The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) is reissuing the Vessel Deconstruction Stormwater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and state waste discharge general permit (permit) on June 20, 2024. The permit becomes effective on August 1, 2024, and expires on July 31, 2029.

Purpose of the Permit: The permit addresses various legal requirements and responsibilities, as well as regulates the discharge of pollutants to protect water quality in Washington state. The permit authorizes the discharge of stormwater and authorized non-stormwater associated with a vessel deconstruction activity. The permit is a combined NPDES and state waste discharge permit that limits the discharge of pollutants to surface waters under the authority of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C 1251) and limits the discharge of pollutants to surface and groundwater under the authority of the State Water Pollution Control Act (chapter 90.48 RCW).

Public Notice Process and Comments: Ecology accepted public comments on the draft permit from October 18, 2023, through December 6, 2023. Ecology held informational public workshops and hearings during this time via online statewide webinars on November 28, 2023, and November 29, 2023. Ecology received written public comments and emails. The comments and ecology's responses are included as Appendix C of the fact sheet.

Copies of the Permit: The final permit, fact sheet, and response to comments are available online at https://ecology.wa.gov/vesseldeconstruction. You may request hard copies from Jackie Lince at jackie.lince@ecy.wa.gov or 360-407-6600.

Applying for Coverage Under the Permit: Your permit activity or facility (i.e., sand and gravel facilities, boatyards, construction sites) covered under the existing permit that reapplied for permit coverage will be covered under the new permit. New or unpermitted facilities (i.e., sand and gravel facilities, boatyards, construction sites) may obtain coverage under the permit by submitting a complete permit application to ecology and satisfying all applicable public notice and State Environmental Policy Act requirements (WAC 173-226-200). The application is available online at https://secureaccess.wa.gov.

Ecology Contact: Eric Daiber, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7696, phone 360-742-1511, email eric.daiber@ecy.wa.gov.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: To request ADA 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.

Requesting Translation: To request this document in another language, please contact ecology at 360-407-6600 and ask for an interpreter, or email eric.daiber@ecy.wa.gov.

Your Right to Appeal: You have a right to appeal the final general permit and general permit coverage for a specific facility to the pollution control hearings board. The appeal process is governed by chapters 43.21B RCW and 371-08 WAC.


•	Appeals of the general permit issuance must be filed within 30 days of issuance of the general permit. See the Appeal of the General Permit Focus Sheet for more information at https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/documents/1710009.pdf.
•	Appeals of general permit coverage for a specific facility must be filed within 30 days of the effective date of coverage. See the Appeal of a General Permit Coverage Focus Sheet for more information at https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/documents/1710007.pdf.