For Immediate Release: Thursday, August 18, 2022
Media Contact: Brian Walsh, brian.walsh@state.sd.us

DANR Announces Stakeholder Outreach for Surface Water Quality Standards

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) is seeking public participation in a virtual meeting to introduce and discuss proposed changes to the Surface Water Quality Standards in the Chapter 74:51 of the Administrative Rules of South Dakota (ARSD).

The meeting will include a DANR presentation explaining the proposed changes and provide an opportunity for public input.

The proposed rule changes include adopting/updating EPA’s recommended cadmium criterion, incorporating a seasonal component to the irrigation beneficial use criteria, updating the beneficial use classification for part of the Missouri River (Lake Sharpe), removal of breached or nonexistent dams from the classified lakes section, deleting an unused definition, and corrections/updates to minor errors. 

A Microsoft Teams virtual meeting is scheduled for 10:00 am CT August 30, 2022. Participants can join the virtual meeting by calling 605-679-7263 and using the meeting passcode 153628850#. To request a Teams link for the virtual meeting, please email Shannon.Minerich@state.sd.us.

Individuals requiring assistive technology or other services in order to participate in the meeting or materials in an alternate format should contact Brian Pontious, Nondiscrimination Coordinator, by calling (605) 773-5559 or by email at Brian.Pontious@state.sd.us as soon as possible but no later than two business days prior to the meeting in order to ensure accommodations are available.

The official public comment period will be open in October 2022 and a public hearing will be held in December 2022. 

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