Water Quality Standards for Idaho

EPA is proposing water quality standards that would be applicable to the waters of the United States in the State of Idaho. If promulgated as final standards, they will supersede those aspects of Idaho's water quality standards that EPA disapproved in 1993 and 1996. EPA is taking this action because it believes those State water quality standards are inconsistent with the Clean Water Act and EPA's implementing regulations. The timing of this rulemaking is designed to comply with a court order directing EPA to propose standards by April 21, 1997 and to promulgate final standards 90 days thereafter. EPA is proposing new use designations on currently unclassified waters in the State, and new use designations on 53 specified water body segments whose use designations do not meet the goals of the Clean Water Act and which have not been justified by the State. EPA is also proposing new temperature criteria necessary to protect certain threatened and endangered species and species being considered for listing as threatened and endangered. Finally, EPA's proposal addresses the State's mixing zone and anti-degradation policies as well as its excluded waters provision.