PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Revision of Group B public water systems regulations, chapter 246-291 WAC to consider maximum arsenic contaminant levels and to consider strategies to address implementation issues.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 43.20.050.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The current federal standards of 50 ppb for arsenic in drinking water was set by EPA in 1975, based on a public health service standard originally established in 1942. A March 1999 report by the National Academy of Sciences concluded that the current standard does not achieve EPA's goal of protecting public health and should be lowered as soon as possible. Setting a lower standard will protect consumers against the effects on long-term, chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking water.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: The department will recruit interested parties to help in revising the rule.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Theresa Phillips, Program Development Section, Division of Drinking Water, P.O. Box 47822, Olympia, WA 98504-7822, (360) 236-3147.
September 11, 2002
Don Sloma
Executive Director