401 KAR 10:026. Designation of uses of surface waters

Section 1. Scope of Designation. (1) All surface waters of the Commonwealth listed in this administrative regulation shall be designated for all legitimate uses contained in KRS 224.70-100(1): (a) Except as established in 401 KAR 10:031, Sections 5 and 8 and listed in Tables B and C of this administrative regulation; or (b) Unless redesignated in accordance with the procedures established in Section 2 of this administrative regulation and listed in Table D of this administrative regulation. (2) Designated uses are: (a) Warm water aquatic habitat; (b) Cold water aquatic habitat; (c) Primary contact recreation; (d) Secondary contact recreation; (e) Domestic water supply; and (f) Outstanding state resource water. (3) Waters listed in this administrative regulation shall meet all criteria applicable to their designated uses and those criteria listed in 401 KAR 10:031, Section 2, unless the: (a) Cabinet grants an exception pursuant to 401 KAR 10:031, Section 10 or 11; or (b) Uses for a listed water have been redesignated pursuant to Section 2 of this administrative regulation. (4) Outstanding state resource waters may have unique water quality characteristics that shall be protected by additional criteria established in 401 KAR 10:031, Section 8. Section 2. Redesignation of Surface Water Uses. (1) Â (a) Surface waters shall not be redesignated except upon affirmative findings by the cabinet pursuant to Sections 3 and 4 of this administrative regulation and consistent with 40 C.F.R. 131.10(g). (b) Before redesignating a surface water, the cabinet shall provide notice and an opportunity for a public hearing. (2) In redesignating a surface water, the cabinet shall ensure that its water quality standards provide for the maintenance of downstream water quality and shall not preclude the attainment of designated uses of downstream surface waters

ation and consistent with 40 C.F.R. 131.10(g). (b) Before redesignating a surface water, the cabinet shall provide notice and an opportunity for a public hearing. (2) In redesignating a surface water, the cabinet shall ensure that its water quality standards provide for the maintenance of downstream water quality and shall not preclude the attainment of designated uses of downstream surface waters. (3) A designated use shall not be removed for a surface water if: (a) That use is an existing use; or (b) The use may be attained by implementing effluent limitations required under Sections 301(b) and 306 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1311(b) and 1316, and by implementing cost-effective best management practices for nonpoint source control. (4) If a surface water is designated for a use that is not an existing use, the cabinet shall redesignate the surface water upon demonstration and consistent with 40 C.F.R. 131.10(g) that the designated use is unattainable because: (a) Naturally occurring pollutant concentrations prevent the attainment of the use; (b) Natural, ephemeral, intermittent, or low flow conditions or water levels prevent the attainment of the use, unless these conditions may be compensated for by the discharge of sufficient volume of effluent discharges; (c) Human caused conditions or sources of pollution prevent the attainment of the use and cannot be remedied or would cause more environmental damage to correct than to leave in place; (d) Dams, diversions, or other types of hydrologic modifications preclude the attainment of the use, and it is not feasible to restore the surface water to its original condition or to operate the modification in a way that would result in the attainment of the use; (e) Physical conditions related to the natural features of the surface water, but unrelated to water quality, preclude attainment of the aquatic life use, such as the lack of a proper substrate, cover, flow, depth, pools, or riffles; or (f) Controls more stringent than those required by Sections 301(b) and 3

on or to operate the modification in a way that would result in the attainment of the use; (e) Physical conditions related to the natural features of the surface water, but unrelated to water quality, preclude attainment of the aquatic life use, such as the lack of a proper substrate, cover, flow, depth, pools, or riffles; or (f) Controls more stringent than those required by Sections 301(b) and 306 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1311(b) and 1316, would result in substantial and widespread economic and social impact as determined by: 1. The guidelines in Interim Economic Guidance for Water Quality Standards Workbook, EPA, March 1995; or 2. Â a. An updated Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan Financial Capability Assessment developed in accordance with the Combined Sewer Overflows Guidance for Financial Capability Assessment and Schedule Development (EPA, February 1997); and b. An updated Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan alternatives analysis developed in accordance with the Combined Sewer Overflow Control Policy (EPA, 1994) if the cabinet determines it necessary. (5) The cabinet shall re-examine any waterbody with water quality standards that do not include the uses established in this administrative regulation every three (3) years to determine if any new information has become available as established in 40 C.F.R. 131.20(a). (6) Redesignations shall be consistent with the antidegradation provisions of 401 KAR 10:029 and 10:030. Section 3. Documentation for Redesignations. (1) Â (a) A person may request redesignation of surface water uses by petition to the cabinet. (b) The petitioner shall provide the cabinet with the documentation required in subsection (3) of this section and shall have the burden of proof that the redesignation is appropriate. (2) Â (a) The cabinet may propose redesignations of surface water uses. (b) The cabinet shall provide documentation for those surface waters that it proposes for use redesignation

