This bill proposes several updates to current Arizona water quality statutes. It introduces new provisions, including the establishment of a water quality program aimed at restoring and maintaining the integrity of the state's waters (14. Establish a water quality program...). Additionally, it mandates the adoption of a permit program for discharges into non-WOTUS protected surface waters and requires public notice and comment opportunities regarding surface water quality standards (3. Adopt, by rule, a permit program... and beginning on the effective date of this amendment...). The bill also emphasizes the importance of ecological services in the decision-making process for water quality standards (H. For the purposes of this section...). Furthermore, the bill modifies existing language to ensure that the standards for water quality are not less stringent than those required by the Clean Water Act (but not and more stringent than the requirements of the clean water act...). It removes outdated provisions regarding non-WOTUS protected surface waters and clarifies the director's authority to add waters of cultural or religious importance to federally recognized Indian tribes to the protected surface waters list ((k) Ephemeral waters... and (h) All waters within the jurisdiction...). Overall, the bill aims to enhance the regulatory framework for water quality in Arizona, ensuring stronger protections and more public engagement in the process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 49-203, 49-221, 49-222, 49-255.01, 49-255.02, 49-255.03, 49-255.04, 49-371, 35-146, 35-147, 49-210, 49-241.02, 49-243, 49-201, 37-1121, 38-503, 49-223, 111-353, 3-525, 49-104, 41-1028, 49-323