Seneca Nation Environmental Protection Department
The Seneca Nation’s Environmental Protection Department (“EPD”) is seeking public comment on our Draft Water Quality Standards. EPD has prepared Draft Water Quality Standards that establish clear and enforceable criteria to protect all waters within the Nation’s exterior boundaries. These standards define the Nation’s designated uses, including, fishing, gathering, cultural and ceremonial practices, subsistence activities, aquatic life, source water protections, and recreation and sets the protective pollutant thresholds necessary to uphold those uses.
Grounded in the Seneca Nation’s March 21, 2021 Treatment as a Sovereign (TAS) status under Clean Water Act Section 303(c), these standards affirm the Nation’s full authority to set, maintain, and enforce water quality protections. Through this work, the Seneca Nation asserts its responsibility to safeguard the integrity of Onödowa’ga:’ lands and waters for the health, culture, and prosperity of present and future generations
COMMENT PERIOD
The comment period will run for 60 days beginning on December 26, 2025, and ending at 4:30pm on February 24, 2026.
WQS Documents may be reviewed at:
• SNI EPD Offices
Allegany Office – 814 Broad St, Salamanca, NY 14779
Cattaraugus Office – 84 Iroquois Dr Irving, NY 14081
• SNI Clerks Office
Allegany Office – 90 Ohi:yo Way, Salamanca NY 14779
Cattaraugus Office – 12837 NY 438, Irving, NY 14081
Buffalo Office – 533 Amherst St, Buffalo, NY 14207
Copies: A copy of this CPWW Application is available under the “documents” tab at the EPD website, here: https://sni.org/community-services/environmental-protection/ or may be requested by contacting the email shown below, with the title, “Request for Copy of Draft Seneca Water Quality Standards” in the subject line.
PUBLIC HEARING
Public hearing and info sessions will be held:
Date: January 28, 2026
Time: 5:00pm-6:30pm
Location: Allegany Territory (January Edition of Newsletter for location)
Date: February 11, 2026
Time: 5:00pm-6:30pm
Location: Cattaraugus Territory (January Edition of Newsletter for location)
Public participation is essential to ensuring transparency and accountability in the development of environmental regulations. By enabling Tribes, communities, organizations, local governments, and individual stakeholders to contribute their expertise, concerns, and local knowledge, the rulemaking process benefits from informed, place-based perspectives that help refine standards to better protect water quality and address community needs. All comments submitted within the designated comment period will be duly considered and responded to in a timely and appropriate manner.
SUBMITTING COMMENTS
Comments may be submitted by:
- Email: Jordan.buffalo@sni.org (Reply with ATTN: Comments to Proposed Water Quality Standards)
- Hand Deliver to:
• Cattaraugus EPD Office – 84 Iroquois Dr. Irving NY 14081
• Allegany EPD Office – 814 Broad St. Salamanca NY 14779 - Mail: with Attention to Jordan Buffalo
• Cattaraugus EPD – 84 Iroquois Dr. Irving NY 14081
• Allegany EPD – 814 Broad St. Salamanca NY 14779
All comments must be received no later than 4:30pm on February 24, 2026.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For questions or copies of the Draft Standards:
Jordan Parker Buffalo, Water Quality Program Manager, SN EPD
Phone: 716-532-2546 ext 5474
Email: jordan.buffalo@sni.org
Seneca Nation Water Quality Standards Fact Sheet
Regulatory Terminology
Water Quality Standards (WQS): provisions of state, territorial, authorized tribal or federal law approved by EPA that describe the desired condition of a water body. WQS consist of:
Designated uses: goals and expectations for how each water body is used, such as Protection and propagation of fish, shellfish and wildlife, recreation in and on the water, and public drinking water supply. Designated uses are those uses specified in the Nation’s WQS regulations for each water body or segment, whether or not they are being attained. They describe the water quality goals or desired condition for a specific water body, and the functions and/or activities that are supported by a level of water quality. They also serve as tools to communicate water quality goals to the public.
Water quality criteria (WQC): WQC are the water quality levels that will protect the designated use. Both numeric and narrative forms of criteria provide a regulatory basis for implementation and management actions like NPDES permit limits.
- Numeric criteria: concentrations, levels, representing a quality of water that supports a particular use. When numeric criteria are met, water quality will generally protect the designated use.
- Narrative criteria: a description of the desired conditions of a water body being “free from” certain negative conditions
Antidegradation policies: Antidegradation adds additional protections for waters above and beyond designated uses and criteria. The antidegradation policy provides the goals and framework of protection. These policies protect existing uses and high-quality waters.
Outstanding Seneca Resource Waters: Seneca Nation Waters similar to Outstanding National Resource Waters under the Clean Water Act. These waters represent a unique, sacred, or cultural or ecological resource of the Seneca Nation and are therefore given the highest level of protection under the antidegradation policy in Section 500(A) of these Water Quality Standards, consistent with 40 C.F.R. § 131.12(a)(3) (Antidegradation policy and implementation methods). Other waters whose high quality make them an exceptional recreational, cultural or ecological resource of the Nation may also be designated Outstanding Seneca Resource Waters pursuant to Subsection 500(A) of these Water Quality Standards.
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL): a pollution diet for a waterbody. A TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards, and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant’s sources (waste load allocations for point sources and load allocations for nonpoint sources).
Water Quality Monitoring: collecting water quality data to characterize physical, chemical, and biological conditions.
Water Quality Assessment: comparing water quality monitoring data to water quality standards and identifying any pollutants or causes of impairment.
Water Segment: a delineated stretch or area of water that has a certain set of water quality standards applied to it.
Related Programs
Section 106: grant program provided by EPA to states and tribes to support water quality programs. SN has Treatment as a State (TAS) authority and implements this program.
Section 401 Certifications: a way of implementing WQS. Requires any discharge to comply with applicable water quality requirements, which include WQS, effluent limitations, toxic pollutants restrictions, and other appropriate water quality requirements of state or tribal law. SN has Treatment as a State (TAS) authority.
Section 303(d): States and Indian Nations identify impaired waters (waters not meeting WQS) and develop TMDLs to address impairments. Requires its own TAS, which SN does not currently have.
