Announcing the Draft Sand and Gravel General Permit Modification and Antidegradation Plan for Review and Comment
Modified Permit Issuance: The Washington state
department of ecology (ecology) will release a draft sand and
gravel NPDES and state waste discharge general permit (permit)
modification on June 1, 2011. Ecology will accept written and
oral comments on the modified parts of the draft permit and on
the draft antidegradation plan until 5 p.m., July 8, 2011.
Draft Permit Modification: The sand and gravel general permit controls the discharge of pollutants from sand and gravel mining operations and related facilities into waters of the state. This general permit was reissued on August 4, 2010 (effective date October 1, 2010). The permit was appealed by the Puget SoundKeeper Alliance (PSA). The Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association (WACA) intervened in support of the permit. Ecology and WACA have reached a tentative settlement with PSA which is defined in the draft permit. A one page summary of proposed changes is attached to the draft permit. One item of appeal was the antidegradation plan to comply with WAC 173-201A-300. Ecology is concurrently releasing a draft of the antidegradation plan for the sand and gravel general permit.
Copies of the Draft Permit and Draft Antidegradation Plan: You may download a copy of the draft permit and draft antidegradation plan at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/sand/index.html.
Or you may request a copy of the draft permit and draft antidegradation plan from Julie Robertson at (360) 407-6575 or by e-mail at julie.robertson@ecy.wa.gov.
Ecology Contact: Gary Bailey, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 407-6433, fax (360) 407-6426, e-mail gary.bailey@ecy.wa.gov.
Submitting Written and Oral Comments: Ecology will accept written and oral comments on the draft permit and antidegradation plan until 5 p.m., July 8, 2011. Ecology prefers comments to be submitted by e-mail. E-mailed comments must contain the commenter's name and postal address. Comments should reference the specific permit and specific text when possible.
Submit written comments to Gary Bailey, Sand and Gravel General Permit Comments, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504.
Submit comments by e-mail to gary.bailey@ecy.wa.gov.
Written comments must be postmarked no later than 5 p.m., July 8, 2011. You must send e-mail comments before 5 p.m., July 8, 2011. You may provide oral testimony at the public hearing.
Hearing and Workshop: The public hearing and workshop on the permit is scheduled to be held in Lacey, Washington. At the workshop ecology will explain the draft permit and answer questions. A hearing will immediately follow the workshop. The hearing will provide the opportunity for formal oral testimony and comments on the proposed permit.
Workshop and Hearing: July 6, 2011, at 1 p.m., at the Washington State Department of Ecology, 300 Desmond Drive S.E., Lacey, WA 98503.
Issuing the Permit: After ecology receives and considers all public comments, it will issue the final permit. If public comments cause a substantial change in the permit conditions from the original draft permit, ecology may issue a revised draft for comment. Ecology expects to issue the permit in the summer of 2011.