PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 173-224 WAC, Wastewater discharge permit fees.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 90.48.465, water pollution control.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Ecology is proposing to amend chapter 173-224 WAC which will increase annual permit fees for the FY 1999-2001 biennuim as well as create new permit fee categories for some previously unpermitted operations. The fee increase will allow ecology to manage the wastewater discharge permit program at an appropriate level. The creation of new fee categories will establish annual fees for new entities receiving permit coverage.
Process for Developing New Rule: Ecology uses a Water Quality Advisory Committee to provide guidance on various issues, one of which concerns amendments to the permit fee regulation. This committee consists of industrial permit holders, municipal permit holders, government entities, environmental groups, etc. They are aware of these proposals. Permit holders will be notified directly of the proposed rule amendments. Public meetings will be advertised through newspapers and radio.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Bev Poston, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, phone (360) 407-6425, fax (360) 407-6426, e-mail BPOS461@ecy.wa.gov.
All workshops will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the following locations:
| Ecology Headquarters Office Auditorium 300 Desmond Drive Lacey, WA | July 12, 1999 - Monday |
| Ecology Northwest Regional Office Rooms 1 A & B 2190 160th Avenue S.E. Bellevue, WA | July 13, 1999 - Tuesday |
| Public Library Lecture Room 210 Central Bellingham, WA | July 14, 1999 - Wednesday |
| Cowlitz Co PUD 961 12th Avenue Longview, WA | July 15, 1999 - Thursday |
| Ecology Central Regional Office Waterfall Room 15 West Yakima Avenue, Suite 200 Yakima, WA | July 19, 1999 - Monday |
| Ecology Hanford Office Conference Rooms 4 - 6 1315 West 4th Avenue Richland, WA | July 20, 1999 - Tuesday |
| Ecology Eastern Regional Office Large Downstairs Conference Room North 4601 Monroe, Suite 100 Spokane, WA | July 21, 1999 - Wednesday |
| Commissioners Conference Room 129 South Chelan Wenatchee, WA | July 22, 1999 - Thursday |
May 11, 1999
Megan White, P.E.
Program Manager