Repeal numeric nutrient standards

This bill directs Montana's Department of Environmental Quality to remove all references to numeric nutrient standards from state administrative rules and repeal the 2015 base numeric nutrient standards that were previously adopted. It affects water quality regulators, wastewater treatment facilities, and other entities subject to nutrient discharge regulations by eliminating specific numerical limits for pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus. The legislation also eliminates the Nutrient Work Group and amends state law to shift toward narrative nutrient standards, which describe water quality goals in descriptive terms rather than specific numerical thresholds. By repealing these standards, the bill aims to reduce regulatory burdens on municipal wastewater systems and align state policy with the 2021 legislative decision to move away from numeric criteria.