Michael McCurdy — Michael McCurdy introduced himself as the Waste Management and Remediation Division Administrator for the Department of Environmental Quality and began presenting the docket. He then paused for committee questions and responded to follow-up questions, including explaining timing and incorporation-by-reference issues and addressing Representative Scott’s question.
Michael McCurdy — Introduced Docket 5801-132501 as a pending and temporary rule for ore processing by cyanidation.
Heather Scott — Asked why the federal rules are not written out in full in state rules.
Heather Scott — Representative Scott asked a question following Mr. McCurdy’s presentation, seeking clarification on whether zero-based regulation would mean eliminating one existing rule for every new rule adopted.
Heather Scott — Asked why groundwater is treated differently from other areas that are primarily governed by federal regulations.
Heather Scott — Explained that wording changes were influenced by a prior review of Idaho as the least regulated state and noted she has historical context to share later.
Heather Scott — Introduced John Groff from the audience and described his wastewater reuse project in her district.
Heather Scott — Described a wastewater reuse pilot project involving irrigation of trees and wildflowers and research into possible pharmaceuticals remaining in the water.
Rod Furniss — Rod Furniss makes a motion to approve a docket; the first motion’s docket number is garbled in the transcript, and he later clarifies it by moving to approve docket 580105-2501.
Rod Furniss — Moved to approve docket 580108-2501.
Rod Furniss — Representative Furniss moved to approve docket 5801-22501, repeating and clarifying the docket number as he made the motion.
Rod Furniss — Representative Furness was called on by the chair and then moved to approve docket number 58-0112-2501.
Britt Raybould — Britt Raybould is acknowledged by name during a procedural exchange, where the discussion notes that a motion is in order and includes a brief recognition of her in response to the motion.
Chris Bruce — Representative Chris Bruce moves to approve docket 58-0101-2501.
Chris Bruce — Asked about the impact of new data centers that may use existing well water or groundwater rights and whether rules are being considered.
Chris Bruce — Asked about the impact of data centers using groundwater rights and whether rules are being considered.
Chris Bruce — Moved to approve the docket with exceptions for Section 003 and Section 200, subsection 01A, and explained the motion as a response to unresolved federal standards.
Jerry Henry — Introduced as the Drinking Water Protection and Finance Division Administrator at DEQ and presenter for docket 580108-2501.
Jerry Henry — Explained what qualifies as a public drinking water system and introduced the docket.
Jerry Henry — Described the purpose of the chapter and noted EPA primacy requirements.
Jerry Henry — Explained that the docket incorporates two revised federal drinking water rules.
Jerry Henry — Explained the Consumer Confidence Report changes and the move toward clearer, more accessible reporting.
Jerry Henry — Explained reporting timing for consumer confidence reports and introduced the Lead and Copper Rule revisions.
Jerry Henry — Described the substantive changes in the Lead and Copper Rule revisions.
Jerry Henry — Explained that many edits are non-substantive reorganization and clarification changes.
Jerry Henry — Requested approval of docket 580108-2501 and stood for questions.
Jerry Henry — Reported the number of systems that identified lead service lines and related inventory data.
Jerry Henry — Explained the inventory results and noted that some systems may not know where lead lines exist.
Jerry Henry — Responded that installation dates vary widely and older areas are more likely to have lead service lines.
Jerry Henry — Closed questions and brought the docket before the committee.
Jerry Henry — Introduced docket 580108-2502 and described it as a technical correction to static pressure requirements.
Jerry Henry — Explained that the docket reverts prior static pressure language due to hardship concerns.
Jerry Henry — Explained the primacy basis for negotiating the engineering standards and the pressure threshold issue.
Jerry Henry — Requested approval of docket 580108-2502 with an early effective date of sine die.
Jerry Henry — Brought the docket before the committee for action.
Jerry Henry — The committee approved docket 580108-2502 and moved on to the next docket.
Jerry Henry — Introduced himself as the Drinking Water Protection and Finance Division Administrator and presented the loan funds rules docket.
Jerry Henry — Jerry Henry, the Drinking Water Protection and Finance Division Administrator at DEQ, presented rule docket 58-1111212 concerning the groundwater quality rule and asked the committee to approve the pending docket with exceptions for Section 003 and Section 200, subsection 01A.
Mike Moyle — Mike Moyle asked how many lead service lines exist in the state and followed up by asking when the systems were installed, suggesting that older areas are more likely to have lead lines.
Erin Bingham — Erin Bingham moved to approve docket 580108-2502 with an effective date of sine die, and the chair then acknowledged that a motion had been made.
Marianne Nelson — Marianne Nelson was introduced to the committee, identified herself as the Surface and Wastewater Division Administrator for the Idaho DEQ, and began presenting docket 5801-22501, explaining that it updates Idaho's water quality standards.
Ms. Nelson — Thanked by the chair after her presentation.
Ms. Nelson — Presented the wastewater rules docket and requested committee approval.
Soñia Galaviz — Raised a question about the drafting trend of changing 'must' to 'shall' and asked for DEQ's direction on the issue.
Bruce Skaug — Representative Bruce briefly spoke and then made the motion to approve Docket 5801-16-2501.
Ms. Henry — Introduced the next docket after approval of Docket 5801-16-2501.
Ms. Henry — Ms. Henry clarified that the question was about why groundwater is not regulated by EPA, explaining that groundwater quality is primarily managed by states while quantity standards fall under the Department of Water Resources. She then addressed the meaning of 'will' in the rule language, stating that it refers to agency action and is a binding term, similar in effect to 'shall' and 'must.' Finally, she explained that private wells are not regulated, so owners are responsible for testing for common contaminants such as bacteria and nitrate, though some limited testing is done through groundwater monitoring networks and other agencies. She added that issues involving wells are generally under the Department of Water Resources, with DEQ involvement only in certain circumstances such as nearby public water systems or potential aquifer mining concerns.
Diane — Thanked in connection with moving to the next section.
Dori Healey — Representative Furness asked how much grant funding Idaho receives for the loan program, then followed up by asking whether all available funds are being used or reverted back and whether the funds primarily serve smaller or larger cities.
Rob Beiswenger — Representative Burgoyne asked for clarification on the meaning of 'will' in the rule language and how it compares to 'shall' and 'must.' He followed up by asking whether 'will' is more or less binding than 'shall,' and then commented that words matter and suggested simply keeping 'shall' in the rule language.