WSR 14-11-108

[Filed May 21, 2014, 11:18 a.m.]

Purpose of the Permit: The department of ecology is proposing to write a general permit for wastewater discharges from wineries. The permit will protect water quality by requiring wineries to implement protective wastewater management practices. Some potential adverse impacts include degradation of groundwater through overapplication of untreated winery wastewater. In addition, for discharges to municipal wastewater treatment plants, the high strength and fluctuating discharge rate of a winery may upset treatment plant operations.

We are requesting comments regarding the appropriateness for ecology to develop a permit for this activity. This comment period ends July 4, 2014. Please direct comments to Chelsea Desforges, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, phone (360) 407-6435, e-mail Chelsea.desforges@ecy.wa.gov.

Permit Development and Public Notice Process: In the event ecology moves forward with development, ecology is targeting the spring of 2015 as the permit effective date. All persons interested in the permit process may request to be placed on the winery listserv to receive notices of the draft and final permit. To sign up for the listserv visit http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A0=ECY-WINERY-PERMIT. Please select subscribe or unsubscribe in the right-hand column under options.

If you have questions about the permit, please contact Chelsea Desforges.