HB1929 Summary

• Amends Arkansas water quality standards requirements to base mineral concentration assessments on the greater of long-term average stream flow or 4 cubic feet per second (4 ft³/s) for streams where long-term flow data is unavailable.

• Requires water quality standards for domestic water supply use to be developed and implemented only for stream segments, lakes, or reservoirs that have existing domestic water supply use or are listed in the Arkansas Water Plan as planned or potential domestic water supplies.

• Mandates at least 60 actual measured samples taken at regular intervals over a minimum 5-year period for assessing stream conformity with mineral water quality standards under federal law.

• Establishes notification and public hearing requirements for persons conducting total maximum daily load studies or waste load allocation studies, including notice to permit holders and public water systems.

• Allows persons regulated under non-compliant National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits to request that permit terms be stayed or waived until compliant permits become effective.