INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
The state will be required under the amended Clean Water Act (CWA) and implementing regulations to prepare a four-part list every four years containing waterbody segments that do not meet state surface water quality standards, National Toxic Rule criteria or Human Health criteria ("the water quality standards"). Guidance on how to collect and assess information for impaired water bodies has been developed in Water Quality Program Policy 1-11. Ecology staff will use this policy to review and evaluate information against the current water quality standards in order to make revisions to the last list approved by EPA. Ecology will first seek new information from the public and will then propose the revised list for public comment in December 2001.
The evaluation policies in this guidance were developed to identify only those waterbody segments for which there is good documentation that water quality standards are not being met. Waterbodies with standards violations because of natural conditions and with no significant human contribution will generally not be proposed for listing. We will not exercise the option to include waters on the list that currently meet standards but are considered likely to be impaired by the next listing effort in 2006.
Policies were also developed to guide assignment of impaired water bodies to the appropriate part of the required four-part list. Only those placed on Part 1 will be prioritized and scheduled for developing total maximum daily loads (TMDLs).
The Department of Ecology is accepting comments on this policy through May 18, 2001. The final policy will be made available by June 15, 2001. At that time, data consistent with the policy will be accepted for evaluation in developing the 2002 list.
This policy and related documents can be viewed and copied at the following Department of Ecology website ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/TMDL/303(d).
Questions, requests for paper copies and written comments should be directed to Nora Jewett, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, (360) 407-6479, njew461@ecy.wa.gov.
April 3, 2001
Megan White, P.E., Manager
Water Quality Program