Washington State Department of Ecology

Regulatory deadline approaches for Washington salons and retailers

“Cosmetics that retailers and salons in Washington received in 2025 should already meet the new restrictions in the law, but older stock might not,” Franjevic said. “The close of the sell-through ...
Washington State Department of Ecology

Bridges over clean water: updating Ecology’s permit for bridge maintenance

We're updating requirements for protecting water quality when washing and maintaining bridges and ferry terminals.
agr.wa.gov

Bridge & Ferry Terminal Washing Permit

Due in part to the May 23, 2013, collapse of the Skagit River Bridge, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and local governments developed a robust schedule to inspect and repair ...
agr.wa.gov

Dominion tug sinking in Bremerton

(Information on this site is considered to be accurate at the time of posting, but is subject to change as new information becomes available.) Washington Dept. of Ecology and U.S. Coast Guard are ...
agr.wa.gov

We're over the moon for the moon snail

Lewis’ Moon Snail with its dark brown, hard operculum. Courtesy of Linda Schroeder—PNW Shell Club. With its easily recognizable shell (the largest found on Puget Sound beaches), we are certainly over ...
agr.wa.gov

Legacies of lead & arsenic

Bloggers note: This blog is one in a series about lead arsenate and its historic use on orchard lands in Central Washington. Over the next several months we will engage a working group to help us to ...
agr.wa.gov

Big investments boost Washington's coastal resiliency

State Route 112 faces numerous climate-related threats. Photo courtesy Washington State Department of Transportation. Washington’s coastlines might be considered the canary in the coal mine for the ...
agr.wa.gov

Chapter 173-26 and 173-27 WAC – Shoreline Management Act

Ecology is starting the rulemaking process to amend Chapters 173-18, -20, -22, -26, and -27 under the Shoreline Management Act. Add requirements for local governments to address the impact of sea ...
agr.wa.gov

Chapter 173-201A WAC (Outstanding Resource Waters)

We adopted changes to chapter 173-201A Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington. In response to nominations we received in 2021, and after considering public comments and ...
agr.wa.gov

Saving Washington's salmon from toxic tire dust

Coho salmon returning to rivers and streams often die before they can spawn. Photo by Roger Tabor, US Fish and Wildlife For over 20 years, scientists faced a toxic mystery: coho salmon returning to ...
agr.wa.gov

Chapters 173-441 and 173-446 WAC – Cap-and-Invest Program Updates and Linkage

Ecology is considering amendments to Chapter 173-446 WAC and Chapter 173-441 WAC to make improvements to the implementation of the Cap-and-Invest Program, facilitate the linkage of Washington’s carbon ...
agr.wa.gov

A record year for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in Washington

There have been recent news stories about a supposed slump in the transition to zero-emission transportation—that growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales has leveled off and manufacturers are scaling ...