Some rulemaking discussion will be held by the Department of Environmental Quality Water Quality Management Advisory Council when it meets in the coming week.
The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 23 and will begin at 2 p.m. at the DEQ headquarters, 707 N. Robinson in downtown Oklahoma City.
Per the released agenda, the meeting will involve discussion of rulemaking for the following Chapters:
OAC 252:606 – “OKLAHOMA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (OPDES) STANDARDS”
DEQ will be proposing an update of the federal rules incorporated by reference from July 8, 2024, to January 17, 2025. The regulatory changes are minor in nature, primarily consisting of grammar and style changes. DEQ will be proposing updating the section on fees. Currently, Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustments are made on July 1st every year for individual discharge permits and individual permit fees for industrial users. The proposed update is to apply the CPI to stormwater and other general discharge permit fees.
OAC 252:626 – “PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS”
OAC 252:627 – “OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF WATER REUSE SYSTEMS”
“DEQ Staff is proposing to update the rule to include Consumer Price Index (CPI) language allowing for the annual adjustment of fees based on the CPI. This will ensure consistently amongst the rules that require annual fees.
OAC 252:656 – “WATER POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITY CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS”
OAC 252:730 – “OKLAHOMA’S WATER QUALITY STANDARDS”
OAC 252:740 – “IMPLEMENTATION OF OKLAHOMA’S WATER QUALITY STANDARDS”
DEQ Staff is proposing to update the rule as follows:
• Reasonable potential: Allowing the use of a fish tissues study to confirm the need for a WQBEL.
• Assessment of Fish and Wildlife Propagation support: Adds fish tissue criteria as the preferred method for assessing waterbodies for selenium, with water column criteria being used if fish tissue is unavailable.
• Assessment of Secondary Body Contact Recreation support: Addition of criteria values for assessment.
A draft Agenda for this meeting can be found at the following link:
Water Quality Management Advisory Council Meeting, September 23, 2025
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me (brian.clagg@deq.ok.gov) or call me at 405-702-8118.