Purpose of the Permit: The department of ecology is proposing to write a general permit to address and control nutrient discharges from domestic wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) that discharge to marine or estuarine waters of Puget Sound.

Excess nutrients can cause too much plant and algae growth which ultimately depletes dissolved oxygen (oxygen). Many parts of Puget Sound have oxygen levels that do not meet our state's water quality standards and that fall below what is needed for marine life to thrive. Discharges of excess nutrients to Puget Sound from WWTPs are significantly contributing to low dissolved oxygen levels in Puget Sound.

Additional information about this preliminary determination, including a focus sheet and potential permittee list, can be found at https://ecology.wa.gov/wqgenpermitsbeginning on August 21, 2019. No permit language has been drafted at this time.

Submitting Written Comments: We are requesting comments regarding the appropriateness of ecology's proposal to develop a general permit to control and reduce nutrients in discharges from WWTPs to Puget Sound. In addition, this comment period is an opportunity for stakeholders and the general public to provide other information relevant to WWTPs and Puget Sound water quality. For example, you may submit any documented information on the characteristics of the discharge (individually or categorically) including effluent quantity, quality, and any receiving water impacts. This comment period begins on August 21, 2019, and ends October 21, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. Please submit comments via:

Mail: Water Quality Permit Coordinator, Department of Ecology, Northwest Regional Office, 3190 160th Avenue S.E., Bellevue, WA 98008-5452.

Permit Development and the Public Notice Process: All persons interested in the permit process may request to be placed on the Puget Sound nutrients general permit listserv to receive updates on this proposed permit. To sign up for the listserv visit http://listserv.ecology.wa.gov/scripts/wa-ECOLOGY.exe?A0=NUTRIENTS-PERMIT. Please subscribe or unsubscribe using the drop-down menu on the right-hand side of the screen.

After the close of the comment period, ecology will consider all comments and make a final decision whether or not to develop a general permit. Ecology will not prepare public responses to the comments received during this comment period.

Ecology Contact: If you have questions about the preliminary determination, please contact Maia Hoffman, 425-649-7146, psnutrientsgp@ecy.wa.gov.

ADA Accommodation: To request ADA accommodation including materials in a format for the visually impaired, visit https://ecology.w[wa].gov/accessibility, call ecology at 360-407-6831, relay service 711, or TTY 877-833-6341.