Cheyenne – On April 11, 2024, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) Water Quality Division (WQD) released proposed revisions to Wyoming Water Quality Rules, Chapter 1, Wyoming Surface Water Quality Standards, and corresponding changes to Chapter 2, Permit Regulations for Discharges to Wyoming Surface Waters. The standards specify water quality protections for Wyoming’s streams, lakes, and wetlands and provide the basis for regulating discharges to surface waters and establishing goals for restoration plans for surface waters that do not meet the water quality standards. The standards fulfill requirements in the Wyoming Environmental Quality Act to develop water quality standards and requirements in the federal Clean Water Act to review and revise water quality standards.
Jennifer Zygmunt, Water Quality Division Administrator, described the proposed revisions as a significant step forward that follows several years of hard work by WQD staff and opportunities for stakeholders to help inform the revisions. “I want to extend my appreciation to the entities who participated in the initial scoping and those who volunteered their time and expertise to participate in the collaborative stakeholder process. We carefully considered the feedback we received and have proposed revisions that reflect that feedback. We are pleased to share these drafts and associated materials with the public, our partner agencies, and the Water and Waste Advisory Board, and we look forward to receiving comments.”
Comment Period and Water and Waste Advisory Board Meeting
Comments on the proposed revisions can be submitted in writing until 5 PM June 13, 2024, or verbally during a June 13, 2024, Water and Waste Advisory Board meeting that will be held beginning at 9:00 a.m. virtually via Zoom and in person at the Department of Environmental Quality Casper Field Office. Additional details regarding the Water and Waste Advisory Board meeting, public comment period, and materials associated with the proposed revisions are available at http://deq.wyoming.gov/shwd/wwab/ under the “Upcoming Meetings” tab.
Upcoming Informational Webinar
The WQD will provide an overview of proposed changes to the rules during an informational webinar on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Additional details regarding the webinar are available at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WYDEQ/bulletins/39681d5
Supporting Materials and More Information
Materials associated with the proposed revisions are available at http://deq.wyoming.gov/shwd/wwab/ under the “Upcoming Meetings” tab.
Questions can be directed to Kimberly Mazza, Public Information Supervisor, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, at kimberly.mazza@wyo.gov or (307) 777-7753.
Para español, visite https://deq.wyoming.gov/. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, special assistance or alternative formats will be made available upon request for individuals with disabilities.