Regulatory Meeting February 10, 2016

02/10/2016
Regulatory Meeting
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Time
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Location
9:00 A.M.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Bryan Building, 2nd Floor (Tahoe Room)
901 South Stewart Street
Carson City, NV

Minutes, Agenda, & Audio

Penalty Assessments for Air Quality Violations

Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Inc.

Penalty Assessment, NOAV Nos. 2561 and 2562. Alleged violations of Class I Air Quality Operating Permit AP1041-0739.02. The recommended penalty amount is $46,942.50.

NDEP Regulatory Petitions

R130-15 - Bureau of Water Quality Planning – Lower Humboldt Class Waters, Water Quality Standards Revision

Approve and adopt regulatory petition R130-15, as proposed, or take other action as appropriate. (For Possible Action)

The proposed changes to the Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) revise the Nevada water quality regulations for the former “Class Waters” located in the Lower Humboldt River Basin. Revisions include the addition of numeric criteria for nitrate, nitrite, total suspended solids, turbidity, color, chloride, sulfate, and alkalinity based upon guidance published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These additions were deemed necessary to properly protect the beneficial uses.

State law (NRS 445A.520) requires that standards be set at levels designed to protect beneficial uses for surface waters of the state. Nevada has been delegated authority to set water quality standards under the Clean Water act and federal regulations (40CFR 131.20) require states to periodically review their water quality standards, and as appropriate update those standards. A review of the available data, scientific literature and EPA guidance indicated that the proposed standards be modified to protect the beneficial uses currently designated for these waters.

The proposed revisions are expected to have some beneficial economic effect on the public both immediately and long-term. Overall, the current water quality standards have beneficial effects in terms of protecting public health and welfare, and supporting aquatic, wildlife, and recreational uses. All of these factors provide economic benefits to the public. The proposed changes will provide additional protection of the beneficial uses, thereby improving the level of public benefit. There will be no additional costs to the State for enforcement of the proposed regulation and it does not opverlap, duplicate or conflict with any regulations of other government agencies. The proposed regulation does not include provisions which are more stringent than a federal regulation, it does not address fees and it is essential to the functions and operations of NDEP.

Supporting PDF Documents

R101-14 - Bureau of Water Quality Planning – Lahontan Reservoir, Water Quality Standards Revision

Approve and adopt regulatory petition R101-14, as proposed, or take other action as appropriate. (For Possible Action)

The proposed amendment revises water quality standards for the Carson River and Lahontan Reservoir (NAC 445A.1822 - 445A.1824). Proposed changes include: 1) separate out the delineation of Lahontan Reservoir from the Carson River; 2) revise phosphorus, chloride and alkalinity criteria; and 3) clarify that the dissolved oxygen criterion applies only in the epilimnion when the reservoir is stratified. Lahontan Reservoir water quality standards were last reviewed in 1984 and these revisions were deemed necessary to update water quality criteria based upon more recent data, scientific literature and guidance published by the USEPA.

State law (NRS 445A.520) requires that standards be set at levels designed to protect beneficial uses for surface waters of the state. Nevada has been delegated authority to set water quality standards under the Clean Water Act and federal regulations (40CFR 131.20) require states to periodically review their water quality standards, and as appropriate update those standards. A review of the available data, scientific literature and EPA guidance indicated that the proposed changes be made to the water quality standards to protect the beneficial uses currently designated for these waters.
This regulation will not have an immediate or long-term adverse economic impact on the public or the business community. There will be no additional costs to the State for enforcement of the proposed regulation and the regulation does not overlap, duplicate or conflict with any regulations of other government agencies. The proposed regulation does not include provisions which are more stringent than a federal regulation. The proposed regulation does not address fees and it is essential to the functions and operations of NDEP.

Supporting PDF Documents

Upcoming Hearings / Meetings

We currently don’t have any meetings scheduled.