The construction stormwater NPDES and state waste discharge general permit (permit), issued by the Washington state department of ecology (ecology) on November 16, 2005, will expire on December 16, 2010. Ecology has prepared a draft permit for public review and comment and is proposing to issue a revised permit on December 1, 2010. Ecology will host five informational workshops and public hearings, and accept written and oral comments on the draft permit, fact sheet, and notice of intent (permit coverage application) from July 21 to September 10, 2010.

August 23, 2010 (1 p.m.) Washington State School for the Blind 2214 East 13th Street Vancouver

August 25, 2010 (1:00 p.m.) Pierce County Parks and Recreation Sprinker Recreation Center 14824 'C' Street South Tacoma

August 27, 2010 (1 p.m.) Skagit Public Utility District 1415 Freeway Drive Mount Vernon

August 31, 2010 (1 p.m.) S.E. Yakima Community Center 1211 South 7th Street Yakima

September 1, 2010 (1 p.m.) City of Spokane Valley Center Place 2426 Discovery Place Spokane Valley

     Purpose of the Permit: The proposed permit authorizes the discharge of stormwater and nonstormwater associated with construction activity. The permit covers all areas of Washington state, except for federal and most tribal lands (the permit does cover the Puyallup Reservation).

     The proposed permit limits the discharge of pollutants to surface waters under the authority of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (U.S.C.S. 1251) and limits the discharge of pollutants to surface and ground water under the authority of chapter 90.48 RCW. Currently, two thousand three hundred nine construction sites are covered under the permit. New or unpermitted construction sites may obtain coverage under the permit by submitting a complete notice of intent (permit coverage application) to ecology and satisfying all applicable public notice and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requirements (WAC 173-226-200).

     Copies of the Draft Permit Documents: You may download a copy of the permit, fact sheet, economic impact analysis, and notice of intent at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/construction/index.html.

     You may request a copy of the permit, fact sheet, economic impact analysis, and notice of intent from Julie Robertson at (360) 407-6575 or by e-mail julie.robertson@ecy.wa.gov.

     Submitting Written Comments: Ecology will accept written comments on the draft permit, fact sheet, and notice of intent postmarked by midnight, September 10, 2010. Ecology prefers comments be submitted by e-mail. E-mailed comments must contain the commenter's name and postal address and be submitted by midnight, September 10, 2010. Comments should reference the permit and specific text (page number and line number) when possible.

     Submit e-mail comments to Sharleen.Bakeman@ecy.wa.gov.

     Submit written comments to Sharleen Bakeman, Permit Comments, Water Quality Program, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504.

     Submitting Oral Comments: You may provide oral testimony at any of the public hearings. A series of workshops and public hearings on the permit is scheduled to be held as noted in the above list. At the workshop, ecology will explain the draft permit and answer questions. A public hearing will follow each workshop immediately, and will provide the opportunity for formal oral testimony and comments on the proposed permit.

     Issuing the Permit: After ecology receives and considers all public comments, it will issue the final permit. Ecology expects to issue the permit December 1, 2010.

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