00HOUSE BILL NO. 342                                                                                                      
01 "An Act relating to water quality."                                                                                     
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1.  AS 16.05.050 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                            
04  (b)  The commissioner may not require a higher discharge water quality                                                
05 standard for water used than the quality of water received for the use.                                                 
06    * Sec. 2.  AS 38.05.020 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                               
07  (c)  The commissioner may not require a higher discharge water quality                                                
08 standard for water used than the quality of water received for the use.                                                 
09    * Sec. 3.  AS 46.03 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                      
10  Sec. 46.03.085.  WATER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR DISCHARGED                                                               
11 WATER.  (a)  If, in considering the discharge of water and establishing criteria for                                    
12 water quality for discharged water, the commissioner finds it necessary to establish a                                  
13 discharge standard for sediment, the measurement of the sediment shall be by the                                        
14 volumetric Imhoff Cone method.                                                                                          

01  (b)  In applying the water quality criteria and limits authorized under this                                          
02 chapter, the commissioner may require a person who uses water to meet a discharge                                       
03 standard that is compatible with downstream uses at the point of the downstream uses                                    
04 if the standard                                                                                                         
05   (1)  reflects a range of values that are satisfactory for the other                                                  
06 downstream uses;                                                                                                        
07   (2)  is not more restrictive than applicable federal water quality                                                   
08 standards; and                                                                                                          
09   (3)  does not require a higher discharge water quality than the quality                                              
10 of water received for the use.