Washington ecology officials release proposed new clean water rule

The Washington Department of Ecology released its proposed new clean water rule Wednesday and the formal draft mirrors the policy Gov. Jay Inslee outlined in October.

The rule would update state standards for pollution limits that ensure that the state’s waters are safe enough for people and fish.

Specifically, the rule would raise the estimated level of fish consumption used in pollution risk calculations from one serving a month to one serving a day to protect the health of people, such as tribal members, who eat a lot of locally caught fish. It also uses a one-in-1-million cancer risk rate.

An earlier proposed update with less strict standards was scrapped last year because Inslee linked it with a proposed toxics reduction program that the Legislature did not pass.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency is also drafting a new clean water rule for the state in case the state fails to finalize an acceptable one.

Both proposals set similar standards for most regulated chemicals, but the state proposal would offer polluters more options and time to help them meet the new standards.

The state is seeking public comment on the draft rule from now until April 22. More information is available online at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/ruledev/wac173201A/1203ov.html.