This bill proposes several updates to current statutes regarding water quality in Arizona. It introduces new provisions, such as establishing 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 that the Department provide public notice and an opportunity for comment on surface water quality standards for non-WOTUS protected surface waters, along with preparing written responses to comments and publishing the standards in the Arizona administrative register (beginning on the effective date of this amendment...). The bill also modifies existing language by removing certain outdated provisions, such as the specific deadlines for adopting water quality standards for non-WOTUS protected surface waters (by December 31, 2022, consistent with paragraph 1 of this subsection and) and clarifying that the director shall add additional non-WOTUS surface waters to the protected surface waters list when certain conditions are met (shall add additional non-WOTUS surface waters...). Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of considering ecological services in the decision-making process for water quality standards (, including ecological services,). Overall, the bill aims to enhance the regulatory framework for water quality management in Arizona.

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