From: Susan Hogg

Sent: Tue Mar 15 21:21:06 2011

To: ToxicsRuleMaking

Subject: Water Quality Rule

Importance: Normal

To Whom It May Concern:

I urge the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the

Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) to quickly adopt Oregon’s draft

human health criteria for toxics based on the accurate fish consumption

rate of 175 grams per day. The prior rate of 6.5 grams vastly

understates the actual amount of fish consumption of a substantial

number of people in Oregon. This new rate of 175 grams per day is a

joint recommendation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and DEQ.

In addition, I urge DEQ and EQC not to undermine their own efforts by

making it easier to obtain exceptions or “variances” to current

standards. More specifically, the new rule allowing DEQ to issue

variances without EQC approval should not apply to standards that aren’t

affected by this rulemaking. The new variance rule should be limited to

only those standards that have changed as a result of the current process.

Please keep Oregon's water and its fish safe for long term human

consumption. It's time the manufacturers, sellers & users of toxics

(pesticides, etc.) were prevented from polluting Oregon's waters to the

extent they currently are able to.

Susan Hogg

Newport, OR 97365