Two public involvement opportunities are coming up on August 1 and September 12 as the Department of Ecology (Ecology) works through rule-making to update the state’s surface water quality standards for human health criteria related to toxic compounds.
Ecology is using the public meetings to engage and educate people about the complex technical and policy issues to update Washington’s human health criteria which are based, in part, on how much fish people eat.
The rule making is also looking at advanced regulatory tools that will allow regulated water dischargers to remain in compliance with the standards as they strive to meet new permit limits and control sources of pollutants.
These public meetings will assist Ecology in developing a draft rule in 2014. Once the draft rule is developed, Ecology will enlist formal public review and input.
Ecology is hosting a Delegates’ Table meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday Aug. 1, at the Ecology’s Lacey headquarters building, 300 Desmond Drive SE.
The Delegates’ Table consists of individuals representing the interests of their respective constituencies. Delegates will provide advice and perspective to Ecology as it addresses the complex science and public policy issues of the rulemaking. More information about this process is available on Ecology’s Delegates’ Table website.
The public may listen to the Delegates’ Table discussion and will have an opportunity to provide comments. There are two ways the public may attend the meeting:
Listen by phone: Free webinar registration is available online. Webinar participants are able to listen to the Delegates’ Table discussion on the telephone and watch presentations from any online computer.
Watch in person: Limited seating is available at the Ecology’s headquarters building. To reserve a seat, please email swqs@ecy.wa.gov.
Ecology is also hosting the seventh Policy Forum meeting as an interactive webinar from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, September 12 at Ecology’s Lacey headquarters building.
The Policy Forum process gives the public an opportunity to learn more about the technical issues related to updating Washington’s human health criteria. All interested persons are encouraged to participate in the Policy Forum in one of two ways:
Webinar: Free webinar registration is available online. Webinar participants may ask questions and participate in discussions on the telephone, and watch presentations from any online computer.
In person: Seating for interested parties is available. To reserve a seat, please email swqs@ecy.wa.gov.
For more information, please contact Becca Conklin, Ecology surface water quality standards coordinator, at 360-407-6413 or by email at swqs@ecy.wa.gov.
