Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality

The Water Quality Monitoring Strategy outlines Wyoming's plan to manage and protect ground water quality in accordance with the Clean Water Act. It focuses on establishing water quality standards, monitoring and assessing water quality, and developing cleanup plans for impaired waters. The strategy includes designing and implementing a statewide ground-water monitoring program, prioritizing aquifers, and using core and supplemental water quality indicators. It also addresses quality assurance, data management, and reporting to ensure data consistency, reliability, and accessibility for decision-making and public information.

The Water and Waste Advisory Board convened to discuss updates on the Groundwater Monitoring Grant Program and the Monitoring Reimbursement Program. The board approved full reimbursements and then moved to partial reimbursements, discussing specific cases such as the Town of Elk Mountain, Encampment landfill, and the Town of Sinclair, among others, highlighting issues like ineligible mileage rates and methane monitoring costs. An update was provided on the financial status and work completion status of landfill projects, including the number of work plans received and approved, and the progress of data analysis from well sampling. The board also discussed the upcoming report to the legislature and potential additional work plans based on data analysis.

The meeting addressed the monitoring reimbursement program, including full reimbursement for the Town of Hanna and partial reimbursement for the Town of Guernsey and Eden Valley landfill. Discussions covered additional fieldwork for Sweetwater County landfills, prioritization criteria, proximity of leaching to groundwater, soil types, and professional judgment. The board also discussed solid waste issues, transfer stations, landfill closure, and potential environmental liability associated with contaminated landfills. The board considered draft rules and potential rule changes, including those related to municipal landfills, financial assurance requirements, transfer, treatment, and storage facilities.

The Water and Waste Advisory Board held a hearing to discuss updates on the Groundwater Monitoring Grant Program and the Monitoring Reimbursement Program. The board discussed the solid waste program updates, the landfill remediation bill, and the landfill cease and transfer bill. They also discussed the schedule for rule-making and the general permits for landfill closures.

The Water and Waste Advisory Board convened to discuss proposed changes to Chapters 1, 2, and 7 of the Solid Waste Rules and Regulations. Key discussion points included reimbursements for the old Rock Springs landfill and the Thermopolis landfill, with separate considerations for each. The board also addressed the definition of aquifer and the management of green waste, lead acid batteries, and auto salvage yards. The board discussed the permit timelines and revisions, also the requirements for detailed design plans.