Idaho WQS and IDPES Rules Update
DEQ held a virtual scoping meeting on October 19, 2022, before initiating a rulemaking for Water Quality Standards and the Idaho Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program. All agencies are required to perform a critical and comprehensive review of their chapters’ rules to reduce the overall regulatory burden, streamline various provisions, and increase clarity and ease of use.
Fuel Tank Seismic Stability
Oregon DEQ is developing rules to make Oregon fuel storage tanks more seismically resilient. A rules advisory committee was formed and met for the first time in late October 2022 to discuss the new Fuel Tank Seismic Stability program. The program is applicable to facilities that can store more than 2 million gallons of fuel on site, specifically within Lane, Multnomah, and Columbia counties. The work is a result of SB 1567, which passed in 2022. DEQ will be developing the program in coordination with DOGAMI.
Budd Inlet Dissolved Oxygen TMDL Submittal Announcement
[From Ecology] The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) has submitted the Budd Inlet Dissolved Oxygen Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) water quality improvement plan to EPA for approval. This plan aims to address low dissolved oxygen levels in Budd Inlet, which is critical to support local ecosystems, fishing, shellfishing, and other aquatic life uses. Once finalized and implemented, this plan should lead to a more functional habitat for salmon and other aquatic species. Comments and responses to comments were added as an appendix to the report. Read the full Budd Inlet Dissolved Oxygen Total Maximum Daily Load Report here, and find more background information on the Budd Inlet TMDL webpage.
PFAS
In case you missed it, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken the following actions on PFAS in the last three months:
- August 2022: The EPA proposed to designate two of the most widely used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as “Superfund.” This rulemaking would increase transparency around releases of these harmful chemicals and help to hold polluters accountable for cleaning up their contamination. READ MORE.
- September 2022: The EPA proposed to remove 12 chemicals identified as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the current list of inert ingredients approved for use in pesticide products to better protect human health and the environment. READ MORE.