Current and Past Actions
The State Environmental Commission (SEC) is charged with adopting and amending regulations to carry out the provisions of the Water Pollution Control Law, including water quality standards. All WQS revisions, adopted by the SEC, are provided to the Legislative Council Bureau (LCB) for review and approval and incorporation into the Nevada Administrative Code. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has the final authority to approve, dissaprove, or take no action on the proposed water quality standards regulation. Below is a listing of our current WQS activities and all of our past WQS actions. Note: prior to September 1993, the water quality standards changes are kept on file within NDEP.
Current Water Quality Standards Activities
The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) is proposing a regulatory action for adoption of an updated antidegradation program with clear implementation procedures that would be applicable to all surface waters of the State.
Proposed Regulations for Antidegradation LCB File No. 113-22
The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), Bureau of Water Quality Planning (BWQP) proposed to adopt regulation petitions LCB File No. R1115-22, and R116-22 amending Chapter 445A of the Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) 445A.11704 – 445A.2234 – Standards for Water Quality. R115-22: This regulation proposes to amend the NAC, to assign beneficial uses and criteria that are better suited for flood-conveyance channels in Las Vegas. R116-22: This regulation proposes to adopt site-specific selenium criteria for segments of the Las Vegas Wash. These two regulations have been approved through Nevada's rule making process and are awaiting approval by the EPA.
LCB File No. R115-22, and R116-22 (Awaiting EPA approval)
- Comments Received and NDEP Responses
- Workshop Suumary
- Public Notice and agenda
- Petition R115-22
- R115-22 Rationale
- Petition R116-22
- R116-22 Rationale
Proposed Regulations for Antidegradation and EAWs - The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) is proposing a regulatory action for adoption of an updated antidegradation program with clear implementation procedures that would be applicable to all surface waters of the State.
Temperature Water Quality Standards Review - The Bureau of Water Quality Planning has developed scientifically supported guidance for updating our temperature water quality standards in Nevada waters. As NDEP reviews temperature standards throughout the state this guidence will be followed to establish proper temperature criteria for protection of aquatic life.
Past Water Quality Standards actions, as managed by the SEC
| Petition ID | Adopted by SEC | Effective On | Petition to Change |
R114-22 | 12/14/2022 | 12/15/2022 | Statewide Beryllium, Water Quality Standards Revision |
R043-19 | 12/4/2019 | 08/26/2022 | Statewide Selenium, Water Quality Standards Revision |
R036-19 | 10/2/2019 | 10/30/2019 | Cadmium, Water Quality Standards Revision |
R037-19 | 10/2/2019 | 10/30/2019 | Colorado River, Water Quality Standards Revision |
R102-16 | 12/5/2017 | 12/19/2017 | Lower Humboldt Class Waters, Water Quality Standards Revision |
R109-16 | 12/5/2017 | 12/19/2017 | Consistency Petition, Water Quality Standards Revision |
R101-14 | 2/10/2016 | 4/4/2016 | Lahonton Reservoir, Water Quality Standards Revision |
R130-15 | 2/10/2016 | 4/4/2016 | Lower Humboldt Class Waters, Water Quality Standards Revision |
R103-14 | 12/3/2014 | 12/22/2014 | South Fork Humboldt River and South Fork Reservoir Water Quality Standards Revisions |
R102-14 | 10/8/2014 | 10/24/2014 | Upper Humboldt Class Waters, Water Quality Standards Revision |
R093-13 | 12/4/2013 | 12/23/2013 | Remove NV WQS on Federal Indian Reservations |
R128-12 | 10/11/2012 | 12/20/2012 | Smoke, Bronco, and Gray Creeks revises DO and chloride standards |
R129-12 | 10/11/2012 | 12/20/2012 | Aquatic life toxics standards |
R130-12 | 10/11/2012 | 12/20/2012 | North Antelope Creek standards |
R131-12 | 10/11/2012 | 12/20/2012 | Statewide fecal coliform standards |
R132-12 | 10/11/2012 | 12/20/2012 | Colorado River Salinity Standards |
R129-10 | 12/7/2010 | 1/13/2011 | Class D Waters and Removal of Tribal waters |
R127-10 | 10/5/2010 | 12/16/2010 | Smoke, Bronco, and Gray Creeks standards |
R130-10 | 10/5/2010 | 12/16/2010 | Colorado River Salinity Standards |
R133-10 | 10/5/2010 | 12/16/2010 | Snake River Basin standards |
R186-08 | 11/12/2008 | 12/17/2008 | Molybdenum aquatic life standard |
R160-06 | 6/17/2008 | 8/26/2008 | Class water removal and standards tables |
R083-08 | 6/17/2008 | 8/26/2008 | Muddy River standards |
R-158-06 | 9/6/2006 | 9/18/2006 | Toxic materials applicable to designated waters |
R-159-06 | 9/6/2006 | 9/18/2006 | Colorado River Salinity Standards |
R-136-04 | 11/30/2004 | 2/17/2005 | Lake Mead and Las Vegas Bay standards |
R-226-03 | 2/26/2004 | 4/23/2004 | Class Waters standards |
R099-02 | 11/19/2002 | 12/17/2002 | Statewide Standards Amendments |
R128-01 | 12/11/2001 | 1/18/2002 | Walker River standards |
R129-01 | 12/11/2001 | 1/18/2002 | Walker Lake standards |
R104-00 | 2/15/2001 | Not Filed | Walker River and Lake standards |
R017-99 | 9/9/1999 | 9/27/1999 | Health Division drinking standard |
R110-96 | 4/10/1999 | 5/25/1999 | Lake Tahoe Basin Regulation Repeal |
R062-98 | 6/17/1998 | 8/4/1998 | Las Vegas Bay satndards |
R086-96 | 10/22/1996 | 11/27/1996 | Lake Tahoe Basin standards #2 |
R127-95 | 11/7/1995 | 11/29/1995 | Humboldt River standards |
R128-95 | 11/7/1995 | 11/29/1995 | Toxic materials and metals update |
R031-95 | 10/3/1995 | 11/9/1995 | Lake Tahoe Basin standards |
R112-94 | 8/11/1994 | 9/15/1994 | Carson River standards |
R060-94 | 5/26/1994 | 7/5/1994 | Lake Mead Marina Campground Ammonia |
R059-94 | 5/26/1994 | 7/5/1994 | Aquatic standards for selected metals |
R048-93 | 9/22/1993 | 10/29/1993 | Truckee River standards |