Chapter 173-201A WAC (Aquatic Life Toxics Criteria)

Ecology is considering revising chapter 173-201A WAC, Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington. We are considering the following revisions in this rulemaking:

Amending WAC 173-201A-240, Toxic substances, specifically aquatic life criteria, including, but not limited to, Table 240 and footnotes
Minor, non-substantive edits to rule language in WAC 173-201A-240 to correct typographical, calculation, and formatting errors

We may amend other sections of Chapter 173-201A WAC as necessary to support any revisions to the sections noted above.

We are considering revisions to aquatic life toxics criteria to provide additional water quality protection for organisms that live in water. We will:

Review all of Washington’s current aquatic life toxics criteria to ensure they are consistent with nationally recommended water quality criteria issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Evaluate pollutant protection levels for endangered species in Washington waters
Evaluate new scientific data, methods, and modeling tools to update protection levels necessary for aquatic life in Washington’s surface waters
Consider adding new toxic substances to the water quality standards that EPA has recommended or that the state of Washington designates as high priority for the protection of aquatic life

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View additional languages: Español | 中文 | Tiếng Việt | 한국어

Rulemaking timeline

Timeline

Date (subject to change)	Activity
June 22, 2022	Announce rulemaking (file the CR-101 form)
Summer 2022 – Fall 2023	Develop and prepare the rule language and other information
Oct. 11, 2022	Hold tribal staff meeting to introduce rulemaking
Oct. 27, 2022	Hold public workshop to introduce rulemaking
April 20, 2023	Hold informational webinar
Early 2024	Propose rule (file the CR-102 form) Start public comment period with rule text and supporting documents
Early 2024	Hold public hearing(s): details to be determined
Early 2024	End public comment period
Winter-Spring 2024	Review public comments and prepare adoption packet
Spring 2024	Adopt rule (file the CR-103 form)
Spring 2024	Rule effective (usually 31 days after filing)
To Be Determined	Rule effective for Clean Water Act purposes – conditioned on EPA approval

Announcement phase (CR-101)

Filing date:
June 22, 2022

Announcement documents

Announcement Notice – CR-101 form

Rule development phase

June 22, 2022 - Fall 2023

Public input & involvement

April 20, 2023 - Informational webinar

We are hosting a public webinar on our approach to this rulemaking and how we calculate new criteria.

Topics we will cover during this webinar:

How we calculate aquatic life toxics criteria, including using models
Evaluating protective criteria under the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act
Preliminary approach to developing criteria for pollutants with Endangered Species Act jeopardy calls
Preliminary rule strategy and updates on rule progress

View presentation slides (pdf)

April 20, 2023 - 1:30 p.m.
Register for the webinar
Join by phone only: 1-253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 813 3159 1263

Oct. 27, 2022 - Informational webinar

We invite you to attend an informational webinar for the rulemaking. During this webinar, we’ll provide an overview of:

Aquatic life toxics criteria – what they are and what they protect
History of the criteria in Washington
Strategy and scope of the rulemaking
Timeline and opportunities for public participation

Oct. 27, 2022 - 1:30 p.m.
View the presentation slides (pdf)

Workshops offered via webinar allow individuals to view the presentation and ask questions via computer or mobile device.

Additional languages

Español (Spanish)

El Departamento de Ecología está empezando el processo de reglamentación para enmendar Capítulo 173-201A WAC Las Normas de Calidad de Agua para Aguas Superficiales en el Estado de Washington (Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters in the State of Washington). Esta reglamentación se enfocará en proteger las plantas y animales que viven en el agua de los efectos dañinos de los productos químicos.

Para más información, llame a Marla Koberstein al 360-407-6413 y solicite un intérprete.

中文 (Chinese)

生態管理署開始製定規則程序，以修改華盛頓州地表水水質標準第 173-201A 章（ WAC Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters in the State of Washington）。該規則制定將側重於保護生活在水中的植物和動物免受化學物質的有害影響。如需更多信息，請致電 360-407-6413 聯繫 Marla Koberstein 並要求提供口譯服務。

Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

Bộ Môi Sinh đang bắt đầu quy trình làm luật để sửa đổi Chương 173-201A WAC, Tiêu Chuẩn Chất Lượng Nước cho Nước Bề Mặt ở Bang Washington (Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington). Luật này sẽ tập trung vào việc bảo vệ thực vật và động vật sống dưới nước khỏi tác hại của hóa chất.

Để biết thêm thông tin và yêu cầu thông dịch viên, vui lòng gọi Marla Koberstein theo số 360-407-6413.

한국어 (Korean)

와싱턴주 환경부는 주법 173-201A 와싱턴주 지표수 수질기준법 (Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington) 개정을 위한 절차를 시작하고있다.
이번 개정은 물속에 살고있는 동식물을 유해 화학 물질로 부터 보호하기 위함이다.

좀더 자세한 사항은 Marla Koberstein (360-407-6413) 에게 연락혹은 번역을 요청할것.

Contact information

Marla Koberstein
Rulemaking Lead
swqs@ecy.wa.gov
360-628-6376

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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.

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