Rulemaking at Ecology

Rules listed below are sorted by topic and indicate Ecology's intentions for rulemaking. We invite you to participate in our rulemaking processes. Here you will find rules in various stages of the rulemaking process.

Rulemaking that has been officially filed with the Washington State Legislature’s Code Reviser’s Office (filed a CR-101 form) and are sorted by topic.
Recently closed rulemakings. (closed rulemaking web pages are kept here for 2 years after the date of adoption).
Programs that are undergoing an exploratory process for rulemaking.

Under each topic below, see rulemaking underway, more information, and the rulemaking status including documents, timelines, and contact information.

We invite you to participate in our rulemaking process. Rule chapters listed below explain what we plan to do for rulemaking on that chapter. These links will take you to the rulemaking web page which has information including documents, timelines, and contact information.

You will see rules in various stages of the rulemaking process.

Rulemaking that has been officially filed with the Washington State Legislature's Code Reviser's Office (filed a CR-101 form), known as "open rulemaking."
Ecology programs that are undergoing an exploratory process for rulemaking, known as "exploratory rulemaking."

See our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about the rulemaking process.

Open rulemaking

Air & Climate

Water & Shorelines

Waste & Toxics

Spills & Cleanup

None at this time

Administrative

None at this time

Grants & Loans

None at this time

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)

None at this time

Exploratory rulemaking

Chapter 173-460 WAC – Controls for New Sources of Toxic Air Pollutants

The lists of closed rulemaking below are organized by topic. These links will take you to rule-specific information including documents, timelines, and contact information. Closed rulemaking web pages are typically kept for reference for two years after the adoption date.

Air & Climate
Water & Shorelines
Waste & Toxics
Spills & Cleanup
Administrative
Grants & Loans
State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)

Air & Climate

Date adopted	Rulemaking page	Rule name
2/12/25	Chapters 173-400 WAC and 173-401 WAC	General Regulations for Air Pollution Sources and Operating Permit Regulation
12/3/24	Chapters 173-441 and 173-446 WAC	Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases and Climate Commitment Act Program Rule (Electricity Markets)
10/8/24	Chapter 173-446B WAC	Climate Commitment Act Funds Reporting
5/13/24	Chapter 173-408 WAC	Landfill Methane Emissions
2/21/24	Chapter 173-446 WAC	Climate Commitment Act Program Rule (Allowance Price Containment Reserve)
11/30/23	Chapters 173-443 and 173-455 WAC	Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and Other Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases, and Air Quality Fee Rule
7/18/23 (repealed)	Chapter 173-442 WAC	Clean Air Rule
3/3/23	Chapter 173-455 WAC	Air Quality Fee Rule
12/19/22	Chapters 173-423 and 173-400 WAC	Clean Vehicles Program and General Regulations for Air Pollution Sources
11/28/22	Chapters 173-424 and 173-455 WAC	Clean Fuels Program Rule and Air Quality Fee Rule
9/29/22	Chapter 173-446 WAC	Climate Commitment Act Program
6/1/22	Chapter 173-446A WAC	Criteria for Emissions-Intensive, Trade-Exposed Industries
2/9/22	Chapter 173-441 WAC	Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases
11/29/21	Chapter 173-423 and 173-400-025 WAC	Low Emission Vehicles and Adoption of federal rules in General Regulations for Air Pollution Sources
8/19/21 (withdrawn)	Chapters 173-491, 173-400, 173-455 WAC	Emission Standards and Controls for Sources Emitting Gasoline Gas Vapors
6/2/21 (repealed)	Chapters 173-422 and 173-422A WAC	Motor Vehicle Emission Inspection
1/6/21	Chapter 173-444 WAC	Clean Energy Transformation Rule
12/10/20	Chapter 173-443 WAC	Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
9/15/16	Chapters 173-442 and 173-441 WAC	Clean Air Rule and Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases

