Chapter 173-340 WAC – MTCA Cleanup  Regulation
Chapter 173-204 WAC – Sediment Management Standards (SMS)

MTCA Rule Revision
and MTCA/SMS Integration

The Department of Ecology is reviewing and updating the Model Toxics Control Act Cleanup Regulation, also called the MTCA Cleanup Regulation. Periodic rule review makes sure that cleanup requirements reflect current science and include new statutory requirements. Ecology is also reviewing the Sediment Management Standards (SMS) to clarify cleanup requirements for contaminated sediments.

OBJECTIVES

Ecology periodically reviews and updates regulations, such as MTCA and SMS, to reflect current science and new statutory requirements.  We are considering a number of policy, technical, and scientific issues to simplify the rule and make MTCA easier to use. Ecology is also evaluating decision-making steps within the rule and reviewing the 2001 amendments. Regulations for cleaning up contaminated sediments are also being reviewed.
 
The Issue Summaries, listed below by topic, include descriptions of the issue, background, and some early consideration of possible options. We are interested in your comments.

ISSUE SUMMARIES:

MTCA CLEANUP REGUATION (Overview)

• Making Method A easier to use
• Eliminating the Modified Method B and Method C
• Integrating the Terrestrial Ecological Evaluation (TEE)
• Clarifying Remedy Selection requirements
• Better protecting human health
• Evaluating exposure to lead
• Vapor Intrusion Protection
• Revising Fish Consumption Rates
• Updating data analysis methods

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REVISIONS

• Institutional Controls and Periodic Reviews

COORDINATING MTCA AND SMS

• Providing clear and predictable standards for freshwater sediments
• Developing clear and protective sediment cleanup standards for bioaccumulative contaminants
• Clarifying cleanup decision-making between MTCA and SMS
• Glossary of Terms
• Determining background contaminant concentrations for sediment cleanups
• Updating MTCA and SMS to further address cleaning up toxic, radioactive, biological, and deleterious substances
• Addressing human health risks in setting sediment cleanup standards

RULE MAKING PROCESS AND TIMELINE