The federal Clean Water Act requires states to review their water quality standards every three years and solicit public input on the need for revising or adding to state standards. The triennial standards review (TSR) gives the public a formal opportunity to provide wide-ranging comments about water quality standards. Otherwise, opportunities for the public to comment on water quality standards are generally confined to specific, proposed rulemaking projects.
The MPCA has reviewed the need for additions and revisions to water quality standard (WQS). This review has included evaluating standards completed since the last TSR 2021-2023 workplan, considering new scientific information on the impacts of pollutants, and considering changing program needs. As a result of this evaluation and a review of resources for developing and implementing WQS, the MPCA created an updated workplan. MPCA requested public comments on the draft 2025–2027 water quality standards workplan, which details the specific projects and a general timeline for each. MPCA staff are currently reviewing the feedback received and determining what changes should be made to the draft workplan.
The MPCA requested public comments on the WQS projects in the draft workplan as well as on other water quality work:
- Minnesota Rules chapters 7050 and 7052
- Active variances that have been granted by the MPCA
- Modified class 2 and class 7 limited resource value waters that may be able to attain higher use classes
Schedule
| Dates | Task(s) |
|---|---|
| Dec. 9, 2024 | Notice of request for comments published in the State Register |
| Jan. 23, 2025 | Recorded public meeting (53 min.) |
| Jan. 28, 2025 | Recorded public meeting (60 min.) |
| Feb. 7, 2025 | End of public comment period |
| February-April 2025 | Review public feedback |
| To be determined | Respond to public feedback, update draft workplan, and submit final workplan to EPA for approval |
| To be determined | EPA approval of workplan |
