Section 58.01.11.150 - IMPLEMENTATIONThis rule establishes minimum requirements to maintain and protect ground water quality. This rule applies to all activities with the potential to degrade ground water quality.
01.Ground Water Quality Standards. The numerical and narrative standards in Sections 200 and 301 identify minimum levels of protection for ground water quality and shall be used as a basis for:a. Evaluating or comparing ground water quality when developing or modifying best available methods, best management practices, or best practical methods;b. Identifying permit conditions;c. Establishing cleanup levels; andd. Determining appropriate actions when ground water quality standards are exceeded.02.Aquifer Categorization. Aquifers of the state shall be categorized based on vulnerability of the ground water, existing and projected future beneficial uses of the ground water, existing water quality, and social and economic considerations. There shall be three aquifer categories, Sensitive Resource, General Resource, and Other Resource, to provide different levels of protection. The level of protection required for each category and application of standards to these categories are shown in Table I. Table 1. Level of Protection and Application of Standards to Aquifer Categories |
Category | Level of Protection | Application of Standards |
Sensitive Resource | Apply best management practices and best available methods. This category provides the highest level of ground water protection. | May apply stricter standards than in Section 200. |
General Resource | Apply best management practices and best practical methods to the maximum extent practical. | Apply numerical and narrative standards in Section 200. |
Other Resource | Apply best management practices and best practical methods to the maximum extent practical. | May apply less strict standards than in Section 200. |
a. All aquifers where there are activities with the potential to degrade ground water quality are categorized in Section 300. Those aquifers where no activities with the potential to degrade ground water quality are occurring will remain uncategorized until such activities are commenced. If no action is taken to categorize an aquifer when an activity(ies) with the potential to degrade ground water quality is initiated, the aquifer will automatically be categorized as General Resource.b. Categorization should be considered when an activity with the potential to degrade ground water quality is proposed over an aquifer or portion of an aquifer which presently has no such activities and, based on the criteria in Section 350, the aquifer may be most appropriately categorized as Sensitive Resource or Other Resource.c. Recategorization should be considered when information on vulnerability of the ground water, existing and projected future beneficial uses of the ground water, existing quality of the ground water, and social and economic considerations, in conjunction with one or more of the criteria in Section 350, demonstrates that the aquifer or portion of an aquifer may be more appropriate in another category.03.Ground Water-Surface Water Interconnection. The beneficial uses of interconnected surface water shall be recognized when evaluating ground water quality protection. The implementation of water quality programs shall ensure that the quality of ground water that discharges to surface water does not impair the identified beneficial uses of the surface water and that surface water infiltration does not impair beneficial uses of ground water.04.Interagency Coordination. The Department will coordinate with other federal, state, and local agencies to pursue interagency agreements when necessary to ensure implementation of this rule for activities which have the potential to degrade ground water quality.Idaho Admin. Code r. 58.01.11.150