On April 16, 2020, EPA Administer Wheeler signed a final rule to withdraw certain federal Clean Water Act (CWA) human health criteria (HHC) for waters under the State of Washington’s jurisdiction. These HHC are no longer needed due to EPA’s May 10, 2019 approval of corresponding State HHC, as applicable criteria for CWA purposes for Washington’s waters. EPA determined the State’s criteria are protective of its designated uses, based on sound science, and consistent with the CWA.
- [See Fact Sheet: Withdrawal of Federally Promulgated Human Health Water Quality Criteria in Washington State ]
- Final Rule - Withdrawal of Certain Federal Water Quality Criteria Applicable to Washington (May 13, 2020)
Public Hearings
EPA provided a 60-day public comment period for the proposed rule to withdraw certain federal Clean Water Act (CWA) human health criteria (excluding arsenic) for waters under the State of Washington’s jurisdiction.
Additionally, EPA offered one online public hearing and one in-person hearing so that interested parties could provide oral comments on EPA's proposed rule. The online hearing was on August 28, 2019. The in-person hearing was on September 25, 2019.
- [See Transcript: Online Public Hearing for Proposed Withdrawal of Federally Promulgated Human Health Criteria in Washington - August 28, 2019 ]
- [See Transcript: Public Hearing for the Proposed Withdrawal of Certain Federal Human Heath Criteria Applicable to Washington - September 25, 2019 ]
Comments on the Proposal
The comment period closed on October 7, 2019.
- Docket available at Regulations.gov (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0174)
- [See EPA's Response to Request for Comment Period Extension]
- Transcript: Online Public Hearing for Proposed Withdrawal of Federally Promulgated Human Health Criteria in Washington - August 28, 2019 (PDF)(24 pp, 198 K)
- EPA's Response to Request for Comment Period Extension (PDF)(1 pg, 150 K, October 3, 2019)
- Transcript: Public Hearing for the Proposed Withdrawal of Certain Federal Human Heath Criteria Applicable to Washington - September 25, 2019 (PDF)(110 pp, 569 K)
- Fact Sheet: Withdrawal of Federally Promulgated Human Health Water Quality Criteria in Washington State (PDF)(1 pg, 181 K, April 2020, EPA 822-F-20-001)