Bill tied to fish-consumption water rule clears House

OLYMPIA — Legislation tied to the state’s efforts to update water quality standards is headed to the Senate after winning approval in the House.

Gov. Jay Inslee had requested the legislation aimed at tackling toxic pollution at its source.

The measure is part of larger state efforts to update water quality standards that are partly tied to how much fish people eat.

The bill does not give the Department of Ecology authority to ban toxic chemicals as was initially proposed. Instead, the Legislature will make that decision.

Inslee spokesman David Postman says the bill need more work in the Senate. He says that if it is weakened further, it will jeopardize federal approval the state’s water standard.

House Bill 1472 sponsored by Democrat Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon passed 63-35 on Wednesday.