WSR 13-15-145

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed July 23, 2013, 1:37 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-290 WAC, Group A public water supplies, federal Revised Total Coliform Rule.

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: Under a primacy agreement between the department of health (department) and United States Environmental Protection Agency, the department regulates public water systems by carrying out the federal drinking water requirements. In order to maintain primacy, the federal Revised Total Coliform Rule must be adopted into state rules. The federal Revised Total Coliform Rule provides greater public health protection by requiring public water systems that are vulnerable to microbial contamination to identify and fix problems. The rule revision will also include technical changes to improve overall clarity and consistency with state and federal rules.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The United States Environmental Protection Agency establishes requirements for public water systems and will review the proposed rules prior to adoption to ensure they are consistent with the federal Revised Total Coliform Rule requirements.

Process for Developing New Rule: The department will use a collaborative rule-making process and seek input from interested parties through the Drinking Water Advisory Group, the Washington Water Utility Council, and presentations at public meetings. The department will provide information to interested parties through our rule-making listserv, e-mail, quarterly newsletter Water Tap, and the office of drinking water's web site at http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/DrinkingWater.aspx.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Brad Burnham, Office of Drinking Water, P.O. Box 47822, Olympia, WA 98504-7822, (360) 236-3158 or brad.burnham@doh.wa.gov.

July 23, 2013

John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH

Secretary