Rulemaking Update
Visit the complete Department Proposed Rulemaking page.
Chapter 584, Surface Water Quality Criteria for Toxic Pollutants
Fact Sheet (PDF) :: Draft Rule (PDF) :: Adopted Rule :: Basis Statement
Concise Summary:
The Department is proposing to amend the existing Chapter 584: Surface Water Quality Criteria for Toxic Pollutants. This rule establishes ambient water quality criteria for toxic pollutants in the surface waters of the State and sets forth procedures that may be used to determine alternative statewide criteria or site-specific criteria adopted as part of a licensing proceeding. The purpose of the rulemaking proposal is to implement Human Health Criteria based on updates to 38 M.R.S. 466, sub-10-A for the designated use of sustenance fishing, institute water effect ratios (WERs) for the Androscoggin and St. Croix rivers, as well as promulgate new ambient water quality criteria (AWQC) for copper in the Little Androscoggin River based on the Biotic Ligand Model (BLM), and introduce carbaryl in the non-priority pollutant list. The proposal also updates AWQC for human health using methodology from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Human Health Ambient Water Quality Criteria 2015 update.
Background materials in response to questions raised at the November 21 public hearing.
Agency contact:
Cindy Dionne
17 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0017
207-287-7823
Public hearing: November 21, 2019, 9:00 AM
*Calumet Club, 334 W River Rd* Note: this change in location
Augusta, Maine
Public noticed: October 2, 2019
Comment deadline: December 6, 2019, 5:00 PM
Adoption Meeting: February 6, 2020
Effective Date: February 16, 2020