PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Revisions to the Group A Public Water System Regulation, chapter 246-290 WAC, are necessary to be consistent with federally promulgated Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules and regulations. The revisions that will be made to chapter 246-290 WAC will include those sections associated with: Surface water sources or ground water under the influence of surface water; sources that use a disinfectant; monitoring, reporting, maximum contaminant levels, follow-up action, and public notification regarding lead and copper; public notification; and source approval, monitoring, reporting and maximum contaminant levels for radionuclides.
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 primacy agreement between the Department of Health and EPA outlines a number of activities that the department must do in order for the DDW to maintain primacy for Group A public water systems in the state. One of these activities involves rule adoption such that state regulations be consistent with federal rules. The public health objectives of the rules are to: (1) Strengthen protection against microbial contamination, while not causing increases in disinfection byproducts; (2) strengthen protection against radionuclides in drinking water; and (3) ensure consumers are apprised of the quality of their 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. For more information contact Meliss Maxfield, Program Development Section, Division of Drinking Water, P.O. Box 47822, Olympia, WA 98504-7822, (360) 236-3126, (360) 236-2253. Stakeholders will be involved through the Water Supply Advisory Committee and the Water Utility Council. In addition, the draft rule will be available for comment upon request.
August 20, 2001
M. C. Selecky
Secretary