From: Paul Katen

Sent: Tue Mar 15 22:36:27 2011

To: ToxicsRuleMaking

Subject: New water quality standards.

Importance: Normal

I have been a volunteer with the Salmon Drift Creek Watershed Council for 10 years and President of the Board for the last 6 years and am glad to see that the DEQ is considering adopting changes to water quality standards that finally make sense and stand to a actually make some improvements in our water quality.

I urge the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) to move quickly to adopt Oregon’s draft human health criteria for toxics based on the accurate fish consumption rate of 175 grams per day, that is a joint recommendation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and DEQ.

I also urge DEQ and EQC not to undermine YOUR own efforts by making it easier to obtain exceptions or “variances” to current standards. PLEASE limit the variance rule to only those standards that have changed as a result of the current process.

Paul C. Katen, Ph.D.

Salmon Drift Creek Watershed Council Volunteer

Tillamook County Resident

541 994-9682