Announcing a Draft Aquatic Plant and Algae Management General Permit for Review and Comment
Purpose of the Permit: The aquatic plant and algae management general permit (permit) is a joint national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) and state waste discharge general permit. The permit covers the discharge of products used to control aquatic plants and algae in Washington lakes. The permit also allows treatment of emergent plants along roadsides and ditch banks. Control products include aquatic herbicides, algaecides, biological clarification products, aquatic dyes, adjuvants, and nutrient inactivation products such as alum.
Ecology Contact: Kathy Hamel, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, phone (360) 407-6562, fax (360) 407-6426, e-mail kathy.hamel@ecy.wa.gov.
Copies of the Draft Permit: You may download copies of the draft permit and fact sheet from the web site at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/pesticides/final_pesticide_permits/aquatic_plants/aquatic_plant_permit_index.html.
You may request a copy of the draft permit or fact sheet from Julie Robertson at (360) 407-6575 or by e-mail at julie.robertson@ecy.wa.gov.
Submitting Written Comments: Ecology will accept written comments on the draft permit and fact sheet until 5 p.m., October 15, 2010. Ecology prefers comments be submitted by e-mail. E-mailed comments must contain the commenter's name and postal address. Comments should reference specific permit text when possible. Comments may address the following:
• Technical issues,
• Accuracy and completeness of information,
• The scope of facilities proposed for coverage,
• Adequacy of environmental protection and permit conditions, or
• Any other concern that would result from issuance of the modified permit.
Submit Comments by E-mail to:
AquaticPermitComments@ecy.wa.gov.
Submit Written Comments to: Kathy Hamel, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600.
You must send e-mail comments before 5 p.m., October 15, 2010. Written comments must be postmarked no later than 5 p.m., October 15, 2010.
Hearings and Workshops: There are two public workshops and hearings scheduled on the draft general permit. The purpose of the workshops is to explain the general permit, explain the changes from the current permit, and answer questions in order to facilitate meaningful testimony during the hearing. The purpose of the hearings is to provide an opportunity for people to give formal oral testimony and comments on the proposed permit. Written comments will receive the same consideration as oral testimony.
October 4, 2010 (1 p.m.) Workshop and Hearing: Lacey Community Center, Banquet Room A&B, 6729 Pacific Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503.
October 6, 2010 (1 p.m.) Workshop and Hearing: CenterPlace, 2426 North Discovery Place, Spokane Valley, WA 99216.
Issuing the Permit: The final permit will be issued after ecology receives and considers all public comments. If public comments cause a substantial change in the permit conditions from the original draft permit, another public notice of draft and comment period may ensue. Ecology expects to issue the general permit in the spring of 2011.