PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Amendment to 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 the existing rule that will increase annual permit fees for fiscal years 2003 and 2004 as well as create a new permit fee category for aquatic pesticide control applicants. The fee increase will allow ecology to continue operation of the wastewater discharge permit program. RCW 90.48.465 Water pollution control requires annual fees be paid by all permit holders who have wastewater discharge permit coverage. A federal court ruling determined aquatic pesticide applicants need wastewater permit coverage. The new fee category will cover the cost for the permit coverage.
Process for Developing New Rule: Ecology uses a water quality partnership to provide guidance on various issues, one of which concerns amendments to the permit fee regulation. This partnership 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 direct mailings to permit holders and interested parties on ecology mailing lists, 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.
August 27, 2001
Megan White, P.E.
Program Manager