Purpose

(a) The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality’s statutory authority and responsibility concerning establishment of standards of quality of waters of the state are provided for 27A O.S. § 2-6-103.2. Under this statute the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality is authorized to promulgate rules “which establish classifications of uses of waters of the state, criteria to maintain and protect such classifications, and other standards or policies pertaining to the quality of such waters." 27AO.S. § 2-6-103.2. These Standards are designed to maintain and protect the quality of the waters of the state. (b) The purpose of the Standards is to promote and protect as many beneficial uses as are attainable and to assure that degradation of existing quality of waters of the State does not occur.