75-5-302. Revised classifications not to lower water quality standards -- exception. - Montana Statutes

     75-5-302. Revised classifications not to lower water quality standards -- exception. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), in revising classifications or standards or in adopting new classifications or standards, the board may not formulate standards of water quality or classify state water in a manner that lowers the water quality standard applicable to state water below the level applicable under the classifications and standards adopted unless the board finds that a particular state water has been classified under a standard or classification of water quality that is higher than the actual water quality that existed at the time of classification and only if the action is taken pursuant to 75-5-307. When the board or department is presented with facts indicating that a body of water is misclassified, the board shall, within 90 days, initiate rulemaking to correct the misclassification.
     (2) Establishment of a temporary water quality standard or classification does not require a finding that the affected state water was classified under a standard or classification that was higher than the actual water quality that existed at the time of the prior classification.

     History: En. Sec. 6, Ch. 21, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 506, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 62, Ch. 349, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 455, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 444, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 69-4808.2(1)(c)(i); amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 497, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 539, L. 1995.