The Washington Department of Ecology is proposing to adopt the federal water pollution limits intended to protect human health – formally adding the existing federal limits into state rules. This proposal would not change any of the human health criteria already in place for Washington.
The human health criteria are a set of pollution limits designed to protect people, particularly those who eat fish and shellfish and drink untreated water, from experiencing long-term health effects of pollution in rivers, lakes and marine water in Washington. These limits are specific to each of the nearly 100 pollutants covered by the criteria, which include methyl bromide, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and arsenic.
This is a unique rulemaking as it does not change the pollution limits already in place for Washington. In 2016 and 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set some of the human health criteria for Washington, so those limits are in federal rule, instead of state rule like the rest of Washington’s pollution limits. Ecology has received feedback during other recent rulemakings that making this change should be a priority for the state.
The work to implement these limits began when EPA established the criteria for Washington in federal rule. Ecology is already using the federal human health criteria to identify polluted waters and develop clean up plans. The criteria are also being used when issuing and updating water quality permits for facilities discharging those pollutants.
Ecology aims to make a final decision on the rulemaking by the end of the year.
This rulemaking will include an Environmental Justice Assessment, as required under Washington’s Healthy Environment for All Act. Ecology will finish the assessment prior to finalizing the rule.
Provide input
Ecology is accepting public comments from 12 a.m. on Sept. 17, 2024 until 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 25, 2024.
Submit comments online, by mail, or at the public hearing:
- Comment online
- Mail to:
Marla Koberstein
WA Department of Ecology
P.O. Box 47696
Olympia, WA 98504-7696
Public hearing
Ecology will hold a virtual public hearing at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.
During the event, Ecology will provide an overview of the proposed rule and hold a question-and-answer period, followed by public comment.