OLYMPIA, Wash.-The Washington Department of Ecology is proposing updates to the state’s aquatic life toxics criteria designed to protect waterways statewide from toxins.
The criteria include limits for marine and fresh water, and limits to protect aquatic life from both immediate and long-term effects.
Washington currently has aquatic life toxics criteria for 28 toxic chemicals and is proposing to update the criteria for 16 of those chemicals and add 14 more to the list for a total of 42, according to a press release on the proposal.
Ecology’s proposal to update the toxics criteria is based on updated science and research, new methods and modeling tools, recommendations from the EPA, Tribal governments and public input.
The Department of Ecology is now accepting public input on the proposed updates through April 17. Documents pertaining to the upgrades are available to be read online and comments can be left online or mailed to P.O. Box 47696. Olympia, WA 98504-7696.
Two public hearings will also be held on the proposed upgrades on April 4 at 1:30 p.m. and on April 10 at 5:30 p.m.
