2026 Triennial Review - Public Review Draft and Comment Period
The New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB) invites the public to comment on NMED’s proposed amendments to the State’s Standards for Interstate and Intrastate Surface Waters, 20.6.4 New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC).
It is the objective of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters, including those in New Mexico. As part of upholding the objective of the CWA, the State of New Mexico is required by statute to adopt water quality standards that protect the public health or welfare and enhance the quality of water, and are consistent with and serve the purposes of the New Mexico Water Quality Act (WQA) and the federal CWA. New Mexico’s surface water quality standards are codified under 20.6.4 NMAC.
In accordance with Section 303(c)(1) of the CWA and 20.6.4.10 NMAC, States are required to hold public hearings at least once every three years to review, amend, and adopt water quality standards, as applicable. This is referred to as a “Triennial Review.” Pursuant to Section 74-6-4(F) of the WQA, the Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) delegated NMED the responsibility for organizing and proposing amendments to the state’s surface water quality standards.
Please note that comments submitted to NMED SWQB on the Public Review Draft are for further developing the proposed amendments prior to petitioning the Water Quality Control Commission for a rulemaking hearing. An additional public comment period will be held in conjunction with the rulemaking hearing pursuant to 20.1.6.204(B) NMAC.
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The New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB) invites the public to comment on NMED’s proposed amendments to the State’s Standards for Interstate and Intrastate Surface Waters, 20.6.4 New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC).
It is the objective of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters, including those in New Mexico. As part of upholding the objective of the CWA, the State of New Mexico is required by statute to adopt water quality standards that protect the public health or welfare and enhance the quality of water, and are consistent with and serve the purposes of the New Mexico Water Quality Act (WQA) and the federal CWA. New Mexico’s surface water quality standards are codified under 20.6.4 NMAC.
In accordance with Section 303(c)(1) of the CWA and 20.6.4.10 NMAC, States are required to hold public hearings at least once every three years to review, amend, and adopt water quality standards, as applicable. This is referred to as a “Triennial Review.” Pursuant to Section 74-6-4(F) of the WQA, the Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) delegated NMED the responsibility for organizing and proposing amendments to the state’s surface water quality standards.
Please note that comments submitted to NMED SWQB on the Public Review Draft are for further developing the proposed amendments prior to petitioning the Water Quality Control Commission for a rulemaking hearing. An additional public comment period will be held in conjunction with the rulemaking hearing pursuant to 20.1.6.204(B) NMAC.
Contact Information
*Indicates Required Fields