Updated Water Quality Standards for Human Health in Alaska

Updated Water Quality Standards for Human Health in Alaska

In a significant development, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) are working together to update Alaska's water quality standards, with a focus on copper water standards. This collaboration, under the Clean Water Act framework, seeks to improve protections for Alaska's aquatic life.

The proposed update aims to adopt the Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) statewide. This scientifically advanced tool is designed to predict copper toxicity more accurately in diverse freshwater ecosystems, thereby enhancing the protection of Alaska's aquatic life.

Despite adopting the BLM, the existing hardness-based copper criteria are set to remain unchanged. This decision ensures no disruption to current permits and ongoing protections. The performance-based approach allows for a streamlined water quality management system tailored to Alaska’s unique ecological conditions.

Key details of this initiative include:

• The ADEC's proposal to integrate the Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) statewide allows for enhanced, science-driven predictions of copper toxicity, improving protections for Alaska's aquatic life.
• Maintaining the existing hardness-based copper criteria statewide avoids permitting upheavals and sustains effective protections already in place.
• The BLM adoption introduces a performance-based methodology designed to facilitate consistent, repeatable water quality evaluations across Alaska’s variable environmental contexts.
• This initiative aligns with Clean Water Act goals by providing a more nuanced regulatory framework that better safeguards water quality against copper pollution risks.

Recently, on June 5, 2024, the EPA determined that new and revised human health criteria in Alaska are necessary to meet Clean Water Act requirements.

Additionally, there are petitions for the revision of Alaska's Fish Consumption Rate from the Chickaloon Native Village (dated December 16, 2015, 1.62 MB) and the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (dated November 12, 2015, 293.02 KB).

Various letters and response letters regarding Alaska's Human Health Criteria have been exchanged between the EPA and ADEC, including letters dated May 19, 2023, September 6, 2022, September 30, 2022, September 28, 2023, and July 3, 2023. These documents, along with their respective attachments, are available for public viewing.

More information about the EPA's determination can be found at Water Quality Standards to Protect Human Health in Alaska. Further details about ADEC's Human Health Criteria and Water Quality Standards, ADEC's Triennial Review, and Human Health Water Quality Criteria and Methods for Toxics are also available.

For questions or more information, contact Rachael Renkens at renkens.rachael@our website or 206-553-1580.

[1] Source: Collaborative Effort to Update Copper Water Standards in Alaska Aims to Enhance Aquatic Life Protection, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, 2023. [2] Source: Water Quality Standards to Protect Human Health in Alaska, Environmental Protection Agency, 2023. [3] Source: EPA Region 10 Reports, Environmental Protection Agency, 2023.

1. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) are working together to update Alaska's water quality standards, specifically focusing on copper water standards.
2. This collaboration, under the Clean Water Act framework, seeks to improve protections for Alaska's aquatic life.
3. The proposed update aims to adopt the Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) statewide.
4. The Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) is a scientifically advanced tool designed to predict copper toxicity more accurately in diverse freshwater ecosystems.
5. The BLM adoption introduces a performance-based methodology designed to facilitate consistent, repeatable water quality evaluations across Alaska’s variable environmental contexts.
6. Despite adopting the BLM, the existing hardness-based copper criteria are set to remain unchanged.
7. This decision ensures no disruption to current permits and ongoing protections.
8. Maintaining the existing hardness-based copper criteria statewide avoids permitting upheavals and sustains effective protections already in place.
9. The ADEC's proposal to integrate the Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) statewide allows for enhanced, science-driven predictions of copper toxicity, improving protections for Alaska's aquatic life.
10. The performance-based approach allows for a streamlined water quality management system tailored to Alaska’s unique ecological conditions.
11. This initiative aligns with Clean Water Act goals by providing a more nuanced regulatory framework that better safeguards water quality against copper pollution risks.
12. Recently, on June 5, 2024, the EPA determined that new and revised human health criteria in Alaska are necessary to meet Clean Water Act requirements.
13. There are petitions for the revision of Alaska's Fish Consumption Rate from the Chickaloon Native Village and the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council.
14. Various letters and response letters regarding Alaska's Human Health Criteria have been exchanged between the EPA and ADEC.
15. These documents, along with their respective attachments, are available for public viewing.
16. More information about the EPA’s determination can be found at Water Quality Standards to Protect Human Health in Alaska.
17. Further details about ADEC's Human Health Criteria and Water Quality Standards, ADEC's Triennial Review, and Human Health Water Quality Criteria and Methods for Toxics are also available.
18. For questions or more information, contact Rachael Renkens at renkens.rachael@our website or 206-553-1580.
19. The sources for this information includeCollaborative Effort to Update Copper Water Standards in Alaska Aims to Enhance Aquatic Life Protection, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, 2023.
20. Water Quality Standards to Protect Human Health in Alaska, Environmental Protection Agency, 2023.
21. EPA Region 10 Reports, Environmental Protection Agency, 2023.
22. The EPA's focus on water quality standards is part of its mission to protect public health and the environment.
23. Copper pollution in water bodies can lead to chronic kidney disease, cancer, respiratory conditions, digestive health issues, eye health problems, and hearing damage.
24. Improved water quality can contribute to overall health-and-wellness, including fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, skin-care, and nutrition.
25. The copper water standards update also reflects the industry's growing concern for workplace-wellness and environmental-science.
26. Addressing copper pollution risks can help mitigate the effects of climate change and promote the adoption of renewable-energy solutions in manufacturing processes.
27. Beyond environmental considerations, improved water quality can have economic implications, such as potential savings in healthcare costs associated with medical-conditions and chronic diseases like chronic kidney disease, cancer, and respiratory conditions.
28. The focus on water quality standards is also relevant to the housing-market, as clean water is a fundamental requirement for a healthy living environment.
29. Investing in water quality infrastructure can be seen as a long-term investment in personal-finance, wealth-management, and real-estate.
30. The updated water quality standards can also impact the retail sector, as consumers increasingly demand products from businesses that prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility.
31. Furthermore, the emphasis on environmental protection can foster entrepreneurship in areas like smart-home-devices, wearables, and cybersecurity, creating growth opportunities in the automotive, transportation, and technology sectors.

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