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Washington’s List of Impaired Waters Earns Partial Approval from EPA

Release Date: 9/9/1999
Contact Information: Alan Henning, Tim Hamlin and Mark MacIntyre
henning.alan@epamail.epa.gov
(206) 553-8293, (206) 553-1563 and (206) 553-7302

September 9, 1999 - - - - - - - - - - 99-42



The 1998 Section 303(d) list of Washington’s impaired waters has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s qualified approval. However, in addition to the waters identified by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology the EPA believes 130 other water body segment/pollutant pairings need to be added to Washington’s submitted list. EPA’s additions are now available for public review and comment for the next 30 days.

In accordance with Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act, states must identify all polluted waterbodies and submit this list to EPA every two years. These are "water quality limited" estuaries, lakes, and streams that fall short of state surface water quality standards. These standards are the criteria to ensure our waters support the beneficial uses we all enjoy, from fishing, swimming, boating, and drinking to industrial and agricultural purposes, and fish habitat.

For each listed water the states are required to establish a Total Maximum Daily Load(TMDL). A TMDL, or water cleanup plan, entails an analysis of how much of a given pollutant can be discharged to a waterbody and still have it remain clean enough for its intended beneficial uses.

According to Randy Smith, Director of EPA’s Office of Water in Seattle, Washington’s Impaired Waters list helps focus attention and limited resources to improve and protect water quality.

“Washington’s waters deserve protection,” said Smith. “Being listed means these rivers, lakes and streams will get the help they need to get cleaned up and provide healthy aquatic habitat. Improved water quality also means more fishing, swimming and other recreational opportunities for families.”

Smith added, “The State did a commendable job in putting together its 1998 303(d) list. We just believe there are additional waters that should have been included as well.”

Most of the additions proposed by EPA add pollutants to waters the State had already listed as impaired by other pollutants. EPA proposes to add seven water bodies not on the State’s 1998 §303(d) list. The majority of the proposed additions consist of waters bodies EPA believes to be impaired because sediment quality standards were exceeded. Other waters include those that the State did not put on its 1998 303(d) list because natural conditions were believed to be the cause of the water quality excursions. EPA is not convinced that natural conditions were the only cause to the standards excursions.

Public invited to Comment

Again, according to EPA’s Randy Smith, the Public Comment Period is an important aspect of the listing process.

“The public can play a key role in the listing effort,” Smith said. “By providing additional, scientifically credible information they may have on a specific stream, lake or river, they may be able to fill a vital information gap and help protect that water. We invite everyone with interest, information or knowledge of Washington’s waters to be a part of the process and share their experience.”

General and specific comments should be submitted by October 15, 1999 to the following mailing address:

EPA Region 10
Office of Water, Water Quality Unit
1200 Sixth Avenue, OW-134
Seattle, Washington 98101
ATTN: Bella Patheal

Comments may be faxed no later than October 15,1999, to EPA, attention of Bella Patheal, at
(206) 553-8293.

Names of the 130 water body/pollutant listings can be obtained by calling Bella Patheal, at
(206) 553-1256, by writing to the address listed above, or at the following EPA Web site: https://www.epa.gov/r10earth/offices/water/ow.htm.
For specific information regarding EPA’s action, please contact Alan Henning, at (206) 553-8293.