Antidegration Implementation Methods

Last modified on February 12, 2015.

EZFeed Policy

Place	Mississippi
Applies to States or Provinces	Mississippi
Name	Antidegredation Implementation Methods (Mississippi)
Policy Category	Other Policy
Policy Type	Environmental Regulations, Siting and Permitting
Affected Technologies	Biomass/Biogas, Coal with CCS, Concentrating Solar Power, Energy Storage, Fuel Cells, Geothermal Electric, Hydroelectric, Hydroelectric (Small), Natural Gas, Nuclear, Solar Photovoltaics, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy, Wind energy
Active Policy	Yes
Implementing Sector	State/Province
Program Administrator	Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Primary Website	http://www.deq.state.ms.us/MDEQ.nsf/pdf/TWB_AntidegradationImplementationMethodology/$File/WPC-1%20Antidegradation%20Implementation%20Methodology.pdf?OpenElement
Applicable Jurisdiction	Statewide
Last Review	2014-09-15
Information Source	http://www.deq.state.ms.us/MDEQ.nsf/page/epd_epdhome?OpenDocument

Summary

This environmental regulation is an addition to the Water Quality Criteria for Intrastate, Interstate, and Coastal Water regulations. It separates Mississippi's water into 3 tiers. Tier 1 waters are those waters in which the existing water quality does not support designated uses. Tier 2 waters are those waters in which the water quality meets or exceeds the mandatory minimum levels to support the Clean Water Act (CWA) goal of propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and recreation in and on such waters. Tier 3 waters are those high quality waters that constitute Outstanding National Resource Waters (ONRWs). Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) will decide which tier applies to state water based on provided information. All existing uses must be maintained and protected in all water of the State regardless of whether they are considered a Tier 1,2, or 3 water. All waters in Mississippi are considered to be tier 2 waters unless otherwise noted. The methods that the State will use to implement the antidegredation policy include the following components: A determination of the impact of the discharge upon state waters, alternative analysis, socio-economic issues, a preliminary State antidegredation decision, public review/input, and a final State decision.

A report regarding compliance with the antidegredation policy shall be conducted for all or new expanding wastewater discharges into Mississippi surface waters that require an NPDES permit. This Notice of Intent (NOI) to discharge will be reviewed by the MDEQ. The applicant must provide the following in their NOI application: Alternative Analysis, Socio-Economic Impacts Analysis.

Policy Contact

Contact Name	Jon Huey
Department	Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Division	Office of Pollution Control
Address	P.O. Box 10385, Jackson, MS, 39289
Phone	601-961-5113
Email	Jon_Huey@deq.state.ms.us

Authorities (Please contact the if there are any file problems.)

Authority 1:	WPC-2
Date Effective	2007-09-23