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The Washington State Department of Ecology revised chapter 173-201A WAC, Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington.
We are designating four waterbodies as Tier III(A) or Tier III(B) outstanding resource waters (ORWs). Outstanding resource waters are identified as having exceptional water quality, ecological and recreational values, or unique attributes that distinguish them among state waterbodies and warrant special protection. This is the first time Washington has assigned the highest level of protection to a waterbody under the Tier III Antidegradation section in our water quality standards.
We are designating the following waterbodies as Tier III(A) ORWs:
- Portions of the Napeequa River and tributaries (Chelan County)
- Upper watershed of the Green River and tributaries (Skamania County)
- Upper watershed of the Cascade River and tributaries (Skagit County)
A Tier III(A) designation is the highest level of protection. Proposed activities that would result in new or expanded sources of pollution in an ORW are prohibited, except in limited cases.
We are designating the following waterbody as a Tier III(B) ORW:
Any new or expanded source of pollution to a Tier III(B) ORW cannot cause a measurable change in water quality. This level of protection would place extra requirements on new or expanded point source discharges to ensure pollution from wastewater is kept to a minimum. For nonpoint sources, this designation would require that certain Best Management Practices are used to limit pollution from runoff to below measurable levels where total elimination is not feasible.
Other adopted changes to chapter 173-201A WAC include:
- WAC 173-201A-020 to add a definition for outstanding resource waters
- WAC 173-201A-330 to clarify tribal consultation process
- WAC 173-201A-602 to note where an ORW exists on waterbodies with specified use designations within Table 602
What does chapter 173-201A WAC do?
The state’s water quality standards, chapter 173-201A WAC, set limits on pollution in our lakes, rivers, and marine waters in order to protect beneficial uses, such as swimming and fishing. The water quality standards are implemented through discharge permits and other regulatory mechanisms under the federal Clean Water Act. They are also used to identify polluted waters and set levels for water cleanup.
Rule adoption and effective dates
We adopted this rule on Dec. 18, 2023. The adopted changes to this rule become effective Jan. 18, 2024.
View the final rule documents
The rule language, and other supporting documents, is available on the rulemaking webpage.
Documents include:
Response to Public Comments
We held a public comment period from July 18, 2023, to Sept. 27, 2023. We held five public hearings. We held a webinar only hearing on Sept.7, and four in-person hearings: Sept. 12 in Kalama, WA; Sept. 14 in Mount Vernon, WA; Sept. 19 in Soap Lake, WA; and Sept. 20 in Leavenworth, WA.
Ecology's response to comments received during the public comment period is now available, which you can read in the Concise Explanatory Statement. You can view the comments we received on our online comment page.
What changed from the proposed rule to the adopted rule?
We edited the Notes for Table 332 in WAC 173-201A-332 Table 332—Outstanding resource water designations by water resource inventory area (WRIA). Specifically, we made the following edits in response to a comment noting that based on our requirement to collect samples between April through October, this essentially constitutes a seasonal average, rather than an annual average:
Notes for Soap Lake:
- Soap Lake measurable change is defined as a decrease in salinity as measured by conductivity of 639 microsiemens per centimeter (µS/cm) or greater.
- In addition, human actions must not cause lake conductivity to decrease below 19,843 µS/cm as calculated as a annual average seasonal average more than once in 10 years.
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Annual Seasonal average conductivity is calculated as the arithmetic average of seven or more samples collected April through October. Sampling should be distributed throughout this period.
How can I get technical help once WAC 173-201A is effective?
For more information on compliance and implementation, please contact Marla Koberstein at marla.koberstein@ecy.wa.gov or 360-628-6376.
Can I appeal the adoption of this chapter?
You may appeal this adoption under procedures described in the Administrative Procedure Act (RCW 34.05), including those found in RCW 34.05.330.
Questions?
For rulemaking information please contact Marla Koberstein at marla.koberstein@ecy.wa.gov or at 360-628-6376.
More information on the rulemaking:
Accessibility
The Department of Ecology is committed to providing people with disabilities access to information and services by meeting or exceeding the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Washington State Policy #188.
To request an ADA accommodation, contact Ecology by phone at 360-407-6600 or email at marla.koberstein@ecy.wa.gov. For Washington Relay Service or TTY call 711 or 877-833-6341. Visit Ecology's website for more information.
