Ecology's PBT Initiative

Multiyear PBT CAP Schedule

Reducing toxic threats is one of Ecology’s key strategic priorities. Ecology’s main tool for dealing with these toxic threats is the Chemical Action Plan, or CAP. Each CAP studies a single toxic substance to find where the substance is in the environment and how to reduce or remove its impact.

The heart of this approach is the Persistent Bioaccumulating Toxin ( or PBT) Rule (link). This rule guides Ecology in two main tasks:

Identify those substances that are of greatest concern to human health and the environment. This “PBT List” names 27 chemicals, chemical groups and metals.
Develop a timeline for developing the CAPs to deal with these toxic substances. This timeline is known as the Multiyear PBT CAP Schedule.

The Multiyear PBT CAP schedule is produced by Ecology in consultation with the Department of Health (Health). The PBT rule requires Ecology to use a special process to:

Select individual PBTs from the PBT List for action through a CAP.
Explain the ranking process used to select individual PBTs
Describe the timeline for completing the CAPs of these PBTs

The result of this entire process is known as the Multiyear PBT CAP Schedule.

The current Multiyear PBT CAP Schedule (Schedule) lays out the planned schedule for the next three calendar years. It explains how and why Ecology gave priority to the chemicals slated for CAP development in 2008, 2009, and 2010.

The process for selecting PBTs for a CAP is a detailed and scientific one, as described in the PBT Rule. The Schedule describes how Ecology began the process with initial prioritization steps that narrowed the PBT rule’s list of 27 PBTs down to 16. Next the document explains how the 16 PBT’s were then compared to each other, a process called Relative Ranking. Relative Ranking is done by looking at the following criteria:

Each chemical’s persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic characteristics,
Its uses and releases in Washington, [and]
The levels present in Washington’s environment and residents.

This process results in an overall “Relative Ranking” for each chemical. (see Table 11 – Summary of Relative Ranking by Chemical - on pages 42-43).

After the Relative Ranking process, each chemical is again examined and ranked for each of the remaining four evaluation factors:

Opportunities for reductions,
Multiple chemical releases and exposures,
Populations either highly exposed or particularly sensitive to the chemical.
Existing plans or regulatory requirements.

After finishing both the Relative Ranking process, and the examination of the four evaluation factors, Ecology puts the final results together into a single, master list (see Table 15 – Final Overall Ranking - on page 82). Ecology uses the outcomes (the ‘first of the worst’) from this stringent evaluation process to make its final recommendations of which chemicals should next be the subject of a CAP. [Finally, a comprehensive table showing each chemical’s ranking for each of the five evaluation factors is presented, with Ecology’s final recommendations].

Ecology is required by the PBT Rule to update the Multiyear PBT CAP Schedule at least once every three years. The current Schedule, as shown below, was finalized in March 2007. The next update is scheduled for late 2009 - early 2010.

The current multiyear CAP schedule:

PBT Chemical	CAP Development Schedule
Lead	Nov. 2006 – March 2008
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)	Sept. 2007 – March 2009
Perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS).	Sept. 2008 – March 2010

The Multiyear PBT CAP Schedule document describes the entire process that Ecology used to make these three chemicals its focus for CAPs through 2010. This document is Ecology Publication # 07-07-016. Paper copies, which will be sent by regular mail, can be requested from:

Mike Gallagher
Ecology PBT Coordinator
Solid Waste & Financial Assistance Program
Department of Ecology
PO BOX 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600

Phone: (360) 407-6868
Email: MGAL461@ecy.wa.gov

Ecology's PBT Initiative

Multiyear PBT CAP Schedule

PBT Rule

PBT List

Multiyear CAP Schedule

Mercury CAP

PBDE CAP

Lead CAP