Water & Shorelines

Date adopted	Rulemaking page	Rule name
12/11/24	Chapter 173-167 WAC	Emergency Drought Funding (2024)
1/8/25 (rescinded)	Chapter 173-503A WAC	Samish River Sub-basin Instream Resources Protection Program
1/8/25 (rescinded)	Chapter 173-525 WAC	Grays-Elochoman Instream Resources Protection and Water Management Program
1/8/25 (rescinded)	Chapter 173-526 WAC	Cowlitz Instream Resources Protection and Water Management Program
11/27/24	Chapter 173-201A WAC	Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington (Human Health Criteria)
11/14/24	Chapter 173-201A WAC	Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington (Natural Conditions)
8/14/24	Chapter 173-201A WAC	Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington (Aquatic Life Toxics Criteria)
12/18/24	Chapter 173-201A WAC	Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington (Outstanding Resource Waters)
7/24/23	Chapter 173-167 WAC	Emergency Drought Funding
6/29/23	Chapter 173-224 WAC	Water Quality Permit Fees
3/22/22	Chapter 173-201A WAC	Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington (salmon spawning habitat)
9/17/21	Chapter 173-201A WAC	Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington (Chelan Use Attainability Analysis)
7/28/21	Chapter 173-167 WAC	Emergency Drought Funding
5/27/20	Chapter 173-501 WAC	Instream Resources Protection Program - Nooksack Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA 1)
12/30/19	Chapter 173-201A WAC	Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington (revisions)
4/9/18	Chapter 173-228 WAC	Vessel Sewage No Discharge Zones
8/1/16	Chapter 173-201A WAC	Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of The State of Washington

Waste & Toxics

Date adopted	Rulemaking page	Rule name
10/31/23	Chapter 173-925 WAC	Post-Consumer Recycled Content in Plastic Containers
10/24/23	Chapter 173-360A WAC	Underground Storage Tank (UST) Regulations
8/23/23	Chapter 173-340 WAC	Model Toxics Control Act – Cleanup
5/31/23	Chapter 173-337 WAC	Safer Products Restriction and Reporting
9/30/20	Chapter 173-303 WAC	Dangerous Waste Regulations

Spills & Cleanup

Date adopted	Rulemaking page	Rule name
6/14/24	Chapter 173-187 WAC	Financial Responsibility
6/6/23	Chapter 173-180 and 173-184 WAC	Facility Oil Handling Standards and Vessel Oil Transfer Advance Notice and Containment Requirements
2/2/21	Chapter 173-185 WAC	Oil Movement by Rail and Pipeline Notification

Grants & Loans

None

Administrative

Date adopted	Rulemaking page	Rule name
4/4/24 (withdrawn)	Chapter 173-55 WAC	Accreditation of Cannabis Laboratories
9/1/23	Chapter 173-50 WAC	Accreditation of Environmental Laboratories
6/25/21 (repealed)	Chapter 173-04 WAC	Practice and Procedures

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)

Date adopted	Rulemaking page	Rule name
12/20/22	Chapter 197-11 WAC	SEPA Rules

The list of rules below are categorized by topical areas. These links will take you to the existing rule language on the Washington State Legislature's Code Reviser's web page.

Air & Climate
Water & Shorelines
Waste & Toxics
Spills & Cleanup
Administrative
Grants & Loans
Noise
State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)

Air & Climate

Chapter 173-400 WAC – General Regulation for Air Pollution Sources
Chapter 173-401 WAC – Operating Permit Regulation
Chapter 173-405 WAC – Kraft Pulping Mills
Chapter 173-406 WAC – Acid Rain Regulation
Chapter 173-407 WAC – Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Requirements and Emissions Performance Standard for Power Plants
Chapter 173-410 WAC – Sulfite Pulping Mills
Chapter 173-415 WAC – Primary Aluminum Plants
Chapter 173-420 WAC – Conformity of Transportation Activities to Air Quality Implementation Plans
Chapter 173-421 WAC – Motor Vehicle Emission Control Systems
Chapter 173-423 WAC – Clean Vehicles Program
Chapter 173-424 WAC – Clean Fuels Program Rule
Chapter 173-425 WAC – Outdoor Burning
Chapter 173-430 WAC – Agricultural Burning
Chapter 173-433 WAC – Solid Fuel Burning Devices
Chapter 173-434 WAC – Solid Waste Incinerator Facilities
Chapter 173-435 WAC – Emergency Episode Plan
Chapter 173-441 WAC – Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases
Chapter 173-442 WAC – Clean Air Rule
Chapter 173-443 WAC – Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
Chapter 173-444 WAC – Clean Energy Transformation Rule
Chapter 173-455 WAC – Air Quality Fee Rule
Chapter 173-460 WAC – Controls for New Sources of Toxic Air Pollutants
Chapter 173-446 WAC – Climate Commitment Act Program
Chapter 173-446A WAC – Criteria for Emissions-Intensive, Trade-Exposed Industries
Chapter 173-476 WAC – Ambient Air Quality Standards
Chapter 173-480 WAC – Ambient Air Quality Standards and Emission Limits for Radionuclides
Chapter 173-481 WAC – Ambient Air Quality and Environmental Standards for Fluorides
Chapter 173–485 WAC – Petroleum Refinery Greenhouse Gas Emission Requirements
Chapter 173-490 WAC – Emission Standards and Controls for Sources Emitting Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
Chapter 173-491 WAC – Emission Standards and Controls for Sources Emitting Gasoline Vapors
Chapter 173-492 WAC – Motor Fuel Specifications for Oxygenated Gasoline
Chapter 173-495 WAC – Weather Modification

