Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 167 - Pollution Control Agency
Chapter 7050 - WATERS OF THE STATE
WATER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR PROTECTION OF WATERS OF THE STATE
Part 7050.0270 - ANTIDEGRADATION STANDARDS WHEN CHANGES IN EXISTING WATER QUALITY ARE NOT REASONABLY QUANTIFIABLE
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 39, March 25, 2024
Subpart 1. Scope.
This part applies to activities regulated by the following control documents:
Subp. 2. Protection of existing uses.
The commissioner shall issue control documents that will maintain and protect existing uses.
Subp. 3. Protection of beneficial uses.
The commissioner shall not issue a control document that would permanently preclude attainment of water quality standards.
Subp. 4. Protection of surface waters of high quality.
Subp. 5. Protection of restricted outstanding resource value waters.
The commissioner shall issue control documents that restrict net increases in loading or other causes of degradation as necessary to maintain the exceptional characteristics for which the restricted outstanding resource value waters identified under part 7050.0335, subparts 1 and 2, were designated.
Subp. 6. Protection of prohibited outstanding resource value waters.
The commissioner shall issue control documents that prohibit a net increase in loading or other causes of degradation to prohibited outstanding resource value waters identified under part 7050.0335, subparts 3 and 4.
Subp. 7. Protection against impairments associated with thermal discharges.
When there is potential for water quality impairment associated with thermal discharges, a control document that allows a net increase in loading or other causes of degradation must be consistent with section 316 of the Clean Water Act, United States Code, title 33, section 1326. When a variance is granted under section 316(a) of the Clean Water Act, United States Code, title 33, section 1326, antidegradation standards under this part still apply.