WSR 16-14-092

[Filed July 5, 2016, 11:23 a.m.]

Purpose of the Phase I Municipal Stormwater General Permit: The Phase I municipal stormwater general permit (permit) regulates the discharges from storm sewer systems owned or operated by Clark, King, Pierce and Snohomish counties; the cities of Seattle and Tacoma; and public entities located in these cities and counties. The permit requires these municipalities and secondary permittees to protect surface water and groundwater quality by developing and implementing a stormwater management program to control stormwater runoff into and from their storm sewer systems.

Modifications to the Permit: One of the Phase I municipal stormwater permit requirements is for Phase I municipalities to adopt a stormwater program that will provide equal or similar protection of receiving waters and pollutant control as compared to Appendix 1 of the permit. This modification will incorporate, in Appendix 10 of the permit, ecology's determination of equivalency for these stormwater programs.

The modification also incorporates a new appendix, Appendix 13, which describes and requires an adaptive management plan for pollutants that discharge from the City of Seattle's municipal separate storm sewer system outfalls to the Lower Duwamish Waterway.

A public comment period, including two public hearings, for the proposed permit modification was held from May 18, 2016, through June 30, 2016. Ecology has listened to, read, and responded to all of the public comments received during this comment period. Ecology made revisions to the final permit in response to public comments.

The modified permit will go into effect on August 19, 2016. Facilities covered under the existing municipal stormwater general permit will continue to be covered under the modified permit.

Permit and Supporting Documents: You may download the final permit, response to comments, and other supporting documents beginning on July 20, 2016, from the following web site www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/municipal/permitMod2016.html.

Ecology Contact: For questions concerning the permit modification contact Abbey Stockwell, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, phone (360) 407-7221, e-mail abbey.stockwell@ecy.wa.gov.

Appeals: This permit may be appealed to the pollution control hearings board (PCHB) within thirty days of the date of receipt of the final permit. The appeal process is governed by chapters 43.21B RCW and 371-08 WAC. "Date of receipt" is defined in RCW 43.21B.001(2) (also see glossary).

To appeal, the following must be done within thirty days of receipt of this permit:

The appeal must also comply with other applicable requirements in chapters 43.21B RCW and 371-08 WAC.

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.