WSR 15-09-067

[Filed April 15, 2015, 9:51 a.m.]

 

Proposed Permit: The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) is proposing a new general permit to regulate the use of the piscicides rotenone and antimycin A, and potassium permanganate applied for management of fish populations in surface waters of Washington state.

Washington's water quality statutes and regulations do not allow the discharge of pollutants to waters of the state without permit coverage. The piscicides rotenone and antimycin A, and the detoxification agent potassium permanganate 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.

Washington department of fish and wildlife (WDFW) is the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) lead and have determined that this proposal is likely to have significant adverse impacts on the environment. WDFW has made the environmental documents, adopted as part of the SEPA determination, available for review and comment at http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/sepa/sepa_final_docs_2015.html.

Purpose of the Permit: This permit would allow WDFW to manage fish populations in surface waters of Washington state. Coverage under the proposed general permit will be limited to WDFW only.

Copies of the Draft Permit: You may download copies of the draft permit and fact sheet beginning May 6, 2015, from the following web site http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/pesticides/final_pesticide_permits/fish/fish_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.

Workshop and Public Hearing: Ecology will hold one workshop and public hearing on the draft NPDES general permit for fisheries resource management. 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 draft permit. Written comments will receive the same consideration as oral testimony. The workshop and public hearing will begin at 12:00 noon on June 8, 2015, and conclude when public testimony is complete.

On June 8, 2015, at 12:00 noon, Moses Lake Fire Station 1, 701 East Third Avenue, Moses Lake, WA 98837.

Submitting Written Comments: Ecology will accept written comments on the draft permit and fact sheet until 5 p.m., June 19, 2015. Ecology prefers comments be submitted by e-mail to nathan.lubliner@ecy.wa.gov. 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., June 19, 2015. Written comments must be postmarked no later than 5 p.m., June 19, 2015.

Issuing the Permit: The final 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 issue the general permit in spring 2015.