Public Workshops and Hearings to Accept Comments on the Aquatic Mosquito Control General Permit
The draft permit and fact sheet are available for review and public comment from November 1, 2006, to December 18, 2006. Ecology will host two informational workshops and public hearings on its proposed permit. The public is encouraged to give written comments during the public comment period or oral comments at the public hearings.
Purpose of the General Permit: The proposed general permit covers the discharge of products used to control mosquito larvae to waters of Washington state. Under the Washington State Water Pollution Control Act, a permit is required for the discharge of pollutants which may alter the biological or chemical characteristics of a water body. The proposed permit addresses these legal requirements and regulates the discharge of pollutants to protect surface water quality in Washington state.
A general permit is issued in place of a series of individual permits when the permitted activities are similar. Individual activities that receive coverage under the general permit are required to comply with the terms and conditions of the permit.
Requesting Copies of the Permit: You can request copies of the proposed permit and fact sheet by contacting Kelly McLain, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, phone (360) 407-6938, fax (360) 407-6426, e-mail kelm461@ecy.wa.gov.
The proposed permit and fact sheet are also available online at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/permits/pesticides/index.html.
Submitting Written and Oral Comments: Ecology will accept written and oral comments on the draft aquatic mosquito control general permit and fact sheet. Comments should reference specific text when possible. Comments may address the following:
| • | Technical issues, |
| • | Accuracy and completeness of information, |
| • | The scope of activities proposed for coverage, |
| • | Adequacy of environmental protection and permit conditions, or |
| • | Any other concern that would result from issuance of the new permit. |
Written, e-mailed and faxed comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., Monday, December 18, 2006. Oral comments can be made by attending and testifying at the public hearings.
Public Workshops/Hearings: The workshops begin at the times listed below. The hearings will begin when the workshop ends. The purpose of the workshops is to explain the general permit, what has changed from the previous permits, and answer questions. The purpose of the hearings is to provide an opportunity for people to give formal comments on the proposed permit.
The public workshops and hearings on the draft general permit are on Tuesday, December 12, 2006, at 6 p.m., at the Ecology Headquarters Building, 300 Desmond Drive S.E., Olympia, WA 98503; and on Wednesday, December 13, 2006, at 6 p.m., at Columbia Basin College, Room L101 (Library Building), 2600 North 20th Avenue, Pasco, WA 99301-0401.
Issuing the Final Aquatic Mosquito Control General Permit: Ecology will issue the final permit after it considers all public comments. Ecology expects to issue the general permit soon after the end of the public comment period. It will be effective thirty days later. When ecology issues the permit, it will send a response to everyone who commented.
What would be covered by the permit? This general permit covers aquatic mosquito control activities that discharge chemicals into and around surface waters of the state of Washington.
If you have special accommodation needs or require a copy of the permit and fact sheet in an alternative format, please contact Kelly McLain at (360) 407-6938. If you are a person with a speech or hearing impairment, call 711 or 800-833-6388 for TTY.