Introduction: On June 25, 1999, ecology reissued a wastewater discharge general permit for sand and gravel mining operations and related facilities located in Washington state. This permit will take effect on August 6, 1999. The proposed permit implements the Federal Clean Water Act and State Water Pollution Control Act. The purpose of the permit is to control the discharge of pollutants from sand and gravel mining operations and related facilities into waters of the state.

Those facilities with activities designated by the following standard industrial classification (SIC) codes are subject to coverage under the sand and gravel general permit:

•	0811 Timber Tracts (sand and gravel point source activities)
•	1411 Dimension Stone
•	1422 Crushed and Broken Limestone
•	1423 Crushed and Broken Granite
•	1429 Crushed and Broken Stone, Not Elsewhere Classified
•	1442 Construction Sand and Gravel
•	1446 Industrial Sand
•	1455 Kaolin and Ball Clay
•	1459 Clay, Ceramic, and Refractory Minerals, Not Otherwise Classified
•	1499 Miscellaneous Nonmetallic Minerals, Except Fuels
•	2411 Logging (sand and gravel point source activities)
•	2951 Asphalt Paving Mixtures and Blocks
•	3273 Ready-Mixed Concrete

Summary of Public Involvement Process: Notice of the proposed permit was published in the state register, printed in four newspapers of general circulation around the state on May 5, 1999, mailed to more than 1,300 interested parties, and posted on the Internet. Notice included an invitation to provide public comment on the proposed permit. Public workshops and hearings on the proposed permit were held at ecology's Spokane office on June 7, 1999; ecology's Yakima office on June 8, 1999; ecology's Bellevue office on June 11, 1999; and ecology's Lacey office on June 14, 1999. The public comment period closed June 15, 1999. Minor revisions were made to the permit as a result of the comments received during the formal public comment period. The revisions included the addition of definitions for turbidity and for total dissolved solids, updating the table of contents, and some minor changes to improve clarity of permit language. A summary of the comments and ecology's response is available upon request (see contact list below).

Permit Coverage: Those facilities that have coverage under the current permit, and have submitted their application for coverage as required under the permit, will continue to have coverage under the revised permit unless otherwise notified by ecology. Nonpermitted facilities seeking permit coverage should request an application for coverage from the ecology regional office serving their site location. Businesses seeking coverage for portable asphalt, portable concrete, and portable rock crushing operations should contact the ecology regional office serving the location of their business office and request an application for coverage of portables.

Anyone with knowledge of why a specific facility should or should not receive coverage under this general permit may also contact the ecology regional office appropriate for the location of the facility.

Appeal Procedures: Pursuant to RCW 43.21B.310 the terms and conditions of the permit may be appealed on or before August 5, 1999. An appeal must be filed with the Pollution Control Hearings Board, P.O. Box 40903, Olympia, WA 98504-0903. In addition, a copy of this appeal must be served on the Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600. The procedures and requirements for the appeal process are contained in RCW 43.21B.310. The terms and conditions of a general permit, as they apply to an individual discharger, can be appealed within thirty days of the effective date of coverage for that discharger, in accordance with chapter 43.21B RCW. This appeal is limited to the general permit's applicability or nonapplicability to a specific discharger.

Apply for Coverage or Obtain Additional Information:

Keith Johnson

Water Quality Program

Washington State Department of Ecology

P.O. Box 47600

Olympia, WA 98504-7600

phone (360) 407-6442

fax (360) 407-6426

e-mail KJOH461@ecy.wa.gov

Southwest Regional Office

Water Quality Program

P.O. Box 47775

Olympia, WA 98504-7775

phone (360) 407-6280

Central Regional Office

Water Quality Program

15 West Yakima Avenue, Suite 200

Yakima, WA 98902-3401

phone (509) 454-7869

Northwest Regional Office

Water Quality Program

3190 160th Avenue S.E.

Bellevue, WA 98008-5452

phone (425) 649-7201

Eastern Regional Office

Water Quality Program

North 4601 Monroe, Suite 202

Spokane, WA 99205-1295

phone (509) 456-6310

Ecology is an equal opportunity agency. If you have special accommodation needs, please call Keith Johnson at (360) 407-6442 (voice) or (306) [(360)] 407-6006 (TDD).

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office