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Regulations & Permits > Rulemaking > WAC 173-424-455

Chapters 173-424 WAC and 173-455 WAC

On November 28, 2022, Ecology adopted a new rule, Chapter 173-424 WAC, Clean Fuels Program Rule and updated Chapter 173-455 WAC, Air Quality Fee Rule.

This new rule:

  • Establishes carbon intensity standards for transportation fuels used in Washington.
  • Assigns compliance obligations to fuels with carbon intensities that exceed the standard.
  • Establishes compliance methods including assigning credits to fuels that have carbon intensities below the standard.

We also updated Chapter 173-455 WAC to establish a process for setting fees to recover the cost of developing and implementing the program.

In May 2021, Washington enacted the Transportation Fuels – Clean Fuels Program (Chapter 70A.535 RCW) directing Ecology to adopt rules to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by 20 percent below 2017 levels by 2038. The law intends to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and conventional air pollutants, and support the use of innovative clean fuel technologies.

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Rulemaking timeline

Timeline

Announcement phase (CR-101)

Filing date:
July 20, 2021


Announcement documents

Rule development phase

July 20, 2021 – July 17, 2022



Public input & involvement

Public comment period (informal) – EXTENDED
October 6, 2021 – April 25, 2022 (originally April 10, 2022)

Read comments.
 

Ecology's meetings with stakeholders

Date Documents Location
Wednesday
October 6, 2021
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.		 Agenda
Presentation
Meeting summary		 webinar 1

Tuesday
November 16, 2021
2 p.m. – 5 p.m.

 Agenda
Presentation
Draft rule language
Meeting summary		 webinar 1
Thursday
January 27, 2022
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.		 Agenda
Presentation
Draft rule language		 webinar 1
Tuesday
March 15, 2022
9 a.m. – noon		 Agenda
Presentation
Draft rule language
WA-GREET draft model *
WA-GREET supplemental document
WA Crude Carbon Intensity Analysis
WA Crude Carbon Intensity Lookup Table
Indirect Land Use Conversion (ILUC)		 webinar 1
Wednesday
April 13, 2022
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.		 Agenda
Presentation
Draft rule language
WA Carbon Intensity Model Peer Review Report
WA Utility Carbon Intensity Calculator
WA-GREET supplemental document
WA Crude Carbon Intensity Analysis (updated)
Indirect Land Use Conversion (ILUC) (updated)
Carbon Intensity Lookup Table
2017 Baseline Carbon Intensities for Blended Fuels
Carbon Intensities of Blended Fuels for Substitute Pathways
Tier 1 Carbon Intensity Calculator:
  • Biomethane from Landfills
  • Biomethane from Dairy, Swine Manure
  • Biomethane from Organic Waste
  • Biomethane from Wastewater Sludge
  • Renewable Diesel
  • Starch and Fiber Ethanol
  • Sugarcane-Derived Ethanol
  • Liquid Natural Gas and Liquid to Compressed Natural Gas		 webinar 1


1 Webinar information:
   Register for each webinar to get your access code and password.
   To hear the webinar better or to call in only, use your phone (instead of the computer) to call 1-855-929-3239.

* This spreadsheet is a large file. Get a cup of coffee or tea while it's downloading.
   Click "read only" at the password pop-up box.
   Wait again.

Related documents:

Rule proposal phase (CR-102)

Filing date:
July 18, 2022

Rule proposal documents:

Related documents:

* This spreadsheet is a large file. Get a cup of coffee or tea while it's downloading.
   Click "read only" at the password pop-up box.
   Wait again.

Comment period

Comments were due by August 31, 2022. We accepted comments in the following ways:

  • Attend a public hearing online (webinar):
    August 23, 2022 at 10 a.m.
     
  • Mail to:  Rachel Assink
       Department of Ecology
       Air Quality Program
       P.O. Box 47600
       Olympia, WA  98504-7600

Public hearing

Date/Time:  August 23, 2022 at 10 a.m. online webinar

Location:  online (webinar)
    Register for the webinar to get your access code and password.
    To hear the webinar better or to call in only, use your phone (instead of the computer) to call 253-215-8782.

Agenda: Presentation, question-and-answer session, followed by public hearing

Accessibility:  To request ADA accommodation for the public hearing, email Ecology’s ADA coordinator by August 17, 2022.  Or call (360) 407-6831, 711 (relay service), or 877-833-6341 (TTY).

Rule adoption phase (CR-103)

Adoption date:
Nov. 28, 2022


Rule effective date:
Dec. 29, 2022


Rule adoption documents:

Related documents:

* This spreadsheet is a large file. Get a cup of coffee or tea while it's downloading.
   Click "read only" at the password pop-up box.
   Wait again.

Rule implementation information:

Additional languages

Español (Spanish) 中文 (Chinese) Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese) 한국어 (Korean)

Related links

Contact information

Cooper Garbe
Rulemaking Lead
cooper.garbe@ecy.wa.gov
360-485-7216

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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.