WSR 99-03-079
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY
[Filed January 19, 1999, 4:34 p.m.]
Preliminary Notice of Intent to
Reissue Municipal Stormwater General Permits
The Washington State Department of Ecology (ecology) is in the initial stages of reissuing an NPDES and State Waste Discharge General Permit for the discharges from municipal separate storm sewers.
In July 1995, ecology issued three national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) wastewater discharge general permits to regulate municipal stormwater discharges. These permits require development and implementation of stormwater management programs to reduce the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable. These permits are scheduled to expire on July 5, 2000.
Ecology is proposing to combine the three existing general permits for the Island/Snohomish, Cedar/Green, and south Puget Sound water quality management areas into a single state-wide general permit. The general permit will apply to all entities required to have permit coverage under current (phase 1) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stormwater regulations. This includes cities and unincorporated portions of counties whose populations exceed 100,000. The municipalities and state agency that must renew permit coverage include:
| King County | |
| City of Seattle | |
| Snohomish County | |
| Pierce County | |
| City of Tacoma | |
| Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) |
Clark County must obtain a permit for the first time.
In accordance with the waste discharge general permit regulation, WAC 173-226-130, the purposes of today's notice are:
1) To request comments as to whether a general permit or individual permits are more appropriate for such discharges.
2) To provide an opportunity for interested or potentially affected parties to submit information on discharges proposed to be covered under the permit. The permit would cover discharges from separate storm sewers owned or operated by the above-named municipalities. Information may be submitted on the characteristics of municipal storm sewer discharges including effluent quantity, quality, and any receiving water impacts. Information may be from an individual discharger or be representative of the category as a whole. Any other relevant information may also be submitted.
Separate Permit for Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT): The Washington State Department of Transportation is currently covered under the three general permits for discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems. In connection with the proposal to combine the three permits into a single permit, ecology is considering the feasibility of issuing a separate permit to cover discharges from municipal separate storm sewers owned or operated by WSDOT and to cover discharges from construction sites owned or operated by WSDOT.
Advisory Committee: Over the next four months ecology will be forming an advisory committee to assist with identifying issues and possible solutions to address in the next municipal stormwater general permit. The committee will consist of a representative from each municipality that must receive a permit and a small group of individuals that represent larger stakeholder groups. If you would like to be considered for membership on this committee, please contact ecology at the address, phone number, or e-mail address listed below to request a nomination form.
Interested Parties List: If you would like to be added to a permit-specific mailing list to receive information and notices related to the development of the draft and final municipal stormwater permit, contact ecology at the address, phone number, or e-mail address listed below.
Public Comment: This is a preliminary notice of ecology's intent to reissue a general municipal stormwater permit. There will be further opportunities to supply information, comments, or testimony. If you have any information or comments to submit at this time, please send them to the Department of Ecology no later than March 31, 1999.
You may send your written comments to Poppy Carre, Water Quality Program, Washington Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7696, or e-mail at poca461@ecy.wa.gov, or fax (360) 407-6427.
If you have any questions, contact Ann Wessel at (360) 407-6457 or Poppy Carre at (360) 407-6401.
Ecology does not discriminate in its services. If you have special accommodation needs, please contact Department of Ecology, (360) 407-6401 (voice) and (360) 407-6006 (TDD).