This week, Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter announced that the state has received U.S. EPA approval to administer the Idaho Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (IPDES) program.
Idaho DEQ began its pursuit of delegation in 2014 under direction from the state legislature. Additional steps followed, including a 2015 rulemaking, legislative rule approval in 2016, and program application submission to EPA in 2016. Beginning July 1, 2018, the state will phase in permitting authority over four years beginning with municipal permits and pretreatment programs in 2018 followed by general permits in 2019. Stormwater, federal facilities, and biosolids permits will follow in 2021.
The state notes in a press release that the full program requires approximately 29 job positions located in the Department of Environmental Quality’s state and regional offices and an annual budget of $3 million.
More information including guidance and policy documents on the IPDES program is available here.
