WSR 15-05-075

[Filed February 18, 2015, 9:08 a.m.]

Proposed Permit: The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) is proposing to reissue the aquatic mosquito control NPDES general permit.

Washington's water quality statutes and regulations do not allow the discharge of pollutants to waters of the state without permit coverage. The insecticides, both larvicides and adulticides, proposed for use are potential pollutants, and therefore require a discharge permit before application to surface waters. Ecology issues general permits in place of a series of individual permits when the permitted activities are similar.

Purpose of the Permit: This permit would allow public entities as well as private individuals to manage mosquito populations in surface waters of Washington state.

Copies of the Draft Permit: You may download copies of the draft permit and fact sheet beginning March 4, 2015, from the following web site http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/pesticides/final_pesticide_permits/mosquito/index.html.

Ecology Contact: Nathan Lubliner, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7696, phone (360) 407-6563, e-mail nathan.lubliner@ecy.wa.gov.

Open House, Workshop, and Public Hearing: Ecology will hold three events, each of which will include an open house, workshop, and public hearing on the draft general permit. The purpose of the workshop is to explain the general permit, and answer questions in order to facilitate meaningful testimony during the hearing. The purpose of the hearing is to provide an opportunity for people to give formal oral testimony and comment on the proposed permit. Written comments will receive the same consideration as oral testimony.

Open House, Workshop, and Public Hearing: On April 7, 2015, at 1 p.m., at the Benton PUD Auditorium, 2721 West 10th Avenue, Kennewick, WA; on April 8, 2015, at 1 p.m., at the Moses Lake Fire Station 1, 701 East Third Avenue, Moses Lake, WA; and on April 9, 2015, at 1 p.m., at the Cowlitz Regional Conference Center, 1900 7th Avenue, Longview, WA.

Submitting Written Comments: Ecology will accept written comments on the draft permit and fact sheet until 5 p.m., April 17, 2015. 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.

Submit comments by e-mail to nathan.lubliner@ecy.wa.gov.

Submit written comments to Nathan Lubliner, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7696.

You must send e-mail comments before 5 p.m., April 17, 2015. Written comments must be postmarked no later than 5 p.m., April 17, 2015.

Issuing the Permit: The decision on permit issuance will be made 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 make a decision on issuance of the general permit in the spring of 2015.