While there are many federal and state laws water quality and groundwater, there is no comprehensive approach for groundwater quality protection for Idaho. The Groundwater Quality Protection Act of 1989 created the Groundwater Quality Council and directed them to develop a groundwater quality protection plan and a groundwater monitoring program for our state. This legislation came about due to increasing concern over the quality of Idaho’s groundwater and is the result of coordinated efforts of citizens, industry representatives, and policymakers.
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The Groundwater Quality Plan is intended to protect groundwater quality for public use and provide guidance to state agencies, local governments, and citizens to prevent groundwater contamination.
The Groundwater Quality Plan establishes the basis for protecting groundwater now and for future generations and preventing contamination whenever possible. The plan also helps agencies develop management programs and regulations and implement groundwater quality protection strategies. It is intended to work in conjunction with the Idaho State Water Plan.
Under Idaho Code § 39-120, DEQ is designated as the primary agency to coordinate and administer groundwater quality protection programs for Idaho. The Groundwater Quality Rule minimum requirements for the protection of groundwater quality through standards and an aquifer categorization process. It also serves as a basis for the administration of programs that address groundwater quality but does not in and of itself create a permit program.
DEQ implements the following policies from the “Protection and Prevention” sections of the Idaho Groundwater Quality Plan:
Groundwater Quality Protection. Maintain and protect the existing high quality of the state’s groundwater.
Existing and Projected Future Beneficial Uses. Maintain and protect existing and projected future beneficial uses of groundwater and prohibit degradation that would impair existing and projected future beneficial uses of groundwater and interconnected surface water.
Categorization of Groundwater. Provide differential protection for the state’s groundwater resources and establish a groundwater categorization system for aquifers or portions of aquifers. The categorization system should be based on the vulnerability of the groundwater, existing and projected future beneficial uses, existing quality, and social and economic considerations.
Groundwater Quality Standards. Establish groundwater quality standards for biological, radiological, and chemical constituents.
Prevention of Groundwater Contamination. Prevent contamination of groundwater from all regulated and nonregulated sources of contamination to the maximum extent practical.
Mining. Protect groundwater and allow for the extraction of minerals above and within groundwater.
The State of Idaho’s policy is to protect groundwater while allowing mining activities to take place (II-C in the Idaho Groundwater Quality Plan). To implement this policy, the “Groundwater Quality Rule” allows mine operators to request that DEQ set points of compliance around the mining area, as opposed to within the mining area, which outline monitoring, sampling, and reporting requirements that meet groundwater quality standards. This practice is designed to ensure that mining activities do not adversely impact groundwater and interconnected surface waters while enabling extraction to take place.
| Location | Determination | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Perpetua Resources Stibnite Gold Project | This determination is divided into five parts. The introduction gives general background information along with an explanation of state authority for regulating groundwater. The second part discusses the POC and indicator wells proposed as part of the original application. The third part speaks to additional POC monitoring wells DEQ has determined necessary to ensure there is no injury to current or projected future beneficial uses of groundwater. The fourth section discusses the monitoring and reporting plan for the groundwater wells. The final section includes public comments and responses associated with DEQ’s POC determination. | August 25, 2023 |
| East Smoky Panel Mine | This determination is divided into three parts. The introduction gives general background information along with an explanation of state authority for regulating groundwater. The second part discusses the POC and indicator wells proposed as part of the original application. The final section discusses the monitoring plan for the groundwater wells | January 7, 2020 |
| Dairy Syncline Mine | This determination is divided into four parts. The introduction gives general background information along with an explanation of state authority for regulating groundwater. The second part discusses the POC and indicator wells proposed as part of the original application. The third part speaks to additional POC wells DEQ has determined necessary to provide monitoring information to ensure there is no injury to current or projected future beneficial uses of groundwater or violation of surface water standards. The final section discusses the monitoring plan for the groundwater wells. | December 23, 2019 |
| North Rasmussen Ridge Mine | This determination is divided into four parts. The introduction gives general background information along with an explanation of state authority for regulating groundwater. The second part discusses the POC and indicator wells proposed as part of the original application. The third part speaks to additional POC wells DEQ has determined necessary to provide monitoring information to ensure there is no injury to current or projected future beneficial uses of groundwater or violation of surface water standards. The final section discusses the monitoring plan for the groundwater wells. | February 22, 2016 |
| Rasmussen Valley Mine | This determination is divided into four parts. The introduction gives general background information along with an explanation of state authority for regulating groundwater. The second part discusses the POC and indicator wells proposed as part of the original application. The third part speaks to additional POC wells DEQ has determined necessary to ensure there is no injury to current or projected future beneficial uses of groundwater or violation of surface water standards. The final section discusses the monitoring plan for the groundwater wells. | August 5, 2016 |
| Caldwell Canyon Mine | This determination is divided into four parts. The introduction gives general background information along with an explanation of state authority for regulating groundwater. The second part discusses the POC and indicator wells proposed as part of the original application. The third part speaks to additional POC monitoring wells DEQ has determined necessary to ensure there is no injury to current or projected future beneficial uses of groundwater. The final section discusses the monitoring plan for the groundwater wells. | November 21, 2016 |
| Lanes Creek Mine | This determination is divided into four parts. The introduction gives general background information along with an explanation of state authority for regulating groundwater. The second part discusses the POC and indicator wells proposed as part of the original application. The third part speaks to additional POC wells DEQ has determined necessary to ensure there is no injury to current or projected future beneficial uses of groundwater or violation of surface water standards. The final section discusses the monitoring plan for the groundwater wells. Points of Compliance Modification Letter | June 12, 2015 |
| South Rasmussen Mine | This determination is divided into four parts. The introduction gives general background information along with the explanation of state authority for regulating groundwater. The second part discusses the POC and baseline wells proposed as part of the original application while the third part speaks to additional POC wells DEQ feels necessary for adequately monitoring the site. The final section discusses the monitoring plan for the groundwater wells. | October 29, 2014 |
| Blackfoot Bridge Mine | This second modified determination incorporates the original June 14, 2011 point-of-compliance determination, December 22, 2011 first modification, and new modifications due to conditions encountered during 2012 well installation and infrastructure construction. | March 20, 2013 |
| Idaho Cobalt Project | The Idaho Cobalt Project is a proposed underground cobalt-copper-gold mine located approximately 45 miles west of Salmon in east-central Idaho | March 22, 2011 |