Media Statement from Lorraine Loomis, Chair, NW Indian Fisheries Commission, on Gov. Inslee announcement regarding development of updated state water quality standards:
“Tribes were pleased to hear today that Gov. Inslee now supports maintaining the current state cancer risk rate to protect us all from toxins in our state’s waters,” said Lorraine Loomis, chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. Inslee had previously proposed changing the rate from one in one million to one in 100,000.
Tribes remain concerned, however, that Inslee’s proposed standards – which have not yet been developed – will not be as protective as those proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“We believe that the EPA’s proposed standards are based on the best available science and offer strong protection in a timely manner,” she said. “We expect state standards to be measured against the bar that EPA has set.”
