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<br />WATER OUAUlY
<br />
<br />Water Quality Standardsllndian Tribes as States
<br />
<br />Albuquerque officials have estimated that the cost
<br />to treat the city's effluent to meet the Pueblo of
<br />Isleta's new water quality standards, together with the
<br />lower limits on several pollutants recently established
<br />by EPA, could be upwards of $250M, Clean Water
<br />Act Section 518 allows Indian tribes to be treated as
<br />states for many purposes under the Act, including for
<br />the establishment of water quality standards. The
<br />Pueblo of Isleta, located downstream on the Rio
<br />Grande from Albuquerque, has been approved for
<br />treatment as a state under the law, The pueblo
<br />adopted water quality standards earlier this year
<br />which are currently under review by EPA. They would
<br />require water discharged into the Rio Grande in
<br />proximity to the pueblo to meet "primary contact," or
<br />drinking water quality standards. Although
<br />Albuquerque's discharge into the river constitutes a
<br />very small percentage of the river's flow, in the past
<br />Pueblo officiais have been concerned about its effect
<br />on the quality of water in the river,
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />The EPA requirements will account for $60-100M
<br />of the $250M, with the remainder attributable to the
<br />Pueblo's standards, according to city officials. The
<br />city's discharge permit expired approximately one
<br />year ago. EPA has proposed a new draft permit
<br />including stricter limits for certain pollutants, but the
<br />Pueblo's standards have not yet been written into the
<br />permit. Some efforts to discuss Albuquerque's
<br />compliance with Isleta's standards have been
<br />attempted. Albuquerque officials have opined that
<br />some issues related to the municipality's compliance
<br />with the Pueblo's standards may be decided in court.
<br />
<br />WATER RESOURCES/WATER QUAUlY
<br />
<br />Montana/State Water Planning
<br />
<br />The Montana Department and Board of Natural
<br />Resources and Conservation is holding public
<br />hearings on the adoption of a section of the Montana
<br />state water plan relating to 'integrated water quality
<br />and quantity management." The purpose is to solicit
<br />final public comment before the plan section is
<br />approved by the Board and submitted to the
<br />legislature. The proposed section states that "it is the
<br />policy and practice of the State of Montana to
<br />
<br />integrate the management of water use and the
<br />protection of water quality...." Implementation of the_
<br />policy is to be accomplished by managing surfac
<br />and ground water quantity and quality as a
<br />integrated resource, Further, 'implementation shall
<br />promote the protection and sustainability of the
<br />resource for existing and future uses consistent with
<br />the existing legal and regulatory framework,'
<br />
<br />The document sets forth a number of issues,
<br />options and recommendations, They involve the
<br />coordination of permitting, administrative coordination,
<br />cumulative impacts of water use permits on water
<br />quality, the viability of the Montana reservation
<br />process for water quality purposes, basin closure,
<br />non-point source POllution, control of ground water
<br />areas, long-term planning related to ground water
<br />problems, well construction enforcement, unplugged
<br />bore holes, protection from mining impacts, and
<br />information/education. Following the statement of
<br />each of these issues is a description of both the
<br />options recommended and those considered but not
<br />recommended, The proposed plan addition also
<br />contains a section on implementation describing
<br />necessary legislative and administrative actions, as
<br />well as financial requirements and funding strategies,
<br />An appendix is included that discusses current tools
<br />to facilitate water quality considerations in wate,r.
<br />quantity allocation and water quantity consideration
<br />in water quality protection. Comments and questions
<br />about the plan section may be directed to Judy
<br />Grubber of the Water Resources Division in Helena at
<br />(406) 444-4247,
<br />
<br />Schedule of Meetinas
<br />
<br />Wednesdav. October 7. 1992
<br />Management Subcommittee
<br />WGA/WSWC Steering Group
<br />
<br />6:30 p.m,
<br />7:30 p.m,
<br />
<br />Thursdav. October 8. 1992
<br />FERC Subcommittee
<br />Legal Committee
<br />Water Quality Committee
<br />Executive Committee
<br />Water Resources Committee
<br />Social Hour
<br />
<br />7:00 a.m.
<br />8:00 a.m.
<br />10:20 p.m.
<br />12:40 p,m.
<br />1:30 p.m.
<br />6:00 p.m.
<br />
<br />Fridav. October 9, 1992
<br />Water Policy Seminar Subcommittee
<br />108th Quarterly Meeting
<br />
<br />7:35 a.m.
<br />8:30 a.m,
<br />
<br />The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL is an organization of representatives appointed by the Governo':iA
<br />of member states - Alaska, Arizona, Califomia, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Nort:W
<br />Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and associate member state Oklahoma
<br />
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