The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) is reissuing the water treatment plant National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and state waste discharge general permit (permit) on July 31, 2024. The permit becomes effective on September 1, 2024, and expires on August 31, 2029.

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. The permit authorizes the discharge of wastewater discharged from the facility as part of the process of making drinking water. 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 March 20, 2024, through May 3, 2024. Ecology held public workshops and hearings via an online webinar on April 22, 2024, and April 23, 2024. Ecology received written comments during the public comment period. The comments and ecology's responses are included in Appendix E of the fact sheet.

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

Applying for Coverage Under the Permit: Water treatment plants covered under the existing permit that reapplied for permit coverage will be covered under the new permit. New or unpermitted water treatment plants 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: James Hovis, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7696, phone 564-999-3244, email James.Hovis@ecy.wa.gov.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: To request an Americans with Disabilities Act accommodation, contact ecology by phone at 360-407-6600 or email at James.Hovis@ecy.wa.gov, or visit https://ecology.wa.gov/accessibility. For relay service or TTY call 711 or 877-833-6341.

Translation: To request this document in another language, please contact ecology at 360-407-6600 (WQ reception) and ask for an interpreter, or email James.Hovis@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.