WSR 06-03-093

PROPOSED RULES

DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY


[ Order 05-17 -- Filed January 13, 2006, 2:59 p.m. ]

     Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 05-24-122.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Chapter 173-224 WAC, Wastewater discharge permit fees, this rule sets annual permit fees for holders of wastewater and stormwater discharge permits.

     Hearing Location(s): Ecology Headquarters Building, Auditorium, 300 Desmond Drive, Lacey, WA 98504, on March 6, 2006, at 2:00 p.m.; at Ecology Central Regional Office, Waterfall Room, 15 West Yakima Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902, on March 7, 2006, at 2:00 p.m.; and at Ecology Eastern Regional Office, 2nd Floor Meeting Room, 4601 North Monroe Street, Spokane, WA 99205, on March 8, 2006, at 2:00 p.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: May 30, 2006.

     Submit Written Comments to: Bev Poston, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, e-mail bpos461@ecy.wa.gov, fax (360) 407-6425 by March 22, 2006.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Bev Poston by February 22, 2006, TTY (800) 833-6388 or (360) 407-6425.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: To increase annual permit fees for holders of wastewater and stormwater discharge permits. Ecology is proposing to increase fees by 3.38% for fiscal year 2007 and 5.49% for fiscal year 2008. These percentages are the fiscal growth factor determinations made by the Washington state expenditure limit committee. Ecology might be issuing a new permit for invasive moth control during these two fiscal years, a new fee category was created with a proposed fee matching other pest control permits.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: This rule resulted from the passage of Initiative 97 passed by Washington voters in 1987 requiring the waste discharge permit program to be funded from annual fees paid by holders of wastewater and/or stormwater discharge permits. This proposed rule amendment will continue funding of the waste discharge permit program.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 98.48 [90.48] RCW, Water pollution control.

     Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 90.48 RCW, Water pollution control.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Washington department of ecology, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Bev Poston, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, (360) 407-6425.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Chapter 173-224 WAC, Wastewater discharge permit fees already provides relief from fees for small business with no more than one million dollars in gross revenue from the activity covered by the permit. To the extent there may be a disproportionate impact on small business, this provides mitigation, as would be required by the Regulatory Fairness Act (RCW 19.85.030) were a small business economic impact statement found to be necessary.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. Under certain conditions, rules changing fee schedules are exempt from significant legislative rule cost benefit analysis (RCW 34.05.328) requirements. The exemptions apply to rules which set or adjust fees or rates pursuant to legislative standards. Legislative standards for these fees appear in RCW 90.48.465 (authorizing the fee) and in the biennial budget, which establishes the total revenue which can be collected. Ecology is proposing to increase fees for wastewater and stormwater permit holders to match the fiscal growth limits for both state fiscal years 2007 and 2008 as determined by the Washington state expenditure limit committee.

January 12, 2006

Polly Zehm

Deputy Director

OTS-8526.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-15-046, filed 7/13/04, effective 8/13/04)

WAC 173-224-040   Permit fee schedule.   (1) Application fee. In addition to the annual fee, first time applicants (except those applying for coverage under a general permit) will pay a one time application fee of twenty-five percent of the annual permit fee, or $250.00, whichever is greater. An application fee will be assessed for RCRA sites regardless of whether a new permit is being issued or an existing permit for other than the discharge resulting from the RCRA corrective action, is being modified.

     (2) Industrial facility categories.


