Whereas, The development and implementation of water quality standards is a complex process; and

Whereas, The West Virginia Water Pollution Control Act mandates that water quality standards be adequate to protect the human health and the environment while still allowing businesses to be successful in their endeavors, including healthy industrial development; and

Whereas, The state must consider federally recommended criteria in developing the state’s water quality standards; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to create a Joint Select Committee on Requirements Governing Water Quality Standards; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Legislature hereby authorizes the Joint Select Committee on Requirements Governing Water Quality Standards to study the processes, procedures and policies regarding the development and implementation of water quality standards and the standards’ implementation through permits issued pursuant to the West Virginia Water Pollution Control Act; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Select Committee on Requirements Governing Water Quality Standards shall be composed of five members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate and five members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates. No more than three of the five members appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates, respectively, may be members of the same political party. In addition, the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Delegates shall be ex officio nonvoting members of the Joint Select Committee on Requirements Governing Water Quality Standards and shall designate the co-chairpersons; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Select Committee on Requirements Governing Water Quality Standards may meet at any time, both during sessions of the Legislature and in the interim, or as often as may be necessary to receive information and testimony, and report on its findings and conclusions. All members of the committee are entitled to compensation and reimbursement for expenses as authorized for members of the Legislature in accordance with the performance of their interim duties; and, be it

Further Resolved, That, at the conclusion of its study, the Joint Select Committee on Requirements Governing Water Quality Standards report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance its findings, conclusions, and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report, and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.;

And,

by striking out the title and substituting a new title, to read as follows:

Senate Concurrent Resolution 39─Requesting that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance create a Joint Select Committee on Requirements Governing Water Quality Standards.