House Bill 664 seeks to revise Montana's water quality standards by eliminating numeric nutrient standards and replacing them with narrative nutrient standards. The bill mandates the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to amend existing administrative rules to remove all references to numeric nutrient standards, including the repeal of department circular DEQ-12A, which established these standards. Additionally, the bill repeals the Nutrient Work Group, which was previously responsible for advising on nutrient standards and their economic impacts, signaling a shift away from the burdensome numeric approach for municipal wastewater treatment systems.

Furthermore, the bill amends Section 75-5-103 of the Montana Code Annotated to update definitions related to water quality, including the removal of the definition for the Nutrient Work Group. It also repeals Section 75-5-321, which pertains to the transition for nutrient standards. The DEQ is given the authority to establish new rules regarding nutrient standards, aiming to simplify the regulatory framework surrounding nutrient management in Montana's waters. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 75-5-103
HB0664_1(1): 75-5-103
HB0664_1(10): 75-5-103
HB0664_1(11): 75-5-103
HB0664_1(12): 75-5-103
HB0664_1(2): 75-5-103
HB0664_1(3): 75-5-103
HB0664_1(4): 75-5-103
HB0664_1(5): 75-5-103
HB0664_1(6): 75-5-103
HB0664_1(7): 75-5-103
HB0664_1(8): 75-5-103
HB0664_1(9): 75-5-103
HB0664_1: 75-5-103
HB0664_X(1): 75-5-103
HB0664_X(2): 75-5-103
HB0664_X(3): 75-5-103
HB0664_X(4): 75-5-103
HB0664_X(5): 75-5-103
HB0664_X(6): 75-5-103
HB0664_X(7): 75-5-103
HB0664_X(8): 75-5-103
HB0664_X: 75-5-103