INDUSTRIAL FACILITY CATEGORIES FY ((2005)) 2007

ANNUAL

PERMIT FEE

 FY ((2006)) 2008

ANNUAL

PERMIT FEE AND BEYOND
Aluminum Alloys (($14,145.00)) $15,007.00 (($14,516.00)) $15,831.00
Aluminum and Magnesium Reduction Mills
a. NPDES Permit ((83,417.00)) 88,496.00 ((85,603.00)) 93,354.00
b. State Permit ((41,710.00)) 44,250.00 ((42,803.00)) 46,679.00
Aluminum Forming ((42,435.00)) 45,019.00 ((43,547.00)) 47,491.00
Aggregate Production - Individual Permit Coverage
a. Mining Activities
1. Mining, screening, washing and/or crushing ((2,434.00)) 2,582.00 ((2,498.00)) 2,724.00
2. Nonoperating aggregate site (fee per site) ((100.00)) 106.00 ((103.00)) 112.00
b. Asphalt Production
1. 0 - < 50,000 tons/yr. ((1,014.00)) 1,076.00 ((1,041.00)) 1,135.00
2. 50,000 - < 300,000 tons/yr. ((2,435.00)) 2,583.00 ((2,499.00)) 2,725.00
3. 300,000 tons/yr. and greater ((3,045.00)) 3,231.00 ((3,125.00)) 3,408.00
c. Concrete Production
1. 0 - < 25,000 cu. yds/yr. ((1,014.00)) 1,076.00 ((1,041.00)) 1,135.00
2. 25,000 - < 200,000 cu. yds/yr. ((2,435.00)) 2,583.00 ((2,499.00)) 2,725.00
3. 200,000 cu. yds/yr. and greater ((3,045.00)) 3,231.00 ((3,125.00)) 3,408.00
The fee for a facility in the aggregate production category is the sum of the applicable fees in the mining activities and concrete and asphalt production categories.
d. Portable Operations
1. Rock Crushing ((2,434.00)) 2,582.00 ((2,498.00)) 2,724.00
2. Asphalt ((2,434.00)) 2,582.00 ((2,498.00)) 2,724.00
3. Concrete ((2,434.00)) 2,582.00 ((2,498.00)) 2,724.00
Aggregate Production - General Permit Coverage
a. Mining Activities
1. Mining, screening, washing and/or crushing ((1,703.00)) 1,807.00 ((1,748.00)) 1,906.00
2. Nonoperating aggregate site (fee per site) ((71.00)) 75.00 ((73.00)) 79.00
b. Asphalt Production
1. 0 - < 50,000 tons/yr. ((711.00)) 755.00 ((730.00)) 796.00
2. 50,000 - < 300,000 tons/yr. ((1,704.00)) 1,808.00 ((1,749.00)) 1,907.00
3. 300,000 tons/yr. and greater ((2,130.00)) 2,260.00 ((2,186.00)) 2,384.00
c. Concrete Production
1. 0 - < 25,000 cu. yds/yr. ((711.00)) 755.00 ((730.00)) 796.00
2. 25,000 - < 200,000 cu. yds/yr. ((1,704.00)) 1,808.00 ((1,749.00)) 1,907.00
3. 200,000 cu. yds/yr. and greater ((2,130.00)) 2,260.00 ((2,186.00)) 2,384.00
The fee for a facility in the aggregate production category is the sum of the applicable fees in the mining activities and concrete and asphalt production categories.
d. Portable Operations
1. Rock Crushing ((1,704.00)) 1,808.00 ((1,749.00)) 1,907.00
2. Asphalt ((1,704.00)) 1,808.00 ((1,749.00)) 1,907.00
3. Concrete ((1,704.00)) 1,808.00 ((1,749.00)) 1,907.00
Aquaculture
