Consistent with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, P.L. 92-500, as amended, the Department of Environmental Quality may determine whether selected segments of the waters of the state are capable of attaining designated uses. In conducting its use attainability analysis, the department shall include appropriate documentation and defensible data for determining whether subcategories or seasonal uses should be designated. The Director of the Department of Environmental Quality shall appoint an advisory group to nominate those waters of the state for which use attainability analysis is most warranted. [1997 c.770 § 2]