READ FIRST TIME 02/10/04.   

     AN ACT Relating to the collection and use of water quality data; adding new sections to chapter 90.48 RCW; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that:
     (a) Proper collection and review of credible water quality data is necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of the federal clean water act;
     (b) Developing and implementing water quality protection measures based only on credible water quality data ensures that the financial resources of state and local governments and regulated entities are prioritized to address our state's most important water quality issues; and
     (c) The state currently lacks standards relating to the collection of water quality data even though the collection and analysis of that data provides the basis for water quality protection efforts and can have significant regulatory and financial impacts.
     (2) It is the intent of the legislature to establish a system of standards and procedures to ensure that only credible water quality data is used as the basis for specific state water quality programs.
     (3) It is the intent of the legislature that a water body in which pollutant loadings from naturally occurring conditions alone are sufficient to cause a violation of applicable surface water quality standards not be listed as impaired.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The definitions in this section apply throughout sections 3 through 6 of this act unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Credible data" means data meeting the requirements of section 4 of this act.
     (2) "Department" means the Washington state department of ecology.
     (3) "Impaired water" means a water body or segment thereof for which credible data exists that satisfies the requirements of sections 3 through 6 of this act that demonstrates that the water body should be identified pursuant to 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1313(d).
     (4) "Naturally occurring condition" means any condition affecting water quality that is not caused by human influence on the environment including, but not limited to, soils, geology, hydrology, climate, wildlife influence on the environment, and water flow with specific consideration given to seasonal and other natural variations.
     (5) "Section 303(d)" means 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1313(d).
     (6) "Section 305(b)" means 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1315(b).
     (7) "Total maximum daily load" has the same meaning as in the federal water pollution control act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) The department shall use only credible data for the following actions after the effective date of this section:
     (a) Developing and reviewing any water quality standard;
     (b) Determining whether any water of the state is to be placed on or removed from any section 303(d) list;
     (c) Establishing a total maximum daily load for any water of the state;
     (d) Determining whether any water of the state is supporting its designated use or other classification; or
     (e) Determining any degradation of a water of the state.
     (2) The department may require use of credible data for any other purpose not specifically included in subsection (1) of this section.
     (3) For any action specifically included in subsection (1) of this section that was completed before the effective date of this section, the department shall adopt a process to evaluate whether credible data was used, and, if not, to ensure compliance with the requirements of this act, if requested by a person regulated under this chapter or a person who consumes water from, fishes from, swims in, or otherwise uses waters that are the subject of the data.
     (4) When evaluating the waters of the state for any section 303(d) list, the department may not categorize as "polluted waters that do not require a TMDL" (water quality assessment category 4) or "polluted waters that require a TMDL" (water quality assessment category 5) unless credible data supports such a listing.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) In collecting and analyzing water quality data for any purpose identified in section 3 of this act, data is considered credible data only if the department has determined all of the following:
     (a) Appropriate quality assurance and quality control procedures were followed and documented in collecting and analyzing the data;
     (b) The samples or analyses are representative of water quality conditions at the time the data was collected;
     (c) The data consists of an adequate number of samples based on the nature of the water in question and the parameters being analyzed;
     (d) The method of sampling and analysis, including analytical, statistical, and modeling methods, is generally accepted and validated in the scientific community as appropriate for use in assessing the condition of the water; and
     (e) The data was collected in a manner consistent with the requirements of this section.
     (2) The department shall adopt rules describing the training and experience required for a person to be a qualified data collector for the purposes of this section. The rules shall require the training to include a thorough knowledge of the applicable sampling protocols and field methods so that the data collection and interpretation are reproducible, scientifically defensible, and free from preconceived bias. The rules must authorize individuals with the necessary academic credentials and experience to train other persons to be qualified data collectors. The rules must require a person who chooses to submit data for consideration as credible data to document the person's status as a qualified data collector and certify that the credible data were collected in accordance with the provisions of this section. The department shall verify that a person submitting data is a qualified data collector, review all data collected, and verify the accuracy of the data. If the department determines that the data are accurate and were collected by a qualified data collector in accordance with the required procedures, the department shall approve the data as credible.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   In assessing whether a water body is impaired, the department shall consider the data available in light of the nature of the water in question, including whether the water body is ephemeral.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   Any employee of the department who knowingly misrepresents data shall be subject to the provisions of RCW 42.20.040 and 42.20.050.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   Sections 2 through 6 of this act are each added to chapter 90.48 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   By January 31, 2005, the department of ecology shall report to the appropriate committees of the senate and the house of representatives the status of activities undertaken to comply with the provisions of this act, and shall report by January 2006 any rule making required to implement this act including changes in listings resulting from the use of credible data.