a. Finfish hatching and rearing - Individual Permit ((4,243.00)) 4,501.00 ((4,354.00)) 4,748.00
b. Finfish hatching and rearing - General Permit Coverage ((2,972.00)) 3,153.00 ((3,050.00)) 3,326.00
c. Shellfish hatching ((146.00)) 155.00 ((150.00)) 164.00
Aquatic Pest Control
a. Irrigation Districts ((319.00)) 338.00 ((327.00)) 357.00
b. Mosquito Control Districts ((319.00)) 338.00 ((327.00)) 357.00
c. ((Noxious)) Invasive Moth Control ((319.00)) 338.00 ((327.00)) 357.00
d. ((Nuisance Weed Control Only)) Aquatic Species Control & Eradication ((319.00)) 338.00 ((327.00)) 357.00
e. Oyster Growers ((319.00)) 338.00 ((327.00)) 357.00
f. Rotenone Control ((319.00)) 338.00 ((327.00)) 357.00
Boat Yards - Individual Permit Coverage
a. With storm water only discharge ((362.00)) 384.00 ((371.00)) 405.00
b. All others ((725.00)) 769.00 ((744.00)) 811.00
Boat Yards - General Permit Coverage
a. With storm water only discharge ((252.00)) 268.00 ((259.00)) 282.00
b. All others ((509.00)) 540.00 ((522.00)) 570.00
Coal Mining and Preparation
a. < 200,000 tons per year ((5,655.00)) 5,999.00 ((5,803.00)) 6,328.00
b. 200,000 - < 500,000 tons per year ((12,731.00)) 13,507.00 ((13,065.00)) 14,248.00
c. 500,000 - < 1,000,000 tons per year ((22,632.00)) 24,010.00 ((23,225.00)) 25,328.00
d. 1,000,000 tons per year and greater ((42,435.00)) 45,019.00 ((43,547.00)) 47,491.00
Combined Industrial Waste Treatment
a. < 10,000 gpd ((2,829.00)) 3,001.00 ((2,903.00)) 3,166.00
b. 10,000 - < 50,000 gpd ((7,071.00)) 7,501.00 ((7,256.00)) 7,913.00
c. 50,000 - < 100,000 gpd ((14,145.00)) 15,007.00 ((14,516.00)) 15,831.00
d. 100,000 - < 500,000 gpd ((28,290.00)) 30,012.00 ((29,031.00)) 31,659.00
e. 500,000 gpd and greater ((42,435.00)) 45,019.00 ((43,547.00)) 47,491.00
Combined Food Processing Waste Treatment Facilities ((13,542.00)) 14,367.00 ((13,897.00)) 15,156.00
Combined Sewer Overflow System
a. < 50 acres ((2,829.00)) 3,001.00 ((2,903.00)) 3,166.00
b. 50 - < 100 acres ((7,071.00)) 7,501.00 ((7,256.00)) 7,913.00
c. 100 - < 500 acres ((8,490.00)) 9,007.00 ((8,712.00)) 9,501.00
d. 500 acres and greater ((11,316.00)) 12,004.00 ((11,612.00)) 12,663.00
Commercial Laundry ((362.00)) 384.00 ((371.00)) 405.00
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation
a. < 200 Animal Units ((145.00)) 154.00 ((149.00)) 162.00
b. 200 - < 400 Animal Units ((362.00)) 384.00 ((371.00)) 405.00
c. 400 - < 600 Animal Units ((725.00)) 769.00 ((744.00)) 811.00
d. 600 - < 800 Animal Units ((1,087.00)) 1,153.00 ((1,115.00)) 1,216.00
e. 800 Animal Units and greater ((1,451.00)) 1,539.00 ((1,489.00)) 1,624.00
Crop Preparing - Individual Permit Coverage
