WSR 17-12-111

DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY

[Filed June 7, 2017, 9:25 a.m.]

PUBLIC NOTICE

Announcing the Issuance of the Bridge and Ferry Terminal Washing General Permit

PERMIT: The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) is issuing the bridge and ferry terminal washing NPDES general permit. This permit becomes effective on August 1, 2017, and expires July 31, 2022.

State and federal water quality regulations do not allow the discharge of pollutants to waters of the state without permit coverage. Activities associated with the washing of bridges and ferry terminals can result in the discharge of potential pollutants, and therefore require a discharge permit before these acitivities [activities] may occur over surface waters. Ecology issues general permits in place of a series of individual permits when the permitted activities are similar.

PURPOSE OF THE PERMIT: The bridge and ferry terminal washing NPDES general permit allows for the regular maintenance cleaning, preparatory washing, and painting of bridge and ferry terminals and associated metal structures over waters of the state. The activities permitted by the permit aid bridge inspectors with the Washington state department of transportation in performing in-depth inspections to assess the structural integrity of bridges and ferry terminals across the state, and conduct maintenance operations to prolong structural integrity and increase public safety.

PERMIT AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Ecology accepted public comment on the draft permit, fact sheet and notice of intent from October 19, 2016, until December 2, 2016. Ecology hosted a webinar, public workshop, and hearing in Lacey, Washington on November 22, 2016. Ecology received written comments during the public comment period and responded to these comments in Appendix C of the fact sheet.

You may download copies of the permit, the response to comments, and the fact sheet from the ecology web site at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/permits/bridgewashing/index.html. You may request hard copies of the documents from Foroozan Labib at (360) 407-6439 or foroozan.labib@ecy.wa.gov.

ECOLOGY CONTACT: Foroozan Labib, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7696, phone (360) 407-6439, email foroozan.labib@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:

•	File the appeal and a copy of this permit with PCHB (see addresses below). Filing means actual receipt by PCHB during regular business hours.
•	Serve a copy of the appeal and this permit on ecology in paper form - by mail or in person (see addresses below). Email is not accepted.

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

ADDRESS AND LOCATION INFORMATION:

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.