WSR 17-20-021

[Filed September 26, 2017, 1:36 p.m.]

Permit: The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) proposes to modify the sand and gravel national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) and state waste discharge general permit (permit). The current permit was issued April 1, 2016, and appealed by the Washington Aggregate and Concrete Association. A settlement was reached on modified language for the permit in August 2017. The modified language allows more flexibility for portable operations and new concrete recyclers. The modified permit and fact sheet are available for review and public comment from September 26 through December 8, 2017, at 11:59 p.m.

Purpose of the Permit: The purpose of the sand and gravel general permit is to control the discharge of pollutants from sand and gravel mining operations and related facilities into waters of the state. This general permit provides coverage for discharges of process water, stormwater, and mine dewatering water associated with sand and gravel operations, rock quarries and similar mining activities, including stockpiles of mined materials, concrete batch operations, and hot mix asphalt operations. The permit authorizes wastewater discharges to waters of the state of Washington subject to the permit conditions.

Modified Permit and Supporting Documents: Beginning September 26, you may download a copy of the modified permit, fact sheet, and other supporting documents at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/sand/index.html.

Ecology Contact: Carrie Graul, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7696, phone 360-407-6967, email carrie.graul@ecy.wa.gov.

Submitting Written Comments: Ecology will accept written and oral comments on the modified draft permit language and supporting documents until 11:59 p.m., December 8, 2017. Please note, comments will only be accepted for modified sections of the permit. Ecology prefers comments be submitted by email. Emailed comments must contain the commenter's name. Comments should reference the specific permit section and specific text when possible.

Submit written comments to Carrie Graul, Sand and Gravel General Permit Comments, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7696, email carrie.graul@ecy.wa.gov.

Submit comments by email to carrie.graul@ecy.wa.gov.

Written comments must be postmarked no later than December 8, 2017. Email comments must be sent by 11:59 p.m., December 8, 2017.

Hearing and Workshop: On November 30, 2017, at 9 a.m., at the Washington State Department of Ecology, 300 Desmond Drive, Lacey, WA 98503-1274. The public hearing and workshop on the permit modification will be held in Lacey. The purpose of the workshop is to explain the general permit modifications and to answer questions prior to the formal public hearing. The purpose of the hearing is to provide an opportunity to give formal oral testimony and comment on the proposed draft permit modifications. Written comments will receive the same consideration as oral testimony. There will be two public workshops and hearings as listed above. The public hearing will begin immediately following the workshop and will conclude when public testimony is complete.

Issuing the Permit: The final decision on permit modification will be made after ecology receives and considers all public comments. Ecology expects to issue the final permit in January 2018.

If you have questions please contact Carrie Graul at carrie.graul@ecy.wa.gov or 360-407-6967.