Water & Shorelines

Chapter 173-15 WAC – Permits for Oil or Natural Gas Exploration Activities Conducted from State Marine Waters
Chapter 173-18 WAC – Shoreline Management Act – Streams and Rivers Constituting Shorelines of the State
Chapter 173-20 WAC – Shoreline Management Act – Lakes Constituting Shorelines of the State
Chapter 173-22 WAC – Adoption of Designations of Shorelands and Wetlands Associated with Shorelines of the State
Chapter 173-26 WAC – State Master Program Approval\Amendment Procedures and Master Program Guidelines
Chapter 173-27 WAC – Shoreline Management Permit and Enforcement Procedures
Chapter 173-100 WAC – Ground Water Management Areas and Programs
Chapter 173-124 WAC – Quincy Groundwater Management Subarea and Zones
Chapter 173-128A WAC – Odessa Groundwater Management Subarea
Chapter 173-130A WAC – Odessa Groundwater Subarea Management Policy
Chapter 173-132 WAC – Duck Lake Groundwater Management Subarea
Chapter 173-134A WAC – Quincy Groundwater Subarea Management Policy
Chapter 173-136 WAC – The Establishment of a System of Authorizing the Withdrawal of Artificially Stored Groundwaters Embodied in an Approved Declaration under RCW 90.44.130 Which are Commingled with Public Groundwaters in Groundwater Areas, Subareas, and Zones Established under RCW 90.44.130
Chapter 173-145 WAC – Administration of the Flood Control Assistance Account Program
Chapter 173-150 WAC – Protection of Withdrawal Facilities Associated with Groundwater Rights
Chapter 173-152 WAC – Water Rights
Chapter 173-153 WAC – Water Conservancy Boards
Chapter 173-154 WAC – Protection of Upper Aquifer Zones
Chapter 173-157 WAC – Underground Artificial Storage and Recovery
Chapter 173-158 WAC – Flood Plain Management
Chapter 173-160 WAC – Minimum Standards for Construction and Maintenance of Wells
Chapter 173-162 WAC – Regulation and Licensing of Well Contractors and Operators
Chapter 173-165 WAC – Certified Water Right Examiners
Chapter 173-166 WAC – Emergency Drought Relief
Chapter 173-170 WAC – Agricultural Water Supply Facilities
Chapter 173-173 WAC – Requirements for Measuring and Reporting Water Use
Chapter 173-175 WAC – Dam Safety
Chapter 173-200 WAC – Water Quality Standards for Groundwaters of the State of Washington
Chapter 173-201A WAC – Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington (Recreational Use Criteria)
Chapter 173-204 WAC – Sediment Management Standards
Chapter 173-205 WAC – Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing and Limits
Chapter 173-208 WAC – Grant of Authority Sewerage Systems
Chapter 173-216 WAC – State Waste Discharge Permit Program
Chapter 173-218 WAC – Underground Injection Control Program
Chapter 173-219 WAC – Reclaimed Water
Chapter 173-220 WAC – National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Program
Chapter 173-221 WAC – Discharge Standards and Effluent Limitations for Domestic Wastewater Facilities
Chapter 173-221A WAC – Wastewater Discharge Standards and Effluent Limitations
Chapter 173-224 WAC – Water Quality Permit Fees
Chapter 173-225 WAC – Federal Water Pollution Control Act – Establishment of Implementation Procedures of Application for Certification
Chapter 173-226 WAC – Waste Discharge General Permit Program
Chapter 173-228 WAC – Vessel Sewage No Discharge Zones
Chapter 173-230 WAC – Certification of Operators of Wastewater Treatment Plants
Chapter 173-240 WAC – Submission of Plans and Reports for Construction of Wastewater Facilities
Chapter 173-245 WAC – Submission of Plans and Reports for Construction and Operation of Combined Sewer Overflow Reduction Facilities
Chapter 173-270 WAC – Puget Sound Highway Runoff Program
