Senate Avenue

MC 65-40

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2251.

Comments must be postmarked, faxed, or hand delivered by May 2, 2008.

Additional information regarding this action may be obtained from MaryAnn Stevens, Rules Section, Office of Water Quality (317) 232-8635 or (800) 451-6027 (in Indiana).

Bruno Pigott

Assistant Commissioner

Office of Water Quality

Notice of Public Hearing

DIN: 20080402-IR-327080206BNA

Composed: Apr 18,2024 12:41:04AM EDT

A PDF version of this document.