Proposed Rule

Rulemaking contact: Vanessa Rose, 541-278-4620 DEQ

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is conducting a rulemaking to establish a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) to address the impairments to water quality standards and beneficial uses in surface waters in the Powder River Basin.  DEQ states that these impairments are caused by excess bacteria and will be addressed by identifying and quantifying sources of this pollutant. This rule will also establish a water quality management plan that includes pollutant management strategies, a list of parties responsible for developing management plans and implementing strategies, and a timeline to reduce pollutant loads and attain water quality standards.

The Powder River Basin is located in northeastern Oregon and is comprised of the Brownlee, Powder River and Burnt River subbasins, which eventually drain into the Snake River along the border of Oregon and Idaho.

In February 2022, the Environmental Quality Commission adopted Oregon Administrative Rules amendments to allow adoption of TMDLs as rules, as well as issued by order, in alignment with authorities in Oregon Revised Statutes. For more information about that rulemaking process, please visit DEQ's rulemaking webpage.

For more information on TMDLs, please visit DEQ's TMDL webpage.

Supporting Documents

• Draft Powder River Basin Total Maximum Daily Loads – Bacteria (adopted, by reference, into rule)
• Draft Powder River Basin Water Quality Management Plan (adopted, by reference, into rule)
• Draft Powder River Basin TMDL Technical Support Document