Chapter 173-201A WAC

On January 23, 2019, Ecology adopted amendments to Chapter 173-201A WAC, Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington. This rulemaking adopted updated fresh and marine water quality standards for the protection of water contact recreational uses in state waters.

This rulemaking adopted:

New bacterial indicators and numeric criteria to protect water contact recreational uses.
Updated water contact recreational use categories, and modifications to sections 600 and 610 to support the proposed updated uses.
Improved location information in use designation 602 (use designations for fresh waters), and 612 (use designations for marine waters).

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Rulemaking timeline

Timeline

Date	Activity
August 16, 2017	Announcement Phase (CR-101) Announce start of rulemaking process.
August 16, 2017 - July 2018	Rule Development Phase Develop and prepare the rule language, regulatory analyses documents, SEPA documents, and other information.
October 17, 2017	We hosted two informational webinars scheduled on Oct. 17, 2017. Both webinars presented the same information.
May 1 - May 21, 2018	Comment Period for EIS Scoping
June 14, 2018	Public webinars: providing an overview of our preliminary decisions for updates to recreational use criteria in the water quality standards.
July 17, 2018	Rule Proposal Phase (CR -102)
July - September 2018	Public hearing and comment period.
September 2018 - January 2019	Review public comments and prepare adoption packet.
January 23, 2018	Rule Adoption Phase (CR-103)
February 23, 2019	Rule Effective

Announcement phase (CR-101)

Filing date:
Aug. 16, 2017

Announcement documents

Announcement Notice - CR-101 Form

Rule development phase

Aug. 16, 2017 - July 2018

Public input & involvement

Oct. 17, 2017: We held two informational webinars to discuss our work to amend water contact recreational use criteria. Both webinars presented the same information.

October 17 Webinar PowerPoint Presentation

May 1 - May 21, 2018: We held a public comment period on the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement.

Read the SEPA Register Scoping Notice
Read the comments we received

June 14, 2018: We held two public webinars to provide an overview of our preliminary decisions for updates to recreational use criteria in the water quality standards . Both webinars presented the same information.

June 14 Webinar Preliminary Decisions Presentation (PowerPoint)

Rule proposal phase (CR-102)

Filing date:
July 17, 2018

Rule proposal documents:

Comment period

The comment period closed September 14, 2018.

View comments on the proposed rule

Public hearings were held on:

Aug. 28, 2018 - Webinar (1:30 p.m.)
Aug. 28, 2018 - Webinar (6:30 p.m.)
Aug. 29, 2018 - Tukwila, WA (1:30 p.m.)
Aug. 30, 2018 - Spokane Valley, WA (10:30 a.m.)
Sept. 5, 2018 - Webinar (6:30 p.m.)

Rule adoption phase (CR-103)

Adoption date:
Jan. 23, 2019

Rule effective date:
Feb. 23, 2019

Rule adoption documents:

Additional languages

Español (Spanish)

El Departamento de Ecología adoptó enmiendas al Capítulo 173-201A WAC, Normas para la calidad de las aguas superficiales del estado de Washington (Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington)

Este proceso de elaboración de reglamentos adoptó normas actualizadas para la calidad de las aguas dulces y marinas referente a la protección de los usos recreativos en contacto con las aguas en el estado.

Para más información, por favor de comunicarse con Bryson Finch al 360-407-7158 y solicite un intérprete.

中文 (Chinese) Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

Bộ Môi Sinh đã phê chuẩn phần bổ sung Chương 173-201A WAC, Tiêu Chuẩn Chất Lượng Nước Bề Mặt Của Bang Washington (Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington).

Cơ quan làm luật đã phê chuẩn các sửa đổi về tiêu chuẩn chất lượng nước biển và nước ngọt của tiểu bang để bảo vệ con người khi tiếp xúc nước trong mục đích giải trí.

Để biết thêm thông tin hoặc cần thông dịch viên, xin liên lạc Bryson Finch tại số 360-407-7158.

한국어 (Korean)

워싱톤 주 환경부는 수질에 관한 법(Chapter 173-201A WAC, Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington)의 수정안을 채택했습니다. 호수, 강 또는 바닷물에서 수영처럼 물과 직접적인 접촉이 있는 상황에서 주민들을 보호하기 위하여 수질 기준을 수정했습니다.

보다 자세한 정보를 원하시면 Bryson Finch씨에게 전화하여 통역을 요청하십시오 (360-407-7158).

русский (Russian) ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi)

Contact information

Bryson Finch
Rulemaking Lead
bryson.finch@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-7158

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Accessibility

To request ADA accommodation for disabilities, or printed materials in a format for the visually impaired, contact Ecology's ADA Coordinator by email at ecyadacoordinator@ecy.wa.gov, or call 360-407-6831. People with impaired hearing may call Washington Relay Service at 711. People with speech disability may call TTY at 877-833-6341.