LACEY –
The Washington Department of Ecology is proposing an updated rule for toxic air pollution using the most recent and best available information about health effects.
Ecology periodically updates this rule to reflect toxicity information developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Under Washington law, Ecology develops a list of about 400 toxic air chemicals based on data from those three agencies.
Ecology’s rule protects public health by limiting new emissions of toxic air pollutants from industry. The proposed revisions add criteria to better protect children and babies from the extra risks air pollution poses to the very young.
Of the roughly 400 chemicals covered under the air toxics regulations, standards for two-thirds will remain unchanged, 25 percent will become more protective, while 10 percent will become less restrictive, all based on the latest scientific information.
Read the rule
You can read the proposed rule language on our webpage: www.ecology.wa.gov/460rulemaking
Provide input
Ecology is seeking public comments on the proposed rule updates through July 23. Ecology is holding a public hearing in Lacey and via webinar at 10 a.m. July 16.
Department of Ecology News Release - June 7, 2019