Feedback on WA’s Changes to the Marine Cu and Marine Cyanide Criteria

1.	COMMENTS RECEIVED SPECIFIC TO THE CRITERIA

WQS SUBMITTED TO EPA ON JULY 23, 2003: revised marine chronic cyanide
criteria for marine waters outside of Puget Sound.

a.	PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED FOR 2003 REVISIONS: No comments on the
revised chronic marine cyanide criterion that applies to the waters
outside of Puget Sound.

WQS SUBMITTED TO EPA ON DECEMBER 5, 1997:

WA submitted revised marine cyanide criteria: an acute criterion for
waters outside of Puget Sound and site specific acute and chronic
criteria for Puget Sound. 

WA also submitted revised marine copper criteria. 

a.	PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED FOR 1997 REVISIONS:

People for Puget Sound (local NGO): raised concerns about the scientific
process by which the site specific criteria for cyanide were calculated.
In response to comments, State explained the method for recalculating
the marine cyanide criteria (substituting local west coast crab species
for an exclusively east coast species of crab), and noted that the
methodology was endorsed by EPA scientists who created aquatic life
methodology. 

Environmental Geoscience (???) Stated that the only safe criterion for
cyanide is the elimination of this discharge to the environment. State
responded that they disagreed, and noted that toxicity studies have
documented effects level for cyanide are above zero. 

