The final general permit and associated documents are available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/biosolids/forms.html or by requesting from ecology.
The general permit applies to all treatment works treating domestic sewage in the state. The majority of these facilities are publicly owned wastewater treatment plants. Other types of facilities subject to the general permit include privately owned wastewater treatment plants that treat only domestic sewage, composting facilities that treat biosolids as a feedstock, biosolids beneficial use facilities, and septage management facilities.
The general permit applies within the boundaries of the state of Washington, including state and federal lands. It does not apply to lands within the boundaries of Indian reservations or lands outside of Indian reservations that are held in trust by the federal government for a tribe.
Three hundred seventy-nine facilities have stated they will apply for coverage under the general permit. A list of the facilities is available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/biosolids/pdf/FacilitiesSubmitted.pdf or by requesting from ecology.
Within ninety days of the effective date of the general permit, each facility seeking coverage must submit a complete permit application as defined in the general permit and comply with any SEPA and public notice requirements. Facilities that have met all the procedural requirements and submitted all required documents will be "provisionally" approved for coverage under the general permit. Ecology will then conduct a full review of each facility's biosolids program before providing "final" approval of coverage.
Ecology published a notice of a draft general permit on May 19, 2010, followed by a thirty-three day public comment period. A public hearing was held on June 22, 2010. Ecology prepared a responsiveness summary addressing all comments received during the comment period; the responsiveness summary is available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/biosolids/forms.html or by requesting from ecology. No substantive changes to the draft general permit were made in response to the comments.
The terms and conditions of the general permit may be appealed. Any appeal must be filed with the pollution control hearings board and served on ecology within thirty days. The basic process for an appeal is outlined in RCW 43.21B.310.
The general permit will become effective on August 20, 2010.