a. 0 - < 1,000 bins/yr. ((282.00)) 299.00 ((289.00)) 315.00
b. 1,000 - < 5,000 bins/yr. ((566.00)) 601.00 ((581.00)) 634.00
c. 5,000 - < 10,000 bins/yr. ((1,131.00)) 1,200.00 ((1,161.00)) 1,266.00
d. 10,000 - < 15,000 bins/yr. ((2,265.00)) 2,403.00 ((2,324.00)) 2,535.00
e. 15,000 - < 20,000 bins/yr. ((3,746.00)) 3,974.00 ((3,844.00)) 4,192.00
f. 20,000 - < 25,000 bins/yr. ((5,233.00)) 5,552.00 ((5,370.00)) 5,857.00
g. 25,000 - < 50,000 bins/yr. ((7,001.00)) 7,427.00 ((7,184.00)) 7,835.00
h. 50,000 - < 75,000 bins/yr. ((7,780.00)) 8,254.00 ((7,984.00)) 8,707.00
i. 75,000 - < 100,000 bins/yr. ((9,052.00)) 9,603.00 ((9,289.00)) 10,130.00
j. 100,000 - < 125,000 bins/yr. ((11,316.00)) 12,004.00 ((11,612.00)) 12,663.00
k. 125,000 - < 150,000 bins/yr. ((14,145.00)) 15,006.00 ((14,516.00)) 15,830.00
l. 150,000 bins/yr. and greater ((16,974.00)) 18,008.00 ((17,419.00)) 18,997.00
Crop Preparing - General Permit Coverage
a. 0 - < 1,000 bins/yr. ((197.00)) 209.00 ((202.00)) 220.00
b. 1,000 - < 5,000 bins/yr. ((396.00)) 420.00 ((406.00)) 443.00
c. 5,000 - < 10,000 bins/yr. ((793.00)) 842.00 ((814.00)) 888.00
d. 10,000 - < 15,000 bins/yr. ((1,585.00)) 1,682.00 ((1,627.00)) 1,774.00
e. 15,000 - < 20,000 bins/yr. ((2,623.00)) 2,783.00 ((2,692.00)) 2,936.00
f. 20,000 - < 25,000 bins/yr. ((3,664.00)) 3,887.00 ((3,760.00)) 4,100.00
g. 25,000 - < 50,000 bins/yr. ((4,900.00)) 5,198.00 ((5,028.00)) 5,483.00
h. 50,000 - < 75,000 bins/yr. ((5,445.00)) 5,777.00 ((5,588.00)) 6,094.00
i. 75,000 - < 100,000 bins/yr. ((6,331.00)) 6,717.00 ((6,497.00)) 7,086.00
j. 100,000 - < 125,000 bins/yr. ((7,922.00)) 8,405.00 ((8,130.00)) 8,866.00
k. 125,000 - < 150,000 bins/yr. ((9,902.00)) 10,504.00 ((10,161.00)) 11,081.00
l. 150,000 bins/yr. and greater ((11,881.00)) 12,604.00 ((12,192.00)) 13,296.00
Dairies $.50 per Animal Unit not to exceed (($1,015.00)) $1,077.00 for FY ((2005)) 2007 and (($1,042.00)) $1,136.00 for FY ((2006)) 2008 and beyond
Facilities Not Otherwise Classified - Individual Permit Coverage
a. < 1,000 gpd ((1,415.00)) 1,501.00 ((1,452.00)) 1,583.00
b. 1,000 - < 10,000 gpd ((2,829.00)) 3,001.00 ((2,903.00)) 3,166.00
c. 10,000 - < 50,000 gpd ((7,072.00)) 7,502.00 ((7,257.00)) 7,914.00
d. 50,000 - < 100,000 gpd ((11,316.00)) 12,004.00 ((11,612.00)) 12,663.00
e. 100,000 - < 500,000 gpd ((22,519.00)) 23,890.00 ((23,109.00)) 25,202.00
f. 500,000 - < 1,000,000 gpd ((28,289.00)) 30,011.00 ((29,030.00)) 31,659.00
g. 1,000,000 gpd and greater ((42,435.00)) 45,019.00 ((43,547.00)) 47,490.00
Facilities Not Otherwise Classified - General Permit Coverage
a. < 1,000 gpd ((992.00)) 1,052.00 ((1,018.00)) 1,110.00