Chapter 173-500 WAC – Water Resources Management Program Established Pursuant to the Water Resources Act of 1971
Chapter 173-501 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program Nooksack River Basin – WRIA 1
Chapter 173-503 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Lower and Upper Skagit WRIAs 3 and 4
Chapter 173-505 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Stillaguamish River Basin – WRIA 5
Chapter 173-507 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Snohomish River Basin – WRIA 7
Chapter 173-508 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Cedar-Sammamish Basin – WRIA 8
Chapter 173-509 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Green-Duwamish River Basin- WRIA 9
Chapter 173-510 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Puyallup River Basin – WRIA 10
Chapter 173-511 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Nisqually River Basin – WRIA 11
Chapter 173-512 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Chambers-Clover Creek Basin – WRIA 12
Chapter 173-513 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program Deschutes River Basin – WRIA 13
Chapter 173-514 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Kennedy-Goldsbourgh Basin – WRIA 14
Chapter 173-515 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Kitsap – WRIA 15
Chapter 173-517 WAC – Water Resources Management Program for the Quilcene-Snow Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA 17)
Chapter 173-518 WAC – Water Resources Management Program for the Dungeness Portion of the Elwha-Dungeness Water Resources Inventory Area (WRIA) 18
Chapter 173-522 WAC – Water Resources Program in the Chehalis River Basin, WRIA 22 and 23
Chapter 173-527 WAC – Water Resources Management Program for the Lewis Basin – WRIA 27
Chapter 173-528 WAC – Water Resources Program for the Salmon-Washougal Basin, – WRIA 28
Chapter 173-531A WAC – Water Resources Program for John Day-McNary Pools Reach of the Columbia River – WRIA 31 and Parts of 32, 33, 36, 37
Chapter 173-532 WAC – Water Resources Program for the Walla Walla River Basin, WRIA 32
Chapter 173-539A WAC – Upper Kittitas Groundwater Rule
Chapter 173-545 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program – Wenatchee River Basin – WRIA 45
Chapter 173-546 WAC - Water Resources Management Program – Entiat River Basin – WRIA 46
Chapter 173-548 WAC – Water Resources Program in the Methow River Basin – WRIA 48
Chapter 173-549 WAC – Water Resources Program in the Okanogan River Basin – WRIA 49
Chapter 173-555 WAC – Water Resources Program in the Little Spokane River Basin – WRIA 55
Chapter 173-557 WAC – Spokane River and Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie (SVRP) Aquifer
Chapter 173-559 WAC – Water Resources Program for the Colville River Basin, WRIA 59
Chapter 173-563 WAC – Instream Resources Protection Program for the Main Stem Columbia River in Washington State
Chapter 173-564 WAC – Water Resources Management Program for the Main Stem of the Snake River in Washington State
Chapter 173-590 WAC – Procedures Relating to the Reservation of Water for Future Public Water Supply
Chapter 173-591 WAC – Reservation of Future Public Water Supply for Thurston County
Chapter 173-700 WAC – Wetland Mitigation Banks
Chapter 372-36 WAC – Columbia Basin Irrigation Area – Sewage and Waste
Chapter 372-52 WAC – Water Districts Requests for Approvals and Certifications of Necessity to Operate Sewer Districts
Chapter 372-68 WAC – Water Pollution Control and Abatement Plans for Sewage Drainage Basins
Chapter 508-12 WAC – Administration of Surface and Groundwater Codes
Chapter 508-14 WAC – Columbia Basin Project – Groundwaters

