WSR 14-05-054

[Filed February 14, 2014, 1:37 p.m.]

2014 Updated Permit: The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) issued the general permit to the Washington state department of transportation (WSDOT) on March 6, 2014. The permit covers discharges from its municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). MS4s are conveyances or a system of conveyances including roads with drainage systems, streets, catch basins, ditches, man-made channels, and storm drains. This permit will replace WSDOT's coverage under the current permit issued February 4, 2009. The effective date of this permit is April 5, 2014.

Purpose of the Permit: State and federal regulations require WSDOT to have national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit coverage in areas covered by Phase I and Phase II of the municipal stormwater permit program. This permit covers stormwater runoff from WSDOT highways, ferry terminals, rest areas, park and ride lots, maintenance facilities, vactor decant and street sweepings facilities, and winter chemical storage facilities. The permit addresses these legal requirements and regulates the discharge of pollutants to protect water quality in Washington state.

Public Notice Process and Comments: Ecology accepted public comment on the draft permit and fact sheet from November 6, 2013, until January 10, 2014. The WSDOT and ecology implementing agreement (IA) and the 2014 draft Highway Runoff Manual (HRM) were also available for comment.

The 2014 HRM has also been approved as an equivalent manual to ecology's stormwater manuals in March 6, 2014. Through the implementing agreement, WSDOT agrees to apply the technical standards from the HRM throughout Washington state.

Ecology held a hearing and workshop in Lacey, Washington on January 8, 2014. Ecology received written comments during the public comment period and responded to these comments in the fact sheet. You may download copies of the permit, the response to comments, and the fact sheet from the ecology web site at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/municipal/wsdot.html. In addition, you may contact water quality program at (360) 407-6400 to request permit documents.

Appeal Options: The terms and conditions of this general permit, being issued March 6, 2014, may be appealed only by filing an appeal in writing to the pollution control hearings board and by serving it upon ecology at the addresses below. E-mail is not accepted. Appeals of the general permit must be made within thirty days of issuance or receipt, whichever is later (see chapter 43.21B RCW) (RCW is the Revised Code of Washington). The procedures and requirements for the appeal process are contained in RCW 43.21B.310. An appeal must be filed with:

Street Addresses: Department of Ecology, Attn: Appeals Processing Desk, 300 Desmond Drive S.E., Lacey, WA, 98503; or Pollution Control Hearings Board, 1111 Israel Road S.W., Suite 301, Tumwater, WA 98501.

Mailing Addresses: Department of Ecology, Attn: Appeals Processing Desk, P.O. Box 47608, Olympia, WA 98504-7608; or Pollution Control Hearings Board, P.O. Box 40903, Olympia, WA 98504-0903.

If you have questions about the permit, contact Foroozan Labib at foroozan.labib@ecy.wa.gov, or (360) 407-6439.