Yкраїнський (Ukrainian)
Department of Ecology пропонує зміни до розділу 173-201A Адміністративного кодексу штату Washington (Washington Administrative Code, WAC) «Стандарти якості води для поверхневих вод штату Washington» (Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington). У цьому оновленні ми надали водоймам, зазначеним далі, статус важливих водних ресурсів:
- озеро Soap Lake в окрузі Grant;
- частина річки Cascade River в окрузі Skagit;
- частина річки Green River в окрузі Skamania;
- частина річки Napeequa River в окрузі Chelan.
Цей статус дає додатковий захист найякіснішим водним об’єктам штату Washington, щоб запобігти їх деградації в майбутньому.
Щоб отримати додаткову інформацію, зателефонуйте Marla Koberstein за номером 360‑628‑6376 і попросіть перекладача.
Русский (Russian)
Department of Ecology) принял поправки в содержащиеся в Главе 173-201A Административного кодекса штата Вашингтон (Washington Administrative Code, WAC) стандарты качества воды в отношении поверхностных вод штата Вашингтон (Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington). Для этой цели мы назначили указанные ниже водоёмы Выдающимися водными ресурсами (Outstanding Resource Waters):
- Озеро Soap Lake в округе Grant
- Часть реки Cascade River в округе Skagit
- Часть реки Green River в округе Skamania
- Часть реки Napeequa River в округе Chelan
Такое назначение обеспечит дополнительную защиту находящимся в штате Вашингтон водоёмам с водой высшего качества и предотвратит их деградацию в будущем.
За дальнейшей информацией обращайтесь к Marla Koberstein по телефону 360-628-6376 и попросите предоставить вам переводчика.
中文 (Chinese)
華盛頓環境生態管理署采納了對WAC第173-201A章《華盛頓地表水水質標準（ Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington）》的修改。此次修訂中，我們將下列水體命名為優秀水資源：
- 在Grant郡的Soap Lake
- 在Skagit郡内的Cascade River
- 在Skamania郡内的Green River
- 在Chelan 郡内的Napeequa River
這一命名為華盛頓州水質最高的水體提供了額外的保護防止未來的水質惡化。
如果需要更多信息，請致電Marla Koberstein 360-628-6376，並要求翻譯員服務。
Español (Spanish)
El Departamento de Ecologia adoptó las enmiendas del Capitulo 173-201A WAC Normas de calidad del agua para aguas superficiales del estado de Washington (Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington en inglés). Para esta actualización, estamos considerando designar los siguientes Recursos Hídricos Sobresalientes:
- Lago Soap en el Condado Grant
- Parte del Río Cascade en el Condado de Skagit
- Partes de Río Green en el Condado de Skamania
- Parte del Río Napeequa en el Condado de Chelan
Esta designación da protección extra a los cuerpos de agua de mas alta calidad de Washington para prevenir degradación futura.
Para mayor información, llame a Marla Koberstein al 360-628-6376 y pida un intérprete.
한국어 (Korean)
주 환경부는 워싱턴주 지표수 수질기준에 관한 주법 Chapter 173-201A WAC (Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington)을 채택하였습니다. 이 과정에서 다음 지역들이 우수 수자원으로 지정되었습니다:
- 그랜트 카운티 Soap Lake
- 스캐짓 카운티Cascade River 일부
- 스카마니아 카운티 Green River 일부
- 셸란 카운티 Napeequa River 일부
이 지정으로 인해 워싱턴주 최고품질 수역의 향후 오염방지를 위한 특별 보호가 이루어지게 됩니다.
보다 많은 정보를 위해서는 담당자(Marla Koberstein, 360-628-6376)에게 연락하여 통역을 요청하세요.
Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
Bộ Môi Sinh đã phê chuẩn các thay đổi Chương 173-201A WAC - Tiêu Chuẩn Chất Lượng Nước cho Nước Bề Mặt của Bang Washington (Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington). Với cập nhật này, chúng tôi đang cân nhắc việc chỉ định những vùng có Nguồn Nước Chất Lượng Cao như sau:
- Hồ Soap ở Quận Grant
- Khúc Sông Cascade ở Quận Skagit
- Khúc Sông Green ở Quận Skamania
- Khúc Sông Napeequa ở Quận Chelan
Chỉ định này giúp bảo vệ thêm cho các vùng nước có chất lượng tốt nhất của Washington để ngăn chặn sự xuống cấp trong tương lai.
Để biết thêm thông tin hoặc yêu cầu thông dịch viên, vui lòng gọi Marla Koberstein theo số 360-628-6376.
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