The US DOJ filed 2 motions in US District Court regarding the Washington Water Quality Standards Litigation. 

EPA has decided to propose protective Human Health Criteria for Washington’s surface waters that reflect the Agency’s commitment to apply sound science in administering the federal Clean Water Act.

The agency is committed to working with Washington State to protect vital water resources, ensuring that Human Health Criteria protect people who consume fish from Washington’s waters, including tribes with treaty-protected subsistence fishing rights. To that end, within nine months from the date the Court grants EPA’s request to hold the case in abeyance, EPA will formally propose protective federal criteria for Washington that would replace the less stringent criteria EPA approved in the prior administration.

EPA will be communicating early and often with tribes, elected officials, stakeholders/NGOs and the general public about progress and opportunities to comment during the rulemaking process.

Attached are copies of the filed motions:

30 PSA Motion for abeyance
84 WA Motion for abeyance

Thank you for your interest in this important issue.

Lucy Edmondson
Senior Advisor, Office of the Regional Administrator
US EPA Region 10
300 Desmond Drive
Lacey, WA 98503

Ecology is pleased to announce the publication of the State Fiscal Year 2022 Final Water Quality Funding Offer List and Intended Use Plan (SFY22 Final List). The SFY22 Final List describes how Ecology will use state and federal dollars to fund projects to improve and protect water quality.

Ecology is offering nearly $312 million in financial assistance for 108 high priority clean water projects across Washington state. The total includes approximately $22 million in Centennial Clean Water Program grants, $1.6 million in Clean Water Act Section 319 Program grants, $35 million in Stormwater Financial Assistance Program grants, and $254 million in Clean Water State Revolving Fund loans and forgivable loans.

To ensure that funds were directed to the highest priority projects, our water quality specialists evaluated and scored all eligible project proposals. Scores were compiled, and a statewide priority list was developed. Projects offered funding are based upon the priority list, the type of project, and the funding source.

More Information
For more information about the SFY22 Funding Cycle, including the interactive map of funded projects and access to a worksheet describing the projects and funding offered, please visit the Water Quality Combined Funding Program Funding Cycles webpage.

Upcoming Meetings:(contact lara@whitebluffsconsulting.com for Zoom info)

July 7 – iPCB/TSCA beginning with WA DES discussion at 9:30 am
July 13 – Education and Outreach at 10:00 am
July 28 – SRRTTF at 8:30 am