Idaho Governor Butch Otter has applied to U.S. EPA Region 10 for approval for the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) to administer the Idaho Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (IPDES) program. Idaho’s request includes an implementation plan to transfer from EPA to IDEQ the administration of specific program components in four phases over a four-year period beginning July 1, 2018, or upon program approval, whichever is later.
The Clean Water Act (CWA) provides that U.S. EPA shall approve a state to administer its own permit program, upon the Governor’s request, provided the state has appropriate legal authority and a program sufficient to meet the Act’s requirements. The Region 10 Regional Administrator will make a decision to approve or disapprove Idaho’s program based on the relevant requirements and after considering public comments and conducting government-to-government tribal consultations, as requested, with federally recognized tribes in Idaho.
EPA must approve or disapprove the submitted IPDES program within 90 days of receipt, unless the review period is extended by mutual agreement.
Comments are being accepted online through October 10 and at public hearings to be held in September. More information is available here.
