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EPA has proposed a rule that revises the current federal Clean Water Act human health water quality criteria applicable to waters under the state of Washington’s jurisdiction. The proposed rule would ensure that the criteria are set at levels that will adequately protect fish consumers in Washington from exposure to toxic pollutants. To protect fish consumers in Washington, including tribes with treaty protected rights, EPA proposes to derive the criteria using a Fish Consumption Rate of 175 g/day. The cancer risk level remains at the currently established 10-6 or one-in-one-million benchmark

People displaced by the wildfires in the 11 counties and four tribal areas noted below, and who earn less than 60% of area median income, can now skip several time-consuming steps when applying for emergency housing in taxcredit apartments in Washington State. They can remain in the housing through December 21 before having to reapply and meet the normal requirements.

As of 5:30 p.m., crews had restored power to approximately 12,000 customers, down from the peak of 58,000, when strong winds hit early Saturday afternoon. There are numerous trees down in the region. Large outages are affecting North Seattle, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline.

Homeowners affected by wildfire are encouraged to inspect their drinking-water wells now to protect groundwater and their investment. Forest fires can melt aluminum and plastic well caps, leaving the well exposed to environmental hazards. Uncapped wells can fill with rocks, mud and debris rendering the well unusable.

Bellevue residents and businesses have done a great job conserving water as part of a regional drought response that began in July -- contributing to the region's collective reduction of its water use by 10 percent over the last two weeks, hitting the goal set by Seattle, Everett, and Tacoma. The city asks residents and businesses to continue conserving and to find additional, simple ways to limit water use and stretch water supplies until the rainy season

In the last two weeks, the region has collectively cut back on its water use by 10 percent, hitting the goal set by Everett, Seattle and Tacoma. The three cities ask customers to please keep up their efforts to reduce water use.

Mayor Muriel Bowser launched the District’s first energy efficiency and clean energy finance program, DC PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) Commercial. The program will provide 100 percent financing for businesses and commercial property owners to install clean energy upgrades, with no out-of-pocket payments

Emergency funding will go to support three more drought-relief projects in Central Washington. The money will help pay for upgrading two of Moxee’s municipal water wells, fund additional diversion pumps for the Lower Stemilt Irrigation District in Wenatchee, and help the Icicle Irrigation District in Cashmere draw additional water from Eight Mile Lake

Council unanimously adopted legislation today which dedicates the proceeds of a surplus City property sale toward developing low-income rental housing. Councilmember Nick Licata revised the bill to specify that half of the proceeds must serve households with incomes under 30% of Area Median Income (AMI), and the other half must serve households with incomes under 60% AMI

During the 2014 irrigation season, the Touchet Eastside Westside Irrigation District illegally diverted water that was placed into trust to protect critical stream flows for threatened steelhead in the Touchet River.

Teck Metals Limited and Teck American Incorporated have reached a legally binding cleanup agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to begin removing lead and other contaminants from 15 properties in northeast Washington state

This week the Seattle City Council approved Mayor Ed Murray’s legislation to sell a smaller City-owned parcel to allow the construction of affordable housing by a private developer. The proceeds of the sale will be used to build even more affordable housing elsewhere in Seattle.

After unusually hot weather, the region’s all-time driest May-July and in preparation of a potentially drier-than-normal fall, Everett, Seattle and Tacoma have moved to the second stage of their water shortage response plans – voluntary reduction.

The Department of Ecology has fined BNSF Railway $86,000 for placing creosote-treated railroad ties and other materials from maintenance projects in Whatcom and Skagit county water bodies.

Mayor Murray announced $250,000 from the Duwamish River Opportunity Fundwill be awarded to 13 community projects supporting neighborhoods along the Duwamish River. This program provides funds for new and existing small-scale programs focused on challenges faced by Duwamish River neighborhoods during the Superfund clean-up.

Have you ever wondered where your mountain fresh drinking water comes from? Find out this summer by joining Seattle Public Utilities for a tour of the protected Cedar River Municipal Watershed. These Saturday and Sunday, Naturalist-led tours, by bus and by foot, are a great opportunity to learn about and see your drinking water in this unparalleled protected Cascade Mountain water supply. Space is limited so sign up online now.

This week the Seattle Department of Transportation will begin revising on-street parking rates and hours of operation in various parts of Seattle. Crews will reprogram parking pay stations starting on First Hill with the goal of completing the work city-wide by the end of the year

Emergency funding is going to support three drought-relief projects in Eastern, Central and Western Washington. The money will help pay for a new well in Stevens County, water conservation in Benton County, and protect spawning salmon in the Dungeness River on the Olympic Peninsula.

Utility bills will be cut in half for thousands more low-income Seattle families under a new plan to simplify enrollment in the City’s Utility Discount Program (UDP) for those who live in affordable housing or receive nutrition assistance. The average discount for UDP-enrolled customers is more than $800 a year

Developers and nonprofit organizations will create or renovate 546 affordable homes across the state, thanks to roughly $188 million in financing approved this summer by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission.