Public Notice: Red Lake Nation's Application for Treatment as a State for Water Quality Standards

Summary

EPA Proposes Approving Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Water Quality Standards Application

The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians has applied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and administer water quality standards in a manner similar as a state (TAS).

Approval of the application would allow Red Lake to adopt and revise water quality standards and to certify that discharges comply with water quality standards for all surface waters within Red Lake’s reservation. These include 135 lakes and an estimated 371 miles of rivers and streams in the following watersheds:

• Upper/Lower Red Lake
• Thief River
• Roseau River
• Rainy River
• Red Lake River
• Clearwater River
• Rapid River
• Lake of the Woods

Documents

•  Documents and Attachments Related to 2013 303/401 Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians' Treatment as a State Application
•  Documents and Attachments Related to 2019 303/401 Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians' Supplemental Treatment as a State Application

For More Information

The following document answers frequently asked questions about how tribes can become eligible to be treated in a similar manner as states for the water quality standards and water quality certification programs under the Clean Water Act, and how tribes would administer these programs.  Frequently Asked Questions about TAS for the Water Quality Standards program (PDF)(8 pp, 451 K, September 2017, EPA 820-F-17-020)

Applicants or Respondents