er uses by petition to the cabinet. (b) The petitioner shall provide the cabinet with the documentation required in subsection (3) of this section and shall have the burden of proof that the redesignation is appropriate. (2) Â (a) The cabinet may propose redesignations of surface water uses. (b) The cabinet shall provide documentation for those surface waters that it proposes for use redesignation. (3) Except for waters identified pursuant to 401 KAR 10:031, Section 8(1)(a), documentation to support the redesignation of a surface water of the Commonwealth shall be: (a) A United States Geological Survey 7.5 minute topographic map or its equivalent showing those surface waters to be redesignated, with a description consisting of a river mile index with existing and proposed discharge points; (b) Existing uses and water quality data for the surface waters for which the redesignation is proposed. If adequate data are unavailable, additional studies shall be required by the cabinet; (c) Descriptions of general land uses and specific land uses adjacent to the surface waters for which the redesignation is proposed; (d) The existing and designated uses of the downstream waters into which the surface water under consideration discharges; (e) General physical characteristics of the surface water including width, depth, bottom composition, and slope; (f) The frequency of occasions if there is no natural flow in the surface water and the 7Q 10 and harmonic mean flow values for the surface water and adjacent surface waters; (g) An assessment of the existing and potential aquatic life habitat in the surface waters under consideration and the adjacent upstream surface waters. 1. The existing aquatic life shall be documented and livestock and natural wildlife dependence on the surface water shall be assessed; and 2

rface water and the 7Q 10 and harmonic mean flow values for the surface water and adjacent surface waters; (g) An assessment of the existing and potential aquatic life habitat in the surface waters under consideration and the adjacent upstream surface waters. 1. The existing aquatic life shall be documented and livestock and natural wildlife dependence on the surface water shall be assessed; and 2. The occurrence of individuals or populations, indices of diversity and well-being, and abundance of species of unique native biota shall be documented; (h) The proposed designated uses for the surface water in question; and (i) An explanation of the irretrievable person-induced, or natural conditions that preclude attainment of a higher use designation or an assessment of the substantial and widespread social and economic impacts resulting from the imposition of additional controls necessary for existing point sources, beyond the most stringent effluent limitation levels normally required for the sources. This explanation shall be in accordance with the: 1. Interim Economic Guidance for Water Quality Standards Workbook (EPA, 1995); or 2. Combined Sewer Overflows Guidance for Financial Capability Assessment and Schedule Development (EPA, February 1997). Section 4. Procedures for Redesignation. (1) For each of the surface waters for which a redesignation is proposed, the cabinet or petitioner shall prepare a fact sheet containing: (a) The name and address of the petitioner; (b) The name and sketch or description of the surface water proposed for specified use redesignations, including the location of existing and proposed dischargers; (c) The proposed use redesignations; (d) A brief abstract of the supportive documentation, which demonstrates that the redesignation is appropriate; (e) The appropriate water quality criteria for the surface water based on the proposed designated use; (f) The treatment requirements proposed for discharges to the surface water in question if designated for the proposed use; and (g) A "plain

rgers; (c) The proposed use redesignations; (d) A brief abstract of the supportive documentation, which demonstrates that the redesignation is appropriate; (e) The appropriate water quality criteria for the surface water based on the proposed designated use; (f) The treatment requirements proposed for discharges to the surface water in question if designated for the proposed use; and (g) A "plain English" summary of the implications of the designation for the community and other users or potential users of the surface water in question. (2) The cabinet shall document the determination to propose or deny redesignation as a result of a petition, and shall provide a copy of the decision to the petitioner and other interested parties. Section 5. Surface Water Use Designations. (1) Listed in the tables in this administrative regulation are the use designations for specific surface waters of the Commonwealth. The identifying symbols for use designations are listed in table A of this section. (2) Domestic water supply criteria in 401 KAR 10:031, Section 6, are implemented at locations listed in Table B in this paragraph. (3) Table C in this subsection lists waters that have an added designated use of CAH or OSRW. (a) The WAH designated use does not apply to waters designated as CAH unless both WAH and CAH are indicated in Table C. (b) Table D in this subsection lists waters that have been redesignated pursuant to Section 2 of this administrative regulation or have approved exceptions to criteria pursuant to 401 KAR 10:031 Sections 10 or 11. Section 6. Incorporation by Reference. (1) The following material is incorporated by reference: (a) "Interim Economic Guidance for Water Quality Standards Workbook", EPA, March 1995 Publication EPA-823-B-95-002. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, D.C.; (b) "Combined Sewer Overflows - Guidance for Financial Capability Assessment and Schedule Development", EPA, February 1997; and (c) "Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Policy", U.S

incorporated by reference: (a) "Interim Economic Guidance for Water Quality Standards Workbook", EPA, March 1995 Publication EPA-823-B-95-002. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, D.C.; (b) "Combined Sewer Overflows - Guidance for Financial Capability Assessment and Schedule Development", EPA, February 1997; and (c) "Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Policy", U.S. EPA, 59 Federal Register 18688, April 1994. (2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Kentucky Division of Water, 300 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (3) Â (a) "Interim Economic Guidance for Water Quality Standards Workbook", EPA, March 1995 may also be obtained at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-03/documents/econworkbook-complete.pdf; (b) "Combined Sewer Overflows - Guidance for Financial Capability Assessment and Schedule Development", EPA, February 1997 may also be obtained at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-10/documents/csofc_0.pdf; and (c) "Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Policy", U.S. EPA, 59 Federal Register 18688, April 1994 may also be obtained at https://www3.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/owm0111.pdf.