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 directs 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 responsible for advising on nutrient standards, and grants the DEQ the authority to implement these changes through rulemaking.

Furthermore, the bill amends Section 75-5-103 of the Montana Code Annotated to update definitions related to water quality and pollution, specifically deleting the definition of the Nutrient Work Group. It also repeals Section 75-5-321, which pertains to the transition for nutrient standards, and specific administrative rules (ARM 17.30.660 and 17.30.1388) related to nutrient standards. The overall goal of the bill is to reduce the regulatory burden on municipal wastewater treatment systems and align Montana's water quality standards with more achievable and economically viable practices. 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