Protect Public Health: Comment on WV DEP's Water Quality Standards before the August 17th Deadline!

Take Action to Improve Water Quality in West Virginia today.→

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) is reviewing the state's Water Quality Standards as part of the Triennial Review process which happens every three years. This process is crucial, and we need your help to ensure that our water quality standards protect us, our public health, and our water resources.

Background:

Every three years, states must review and update water quality standards. In the last Triennial Review process in 2019, you advocated for the adoption of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) recommended updates to 94 Human Health Criteria for some of the most toxic pollutants. We were able to pass roughly half, or 56 of their recommended criteria. Earlier this year, we urged DEP to adopt the remaining human health criteria. However, their proposed updates include 7 that are currently in use and still leave out about 30 of those recommended standards.

Overall, WVDEP is proposing several updates to water quality standards. Here's a breakdown:

1. Adoption of EPA's Recommended Human Health Criteria
   WVDEP has only included 7 of the 38 remaining human health criteria. We advocate for including all 38 of EPA's remaining criteria to ensure adequate protection against toxic chemical pollutants.
   Our Position: We strongly support the 7 updates and recommend the adoption of all the remaining Human Health Criteria.
2. Switch bacterial standard from Fecal Coliform to E. coli
   This recommended switch would bring us up to date with the latest science. E. coli bacteria monitoring provides a more accurate contamination measure than fecal coliform. However, we are concerned about the resources needed to collect enough samples to provide adequate data.
   Our Position: We support this change and want to see adequate resources allocated to sample collection to ensure a smooth transition.
3. New Water Use Category: Limited Aquatic Life
   This designation is for waters that cannot support aquatic life. We recognize that some of our streams are so polluted that fish cannot survive, but we cannot give up on them. WVDEP must still take efforts to bring these streams back to life. 
   Our Position: We have serious concerns about this new category as we do not want to see any streams written off.
4. New Water Use Category: Limited Water Contact Recreation
   This designation is for waters that are not safe for recreation. We need to ensure that streams placed in this category continue to receive the help they need to support recreation.
   Our Position: We have serious concerns about this new category and are watching it closely. We want to see a transparent process with opportunity for public comment.
5. Increased Permit Fees for Water Pollution Control Permits
   This change increases permit application and renewal fees, which have been unchanged since the 1990s. The increased revenue will help to cover WVDEP's costs in administering the permits.
   Our Position: We strongly support increased fees to invest in the critical roles carried out by WVDEP. 

Submit Your Comments Now: 

We applaud WVDEP for using the best available science. Let’s ensure that WVDEP is incorporating all EPA's recommendations to protect public health and has adequate resources to oversee pollution permiting. Your voice is crucial in ensuring the protection of our water resources.

Tell WVDEP that the limited-use category is not an excuse to ignore our most damaged streams!

Take quick and easy action to send your comment to WVDEP before August 17, 2024. Thank you for taking action to protect West Virginia’s water!

To submit public comments, you can:

• Comment online through WV Rivers’ Action Alert tool NOW.
• Email DEPComments@wv.gov with "Proposed DWWM 2025 Rule Comments" in the subject line.
• Mail hard copies of your comments to the attention of Terry Fletcher at the WVDEP, Public Information Office, 601 57th Street SE, Charleston, WV 25304.
• Attend the in-person public hearing on Thursday, August 15, 2024, starting at 5 p.m. at Coopers Rock Conference Room in the WVDEP Headquarters in Charleston, WV. (601 57th St. S.E., Charleston, WV 25304.)