Ariz. Admin. Code § 18-11-408

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 49, December 6, 2024

Section R18-11-408 - Petition for Adoption of a Numeric Aquifer Water Quality Standard

A. Any person may petition the Director to adopt, by rule, a numeric aquifer water quality standard for a pollutant for which no numeric aquifer water quality standard exists.

B. Petitions for adoption of a numeric aquifer water quality standard shall be filed with the Department and shall comply with the requirements applicable to petitions for rule adoption as provided by A.R.S. § 41-1033 and A.A.C. R18-1-302, except as otherwise provided by A.R.S. § 49-223 or this Section.

C. In addition to the requirements of A.A.C. R18-1-302, a petition for rule adoption to establish a numeric aquifer water quality standard shall include specific reference to:

1. Technical information that the pollutant is a toxic pollutant.

2. Technical information upon which the Director reasonably may base the establishment of a numeric aquifer water quality standard.

3. Evidence that the pollutant that is the subject of the petition is or may in the future be present in an aquifer or part of an aquifer that is classified for drinking water protected use. Evidence may include, but is not limited to, any of the following:

a. A laboratory analysis of a water sample by a laboratory licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services which indicates the presence of the pollutant in the aquifer.

b. A hydrogeological study which demonstrates that the pollutant that is the subject of the petition may be present in an aquifer in the future. The hydrogeological study shall include the following:

i. A description of the use that results in a discharge of the pollutant that is the subject of the petition.

ii. A description of the mobility of the pollutant in the vadose zone and in the aquifer.

iii. A description of the persistence of the pollutant in the vadose zone and in the aquifer.

D. Within 180 calendar days of the receipt of a complete petition for rule adoption to establish a numeric aquifer water quality standard, the Director shall make a written determination of whether the petition should be granted or denied. The Director shall give written notice by regular mail of the determination to the petitioner.

E. If the petition for rule adoption is granted, the Director shall initiate rulemaking proceedings to adopt a numeric aquifer water quality standard. The Director shall, within one year of the date that the petition for adoption of a numeric aquifer water quality standard is granted, either adopt a rule establishing a numeric aquifer water quality standard or publish a notice of termination of rulemaking in the Arizona Administrative Register.

F. If the petition for rule adoption is denied, the Director shall issue a denial letter to the petitioner which explains the reasons for the denial. The denial of a petition for rule adoption to establish a numeric aquifer water quality standard is not subject to judicial review.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R18-11-408

Adopted effective January 4, 1990 (Supp. 90-1).