The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) proposes to reissue the Z. japonica management on commercial clam beds in Willapa Bay national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) and state waste discharge general permit (permit). The permit was last modified on April 5, 2017, and expired on May 2, 2019. The new draft permit and fact sheet, which explains the technical basis for the permit, are available for review and public comment from September 18, 2019, until 11:59 p.m. on November 4, 2019. Ecology will host informational workshops and public hearings on the draft permit.

Purpose of the Permit: In Willapa Bay only, for commercial clam growers and their pesticide applicator that decide to use an herbicide to manage Z. japonica on their commercial clam beds, the permit regulates the discharge of the aquatic labeled herbicide imazamox. State and Federal water quality laws do not allow the discharge of pollutants to waters of the state without permit coverage. The herbicide imazamox allowed for use in the permit is a pollutant and therefore requires a discharge permit before application to waters of the state of Washington. The permit covers all Z. japonica management activities that result in a discharge of imazamox and marker dyes from treatment of commercial clam beds to surface waters of the state of Washington. Coverage under the general permit will be available to pesticide applicators licensed by the Washington state department of agriculture with an aquatic endorsement and their sponsor (the commercial clam bed owner or manager) who plan to use imazamox to control Z. japonica on commercial clam beds in Willapa Bay. Ecology issues general permits in place of a series of individual permits when the permitted activities are similar.

Copies of the Draft Permit and Fact Sheet: The draft Z. japonica permit and fact sheet will be available online by the end of the day on September 18, 2019, at https://ecology.wa.gov/zjaponicapermit. You may also request copies of these documents from Jon Jennings, at jonathan.jennings@ecy.wa.gov, or 360-407-6283.

Submitting Written Comments: Ecology will accept written comments on the draft permit and fact sheet from September 18, 2019, until 11:59 p.m. on November 4, 2019. Ecology prefers you submit comments online via the eComment form on the permit web page. Comments should reference specific permit text when possible. All comments must be postmarked or submitted online no later than November 4, 2019. You may submit written comments:


•	Online via the eComment form: http://ws.ecology.commentinput.com/?id=gAE9x (preferred method), or
•	By mail: Jon Jennings, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7696.

Public Workshops and Hearings: Ecology will host two public workshops and hearings on the draft permit. At the workshop, ecology will explain the draft permit and answer questions. The hearing will provide the opportunity for the public to provide formal oral testimony and submit written comments on the draft permit. Oral testimony will receive the same consideration as written comments. The public hearing will begin immediately following each workshop and will conclude when testimony is complete. The workshops and hearings will [be] held on these dates/times: On October 21, 2019, starting at 1:00 p.m., webinar, register for the webinar at https://watech.webex.com/watech/onstage/g.php?MTID=e4a06c196920a5bc8be9b7762dcb8b9e6; and on October 22, 2019, starting at 1:00 p.m., at the Willapa Harbor Community Center, 916 West First Street, South Bend, WA 98586.

Reissuing the Permit: After ecology receives and considers all public comments, we will make a final decision on permit reissuance. 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 make a final decision on whether to reissue the general permit in early 2020.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: To request Americans with Disabilities Act accommodation for disabilities, call ecology at 360-407-7285 or visit https://ecology.wa.gov/accessibility. People with impaired hearing may call Washington relay service at 711. People with speech disability may call TTY at 877-833-6341.