WSR 18-16-112

DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY

[Filed August 1, 2018, 8:42 a.m.]

The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) proposes to reissue the Phase I, Western Washington Phase II, and Eastern Washington Phase II municipal stormwater national pollution discharge elimination system general permits (permits). The draft permits and fact sheet, which explains the technical basis for the permits, are available for review and public comment from August 15, 2018 through November 14, 2018, at 11:59 p.m. Ecology will host informational workshops and public hearings on the draft permits.

Purpose of the Permit: Under federal and state water quality laws (Federal Clean Water Act and State Water Pollution Control Act), these permits require municipalities and secondary permittees to develop and implement a stormwater management program to control stormwater runoff into and from their municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). The Phase I permit applies to all regulated large and medium municipal MS4s. The Phase I permit covers the cities of Seattle and Tacoma, and unincorporated King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Clark counties. The Phase II permits apply to all regulated small MS4s and cover cities and portions of counties in urban areas of eastern and western Washington. All three permits also cover small MS4s in permitted cities and counties that are owned or operated by public entities such as ports, irrigation districts, colleges and universities, state institutions, school districts, drainage districts, and park districts.

Copies of the Formal Draft Permits: Beginning August 15, 2018, you may download the draft permits and fact sheet from the following web site https://ecology.wa.gov/Regulations-Permits/Permits-certifications/Stormwater-general-permits/Municipal-stormwater-general-permits/Municipal-stormwater-permit-reissuance. You may also request copies from Dena Jaskar, 360-407-6401, email dena.jaskar@ecy.wa.gov.

Ecology Contact: Abbey Stockwell, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7696, phone 360-407-7221, email abbey.stockwell@ecy.wa.gov.

Submitting Written and Oral Comments: Ecology will accept written and oral comments on the draft permit language and supporting documents. Comments should reference the specific permit(s) or manual(s) and specific text when possible.

Submit Comments Online (preferred method): http://ws.ecology.commentinput.com/?id=JWY6h.

Submit written, hard copy comments to Municipal Permit Comments, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600.

You must submit comments online no later than 11:59 p.m., November 14, 2018. Written comments must be postmarked by November 14, 2018. You may provide oral testimony at the public hearings.

Public Hearings and Workshops: Ecology will hold public hearings and workshops statewide, including online-only webinars. At each workshop ecology will explain the draft permits and answer questions. A hearing will immediately follow each workshop. The hearings will provide the opportunity to give formal oral testimony and comment on the draft permits and supporting documents.

Eastern Washington Phase II Permit, Thursday, September 27, 2018, 9:30 a.m., Moses Lake Civic Center, Council Chambers Room, 401 South Balsam, Moses Lake, WA 98837.

Phase I and Western Washington Phase II Permits, Tuesday, October 2, 2018, 10 a.m., Skagit Transit Station, 105 East Kincaid, Mt. Vernon, WA 98773.

Phase I and Western Washington Phase II Permits, Wednesday, October 10, 2018, 10 a.m., South Seattle College, Georgetown Campus, Gene J. Colin Education Hall, Building C, Room C122, 6737 Corson Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98108, parking is $3.00/vehicle at this facility.

Phase I and Western Washington Phase II Permits, Tuesday, October 30, 2018, 10 a.m., DuPont City Hall, Council Chambers Room, 1700 Civic Drive, DuPont, WA 98327.

Thursday, November 1, 2018, 10 a.m., webinar, eastern Washington Phase II, register for the webinar at https://bit.ly/2tX8Jc2.

Tuesday, November 6, 2018, 1:30 p.m., webinar, Phase I and western Washington Phase II, register for the webinar at https://bit.ly/2lHTpvh.

Phase I and western Washington Phase II permits, Wednesday, November 7, 2018, 10 a.m., Washington State School for the Blind, Fries Auditorium, 2214 East 13th Street, Vancouver, WA 98661.

Issuing the Permit: After ecology receives and considers all public comments, it will issue the final permits. Ecology expects to issue the permits in July 2019. The permits will be effective thirty days later. Ecology will send a copy of the notice of issuance and ecology's responses to the comments to all persons who submitted written comment or gave oral testimony at the public hearings.