OAR 340-042-0025
Policy, Purpose and Effect
(1)
The public policy of the State of Oregon is to protect, maintain and improve the quality of waters of the state for beneficial uses and to provide for prevention, abatement and control of water pollution. To achieve and maintain water quality standards, the Environmental Quality Commission may impose limitations and controls including Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), wasteload allocations for point sources and load allocations for nonpoint sources.(2)
The policy of the Environmental Quality Commission is to have the Department of Environmental Quality establish TMDLs, including wasteload and load allocations, and have responsible sources meet these allocations through compliance with discharge permits or other strategies developed in sector or source-specific implementation plans. These measures must achieve and maintain water quality standards and restore waters of the state that are water quality limited.(3)
These rules establish procedures for developing, issuing and implementing TMDLs as required by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Section 303(d) (33 USC Section 1313(d)) and authorized by Oregon statutes to ensure that state water quality standards are met and beneficial uses protected.(4)
The Department of Environmental Quality will review any changes to Federal Water Pollution Control Act Section 303(d) or implementing regulations in 40 CFR Part 130 promulgated after the effective date of these rules. The Department may subsequently recommend that the Environmental Quality Commission amend, repeal or adopt new rules. Rules adopted by the Commission remain in effect until the Commission takes action on the recommendations.
Source:
Rule 340-042-0025 — Policy, Purpose and Effect, https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/view.action?ruleNumber=340-042-0025.