WSR 15-13-069

[Filed June 11, 2015, 3:14 p.m.]

The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) proposes to revise and reissue the construction stormwater national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) and state waste discharge general permit (permit). The current permit was issued December 1, 2010, and will expire on December 31, 2015. The draft permit and fact sheet are available for review and public comment from July 1 through August 10, 2015, at 12 midnight. Ecology will host six informational public workshops and one public hearing on the draft permit.

Purpose of the Permit: The proposed permit authorizes the discharge of stormwater and authorized nonstormwater associated with construction activity. The permit covers all areas of Washington state, except most tribal lands (the permit does cover most of the Puyallup Reservation).

The proposed construction stormwater general permit (CSWGP) limits the discharge of pollutants to surface waters under the authority of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251) and limits the discharge of pollutants to surface and groundwater under the authority of the State Water Pollution Control Act (chapter 90.48 RCW).

Applying for Coverage under the Permit: Facilities covered under the existing permit that reapply for permit coverage in 2015 will be covered under the new permit. New or unpermitted construction sites may obtain coverage under the CSWGP by submitting a complete notice of intent (permit coverage application) to ecology and satisfying all applicable public notice and State Environmental Policy Act requirements (WAC 173-226-200). The application is available online at https://secureaccess.wa.gov.

Copies of the Draft Permit: The draft permit and fact sheet are available online at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/construction/index.html. You may request copies from Kimberly Adams at kimberly.adams@ecy.wa.gov, or (360) 407-6401.

Submitting Written Comments: Ecology will accept written comments on the draft permit and fact sheet from July 1 through August 10, 2015, at 12 midnight. E-mailed comments must contain the commenter's name and postal address. Comments should reference specific permit text when possible.

Ecology prefers comments be submitted by e-mail to cswgpcomments@ecy.wa.gov. Written comments must be postmarked or received via e-mail no later than August 10, 2015, at 12 midnight.

Submit written, hard copy comments to Amy Moon, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7696.

Public Workshops: In July and August 2015, public workshops on the draft permit will be held in Vancouver, Mount Vernon, Moses Lake, Seattle, and University Place, as well as an online webinar. The purpose of the workshops is to explain the proposed changes to the permit. The date, time, and location of the six public workshops are posted on ecology's construction stormwater web site http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/construction/index.html.

Public Hearing: On August 5, 2015, ecology will host a public hearing to provide an opportunity for interested parties to give formal oral testimony and comments on the draft permit. The public hearing will immediately follow the public workshop: August 5, 2015, 1 p.m., at the Pierce County Environmental Service Building, 9850 64th Street West, University Place, WA 98467, (253) 798-4047.

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 final permit on December 2, 2015, with an effective date of January 1, 2016.