The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) proposes to reissue the industrial stormwater national pollutant discharge elimination system and state waste discharge general permit. The permit was last issued December 3, 2014, and is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2019. The new draft permit and fact sheet, which explains the technical bases for the permit, are available for review and public comment from May 1, 2019, until 11:59 p.m., on June 29, 2019. Ecology will host informational workshops and public hearings on the draft permit.

PURPOSE OF THE PERMIT: The permit addresses various legal requirements and responsibilities, and regulates the discharge of pollutants to protect water quality in Washington state. State and federal water quality statutes and regulations do not allow the discharge of pollutants to waters of the state without permit coverage. Stormwater may become contaminated by industrial activities as a result of contact with materials stored outside, spills and leaks from equipment or materials used onsite, contact with materials during loading, unloading or transfer from one location to another, and from airborne contaminants and therefore require a discharge permit. When the permitted activities conducted by a specific class of industries are similar, ecology issues a general permit to cover all of them rather than issuing a series of individual permits.

COPIES OF THE DRAFT PERMIT:You may download copies of the draft permit and fact sheet from https://ecology.wa.gov/industrialstormwaterpermit. You may also request copies of these documents from Travis Porter at Travis.Porter@ecy.wa.gov or 360-407-6127.

SUBMITTING WRITTEN COMMENTS:Ecology will accept written comments on the draft permit and fact sheet from May 1, 2019, until 11:59 p.m., on June 29, 2019. Ecology prefers you submit comments online through the eComment form on the permit web page. Written comments by mail must be postmarked by June 29, 2019. Comments should reference specific permit text when possible.

WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS: The purpose of the workshop is to explain the general permit and to answer questions prior to the formal public hearing. The purpose of the hearing is to provide an opportunity for people to give formal oral testimony and written comments on the proposed draft permit. Oral testimony will receive the same consideration as written comments.

The public hearing will begin immediately following the public workshop and will conclude when public testimony is complete: On Wednesday, May 29, 2019, at 1 p.m., at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 S.E. Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661; on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, at 1 p.m., at the Skagit Station Meeting Room, 105 East Kincaid, Mount Vernon, WA 98273; on Thursday, June 6, 2019, at 1 p.m., at the Fire House Meeting Room, 701 East Third Avenue, Moses Lake, WA 98837; on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at 1 p.m., at the South Seattle College, Georgetown Campus, Gene J. Colin Education Hall, Building C, Room C110/111, 6737 Corson Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98108; on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, at 6 p.m., WEBINAR*, register for the webinar at https://bit.ly/2IsUsvZ; and on Thursday, June 20, 2019, at 2 p.m., at the Washington State Department of Ecology, 300 Desmond Drive S.E., Lacey, WA 98503.

ISSUING THE PERMIT: The final decision on permit issuance will be made after ecology receives and considers all public comments. If public comments cause a substantial change in the permit conditions from the original draft permit, another public notice of draft and comment period may ensue. Ecology expects to issue the general permit in November 2019. The permit will become effective January 1, 2020.