b. 1,000 - < 10,000 gpd ((2,052.00)) 2,177.00 ((2,106.00)) 2,297.00
c. 10,000 - < 50,000 gpd ((4,952.00)) 5,254.00 ((5,082.00)) 5,542.00
d. 50,000 - < 100,000 gpd ((7,922.00)) 8,405.00 ((8,130.00)) 8,866.00
e. 100,000 - < 500,000 gpd ((15,841.00)) 16,805.00 ((16,256.00)) 17,728.00
f. 500,000 - < 1,000,000 gpd ((19,801.00)) 21,007.00 ((20,320.00)) 22,160.00
g. 1,000,000 gpd and greater ((29,705.00)) 31,513.00 ((30,483.00)) 33,243.00
Flavor Extraction
a. Steam Distillation ((145.00)) 154.00 ((149.00)) 162.00
Food Processing
a. < 1,000 gpd ((1,414.00)) 1,500.00 ((1,451.00)) 1,582.00
b. 1,000 - < 10,000 gpd ((3,605.00)) 3,824.00 ((3,699.00)) 4,034.00
c. 10,000 - < 50,000 gpd ((6,436.00)) 6,828.00 ((6,605.00)) 7,203.00
d. 50,000 - < 100,000 gpd ((10,113.00)) 10,729.00 ((10,378.00)) 11,318.00
e. 100,000 - < 250,000 gpd ((14,145.00)) 15,007.00 ((14,516.00)) 15,830.00
f. 250,000 - < 500,000 gpd ((18,602.00)) 19,734.00 ((19,089.00)) 20,817.00
g. 500,000 - < 750,000 gpd ((23,338.00)) 24,758.00 ((23,949.00)) 26,117.00
h. 750,000 - < 1,000,000 gpd ((28,289.00)) 30,011.00 ((29,030.00)) 31,659.00
i. 1,000,000 - < 2,500,000 gpd ((34,852.00)) 36,974.00 ((35,765.00)) 39,003.00
j. 2,500,000 - < 5,000,000 gpd ((38,898.00)) 41,266.00 ((39,917.00)) 43,532.00
k. 5,000,000 gpd and greater ((42,435.00)) 45,019.00 ((43,547.00)) 47,491.00
Fuel and Chemical Storage
a. < 50,000 bbls ((1,415.00)) 1,501.00 ((1,452.00)) 1,583.00
b. 50,000 - < 100,000 bbls ((2,829.00)) 3,001.00 ((2,903.00)) 3,166.00
c. 100,000 - < 500,000 bbls ((7,071.00)) 7,501.00 ((7,256.00)) 7,913.00
d. 500,000 bbls and greater ((14,145.00)) 15,007.00 ((14,516.00)) 15,831.00
Hazardous Waste Clean Up Sites
a. Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUST)
1. State Permit ((3,710.00)) 3,936.00 ((3,807.00)) 4,152.00
2. NPDES Permit Issued pre 7/1/94 ((3,710.00)) 3,936.00 ((3,807.00)) 4,152.00
3. NPDES Permit Issued post 7/1/94 ((7,420.00)) 7,871.00 ((7,614.00)) 8,303.00
b. Non-LUST Sites
1. 1 or 2 Contaminants of concern ((7,254.00)) 7,696.00 ((7,444.00)) 8,118.00
2. > 2 Contaminants of concern ((14,508.00)) 15,391.00 ((14,888.00)) 16,236.00
Ink Formulation and Printing
a. Commercial Print Shops ((2,176.00)) 2,308.00 ((2,233.00)) 2,435.00
b. Newspapers ((3,628.00)) 3,849.00 ((3,723.00)) 4,060.00
c. Box Plants ((5,803.00)) 6,156.00 ((5,955.00)) 6,494.00
d. Ink Formulation ((7,254.00)) 7,696.00 ((7,444.00)) 8,119.00
Inorganic Chemicals Manufacturing
a. Lime Products ((7,071.00)) 7,501.00 ((7,256.00)) 7,913.00
b. Fertilizer ((8,513.00)) 9,031.00 ((8,736.00)) 9,527.00
c. Peroxide ((11,316.00)) 12,004.00 ((11,612.00)) 12,663.00
d. Alkaline Earth Salts ((14,145.00)) 15,007.00