WSR 18-03-114
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY
[Filed January 19, 2018, 9:57 a.m.]
PUBLIC NOTICE
Announcing the Issuance of the Modified Sand and Gravel General Permit
Permit: The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) has issued the modified sand and gravel national pollutant discharge elimination system and state waste discharge general permit (permit) on January 19, 2018. The effective date of the modified permit is April 1, 2018.
Purpose of the Permit: The purpose of the sand and gravel general permit is to control the discharge of pollutants from sand and gravel mining operations and related facilities into waters of the state. This general permit provides coverage for discharges of process water, stormwater, and mine dewatering water associated with sand and gravel operations, rock quarries and similar mining activities, including stockpiles of mined materials, concrete batch operations, and hot mix asphalt operations. The permit authorizes wastewater discharges to waters of the state of Washington subject to the permit conditions.
Modified Permit and Supporting Documents: The current permit was issued April 1, 2016, and appealed by the Washington Aggregate and Concrete Association (WACA). A settlement was reached on modified language for the permit in August 2017. The permit is being modified as a result of a settlement with WACA. The appeal resulted in modifications to:
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Correct an error in the pH monitoring frequency from monthly to quarterly for asphalt batch plants and asphalt recycling (S2, Table 2).
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Allow concrete recycling stockpiles in wellhead protection areas and within one hundred feet of wells with review and approval of a groundwater monitoring program (S8.F).
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Provide flexibility for restoration at portable sites (S12.B).
Public Notice Process and Comments: A public comment period was held for the modified language from September 26 through December 8, 2017. Ecology read and responded to all of the public comments received during this comment period. Ecology made revisions to the modified language in response to public comments.
Copies of the Modified Permit: The modified permit, response to comments, and associated documents are available online at https://ecology.wa.gov/sandandgravel. You may request copies from Dena Jaskar at dena.jaskar@ecy.wa.gov or 360-407-6401.
Your Right to Appeal the Permit: This permit may be appealed to the pollution control hearing board within thirty days of the date of receipt of the final permit. A focus sheet describing how this permit coverage may be appealed may be accessed at https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/documents/1710009.pdf. You may also request copies from Dena Jaskar at dena.jaskar@ecy.wa.gov or 360-407-6401.
Ecology Contact: Carrie Graul, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7696, phone 360-407-6967, email carrie.graul@ecy.wa.gov.