North Dakota Administrative Code
Title 33.1 - Department of Environmental Quality
Article 33.1-16 - Control, Prevention, and Abatement of Pollution of Surface Water
Chapter 33.1-16-02.1 - Standards of Quality for Waters of the State
Section 33.1-16-02.1-02 - Purpose

Universal Citation: ND Admin Code ยง 33.1-16-02.1-02

Current through Supplement No. 394, October, 2024

1. The purposes of this chapter are to establish a system for classifying waters of the state; provide standards of water quality for waters of the state; and protect existing and potential beneficial uses of waters of the state.

2. The state and public policy is to maintain or improve, or both, the quality of the waters of the state and to maintain and protect existing uses. Classifications and standards are established for the protection of public health and environmental resources and for the enjoyment of these waters, to ensure the propagation and well-being of resident fish, wildlife, and all biota associated with, or dependent upon, these waters; and to safeguard social, economical, and industrial development. Waters not being put to use shall be protected for all reasonable uses for which these waters are suitable. All known and reasonable methods to control and prevent pollution of the waters of this state are required, including improvement in quality of these waters, when feasible.

a. The "quality of the waters" shall be the quality of record existing at the time the first standards were established in 1967, or later records if these indicate an improved quality. Waters with existing quality that is higher than established standards will be maintained at the higher quality unless affirmatively demonstrated, after full satisfaction of the intergovernmental coordination and public participation provisions of the continuing planning process, that a change in quality is necessary to accommodate important social or economic development in the area in which the waters are located. In allowing the lowering of existing quality, the department shall assure that existing uses are fully protected and that the highest statutory and regulatory requirements for all point sources and cost-effective and reasonable best management practices for nonpoint sources are achieved.

b. Waters of the state having unique or high-quality characteristics that may constitute an outstanding state resource shall be maintained and protected.

c. Any public or private project or development which constitutes a source of pollution shall provide the best degree of treatment as designated by the department in the North Dakota pollutant discharge elimination system. If review of data and public input indicates any detrimental water quality changes, appropriate actions will be taken by the department following procedures approved by the environmental protection agency. (North Dakota Antidegradation Implementation Procedure, Appendix IV.)

General Authority: NDCC 61-28-04; S.L. 2017, ch. 199, § 1

Law Implemented: NDCC 23.1-11, 61-28-04; S.L. 2017, ch. 199, § 26

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