WSR 14-08-083

[Filed April 1, 2014, 10:48 a.m.]

The department of ecology (ecology) proposes to reissue the water treatment plant national pollutant discharge elimination system waste discharge general permit (permit). The permit was last issued in July 2009 and is scheduled to expire at the end of August 2014. The new draft permit and fact sheet, which explains the technical bases for the permit, are available for review and public comment from April 16, 2014, through May 31, 2014, at 5 p.m. Ecology will host an informational workshop and a public hearing on the draft permit.

Purpose of the Permit: The permit provides coverage for certain water treatment plants located in Washington state that produce potable or industrial supply water and discharge backwash effluent from certain water treatment filtration processes. Under federal and state water quality law (federal Clean Water Act and state Water Pollution Control Act), a permit is required for the discharge of wastewater. The federal definition of wastewater includes backwash effluent from water treatment plants. Certain water treatment plant facilities that produce finished water at a rate of at least 35,000 gallons per day and that discharge wastewater either directly or indirectly to surface water must obtain permit authorization for their discharge.

Applying for Coverage Under the Permit: Facilities that applied for coverage and are covered under the existing permit will also be covered under the new permit. New or unpermitted facilities may obtain coverage under the permit by submitting a complete permit application to ecology and satisfying all applicable public notice and State Environmental Policy Act requirements (WAC 173-226-200). Access to the application is available online www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/wtp/application.html.

Copies of the Draft Permit and Fact Sheet: The draft permit and fact sheet are available online at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/wtp/currentnextpermit.html. You may also request copies from Kim Adams at (360) 407-6401 or by e-mail kjun461@ecy.wa.gov.

Submitting Written Comments: Ecology will accept written comments on the draft permit and fact sheet from April 16, 2014, through May 31, 2014, at 5 p.m. All comments, including those sent by e-mail, must contain the commenter's name and postal address. Comments should reference specific permit text when possible.

Ecology prefers that comments be submitted by e-mail to WaterTreatmentPlantGPComments@ecy.wa.gov.

Submit written, hard copy comments to James M. Maroncelli, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600.

All comments must be postmarked or received via e-mail no later than May 31, 2014, at 5 p.m.

Public Workshops: On May 14, 2014, a public workshop on the draft water treatment plant general permit will be held in Lacey, Washington. The purpose of the workshop is to explain the proposed new permit. Schedule and location information on the workshop is listed below, under public hearing.

Public Hearing: On May 14, 2014, ecology will host a public hearing to provide an opportunity for people to give formal oral testimony and comments on the draft permit. The public hearing will begin immediately following the public workshop.

Public workshop begins on May 14, 2014, at 1:30 p.m.; public hearing begins immediately following the public workshop; at the Ecology Headquarters Building, Room ROA-32, 300 Desmond Drive, Lacey, WA 98503.

Issuing the Permit: After ecology receives and considers all public comments, it will issue the final permit and a response to comments. Ecology expects to issue the new permit and response to comments in July 2014, with an effective date of September 1, 2014.