Chapter 173-201A WAC (Human Health Criteria)
We adopted amendments to the human health criteria in Table 240 of WAC 173-201A-240, Toxic substances, to:
- Replace 143 state-adopted human health criteria for 73 pollutants that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) disapproved with the human health criteria and associated footnotes that EPA put into effect for Washington.
- Adopt as state law three human health criteria and associated footnotes for two pollutants that EPA put into effect for Washington that Ecology did not previously adopt state human health criteria for.
The federal human health criteria Ecology adopted as state law already serve as the required water quality standards for Clean Water Act programs in Washington. As a result, these amendments will not result in any change to water quality criteria already in effect.
Human health criteria are pollution limits on toxic substances that are set to protect people who eat fish and shellfish and drink untreated water from long-term health effects of pollution in rivers, lakes, and marine water in Washington.
Rulemaking timeline
Rule proposal phase (CR-102)
Sept. 17, 2024
- Proposal Notice - CR-102 form
- Proposed rule language
- SEPA - Determination of Non-Significance and Environmental Checklist
- Focus sheet
Comment period
Comments were accepted from 12 a.m. on Sept. 17, 2024, until 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 25, 2024.
We started this rulemaking at the rule proposal phase, which opens the formal public comment period. We started at the proposal phase because this proposed rule adopts, without change, federal regulations.
See above for documents related to the Proposal Phase of the rulemaking.
You can also view:
Public hearing
We held a virtual public hearing Oct. 22, 2024. The hearings began with a short presentation and question and answer session, followed by the opportunity to provide testimony. The hearing concluded once everyone who wanted to provide testimony had the opportunity to do so.
Information meetings
Sept. 25, 2024 - Spokane River Toxics Advisory Committee Meeting
We presented information about the rulemaking and provide an opportunity for questions at the September Spokane River Toxics Advisory Committee Meeting. This is an informational webinar only and we did not take formal comments during this event.
- Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, 2:10 pm
- Join in person at Spokane County Water Resource Center: 1004 N Freya St., Spokane, WA 99202
Oct. 23, 2024 - Environmental justice listening session
We held a listening session on Oct. 23, 2024, 3 p.m to learn from community members about their environmental justice considerations related to this rule. This listening session is part of our community engagement commitment under the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act.
We advertised this meeting to:
- People who are not usually involved with Ecology’s work
- Community members who are directly affected by this topic.
- Individuals who are especially vulnerable to pollution risks in the water.
- Those who consume fish or drink untreated water from local sources.
Any information (e.g., personal or contact) you provide may be publicly disclosed and posted on the Internet.
Rule adoption phase (CR-103)
Nov. 27, 2024
Dec. 28, 2024
Related links
Contact information
Marla Koberstein (she/her)
Rulemaking Lead
marla.koberstein@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.