S-1073.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5079

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Agriculture & Environment (originally sponsored by Senator Swecker)

Read first time 02/05/97.

Providing an alternative means to comply with wastewater discharge permit requirements.

    AN ACT Relating to permit processing; adding new sections to chapter 90.48 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The purpose of this act is to encourage environmental permit program efficiency and pollution prevention through increased private sector participation in the preparation of wastewater discharge permits currently administered by the department of ecology.  The legislature recognizes that pollution prevention can often be accomplished through cooperative partnerships between government and industry and through voluntary changes in industrial production methods.  By using expertise available in the private sector, the permit preparation option provided in this act is intended to reduce the time required to issue wastewater discharge permits and better protect the water quality of the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 90.48 RCW to read as follows:

    Within fifteen days of receipt of an application for the issuance of a new permit or modification of an existing permit under RCW 90.48.160 or 90.48.260, the department shall determine whether it is likely that the permit will be processed within one hundred eighty days.  If the permit will not be processed within one hundred eighty days, the applicant shall be notified.  Upon receipt of this notification, an applicant may choose to proceed with the draft permit preparation option in section 3 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 90.48 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) Any person applying for the issuance of a new permit or modification of an existing permit under RCW 90.48.160 or 90.48.260 may submit the application with a draft permit and fact sheet.

    (2) The department shall approve or deny the permit proposal within forty-five days of submission if no public hearing is required, or within ninety days of submission if a public hearing is required.  The department may seek to negotiate a permit proposal with the applicant if both parties agree to the process.  The department retains full authority under this chapter to approve, modify, or disapprove any draft permit or fact sheet submitted under this section.

    (3) The department shall make available guidelines specifying the elements of a complete draft permit and fact sheet.

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