House Bill No. introduced by S. Fitzpatrick proposes to revise the deadline for the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to review data for water quality assessments. The bill amends Section 75-5-702 of the Montana Code Annotated, changing the review period from 60 days to 180 days for the DEQ to assess data submitted by individuals requesting the addition or removal of water bodies from the list of threatened or impaired waters. This change aims to provide the department with more time to evaluate the data thoroughly before making decisions regarding water quality listings.

In addition to the extended review period, the bill maintains the requirement for the DEQ to use all currently available data in its assessments and to provide public notice and a comment period before finalizing any changes to the water quality list. The bill emphasizes the importance of public involvement and transparency in the decision-making process regarding water quality assessments, ensuring that stakeholders have the opportunity to contribute to the evaluation of water bodies in Montana.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 75-5-702
HB0684_1(1): 75-5-702
HB0684_1(2): 75-5-702
HB0684_1(3): 75-5-702
HB0684_1(4): 75-5-702
HB0684_1(5): 75-5-702
HB0684_1(6): 75-5-702
HB0684_1(7): 75-5-702
HB0684_1(8): 75-5-702
HB0684_1: 75-5-702
HB0684_2(1): 75-5-702
HB0684_2(2): 75-5-702
HB0684_2(3): 75-5-702
HB0684_2(4): 75-5-702
HB0684_2(5): 75-5-702
HB0684_2(6): 75-5-702
HB0684_2(7): 75-5-702
HB0684_2(8): 75-5-702
HB0684_2(9): 75-5-702
HB0684_2: 75-5-702