Revisor ID: R-04692
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has adopted amendments to rules governing water quality standards — Class 2 use designations (Minn. Rules ch. 7050). The rule amendments are effective July 3, 2023.
The rule amendments affect Class 2 (Aquatic Life) designated uses for streams. The MPCA routinely reviews use designations to ensure that assigned beneficial uses are protective and attainable as defined by the Clean Water Act and Minnesota Rule.
Public hearing
The MPCA held a public hearing on the proposed rules on February 16, 2023. With the close of the rebuttal comment period on March 15, 2023, the hearing record closed. Administrative Law Judge Todnem issued her report on April 14, 2023. The judge’s report is available in the procedural rulemaking documents section below.
Procedural rulemaking documents
June 2023
April 14, 2023
March 15, 2023
MPCA Rebuttal response submitted to the OAH.
No Non-MPCA rebuttal responses were submitted to the OAH.
March 8, 2023
MPCA post-hearing comments submitted to the OAH.
No Non-MPCA post-hearing comments were submitted to the OAH.
February 2023
- SONAR exhibits are posted with the December 2022 documents.
Notice of hearing comment period
December 2022
April 2021
Beneficial use designations for stream reaches
Water use classification tables identified in the proposed amendments.
- Map of draft Class 2 (aquatic life) designations — A tool for stakeholders to review the draft/proposed use designations
Beneficial use designations for stream reaches. Changes to the beneficial use designation tables proposed to take effect in 2023.
Why update designated uses?
The use designations in this rulemaking were initiated based on routine monitoring and rulemaking by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The most important reason to make these changes is that the designated use for each waterbody needs to be correct and appropriate because it affects many water quality protection and restoration efforts (e.g., assessment, stressor identification, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting, total maximum daily loads). Assigning the correct beneficial uses to Minnesota’s waters also accurately documents the types and condition of Minnesota’s aquatic resources.
Goals
The draft use designations enhance the protection and maintenance of the biological, chemical, and physical integrity of state water resources by:
- Establishing protective and attainable designated uses. The proposal assigns beneficial uses that will result in appropriate management actions to maintain or improve aquatic life condition.
- Assigning beneficial uses to protect high-quality water resources. Draft beneficial uses identify high quality water resources and establish higher biological goals to maintain those conditions.
- Assigning beneficial uses to appropriately classify modified water resources. These include channelized streams and ditches and will result in achievable goals that are consistent with maintaining existing uses.
- Documenting existing beneficial uses. The revision records the baseline goal for these waters to ensure their restoration or protection.
Technical support documents
Schedule
Dates | Task(s) |
---|---|
Spring 2020 - Dec. 2020 | Development of Technical Support Document |
April 5, 2021 | Notice of Request for Comments published in the State Register |
Winter 2020 - Fall 2021 | Informal public engagement |
Winter 2020 - Summer 2021 | Drafting of rule language/Statement of Need and Reasonableness |
December 12, 2022 | Notice of hearing published in State Register |
February 16, 2023 | Public hearing on proposed rules |
June 26, 2023 | Adoption of rules |
October 13, 2023 | U.S. EPA review and approval |