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 2005 and 2006 as well as create a new permit fee structure for Phase 2 Stormwater Municipalities. Ecology also is proposing to amend the existing fee structures for concentrated animal feeding operations and shipyards to incorporate new types of permitting. 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.
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. Permit holders will be notified directly of the proposed rule amendments.
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.
December 16, 2003
Richard K. Wallace
Program Manager