State Standards in Effect for CWA Purposes
In general, WQS submitted by a state, authorized tribe, or territory are not effective for Clean Water Act purposes until EPA reviews and approves them. The Actions Summary Tables below summarize approval (and disapproval) actions for this state’s WQS and contain EPA action letters that identify which WQS are in effect for CWA purposes. For provisions on which EPA has not taken action, please see the related action letter.
- [See Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington, Chapter 173-201A WAC ]
(Effective March 5, 2020) - [See Sediment Management Standards, Chapter 173-204 ]
(Effective December 18, 2015) - [See Waters Requiring Supplemental Spawning and Incubation Protection for Salmonid Species (2011) ]
Action Summary Table on Washington’s Water Quality Standards
Date of EPA Action | Summary of EPA Action | Notes on the Action | Other Related Information |
---|---|---|---|
03/05/2020 |
Approved WQS
See Action Letter and Technical Support Document for Details [See EPA Action Letter and Technical Support Document dated 03/05/2020 ] |
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5/10/2019 |
Approved WQS
|
On November 15, 2016, EPA partially approved and partially disapproved certain HHC that the Washington Department of Ecology submitted to EPA for review on August 1, 2016. In response to a February 21, 2017 petition from several entities, EPA has reconsidered its partial disapproval. |
In light of this decision, EPA intends to initiate a notice and comment process at a later date on a separate proposal to withdraw the related federally promulgated HHC. |
04/30/2019 |
Approved WQS
See Action Letter and Technical Support Document for Details |
On April 30, 2019, the Washington Department of Ecology adopted new recreational use criteria for fresh and marine water quality recreational uses and updated water contact use categories consistent with EPA’s 304(a) recommendations. | |
11/15/2016 |
Approved WQS
Disapproved WQS
See Action Letter for Details
|
For the criteria that EPA disapproved, concurrent with this action on Washington’s submittal, EPA finalized a federal rule for Washington containing 144 human health criteria in accordance with CWA section 303(c)(3) and (c)(4) requirements. Applicable, EPA-approved human health criteria are available at 40 CFR 131.45. Table of Human Health Criteria Effective for Clean Water Act Purposes in Washington (PDF)(3 pp, 202 K) |
Please see the action letter for provisions on which EPA has not yet taken action. |
08/10/2011 |
Approved WQS See Action Letter for Details |
||
05/14/2008 |
Approved WQS See Action Letter for Details |
This action supersedes the February 11, 2008 decision in which EPA did not take action on revisions to provisions addressing turbidity in freshwater and marine waters. | |
02/11/2008 | Approved WQS
• [See EPA Action letter dated 2/11/08 ] |
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05/23/2007 |
Approved WQS See Action Letter for Details |
||
05/2/2007 |
Approved WQS See Action Letter for Details |
Action Summary Table on Washington’s Sediment Management Standards
Date of EPA Action | Summary of EPA Action | Notes on the Action | Other Related Information |
---|---|---|---|
12/18/2015 |
Approved WQS See Action Letter for Details |
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09/18/2008 |
Approved WQS See Action Letter for Details
|
Decision was re-approved on April 22, 2011 due to litigation. |
Federally Proposed or Promulgated Standards
- On April 16, 2020, EPA finalized a rule to withdraw federal water quality standards for certain human health criteria as the final step resulting from the Agency’s May 10, 2019 approval of Washington’s human health criteria.
- Reconsideration of EPA’s Partial Approval/Partial Disapproval of Washington’s Human Health Water Quality Criteria – EPA approved certain human health criteria that the Agency previously disapproved on November 15, 2016 from an August 1, 2016 Washington standards submission. This action is in response to a February 21, 2017 petition from several entities.
- EPA Action Letter and Technical Support Document dated 5/10/19 (PDF)(32 pg, 6 MB, May 10, 2019)
Note: If you need assistance with the above document, call Hanh Shaw at 206-553-0171.
- EPA Action Letter and Technical Support Document dated 5/10/19 (PDF)(32 pg, 6 MB, May 10, 2019)
- Final Revision of Federal Human Health Criteria Applicable to Washington - EPA revised the federal Clean Water Act human health criteria applicable to waters under Washington’s jurisdiction to ensure that the criteria are set at levels that will adequately protect fish consumers in Washington from exposure to toxic pollutants. Concurrent with EPA’s final rule, EPA took action under the CWA to approve in part, and disapprove in part, human health criteria submitted by Washington.
- [See Fact Sheet: Revision of Federal Human Health Criteria Applicable to Washington ]
- Federal Register Notice | Docket OW-2015-0174
Note: This final rule will be effective on 12/28/16. - [See EPA's Partial Approval/Partial Disapproval of Washington's Human Health Water Quality Criteria and Implementation Tools ]
- [See Table of Human Health Criteria Effective for Clean Water Act Purposes in Washington ]
- Proposed Revision of Federal Human Health Criteria Applicable to Washington
- [See Fact Sheet: Proposed Revision of Federal Human Health Criteria Applicable to Washington ]
- Federal Register Notice (September 14, 2015)
- Recordings of EPA’s public hearings on the proposed rule:
- Withdrawal of Federal Marine Aquatic Life Water Quality Criteria for Toxic Pollutants Applicable to Washington State
- Direct Final Rule: Federal Register Notice (July 09, 2007)
- Proposed Rule: Federal Register Notice (July 09, 2007)
- Docket at Regulations.gov
- Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington, Chapter 173-201A WAC (PDF)(177 pp, 3 MB)
- Sediment Management Standards, Chapter 173-204 (PDF)(152 pp, 1 MB)
- Fact Sheet: Revision of Federal Human Health Criteria Applicable to Washington (PDF)(2 pp, 105 K, November 2016, EPA 823-F-16-003)
- Fact Sheet: Proposed Revision of Federal Human Health Criteria Applicable to Washington (PDF)(2 pp, 94 K, August 2015, EPA 820-F-15-005)
- EPA's Partial Approval/Partial Disapproval of Washington's Human Health Water Quality Criteria and Implementation Tools (PDF)(53 pp, 2 MB, November 15, 2016)
- Table of Human Health Criteria Effective for Clean Water Act Purposes in Washington (PDF)(3 pp, 207 K, )
- Waters Requiring Supplemental Spawning and Incubation Protection for Salmonid Species (2011) (PDF)(43 pp, 10 MB)
- EPA Action: Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval of Ecology submission (PDF)(52 pp, 4 MB, November 15, 2016)
- EPA Action letter dated 08/10/11 (PDF)(56 pp, 3 MB)
- EPA Action letter dated 05/14/08 (PDF)(6 pp, 185 K)
- EPA Action letter dated 02/11/08 (PDF)(94 pp, 714 K)
- EPA Action letter dated 05/23/07 (PDF)(4 pp, 147 K)
- EPA Action letter dated 05/02/07 (PDF)(22 pp, 1 MB)
- EPA Action letter dated 12/18/15 (PDF)(21 pp, 3 MB)
- EPA Action letter dated 09/18/08 (PDF)(28 pp, 2 MB)
- EPA Action letter dated 04/22/11 (PDF)(4 pp, 508 K)
- EPA Action Letter and Technical Support Document dated 5/10/19 (PDF)(32 pp, 859 K, May 10, 2019)
- EPA Action Letter and Technical Support Document dated 04/30/2019 (PDF)(19 pp, 745 K)
- EPA Action Letter and Technical Support Document dated 03/05/2020 (PDF)(15 pp, 344 K)