DEQ provides many avenues for the public and regulated community to keep abreast of environmental issues.

• DEQ's Web site provides an introduction to DEQ's programs and issues; provides access to downloadable brochures, reports, and other documents; provides links to related sites for additional information; and continually highlights new information and "hot topics." This is your best source for current information on DEQ's programs, activities, and issues.

• DEQ provides brochures, fact sheets, posters, and more for citizens, communities, and businesses. These can be downloaded from DEQ's Web site; printed copies can be requested by contacting DEQ's Webmaster.

• DEQ provides educational materials for teachers and students including fact sheets, lesson plans, speakers, and more.

• DEQ issues news releases announcing public comment opportunities and key decisions and highlighting specific environmental issues.

• DEQ provides access to specific DEQ public records, as required by Idaho law.

• DEQ publishes notice of certain actions, such as rulemaking activities and final decisions on water quality improvement plans (TMDLs) in the Idaho Administrative Bulletin.

• DEQ provides an electronic calendar of DEQ public meetings and hearings.

DEQ provides the opportunity to comment on proposed actions, such as proposed rules, draft water quality improvement plans (TMDLs), and proposed air, wastewater- land application, and hazardous waste permits during specific public comment periods. You can provide comments through DEQ's electronic public comments form, via email, or via U.S. mail. Opportunities for public comment are publicized on DEQ's Web site, via news releases and legal notices, and, in some instances, in the Idaho Administrative Bulletin or via direct mailings to interested parties.

DEQ frequently holds public meetings and hearings on specific topics to provide information to, and receive comments from, the public. Topics addressed at public meetings or hearings include:

• Rulemaking activities
• Draft TMDLs
• Proposed air, wastewater-land application, and hazardous waste permits

In addition, DEQ committee and board meetings, such as BAG and WAG meetings, Idaho Board of Environmenal Quality meetings, negotiated rulemaking committee meetings, and Environmental Common Sense Committee meetings are open to the public. View DEQ's calendar.

Periodically, DEQ hosts workshops on environmental issues of interest to citizens, businesses, and communities. Many of these are offered free of charge. more

DEQ invites interested parties to serve on committees to advise DEQ on certain issues. Some committees require a long-term time commitment; others may only meet once or twice. Committee meetings are open to the public.

Some parts of Idaho have been classified by EPA as air quality nonattainment areas. Site-specific plans must be developed and implemented for these areas to re-gain "attainment" status. Airshed Advisory Groups are formed to provide citizen input as these site-specific plans are developed. more

Watershed advisory groups (WAGs) and basin advisory groups (BAGs) are committees of interested individuals that provide information and advice to DEQ on water quality issues and objectives in specific areas of the state. The roles of WAGs and BAGs are outlined in Idaho Statute (39-3613 through 39-3616).

BAGs

The state is divided into six basins and each basin has a BAG whose role is to advise DEQ on water quality objectives in its basin. The DEQ director appoints BAG members who represent a cross-section of interests in the basin, such as agriculture, forestry, municipalities, industry, recreation, Native American tribes, and environmental interests. more

WAGs

The BAGs recommend people for the DEQ director to appoint to WAGs. As the name implies, WAGs provide guidance on specific watersheds, whereas BAGs provide guidance on much larger basins. Watershed advisory groups provide local public input and guidance to DEQ when developing water quality improvement plans or TMDLs. more

The Drinking Water Advisory Committee is a standing committee appointed by the DEQ director to provide guidance and advice to DEQ on issues related to safe drinking water policy and programs. The committee is composed of representatives from large and small water systems, the drinking water industry, and elected officials. Contact DEQ's Drinking Water Program for more information.

When the Idaho Legislature promulgates a law, the appropriate state agency must then write rules that specify exactly how that law will be implemented. Idaho's administrative rulemaking process contains five stages: proposed, negotiated, temporary, pending, and final.

Negotiated rulemaking is an optional process in which all interested parties and DEQ seek a consensus on the content of a rule. It is DEQ's policy to use negotiated rulemaking whenever feasible. This stage is initiated with the publication of a Notice of Negotiated Rulemaking in the Idaho Administrative Bulletin. This process may include forming negotiated rulemaking committees of interested members of the public. more