Waste & Toxics

Chapter 173-44 WAC – Fees – Radioactive Waste Management Facilities
Chapter 173-300 WAC – Certification of Operators of Solid Waste Incinerator and Landfill Facilities
Chapter 173-303 WAC – Dangerous Waste Regulations
Chapter 173-304 WAC – Minimum Functional Standards for Solid Waste Handling
Chapter 173-305 WAC – Hazardous Waste Fee Regulation
Chapter 173-306 WAC – Special Incinerator Ash Management Standards
Chapter 173-307 WAC – Pollution Prevention Plans
Chapter 173-308 WAC – Biosolids Management
Chapter 173-310 WAC – Litter Receptacles
Chapter 173-328 WAC – Mixed Waste Management Fees
Chapter 173-331 WAC – Vehicle Battery Recycling
Chapter 173-333 WAC – Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins
Chapter 173-334 WAC – Children’s Safe Products – Reporting Rule
Chapter 173-345 WAC – Recyclable Materials – Transporter and Facility Requirements
Chapter 173-350 WAC – Solid Waste Handling Standards
Chapter 173-351 WAC – Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
Chapter 173-900 WAC – Electronic Products Recycling Program
Chapter 173-901 WAC – Better Brakes
Chapter 173-910 WAC – Mercury-Containing Lights Product Stewardship Program
Chapter 173-925 WAC – Post-Consumer Recycled Content in Plastic Containers

Spills & Cleanup

Chapter 173-180 WAC – Facility Oil Handling Standards
Chapter 173-182 WAC – Oil Spill Contingency Plan
Chapter 173-183 WAC – Oil Spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment
Chapter 173-184 WAC – Vessel Oil Transfer Advance Notice and Containment Requirements
Chapter 173-185 WAC – Oil Movement by Rail and Pipeline Notification
Chapter 173-186 WAC – Oil Spill Contingency Plan – Railroad
Chapter 173-204 WAC – Sediment Management Standards
Chapter 173-340 WAC – Model Toxics Control Act – Cleanup
Chapter 173-342 WAC – Additional Taxable Hazardous Substance List
Chapter 173-360 WAC – Underground Storage Tank Regulations
Chapter 317-05 WAC – Definitions [Office of Marine Safety]
Chapter 317-31 WAC – Cargo and Passenger Vessels – Substantial Risk
Chapter 317-40 WAC – Bunkering Operations
Chapter 317-50 WAC – Financial Responsibility for Small Tank Barges and Oil Spill Response Barges

Grants & Loans

Chapter 173-80 WAC – Limitations on Use of Referendum 39 Grant Funds for Water Pollution Abatement
Chapter 173-95A WAC – Uses and Limitations of the Centennial Clean Water Program
Chapter 173-98 WAC – Uses and Limitations of the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund
Chapter 173-255 WAC – Limitations on Use of Referendum 26 Grant Funds for Water Pollution Abatement
Chapter 173-312 WAC – Local Solid Waste Financial Assistance
Chapter 173-321 WAC – Public Participation Grants
Chapter 173-323 WAC – Grants and Loans
Chapter 173-322A WAC – Remedial Action Grants and Loans
Chapter 173-450 WAC – Establishing Requirements for the Receipt of Financial Aid

Administrative

Chapter 173-03 WAC – Public Records
Chapter 173-06 WAC – Delegation of Powers
Chapter 173-40 WAC – Pollution Disclosure
Chapter 173-50 WAC – Accreditation of Environmental Laboratories

Noise

Chapter 173-58 WAC – Sound Level Measurement Procedures
Chapter 173-60 WAC – Maximum Environmental Noise Levels
Chapter 173-62 WAC – Motor Vehicle Noise Performance Standards

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)

Chapter 173-802 WAC – SEPA Procedures
Chapter 197-11 WAC – SEPA Rules

The Office of the Code Reviser publishes and maintains the list of Washington's laws — the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).

Use their search tool to search all laws (RCWs) and rules, known formally as the Washington Administrative Code (WAC).

Contact information

Katie Wolt
Agency Rules Coordinator
katie.wolt@ecy.wa.gov
360-763-2898

Rulemaking at Ecology

Open rulemaking

Air & Climate

Water & Shorelines

Waste & Toxics

Spills & Cleanup

Administrative

Grants & Loans

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)

Exploratory rulemaking

Air & Climate

Water & Shorelines

​Waste & Toxics

Spills & Cleanup

Grants & Loans

Administrative​

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)

Air & Climate

Water & Shorelines

Waste & Toxics

Spills & Cleanup

Grants & Loans

Administrative

Noise

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)

Related links

Contact information

Waste & Toxics

Administrative